Here’s how you can study in Germany for free

Germany is one of the greatest beacons of hope for international students looking to study abroad for free. Although there are many caveats and tangents associated with free education in Germany, we will still try to simplify the process of how to study abroad in Germany for free, in this blog post.

The truth of free education in Germany

All the public universities in Germany offer free education to all students. This is a unique opportunity for all international students dreaming of studying in Germany. But it’s not without a strong set of stipulations. While public universities are free, if you decide to apply to any of the private universities, you are required to pay the standard tuition fees accordingly.

The other stipulation is the difference between ‘consecutive’ and ‘non-consecutive programs’. Since consecutive programs are acquired right after your graduation, most programs are free of cost. However, some programs such as MBA require you to demonstrate work experience and hence, are ‘non-consecutive’. These programs usually charge tuition fees.

Note: Despite the public universities offering free education in Germany, you may also need to pay an application fee.

List of requirements for studying in Germany

There’s a lot of research that goes into applying for a university in Germany.

1. The very first thing you need to do is find out if your qualifications are accepted by the German university that you apply to. Before you study in Germany, you are required to have a Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB), meaning ‘higher education entrance qualification’.
2. Conduct extensive research and find a program and a university that best suits your scores as well as preferences.
3. Be sure to check the university language requirements. Ideally, you are required to submit proof of proficiency in the German language up to B2 level for applying to a partially German taught program and basic B1 level for English taught programs.
4. Submit your scores of tests such as GRE, GMAT, IELTS /TOEFL, etc. along with your past education scores and the relevant documents.
5. It is mandatory for you to have health insurance to cover your health benefits while you study in Germany. Make sure your health insurance is valid in Germany and you acquire it before you apply for your German student visa.

Finding the perfect program

If you have made up your mind to get free education in Germany, start looking for the universities that actually offer post and undergrad programs without any tuition fee. It is important to mention here that not all German universities offer free courses. Only public universities have this facility.

There are 48 German universities regarded as some of the best in the world. Not only that, but German universities offer more than 500 programs(Bachelors and Masters)with courses in both German and English language. We would strongly recommend international students to opt for English courses.

Even if you have achieved certain proficiency in German, it is not easy to switch to a different academic language altogether after 12-14 years of studying in English or your native language.

Cost of studying in Germany

Even if you get the fee waiver for your university program, that is only half the battle. You still have to arrange finances for your commute, accommodation, and other living costs. Keep in mind that accommodation costs can be pretty high in big cities like Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt. So, also keep this thing in mind while choosing and shortlisting tuition-free universities in Germany.

Scholarships are the only way forward for international students looking to study in Germany for free. There are three avenues that you can try to make your entire student expedition in Germany free of cost.

1) The Deutschlandstipendium

This scholarship is the result of a public-private partnership. In these student scholarships, a private entity (any company or individual) and the German government pledged to share the burden of each individual student equally. And it’s the discretion of a university administration to select the scholarship holders of Deutschlandstipendium.

2) DAAD Scholarships

The German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD is the largest German support organization with respect to international academic co-operation. DAAD scholarships cater to thousands of international students striving for free education in Germany. Students going for free post-grad study in Germany have a better shot at DAAD grants.

3) Erasmus+

Erasmus + is a European student exchanging scheme that can help you in your goal to study in Germany for free. It is worth mentioning that all these scholarships are more or less available to individuals that have maintained an exceptional academic record throughout. However, there are many of such deserving students out there and building your profile to match scholarship requirements is something that might definitely help.

Shortlisting is not as easy as it looks

• Shortlisting public universities offering free courses in English for the degree you want to pursue is not an easy task. 
• The public universities in Germany are free, however, the private universities have standard tuition fees.
• Consecutive programs after your graduation are free of cost.
• Non-consecutive programs such as MBA require work experience and hence usually charge tuition fees.
• Check the language requirements of your university. 
• Make sure to have health insurance to cover your health benefits while you study in Germany. 

We hope you liked this blog about how you can study in Germany for free. If you have any doubts, feel free to reach out to us. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below!

iSchoolConnect uses unique AI technology along with our personal consultants to shortlist the universities for you based on your scores and the programs of your choice.

Liked this blog? Read: 7 easy steps to apply for a student visa in Germany

Happy studying!

FAQs

1. Can I study for free in Germany?

Answer- All students (domestic and international) can study at public universities in Germany for free. However, they may be some admission fees and other costs per semester. 

2. Can I study in Germany in English for free?

Answer- Yes, there are around 220 universities in Germany that offer programs in English, including non-EU students. These are also public universities, so the cost is free/low. 

3. Is Germany good for Indian students?

Answer- Of course. Germany is one of the best cities for education as you have more learning opportunities while also saving money. Not to mention better job opportunities.