A Quick Guide on how to Study in Germany for Almost Free
2 min readApr 18, 2021
- You will need B1+/B2 level german to attend a Studienkolleg. You will need C2 level german to attend most Hochschulen( Colleges). and Universities. B1+/B2 is the equivalent of AP German in high school. C2 is the proficiency level after completing a Studienkolleg. German proficiency can also be verified by taking a simple test from Goethe Institut.
- If you have B1+/B2 level german you can apply to any Studienkolleg in Germany. Here’s a list. Studienkolleg is a one year, two semester course which preps you for german Hochschulen or Universities. One semester usually costs 100 EUR. Once again C2 is the proficiency level after completing a Studienkolleg. If you already have C2 level german you can apply to universities and Hochschulen via Uni-Assist. Uni-Assist is the gateway to all german schools for foreigners. Uni-Assist will also inform you on whether you need to attend a Studienkolleg first. So you might as well send your application here as well. Application fees at Uni-Assist start at 75EUR. If you are accepted through Uni-Assist, Uni-Assist will forward your application to the desired school. Public Hochschulen and universities for the most part cost only a few hundred Euros per semester at most.
- You may need to book a flight and hotel to take entry exams. During this time it’s smart to look for housing. Housing is expensive in larger cities, but affordable in smaller cities. Students often share flats to reduce costs and WG-Gesucht is a primary portal used to find housing.
- Finally check if you need a visa. Visit a german consulate in your country.
- If you really are up to a challenge you can apply for a Duales Studium. You work while studying and get paid. This may allow you to afford studies in a more expensive city.
- Final pro tip. Send your applications in January so you can plan everything else.
