Studying in Germany – a unique experience

This is not only because you can get ill or have an accident any time, but also because you need to have proof of valid insurance when you apply for your student visa, residence permit and enrol for university.

• If you are a holder of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). basic health treatment is free in Germany. Since there are different services included in each country’s public health insurance, your insurance from home might not cover all medical expenses in Germany. Before leaving, check with your insurer what is included and if in doubt, get additional health insurance

Should you be privately insured in your home country and should the insurance be valid in Germany you need confirmation that you are exempt from mandatory public health insurance coverage in Germany in order to be able to enrol.

• If you are planning on studying at a private non-state-accredited university, 30 years and older, starting your 15th semester (or higher) or a doctoral student, you will need to get insured privately. Examples of private non-accredited universities are for example language schools or preparatory colleges (Studienkolleg). We offer private health insurance that suits the needs of international students.
• If you are a properly enrolled student at a state-accredited university you can choose between getting insured under the statutory insurance scheme or private insurance scheme.

DAK-Gesundheit is one of Germany's biggest statutory insurers, with comprehensive service and quality. You can book your insurance easily online Should you bring your whole family with you, your kids and spouse not currently employed, they will be insured under your statutory insurance as well at no cost.

But note: once you've opted for private health insurance you won't be able to switch to the statutory scheme at a later date.

There are three main visa groups. You belong to the first group if you are a citizen from a member country of the European Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Norway. Citizens from those countries don't need a visa. After you've arrived in Germany and moved in you just need to get registered at the local registration office. After you've done that, there's nothing that stops you from studying.

Germany has made visa agreements with several countries from a second visa group that
make the organizational effort for students seeking permission to study a lot easier. If you hold a passport from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand or the USA you don't need a special visa to travel into the country. If you are from Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco or San Marino you don't need a visa if you only come to Germany to study and don't intend to work before or after your study. As soon as you are in Germany you need to apply for a residence permit at the local Alien's Registration Office (Ausländeramt) if you are planning on staying more than 90 days.

Citizens with passports from other countries make up a third group and need to apply for a study visa at their home country's German Embassy or consulate before coming to Germany. Note that you need to enrol for your desired course before you apply for a visa. You will need an enrolment letter as well as proof of sufficient financial resources and health insurance. Some embassies might also require a medical certificate and proof of language ability. Even if you hold a valid student visa, you will still need to apply for a residence permit at the local Alien's Registration office once you are in Germany.

If you are only looking at attending a summer course, language course, foundation course or don't hold an enrolment offer yet, you will still need a visa but won't be able to apply for a study visa yet. You therefore need to apply for a study application visa. This visa is valid for up to three months and can be converted into a normal student visa later on if desired.

It is good to set a budget and calculate costs before you go, so there won’t be any nasty surprises on arrival.

Generally speaking, studying in Germany is cheaper than in countries like the USA or Great Britain. This is mostly due to the fact that state-run universities don’t charge study fees. You can virtually study in Germany for free. However you will still have to pay a small ‘semester fee’ after enrolling at most universities. Varying from one university to another, the fee is usually no higher than €300 per semester and mostly includes a ticket for unlimited public transport.

The cost of living highly depends on the area you will study in. While living costs in big cities like Berlin, Hamburg or Munich are very high, life in small university cities is quite affordable and still fun. How much you will need every month doesn’t only depend on the town you live in but also your lifestyle. But based on experience, 600 – 800 Euros will realistically get you through the month.

A lot of universities have very active student unions which organise cool parties and other activities. Most of them are completely free or at low-cost so you can go easy on the budget. Additionally your student ID gives you many opportunities to save as well. You get concessions at theatres, cinemas, opera houses and even retail shops.

A good option to fund your studies and take the financial weight off your shoulders is a scholarship. The main institution that awards scholarships to international students is the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD. Additionally, you can ask the International Office of your host university for more scholarship options and funding programs.

Many international students work while studying to make a bit of extra money. If you come to Germany on a student visa you are allowed to work 120 full days or 240 half days a year. As a citizen of the European Union there aren’t any restrictions at all. Gaining work experience in Germany is also a good chance for you to polish your CV. Nevertheless you still shouldn’t work more than 20 hours a week during the semester, to balance out your study and work life. Typical jobs for students are waiting, babysitting, office or promotional jobs. You can easily find one on notice boards, online or with the help of special job agencies that are associated with your university.

You will need to transact semester fees, pay your rent and settle bills.

A good option is to get a student ‘Girokonto'. This is a current bank account that also includes an EC-Card (debit card). You can pay cashless when using an EC-Card and usually don't get charged any fees when using it in shops, except in small shops, where you might need to pay small amounts in cash. In Germany it is more popular to pay with a debit card instead of a credit card.

Bank accounts can be opened online or by going to a bank branch and asking one of the consultants to open one for you. Make sure you take your passport and university enrolment letter with you since they are mandatory for opening a student bank account. If you would like to open a German bank account while you're still at home, it's best to consult a bank with international branches like the ‘Deutsche Bank'. Student bank accounts are free with some banks, so just make comparisons before opening an account.

In Germany, you are responsible for finding a flat yourself. Depending on the city you want to study in there are different costs for different housing options.

The most popular choice among international students and probably the cheapest option as well is renting a room in a residence hall. It is easy to get in contact with other students here, there are a lot of activities organized in the halls and they are usually really close to the campus. Because the rooms are so popular, you should apply early to get one. In contrast to other countries, you don't automatically get a room in a student hall once you've enrolled. Some universities offer a ‘Welcome Package' to international students; it guarantees a place in a hall of residence. These packages can be booked online, but they are usually limited and therefore gone quickly so it's advisable to look at some other accommodation options as well.

Many students live in private flat-shares (‘Wohngemeinschaften'). Either an existing flat-share looks for a new flatmate or several people team up and look at renting a flat together. Flat-shares are a good way to get in contact with the locals quickly, improve German language skills, make new friends but also save money. You split the rent and bills but also have a shared bathroom and kitchen. In contrast to a room in a residence hall, a flat-share will usually offer a little more privacy. You can look online for suitable flat-shares in your area.

If you are in need of a lot of private space, a flat-share might not be the best option for you. Then you can rent out an apartment by yourself. Note that this is probably the most expensive housing option. Depending on the city you study in, flats will start at 250 Euro and prices will go up to 700 Euro rent per month. You can start looking at apartments online from abroad, but it's possibly easier to find a nice flat once you have arrived in Germany.