Public Universities in Germany: Study for free in 2024



Public universities in Germany stand testament to the nation’s belief that education should not be commercialised and is a responsibility of the state. In 2014, 16 states of Germany came together in a decision to abolish tuition fees in public universities.

What does it mean for the quality of higher education, you ask? While there are great private universities, if you look at the top ten list of the best universities in Germany according to QS rankings, you will notice that all of them are public universities. About 300 German universities are state funded and provide world class education for greater welfare and economic growth. So, the quality is not compromised.

Alright, but do international students benefit from this? The answer is yes. When the universities offer free tuition, they offer free tuition for every student. There is a reason why over 400,000 foreign students are studying in Germany. For many this is a good reason to pick Germany over other countries – although it’s best to do a comparison between destinations before making your final decision. You can, for instance, know more about what it means to study in Germany or the UK, or other countries to understand your needs better.


Is education free at public universities in Germany?


Public universities in Germany offer courses with no tuition fees. Does that mean your sojourn into global ed in Germany is entirely free? No. Most universities charge administrative / enrollment / student services fees every semester. This ranges anywhere from €150 to €500 per semester. Considering that a typical bachelor’s is six semesters (three years) and master’s four semesters (two years), you are paying the university €900 to €3,000 for your entire degree.

This no tuition policy is applicable both at the bachelor’s and master’s level. However, there are a few exceptions at the postgraduate level. Executive programmes and post employment programmes do have a tuition fee. MBAs, for instance, have tuition fees ranging from €13,000 to about €42,000.

Another exception to the “no tuition fee” policy is the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Public universities located in Baden-Württemberg can charge tuition fees of up to €1,500 for students coming from non-EU nations.

All things considered, higher education is far more affordable in Germany because of this education system. Keep in mind that you will still be spending on travel and about €1,000 – €1,500 a month on your general cost of living, also depending on the city that you are in.

What are the scholarship options for German public universities?


Despite the extremely affordable education system, there are a number of scholarships you can consider applying for. They provide financial aid to help cover the administrative fees or the cost of living during your stay in Germany.

1. Deutschlandstipendium:

Provides financial and non-material support to high-achieving and committed students from all over the world. The award is 300 euros per month for foreign top-class talent.

2. DAAD Scholarship:

Aimed primarily at the masters, doctoral and postdoc students, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports over 100,000 students in their research.

3. Baden-Württemberg-Scholarship:

Foreign students who choose to study in this German state are eligible to apply for a scholarship amounting to €700 a month to support their living expenses.

4. Oskar-Karl Forster Scholarship:

The Bavarian State Ministry for Science and the Arts provides scholarship funds every year on behalf of the Consul Oskar-Karl Forster estate. It provides book money for students and printing cost subsidies for doctoral candidates.

5. Heinrich Boll Scholarships in Germany for International Students:

The Heinrich Böll Foundation grants scholarships to approximately 1500 undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral students of all subjects and nationalities per year, who are pursuing their degree at universities, universities of applied sciences or universities of the arts.

6. Erasmus scholarships for international students:

Erasmus Mundus offers masters and PhD scholarships to overseas applicants to study in Europe. This aid is funded by the European government.

What are the career opportunities after graduating from free universities in Germany?


Considering how the public universities are the top ranked universities, it goes without saying that graduates from these universities are quickly absorbed into the job market. With the country being the land of technology and innovation, industries are constantly in the lookout for skilled workers.

That said, the most in-demand jobs in Germany are in the field of IT and computer science (€60,936), different branches of engineering (€64,000), business analysts (€55,000), healthcare workers (€61,932) and teachers (€48,000).Some of the highest paid roles in the country include doctors, pilots, lawyers, portfolio managers, college professors and project managers who make anywhere between €70,000 and €100,000 per annum.

Moreover, for 2024, there is a list of job profiles that are in high demand and can provide easier work visas for skilled workers from other countries. This is motivated by job shortages in vital sectors such as agriculture, construction, healthcare, education, ICT and transportation. Roles include systems analysts, software developers, database designers, higher education teachers, pharmacists, metalworkers, automation and so on.

Note: The numbers in brackets are average annual salaries, as indicated by Glassdoor.co.in.

While these are some of the in-demand jobs, as a skilled worker, you can find employment in the world’s fourth-largest economy. However, it is essential that you are fluent in German to establish a career in Germany.

Coming to the legal side of it, let us take a look at the immigration policy.

As a non-EU student with a valid student visa, you can work up to 120 full days or 240 half days a year, during your course, having informed the administration office of your university. Mandatory internships, TA/ RA roles are not counted in this limit. You can earn up to €450 per month tax-free. Any amount beyond that is liable for being taxed.

After graduation, you can extend your residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job. The 18-month period begins on the day you receive your final semester results, so it is advantageous if you start looking for jobs in the final semester. Once you have found a role that you like, you can apply for either a German residence permit or the EU blue card. We would suggest the EU blue card as it would allow you to live and work in any other European nation that is part of the EU.

Disclaimer: This video reflects details and rankings from 2023

What are the best public universities in Germany?


Here is a list of the best public universities in Germany:

  • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
  • University of Heidelberg
  • Freie Universität Berlin
  • Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
  • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
  • RWTH Aachen University
  • Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)
  • Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
  • Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

1. Technical University of Munich (Technische Universität München, TUM)


Source: TUM

A public research university located in Munich, TUM was established in 1868. Over the years, the university has grown exponentially to include additional campuses in Garching, Freising, Heilbronn, Straubing, and Singapore. Home to over 50,000 students, it is one of the largest public universities in Germany. Specialising particularly in engineering, technology, medicine, and applied and natural sciences, the university provides a wide variety of courses. It is important to note that TUM does not offer courses in many branches of the social sciences and humanities, including law.

Why is it good to study here?

  • Ranked 37 in the world and 1 in Germany by QS World University Rankings 2024
  • It is a University of Excellence under the German Universities Excellence Initiative and the German Research Foundation. The university has been awarded 182 European Research Council Grants
  • Alma mater of 18 Nobel laureates and 24 Leibniz Prize winners
  • The university has over 6,000 corporate agreements for research projects and employment
  • The TUM School of Management is triple accredited by the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA)
  • You can access a global network of over 80,000 alumni and career support systems.

Fees and Scholarship options

As a public university, TUM does not charge a tuition fee for most of its courses. The executive MBA programmes are an exception to this policy and charge a tuition fee of €39,000. For the other courses, you will have to bear a nominal semester fee that ranges from €62 – €152, depending on the campus.

Despite the low cost of higher education, you can also apply for a scholarship that is offered by the university or by external organisations. Here are some of the university scholarships open to foreign students.

  • Scholarship Deutschlandstipendium (open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students)
  • Linde / MDSI Master Scholarship (open to Master’s students of Data Engineering and Analytics” as well as “Mathematics in Data Science)
  • Scholarship for International Students
  • Oskar Karl Forster Scholarship for books and learning materials (open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students who have completed at least two semesters at TUM)
  • Leonhard Lorenz Foundation (doctoral and postdoctoral candidates)
  • Loschge Scholarship (bachelor’s and master’s students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering)
  • TUM Asia Scholarship

You can read about other awards and competitions providing financial aid here.

Eligibility

Here are some of the general admission requirements at the bachelor’s level.

  • High school diploma assessed by the German Academic Exchange Service
  • The university has programmes in German, English or a combination of both. The recognised German language certifications are DSH-2/ DSD II/ Telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule / Goethe certificate C2/ ÖSD Certificate C2
  • The English language proficiency requirements are a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 88 / IELTS score of 6.5 / PTE score of 65.
  • Some programmes require you to show proficiency in both the languages. Please verify the specific requirements of your programme before applying.

Admissions criteria at the master’s level:

  • A recognised undergraduate degree from a relevant field.
  • German and English language requirements
  • Minimum three years of work experience and GMAT for the MBA programmes
  • GRE (General) / GATE with a minimum score of QR 157, AW 3.0

Courses Offered and Admission Process

The university offers over 180 programmes ranging from a B.Sc in Aerospace to an M.Sc in Vocational Education and Innovation. You can access the whole list of courses here. As mentioned earlier, TUM offers STEM-centric courses or takes on a scientific approach to certain social sciences such as economics and business management.

Most programmes at the Technische Universität München begin during the winter semester (October) while some of them also have a summer intake, and the admission deadlines are set accordingly. Your application and the required transcripts along with a personal essay and an abstract of your bachelor thesis are uploaded online by creating a TUMOnline account. Once your application is processed, you will receive an offer of admission, an invitation to an aptitude test or a letter of rejection.

2. Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU)


Source: LMU

Originally established in 1472, LMU is currently the second-largest university in Germany with about 17% of its student population as foreign students. It is considered a University of Excellence under the  German Universities Excellence Initiative and is a member of U15 as well as the League of European Research Universities (LERU). LMU has 18 different faculties ranging from theology, law, business administration, computer science, maths and statistics to all the natural sciences, creating the complete university set-up.

Why is it good to study here?

  • Ranked 54th in the world and 2nd in Germany according to QS rankings
  • In addition to the 18 faculties, this German university is also the home to a number of dedicated research centres working on neurosciences, nanosystems, protein science and environmental health.
  • About 43 Nobel Laureates are associated with the university, including Max Planck (founder of the quantum theory) and Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (first person to produce and detect X-rays)
  • Ranging from ancient history or veterinary sciences, LMU offers an entire range of research-intensive programmes for you to choose from.
  • Internationally recognised and revered

Fees and Scholarship options

There is no tuition fee. Both domestic and foreign students only pay the fees for the Studierendenwerk (Munich Student Union) as part of their registration. While the exact amount varies, it is around €152.

The following are some of the scholarships:

  • LMU Nothilfe (Assistance in case of financial difficulty)
  • SIST LMU Scholarship (Awarded based on academic excellence and financial need)
  • BESUD Scholarship (for fluent speakers of German)

Eligibility

For undergraduate programmes:

  • German Abitur or an equivalent. For students applying from a non-EU nation, the high school diploma can be assessed by the ANABIN or DAAD databases to match the Abitur levels. If found insufficient, you can still get into LMU after a year of Studienkolleg (a preparatory course)
  • Test AS, a test of foreign students to assess their study ability in Germany, is recommended but not mandatory. It is a central standardised scholastic aptitude test for foreign study applicants planning to do undergraduate studies at German universities.
  • Proof of German language proficiency for most undergraduate programmes. The accepted certifications are DSH 2/ TestDaF-Niveaustufe 4 / Telc German C1 / DSD II / Goethe Certificate C2 / ÖSD Zertifikat C2 (Austrian Language Diploma C2)
  • For the courses taught in English, a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 80 or IELTS score of 6.5 is required.

For master’s programmes:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in a relevant field
  • English / German language requirements as mentioned above
  • Proof of work experience if required for the particular course

Courses Offered and Admission Process

While the choices of an English-taught bachelor’s programme at LMU is limited, the university offers a number of master’s programmes taught entirely in English. The options range from American history and astrophysics to statistics and data Science, and theoretical and mathematical physics. You can access the list of English-taught courses here.

Your completed application, the required transcripts and your CV must be submitted by post to the International Office of LMU. The application deadline is typically July 15 and January 15 for the winter and summer semesters respectively. Only after your admission is confirmed can you apply for the student visa.

3. University of Heidelberg


Source: University of Heidelberg

Located in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, and founded in 1386, the University of Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest surviving university. A German Excellence University and a founding member of LERU (League of European Research Universities), about one-sixth of their student population is composed of foreign students. The university is divided into four main faculties (1. Medicine, 2. Law, economics and social sciences, 3. Liberal arts and 4. Mathematics, engineering and natural sciences)  under which over 180 programmes are offered.

Why is it good to study here?

  • Ranked 85th in the world and 3 in Germany by QS rankings
  • Over 40 Nobel Laureates across disciplines associated with the university
  • The Graduate Academy programme supports young researchers in pursuit of an academic career and/ or a doctorate degree. You can also get involved in research projects right from the bachelor’s level.
  • Option of a semester abroad with one of their partner universities
  • Global reputation and recognition, equalling that of Oxford or Cambridge

Fees and Scholarship options

Students from non-EU (European Union) and non-EEA (European Economic Area – Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway) countries with a foreign university entrance qualification will be required to pay a tuition fee of €1500 per semester.

Here are some of the scholarships that you can look into-

  • Germany Scholarship “Deutschlandstipendium”
  • Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarships
  • Katharina Eleonore Wallot Foundation Scholarships

There are also a number of scholarships and grants dedicated to specific subject areas that you can look into after selecting your course.

Eligibility

At the undergraduate level:

  • University entrance qualification (foreign high school diplomas are evaluated by the framework set by Central Office for Foreign Education)
  • If your high school certifications are deemed only partially comparable, you can request for an assessment test in a preparatory course.
  • All undergraduate degree programs are taught in German. Therefore, a minimum of DSH-2 or an equivalent is required.

At the master’s level:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a recognised university
  • Proof of German proficiency
  • Professional work experience, if required

Courses Offered and Admission Process

The university offers about 180 courses to students but a majority of them are taught in German.

Your application and the required transcripts are submitted via the university’s online portal. You can also track the status of your application through the same. You can apply for your student visa only on confirmation of admission.

4. Freie Universität Berlin


Source: Wikipedia

The Free University of Berlin (although the university does not translate its name, it is simply referred to as FU Berlin) is a public research university with a special focus on the social sciences, political science and the humanities. With twelve departments and three central institutes, FU Berlin offers more than 150 different academic courses to its students.

Why is it good to study here?

  • Ranked 98th in the world and 4 in Germany, according to QS World university rankings
  • Repeatedly selected as a University of Excellence
  • One of the pioneering research institutes in social sciences and humanities
  • Also renowned for cutting-edge research in natural and Earth sciences as well as computer sciences and mathematics
  • Encourages interdisciplinary research

Fees and Scholarship options

Besides the typical semester charges of about €300, there is no other tuition fee. FU Berlin does not offer any scholarships but you can look into governmental grants if financial aid is required.

Eligibility

Here are some of the common admissions criteria at the bachelor’s level. Please check the university website for course specific requirements.

  • School leaving certificate evaluated by the Academic Evaluation Centre
  • Proof of German proficiency DSH 2/ Telc C1 / C2 Zertifikat des Goethe-Instituts / TestDaF

Note: Except for B.A. in North American Studies, all the other undergraduate programmes are taught in German and therefore need professional knowledge of the language.

For master’s application:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in a relevant field
  • Proof of work experience, if required for your course
  • If the course is taught entirely in English, then a minimum IELTS score of 5.0 or a TOEFL iBT score of 80 is required.

Courses Offered and Admission Process

The following are the postgraduate courses offered in English:
Master of Arts

  • Archaeology of the Ancient World
  • English Studies: Literature, Language, Culture
  • Global History
  • Global East Asia
  • Interdisciplinary Studies of the Middle East
  • Iranian Studies
  • North American Studies
  • Sociology – European Societies

Master of Science

  • Biochemistry
  • Bioinformatics
  • Chemistry
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Computational Sciences
  • Data Science
  • Mathematics
  • Pharmaceutical Research
  • Physics
  • Planetary Sciences and Space Explorations
  • Polymer Science

You are required to submit your application to Freie Universität Berlin via uni-assist. On average, the application processing time is six weeks. So, overseas students are advised to apply well in advance to have enough time for visa application.


5. RWTH Aachen University


Source: RWTH Aachen

Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen is a public research university located in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. With nine faculties, RWTH Aachen provides hundreds, of course, options to its students.

Why is it good to study here?

  • Ranked 106th in the world in 5th in Germany
  • The university has been continuously funded by the German Research Foundation and German Council of Science and Humanities, closely networked with some of the world-leading research institutes and industry partners
  • Is a University of Excellence
  • Has a foreign student population of over 14,000

Fees and Scholarship options

The university does not charge tuition fees but does collect about €200 per semester. Executive MBA programmes cost about €30,000. There are about 20 different funding options for foreign students, especially Indian students. The university has tie-ups with the Indo-German Centre for sustainability and also IIT, Madras. You can check the full list here.

Eligibility

For Bachelors:

  • University entrance qualification certificate or equivalent
  • Telc Deutsch C1/ SDH II /  TestDaF at level 4 minimum or equivalent

For Master’s:

  • Initial undergraduate university degree
  • German language requirement as mentioned above
  • Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet-based Test (IBT) with a result of at least 90 points / IELTS test with a score of at least 5.5 / Cambridge Test Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)

Courses Offered and Admission Process

The university has a number of English-taught programs ranging from Applied Geophysics to Transport Engineering. You can access the entire list here. Your application process is entirely online. However, in courses with restricted admissions, it is good to check the numerus clausus see the minimum required GPA and check if you are eligible.

6. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)


Source: KIT

A national research centre of the Helmholtz Association (the largest scientific organisation in Germany), KIT is renowned for its research and education in engineering, computer science and natural sciences. Associated with Heinrich Hertz and Karl Friedrich Benz, KIT is one of the best places for STEM-related higher education.

Why is it good to study here?

  • Ranked 119 in the world and 6th in Germany
  • A University of Excellence with  national large-scale research
  • KIT is a member of the TU9 (an alliance of nine leading tech institutes in Germany)
  • Gives you a multitude of course options to choose from

Fees and Scholarship options

A tuition fee of €1,500 must be paid every semester. Students can apply for any of the government scholarships should they seek financial aid.

Eligibility

At the UG level:

  • School leaving certificate with official translation and assessment
  • German language: B1 is adequate for an application, enrollment however can only take place if you show a DSH-2 certificate (or one of its recognized equivalents).

For Master’s application:

  • Bachelor’s degree original and a translation
  • For application, you should have proof of German language proficiency at the medium level B1. However, for enrollment, you have to submit the DSH2 or a German language certificate accepted as an equivalent such as DSH2 or Test DaF 4444 or Goethe C2.
  • There is no general English language requirement for the English-taught courses.

Courses Offered and Admission Process

The university offers over 100 different courses to choose from. The application deadline for the winter semester is 15 July. The application form, transcripts and supplementary documents are uploaded online through the universities portal.

7. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin


Source: Wikimedia Commons
​​
Opening in 1810, Humboldt University or HU Berlin is a public research university. Offering courses from the undergraduate to the post-doctoral level, HU Berlin is divided into nine faculties and has a student enrolment of around 32,000. The medical school of HU Berlin is shared with the Freie Universität Berlin.

Why is it good to study here?

  • Ranked 120 in the world and 7 in Germany
  • As of 2020, 57 Nobel laureates can be associated with HU, including Einstein and Shrodinger.
  • HU students can study abroad for a semester or a year at partner institutions such as the University of Warwick, Princeton University, and the University of Vienna.
  • Explore research-based teaching right from the undergraduate level
  • You can make use of the various internship boards and the career centre to find job opportunities

Fees and Scholarship options

Every semester, an administrative fee of €315.16 must be paid. You can apply for any of the government scholarships should you require financial aid.

Eligibility

For undergraduate courses:

  • School leaving certificate
  • All undergraduate programmes are taught in German. So a minimum qualifying level of B2 for the preparatory courses or C1 for the undergraduate course is required.

For master’s programs:
Compared to the UG level, the graduate school offers a number of English-taught courses. The basic eligibility criteria is as follows:

  • A recognised undergraduate degree
  • Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL iBT of 100

Courses Offered and Admission Process

From European law to Molecular medicine, you can access the list of programmes taught in English here. For those applying from outside of the EU, your application must be submitted through uni-assist. After a preliminary evaluation by this centralised portal, it goes to the university.

8. Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)


Source: Wikidata

Also known as the Technical University of Berlin or TU Berlin is a member of TU9 and T.I.M.E (Top International Managers in Engineering). The university is known for offering its first degree in Industrial Engineering and Management in 1926-27.

Why is it good to study here?

  • Ranked 154 in the world and 8 in Germany
  • Has one of the highest percentages of foreign students at around 27%.
  • Is a University of Excellence
  • Global recognition for its science and engineering programmes

Fees and Scholarship options

University fees of €231 are charged every semester. The only exception is the continuing education master’s programmes.
Students can apply for funding via the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) for first degrees or first master’s degrees. Half of the amount granted is an award while the other half is treated as an interest-free loan. Students can also apply to any of the other government scholarships mentioned in the earlier section.

Eligibility

  • University entrance qualification / undergraduate degree for a bachelor’s and a master’s programme respectively
  • Telc Deutsch C1/ SDH II /  TestDaF at level 4 minimum or equivalent
  • IELTS/ TOEFL iBT scores for the Master’s programmes in English

Courses Offered and Admission Process

There are 19 Master’s programmes that are taught in English from Architecture typology to Urban management. You can access the entire list here. The applications are made online with uni-assist to ensure the validity of the qualifications submitted.

9. Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg


Source: University of Freiburg 

The University of Freiburg is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. It was set up in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty. Today, the university has 11 faculties and over 280 fields of study.

Why is it good to study here?

  • Ranked 192 in the world and 9 in Germany by QS World University Ranking
  • Over 20 Nobel laureates can be associated with Uni Freiburg
  • Is globally renowned for its research in renewable energy and sustainability

Fees and Scholarship options

The fee for international students is €1,500 per semester. The university in itself does not provide scholarships but students can apply for state-funded ones.

Eligibility

  • University entrance qualification / undergraduate degree
  • B2 English proficiency
  • Telc Deutsch C1/ SDH II /  TestDaF at level 4 minimum or equivalent

Courses Offered and Admission Process

The university has 29 programmes that are taught exclusively in English. To apply for these programmes, you must submit your application and upload your documents online at hochschulstart.de. Your application is evaluated based on your grades, your essay and the statement of purpose.


10. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen


Source: University of Tübingen

Often referred to as the University of Tübingen, it has been a pioneer of higher education since 1477. The university is renowned for its work in artificial intelligence, plant biology, medicine and law, among other fields.

Why is it good to study here?

  • Ranked 213 in the world by QS World University Rankings 2024
  • Home to 7 collaborative fully funded research centres and won over 50 ERC grants
  • Has over 200 programmes to choose from
  • You will have access to over 360 partner universities all over Europe and over 200 partners outside of the continent.

Fees and Scholarship options

The university only charges an enrolment fee of about €158 per semester. The university does not directly grant scholarships but students can apply for governmental financial aid.

Eligibility

University entrance qualification / undergraduate degree for a bachelor’s and a master’s programme respectively
Telc Deutsch C1/ SDH II /  TestDaF at level 4 minimum or equivalent
IELTS/ TOEFL iBT scores for the Master’s programmes in English
Note: Please refer to the university website for specific course admissions criteria.

Courses Offered and Admission Process

The university offers both bachelor’s and master’s courses in English. The undergraduate programmes are limited to the Faculty of Humanities. The faculties of Science, Neuroscience, Medicine and Economics all offer master’s programmes in English that do not require knowledge of German. The application is submitted online and the deadlines are July 15th for the winter semester and January 15th for the summer semester.

How to apply to free colleges in Germany?


While this is the top ten list, you can also look into the University of Hamburg, University of Cologne and the Cologne Business School, University of Göttingen, University of Bonn and the Goethe University in Frankfurt if you are looking for more options.

Now that you have all the information about the top public universities in Germany, how do you go about the application process? Each university has its own set of requirements and deadlines to keep up with. The prep work can get overwhelming. Here is how you can make the process simpler.

How to increase the odds of getting into German public universities?


Considering the reputation, high-quality education and financial advantage, it is no wonder that there is stiff competition to get into a public university when compared to a private university. What can you do to improve your chances? Let’s take a look.

Tip 1: Plan in advance

Becoming an international student is not something you can do on a whim. It requires a ton of planning and relentless work to build a profile that public universities will want. Academic excellence is non-negotiable. To get into world-class universities, you are looking at a minimum CGPA of 8.0 on a scale of 10. These are not goals you can reach at the last moment, two months before your application.

If it is something you are pursuing seriously, then you have to give yourself enough time to write, edit and proofread your essay or your research proposal.

Tip 2: Gain as much practical experience as you can

Whether mandatory or not, try and gain as much practical professional experience in the form of internships or apprenticeships. This will help set your application apart and will give you a deeper insight into the course.

Tip 3: Build a strong extra-curricular portfolio

Leadership skills, community involvement, creativity and critical thinking are all highly marketable skills in today’s world. Not only will they make you a well-rounded student but also open up more scholarship options for you. These skills will also help you during the admissions interview.

Tip 4: Learn the language

This is something you need to do, whether it is required or not. You will be spending a minimum of 2-3 years in Germany. It makes complete sense that you invest some time beforehand to learn the language. Not only is it a requirement in most public universities, but it also gives you a tremendous advantage while applying for scholarships and later for jobs.

Tip 5: Give yourself enough time to apply

Applying to these universities is not an overnight process. Give yourself enough time to collate the necessary transcripts, do the necessary translations and verifications, write your essays, collect your letters of recommendation and submit them in the right format before the deadline. Be organised and be prepared even to send the manual application via post to some of the universities.

Tip 6: Seek expert help

Lastly, but most importantly, talk to an expert. The entire process of finding the right university, preparing your portfolio, filling up the application and the scholarship application and submitting it in time can get overwhelming. The easiest way to reduce your stress is to sign up with TC Global. Having served a student community of over 2.5 million, our Relationship Members have the knowledge and the experience to help you find the ideal course and college.

Let us shape your future together. Alles Gute!

You May Also Like:



Date added
28.12.2023

Filed under:

Global Ed

Subscribe!

No spam, just your favourite topics.

Choose Insight topics that you are interested in to subscribe for your personalized newsletter.

A world
of possibilities awaits.
Join the movement.
Find your perfect university,
in one of 40 countries all over the world
Prepare for the future,
whether at university, business or in employment
Secure your future,
through STEM courses
Connect with leading international companies
and unlock the potential of your team
Fill in the form, so we can contact
you and start our journey together.