Germany, often regarded as the land of ideas and opportunities, has joined the league of nations like the United States, United Kingdom and Australia in terms of providing quality education. The country has always been a study hub for most Indian and other foreign students. Several public universities in Germany run with a belief that every student has a right to learn - even if they have to allow it for free.
Almost all the public universities provide free education in Germany for Indian students. This has made the country one of the top preferences for international students. Its excellent high-tech education, wide range of courses with no to less tuition fees, and affordable cost of living is creating a buzz in the education industry. However, there are a lot of foreign students, who still do not have an idea how Germany provides access to free education for foreign students or how they can study in Germany for free.
Is Education Free in Germany?
Undoubtedly, yes. Education in Germany is mostly free. International students are only needed to pay for their living expenses, which makes their stay quite affordable in the country as related to other study abroad destinations. This is one of the major factors that has captivated not only Indian students but also other foreign candidates to study in Germany.
Apart from the fact that Germany offers free education for Indian students, the country is also known for its high-quality education and culture. Several international students are considered not only for their zero-tuition fees scheme but also for their post-study job opportunities in Germany.
Although international students can study for free in Germany, there is a fee charged every semester that ranges between EUR 200 - 500 per semester. The fees vary as per courses and universities. With this, they are also entitled to a lot of benefits like a bus pass, rail pass, library fees and many more things.
Want to Study in Germany for Free?
Like every other nation, Germany also has two types of universities - public and private. A huge number of footfalls can be witnessed every year for public universities in Germany due to its low-cost education with no compromise in quality. While private universities are a bit more expensive as compared to public universities. They also have smaller class sizes with high quality of education standards. So, it is better to do thorough research before applying to any of the universities.
Universities Offering Free Education in Germany
Over 3,000 universities exist in the country, out of which 350-400 institutes provide free education in Germany for Indian students. These universities either run with a no-tuition fees policy or charge very low to a bare minimum service fee. Let us check out some of the top universities that provide free education in Germany for Indian students:
University |
Tuition Fees |
Semester Fees (in EUR) |
University of Cologne |
NA |
250 |
NA |
129 |
|
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg |
NA |
127 |
NA |
75 |
|
Julius Maximilian University of Wrzburg |
NA |
129.90 |
RWTH Aachen University |
NA |
300.19 |
Ruhr University Bochum |
NA |
330 |
NA |
352.59 |
|
University of Mnster |
NA |
311.13 |
Note: The list of universities given above does not charge any tuition for most of the courses. However, some universities may charge a minimal tuition fee along with a semester fee depending on the type of programme and course. Laboratory-based courses or medical programmes may incur additional charges. Thus, students are advised to check the university website and respective course pages for details information regarding tuition and semester fee.
Steps to Study in Germany for Free
Maximum state-funded institutions offer free education in Germany for Indian students and other foreign candidates. Certain universities waive tuition fees or provide scholarships that help pay the entire tuition fees for these students. So, to avail of this fantastic learning scheme in the country, international students have to follow a few steps to apply to renowned universities in Germany:
Select University
There are over 300 universities in Germany that offer free education to Indian and other international students. Certain institutes ask for GRE or GMAT scores, English proficiency test (if applying for English-taught programmes), Statement of Purpose (SOP), Letter of Recommendation (LOR), etc while applying for admission. While some universities also require a basic knowledge of the German language. For this, international students can take TestDAF to showcase and prove their German language skills.
Select the Right Course
It all begins with the right course selection. Choose the course that the candidate wants to pursue in Germany. The country serves a plethora of courses i.e over 17,000 programmes to study in Germany for international students. Most of the courses are conducted in the German language, so make sure to check which programmes are available in English as a medium of instruction.
Check Tuition Fees
As it has been clear as of now that German universities offer low to zero cost education to international students, there are still a few that charge tuition fees. Not all the universities in the country offer free education, so it is better to check the tuition fee and other details related to payment before applying. Even if the college does not require any tuition fees, the candidate still has to show their bank statement and deposit money in the blocked account. This amount varies from state to state.
Check Accommodation and Living Cost
The average monthly expenses of an international student highly depend on the accommodation and living costs. If the student is living in a cheap city like Berlin or Cologne, then the expenses are much less compared to students living in Munich or Frankfurt. So, if a student wants to save money, they can also go to residence halls. However, for this, they have to apply early as maximum students prefer this option.
Apply for the University and Course
Once the student has decided, now it's time to apply for the perfect university and course. Start the application process and fill in all the required details. Attach all the documents and submit the application before the deadline. After receiving the acceptance letter, candidates should quickly apply for a German student visa.
Scholarships to Study in Germany for Free
Apart from providing free education in Germany for Indian students, the country offers a range of scholarships across the world. These scholarships back the international students by waiving their tuition fees. Here are some of the prominent scholarships through which students can minimise their tuition fees to get an education at a bare minimum cost:
-
DAAD Scholarship Programs: This scholarship is specially designed for students pursuing masters and doctorate courses.
-
Deutschland Stipendium National Scholarship Programme: This scholarship is available for all programmes.
-
The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Scholarship: This scholarship is specifically for doctorate programmes.
-
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarships in Germany for International Students: It is for students pursuing postgraduate, doctorate and research programmes.
-
Heinrich Bll Foundation Scholarships: This scholarship is for students pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate programmes.
What is the Cost Of Living in Germany for International Students?
As there are barely any tuition fees at public universities, the cost of living for international students in Germany generally hovers around EUR 700 per month. The average cost of living includes food, rent, transportation and other miscellaneous expenses.
Generally, international students prefer to study in Berlin, Hamburg or Cologne, which are one of the cheapest cities in Germany. In these cities, international students can get food and accommodation at a much lower cost. On the other hand, Munich and Frankfurt are a bit more expensive places to live.
Below we have given an overview of the typical cost of living in Germany for international students:
Item |
Average Cost/ Month (in EUR) |
Rent and utilities |
300 - 500 |
Food and drink |
200 - 250 |
100 |
|
Phone and internet |
30 |
Leisure |
50 - 100 |
On average, a student's monthly cost of living can be EUR 700 - 850 depending largely on which city they are living in and what rent cost.
Student Visa for Free Education in Germany for Indian Students
Like every other foreign destination, international students need to apply for a residence permit or student visa in Germany. To stay more than 90 days (three months) in the country, foreign students need to demonstrate to the immigration officer that they have sufficient funds in a Blocked Account for one year. The minimum amount varies as per state.
An international student's study permit has a validity of two years. However, if the course is longer than the specified two years, then foreign students can renew their visas accordingly. Make sure to keep all the visa-related documents in Germany, including the previous academic qualifications, test scores and acceptance letter as the immigration officers can ask for verification.
Availing of free education, especially in a foreign country, is always a dream for various students. Fulfilling the same, Germany has given access to free education to thousands of international students who wanted to pursue their dream courses at a bare minimum cost.
Students who are aspiring to study abroad with zero to no cost can definitely add Germany to their top study abroad destinations. The country is not only famous for providing high-quality education at a low cost, but also for its culture and lifestyle which makes it more comfortable for international students to feel at homein the country.
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