Studying in Germany for Indian students comes with a lot of benefits because German universities are globally ranked and valued for their top-class quality. Their state-of-the-art facilities, countless funding options, research-based courses, award-winning curriculums, diverse and vibrant student community, plus a unique lifestyle ensures you get the best studying experience ever.
These features have turned them into a hub for talented international students who are willing to improve their academic and research capacities. And a lot of Indian students find themselves part of this group of scholars.
Indian students in Germany are the third largest group of international students. According to official statistics, in 2017/18 there were 17,570 Indian students studying in Germany.
But for many other students understanding the process of studying in Germany as an Indian student seems to be a bit difficult. If this has been the case with you, then don’t worry. Here’s our comprehensive guide to help you achieve your goal of studying in Germany.
Here is the process to study in Germany for Indian students:
Find Your University and Study Program
First and foremost, you need to decide what you actually want to study in Germany. Fortunately, there are countless options available as Germany counts over 380 recognized higher education institution where over 17,000 courses are taught. So, finding one won’t be that hard, unless you don’t have clear and defined future goals.
Carrying out an online research to collect names of all those universities and course modules is a solution, but not recommended as it may take you a lot of time. Instead, you can check our comprehensive database of universities in Germany to help you navigate through all of them.
What you can do at this point is you can skim through their course schemes and see if there are German universities that offer precisely what you are looking for. From there you can come up with a shortlist of universities and courses that you think would best fit your academic goals.
Finally, it will be easier for you to sort out the best options and choose the one you prefer.
Hint: Don’t underestimate this stage of your studying experience in Germany and get as much time as you need to decide. For that, we suggest you start collecting information well in time, a month or two before the application call is opened.
German University Requirements for Indian Students
Now that you have set your goal it’s time to know what you need to do to achieve it. You need to check the entrance requirements at the University of your choice.
For that, open the university’s website and read carefully their entry requirements section. Take notes if necessary and make a plan to complete each requirement one by one. If there’s anything you don’t understand about the procedures never hesitate to reach the university by email and ask them a few questions.
Note that entry requirements to study in Germany for Indian students change from university to university and depending on the chosen course.
Indian students who want to study in Germany for a Bachelor’s degree must submit the following documents:
Entrance Qualification
Transcript of Grades
Proof of Language Proficiency
ID or Valid Passport Copies
Letter of Motivation (Optional)
As for language proficiency, keep in mind that there is hardly any undergraduate study program in Germany offered in the English language.
Also, note that if you haven’t attended any year of master’s studies in India you will only be allowed to study in certain subjects as they expect you to complete a preparatory course.
Indian students who want to study in Germany for a Master’s degree must submit the following documents:
Recognized Bachelor Degree
Transcript of Grades
Proof of Language Proficiency (German or English)
Motivation Letter
Important References
Work Experiences (Optional)
University Application Process for Indian Students
After you have completed the application documents it is time for you to submit your university application. You can carry out the application online, by post or in person. Note that although the online application is the most frequent, there are universities in Germany, which only admit applications by post or in person.
Most German universities are part of the UniAssist platform which allows you to apply online for the chosen course. On the other hand, there are still universities that run their personal online application platforms. Either way, you will have to submit the application paperwork in PDF or JPG format.
Getting The University Admission Letter
After you have successfully submitted your application you must wait for the university’s admission board to check your application. You must be aware that German universities collect a large number of international applications, therefore, the processing of your application takes time.
In normal conditions, the university will send you an email to confirm whether you’re given or not a place at their institution within several weeks.
German Student Visa For Indian Students
To study in Germany as an Indian student, you have to get a visa beforehand. Once you receive the admission letter, you print it out and go to the German embassy located in your home country. Officers working there will list the documents and the procedures you must go through to apply for a student visa to study in Germany.
The most important documents for a student visa to study in Germany for Indian students are the followings:
University Admission Letter.
Proof of Financial Resources “Finanzierungsnachweis”.
Proof of Health Insurance Coverage.
University Entrance Qualification.
Proof of Language Proficiency
One of the most important documents is your German Blocked Account confirmation letter that proves you have enough finances to study and live in Germany as an international student for one year. Read more about the German Blocked account.