Applying to University Abroad from Germany: A Guide for Students and Families
Thinking about studying in the United States, United Kingdom, or elsewhere in Europe after finishing school in Germany? With so many universities, degree programs, and application systems to explore, knowing where to begin can feel overwhelming.
Whether you are working toward the Abitur or attending an international school, a thoughtful plan can help you find universities that suit your interests, academic strengths, and budget. Here are some of the questions I hear most often from students and families in Germany.
Thinking about earning your bachelor’s degree outside Germany? Whether you are considering the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, or another European country, understanding your options and application requirements is the first step.
Whether you are working toward the Abitur or attending an international school, a thoughtful plan can help you find universities that suit your interests, academic strengths, and budget. Here are some of the questions I hear most often from students and families in Germany.
When should I start planning for university abroad?
I recommend starting in grades 9 or 10, before important subject choices are finalized. You do not need to know exactly what you want to study or where you want to go. These early years are an opportunity to explore your interests and understand which decisions could affect your future options.
A useful starting point is:
Grades 9–11: Research possible subjects and careers, review course choices, and explore your interests through projects, volunteering, work experience, clubs, or summer opportunities that help you make informed decisions about your future studies.
Early planning is particularly useful before students finalize subjects for their last years of school. I work backward from possible degree interests and destinations to identify requirements worth investigating now. The aim is to keep suitable options open without asking a teenager to decide their entire future.
Penultimate school year (11th or 12th): Continue building resume and gaining experience to help you choose your college major, research universities, compare entry requirements and costs, and make a testing and application plan.
Summer before and during your final school year (12th or 13th): Complete applications, arrange school documents and references, and meet any scholarship deadlines.
The exact timeline depends on your school system and possible study destinations. If you are already further along, you can still benefit from a focused plan.
How do I compare U.S., U.K., and European universities?
Start with what you want from your education, rather than a list of famous university names and rankings (I don’t want to hear about rankings).
Would you like flexibility to explore different subjects, or are you ready to focus on a particular degree? Do you prefer a large campus community or a smaller institution? Which languages would you feel comfortable studying in?
When comparing options, consider:
Course content and flexibility
Academic and language requirements
Teaching style and assessment methods
Tuition, living expenses, and potential financial support
Location, accommodation, and student life
Internships and opportunities connected to your interests
This all varies significantly even within each country. Before recommending universities to my students, I consider several factors: the student’s school qualification and subject choices, their academic and extracurricular interests, their learning style, and the family’s financial priorities. A university may offer an appealing program, but it belongs on the list only after we have checked both academic eligibility and practical fit.
Can I apply to U.S. universities with the Abitur?
Yes—students pursuing or holding the German Abitur can apply to U.S. universities. You do not need to change to an American school curriculum to consider this route. In fact, many U.S. universities award college credits to students entering with strong Abitur grades, as it is considered a more advanced high school diploma.
See University of Michigan’s Abitur credit policy
See NYU’s Abitur credit policy
Requirements differ by university and intended degree. Review any required or recommended subjects before choosing your courses for the upper secondary years, including advanced-level subjects/Leistungsfächer.
Note the other application requirements which vary by institution; these may include school transcripts, recommendations, essays, standardized testing, and evidence of English proficiency.
Ask your school early who can help provide the required documents. You should also check whether translations are needed and how the university wants your academic records submitted.
What if I attend an international school in Germany?
Students attending international schools may be preparing for the IB Diploma, A-levels, a U.S. high school diploma, or another qualification. Your planning should reflect both your curriculum and the universities you are considering.
For American expat families, the process is not much different than if you were an international student.
I help families understand which questions to ask and how to present a student’s education and international experiences clearly.
Can my IB subjects affect my university options?
Yes. Subject choices can be particularly important when you are considering a degree with specific mathematics, science, or language prerequisites.
Before selecting your IB subjects and Higher Levels, investigate the requirements for several potential programs. This is especially helpful if you are considering more than one country, where expectations or regulations may differ.
You do not need a final university list at this stage. The goal is to make informed choices that suit your strengths while keeping realistic options open.
How can a private college counselor (independent educational consultant) support me?
Private counseling provides individual guidance and a structured plan alongside the support available at school.
I help students explore potential majors, research universities, compare countries, organize deadlines, and prepare applications. For younger students, our work can begin with subject choices, career and personality assessments, activities and summer opportunities, and identifying what they want from university.
Your school remains an essential partner, particularly for official transcripts, school references, and other documents. My role is to complement that support and help your family manage the wider planning process.
University planning support for families in Germany
Based in Pullach, just outside of Munich, I work online with German students, American expats, and international-school families across Germany and internationally. My approach combines thoughtful university research with personalized guidance, helping students make informed decisions and take ownership of their next steps.
Whether you are just beginning to explore studying abroad or are ready to build your university list, we can develop a plan that fits your goals.
Learn more about my university admissions counseling services for students in Germany
How to Apply to German Universities
Over the last few years, the number of international students choosing to study in Germany has grown to over 380,000. With most public universities extending free tuition even to international students, the cost alone is a big draw. Add that to the safety of the country, availability of programs in English, opportunity for an international experience and easy travel within Europe, ability to work as a student and get an extended visa post study, and the high-quality education offered, it is easy to understand why students are interested in attending university in Germany.
Applying to University in Germany
Over the last few years, the number of international students choosing to study in Germany has grown to over 380,000. With most public universities extending free tuition even to international students, the low cost alone is a big draw. In addition, the safety of the country, availability of programs in English, opportunity for an international experience and easy travel within Europe, ability to work as a student and get an extended visa post study, and the high-quality education offered are major reasons international students are interested in attending university in Germany.
How much does it cost?
Public universities other than those in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg are free for both EU citizens and other international students. Students will need to calculate 700-1000 Euros/month for living expenses in addition to an administrative fee of 300-400 Euros/semester. This often includes public transportation for the semester. In Baden-Wurttemberg, public tuition for non-EU citizens is 1500 Euros/semester. Private universities costs can amount to up to 30,000 Euros depending on the school.
How to Apply
As with other countries, applying to university in Germany as an international and non-EU student is a bit different than for citizens. Unfortunately, there is not one streamlined process as it varies by school and program of choice. 170 universities use the central system, uni-assist, to process the documents and applications of international students. Students typically apply via the program and mail certified copies of their application documents to the system to be processed. They are then verified through the program and the results forwarded to the universities. Other universities use the platform solely for verifying the documents and then require the students to submit a separate application to the school itself (a process known as VPD – preliminary review documentation). Programs such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy have a nationwide limit (Numerus Clausus). Many other programs of study have a regional or university limit. Universities may have additional criteria such as entrance tests, portfolios, or recommendation letters materials in addition to the general requirements. Whatever the program of study and university may be, it is very important to follow the instructions given by the university on how to apply with your specific background.
Students can typically start during summer (March) or winter (September) semesters. Application periods are usually early May to July 15th for the winter semester and early December to January 15th for the summer semester.
Hamburg, a popular student city
The General Application Requirements for international students:
Certified copies of high school diploma/leaving certificate also known as the university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung)*
Not all diplomas and leaving certificates are eligible for direct entry to a university or to some programs. To find out how yours will be evaluated, use the search tool on Uni-Assist and Anabin.
If your country requires the passing of an exam to enter university, provide a certified copy and translation of results.*
Copy of all transcripts/overview of subjects taken and grades*
Proof of language proficiency – level of German and English required varies by university, check their criteria individually. Proof of proficiency can be shown in several ways.
German proficiency can be proven via the DSH test (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) which is given at universities, TestDaF (German test for non-native speakers) given at various test centers around the world, the Deutsches Sprachdiplom or certificates from the Goethe-Institut.
English proficiency can be proven via the IELTS or TOEFL examination, graduation from an English speaking school (only in certain countries), Cambridge English Language Certificates, and sometimes but rarely, having taken English as a subject in school.
Application fees – if applying via Uni-Assist, the fees are 75 Euros for the first application and 30 Euros for each additional. This includes each subject applied for.
*These documents must be in English or German, if they are not, you will need to provide certified translations of the certified copies. For detailed information on the certification and translations of documents, check out uni-assist. Confirm document language requirements with the universities.
German University Prep Course (Studienkolleg)
Students who do not meet the standards for direct entry to a university or a particular program of interest are recommended to apply to the Studienkolleg. Studienkolleg is a 2 semester college prep program which concludes in an exam to test the student’s levels of German and Math for university entry (Festellungsprüfung). The Studienkolleg is offered at many public universities, universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) and private schools and students can choose to take specialized courses depending on what they want to study in university. The cost of these programs is typically 100-400 Euros/semester for public programs and can be more for private. Students need to calculate an additional 700-900 Euros/month for living expenses. Application for Studenkolleg can be done via the uni-assist page or the school itself. Spaces are limited and students typically need a German level of at least B1 to apply.
Visa Requirements
Visa requirements vary by citizenship. Citizens of the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland can enter the country using a valid ID card and register as residents after finding accommodation. Citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Israel and several other countries can enter the country without a visa, but will need to apply for a residence permit as they are only permitted to stay for 3 months without one. Seek advice from the German embassy or consulate in your country to get exact details on visa requirements.
If you require a visa to enter the country, you must apply for a student visa or prospective student visa before leaving your country. The documents you will most likely need are:
Passport valid for time of stay
Health insurance coverage certificate
Public health systems from various countries will cover a student while studying in Germany. If not, the student will need to find insurance valid in Germany which can be from a company in another country or a public company in Germany. For verification of which insurances are valid, contact the university directly.
Proof of financial resources
As of January 1, 2021 students are required to have proof of a minimum of 10,332 Euros for one year of study in Germany. There are various ways to demonstrate this such as proof of income of parents, documentation of someone in Germany who will assist you financially if needed, receipt of scholarships and/or banking statements. The best way to establish proof is to allocate this amount in a separate ‘locked’ account through a German bank which will not be available to use until your arrival in Germany (Sperrkonto).
Either a university entrance qualification recognized in Germany (can be provided through Uni-Assist for prospective student status) or letter of acceptance from German university (for student visa)
Certificate of language proficiency, German and/or English depending on program of study
While it may seem overwhelming to put together an application to study in a foreign country, there are many great resources available to help. Remember, the international student office at each university will be the most reliable source of information and place to get your questions answered. Start early to give yourself time to research requirements, form a solid list of universities and programs of interest, gather all of the documents needed and get them processed.