Study in Germany from India: 2026 guide
Last updated 2026-07-22 · every rule below is sourced and dated
Most public universities in Germany charge no tuition, including to Indian students, at bachelor's and most master's levels — you pay only a semester contribution. To get the student visa you must deposit a year of living costs (€11,904 for 2026) into a blocked account, and Indian applicants need APS certification.
Germany is the standout value destination: a tuition-free public-university system that applies to international students too, paired with a strong engineering and IT sector. The costs that catch people out are not tuition but the blocked account and the APS step. This page sets out both, plus the work rights, each traced to official German sources.
Why study in Germany?
- No tuition at most public universities — you pay only a semester contribution
- Hundreds of English-taught master's programmes in engineering, IT and the sciences
- The right to work a set number of days per year alongside study, and a post-study job-seeking route
Choose your level of study
This page covers Germany specifically. For how a degree level works across destinations — entry requirements, timelines and what we help with — see the level guides:
Costs, student visa and work rights
Tuition at public universities
Public universities charge no tuition for standard bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes, including for non-EU international students — you pay a semester contribution (a modest administrative fee that usually includes a transit pass). The exception is Baden-Württemberg, which charges non-EU students a tuition fee.
DAAD — German Academic Exchange Service · verified 2026-07-22
Blocked account (Sperrkonto)
To get the student visa you must show a year of living costs in a blocked account. The amount is €11,904 for 2026, released to you at €992 a month. The figure is set by the German authorities and adjusted most years — confirm the current amount at application.
German Federal Foreign Office / BAMF · verified 2026-07-22 · confirm before you rely on it
APS certification (India)
Indian students generally need an APS certificate (from the Academic Evaluation Centre) verifying their academic documents before applying for admission or the visa. Build this step into your timeline — it is a prerequisite, not an afterthought.
APS India (Academic Evaluation Centre) · verified 2026-07-22
Working during study
International students may work a limited number of days per year alongside their studies (commonly expressed as a set number of full or half days). Confirm the current allowance on the Federal Foreign Office or Make-it-in-Germany pages, as the rule is periodically updated.
Make it in Germany (Federal Government) · verified 2026-07-22 · confirm before you rely on it
Post-study stay
Graduates of a German university can apply to extend their residence permit to look for work related to their qualification. The job-seeking period and the follow-on work routes (including the EU Blue Card) are set by German law — confirm the current duration when you graduate.
Make it in Germany (Federal Government) · verified 2026-07-22 · confirm before you rely on it
Top universities in Germany
A starting shortlist of well-known institutions — not a ranking, and far from exhaustive. The right university depends on your subject, budget and where you want to work after.
- Technical University of Munich (TUM)
- RWTH Aachen University
- LMU Munich
- Heidelberg University
- TU Berlin
- TU Darmstadt
When are the intakes?
Two intakes: the Winter semester (starting around October, the main one) and the Summer semester (starting around April).
Get counselling for Germany
We counsel Indian students end to end — course and university shortlisting, the application, the Post-study job-seeker residence permit → EU Blue Card and the student-visa file. Tell us your subject and budget and we will map the realistic options.
More questions, answered
- Is it really free to study in Germany?
- Tuition is free at most public universities, including for Indian students, at bachelor's and most master's levels — you pay only a modest semester contribution. “Free” means no tuition, not no cost: you still need to cover living expenses, and Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students a tuition fee.
- How much money do I need for a German student visa?
- You must deposit a year of living costs into a blocked account — €11,904 for 2026, released to you at €992 a month. The amount is set by the German authorities and adjusted most years, so confirm the current figure when you apply. This is separate from any tuition and from the semester contribution.
- What is APS and do Indian students need it?
- APS certification verifies your academic documents through the Academic Evaluation Centre, and Indian students generally need it before applying for admission or the visa. It takes time to obtain, so start it early — treating it as a late-stage formality is a common cause of missed intakes.
Sources
- DAAD — German Academic Exchange Service
- German Federal Foreign Office / BAMF
- APS India (Academic Evaluation Centre)
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government)
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government)
Tuition, fees, fund levels and work-rights rules are set by governments and universities and change. Figures here are dated and marked where they must be confirmed at application. This is guidance, not immigration or legal advice — confirm the current rules for your own case before you commit.