Germany’s popularity among international students is only increasing year by year, thanks to the country’s top-tier educational infrastructure and reduced tuition fees. Many Indians plan to do an MS in Germany, but Bachelors courses are no less desired.
Application to German universities can be done through two methods – either you can apply directly to the university, or you can apply via the centralized portal uni-assist.de/en/. However, do keep in mind that all German universities are not available on uni-assist, so in some cases you can only follow the first method. To help you plan your study in Germany, the application deadlines to top universities and courses are outlined in this article.
No admission restrictions
In addition to locally and nationally restricted programmes, there are programmes with no admission restrictions at all, i.e. usually no specific additional requirements you need to fulfil. In most cases, you can enrol if you have a general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur), an entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulreife), or certain other professional qualifications. You enrol directly with the higher education institution itself. However, these also have deadlines you need to observe.
Consider admission requirements
Most higher education institutions require you to register prior to enrolment and submit all necessary documents by a given date. These documents include your higher education entrance qualification certificate, CV, passport-size photograph, and proof of health insurance.
Further information about this can be obtained from the higher education institution’s website or from the student advisory service at the institution.
Application Deadlines for Top German Universities
There are many globally recognized top-ranking universities in Germany, who offer a variety of courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. You can find the general application deadlines to these German universities below.
Most German institutions have two intakes a year, i.e Summer and Winter semesters. As a general rule, winter semester applications close on 15 July while summer semester applications close on January 15, but it is not necessary that all universities and programs follow these exact dates.
| University | Study Level | Intake | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| LMU Munich | UG, PG | Summer | 15 January |
| Winter | 15 July | ||
| Technical University of Munich | Bachelors, Masters | Summer, Winter | Varies as per program |
| Studienkolleg | Winter | 15 July 2021 | |
| Summer | 15 January 2021 | ||
| Heidelberg University | Bachelors | Winter | 20 August 2020 |
| Summer | 15 January 2021 | ||
| Masters | Winter | 15 June | |
| Summer | 15 January | ||
| Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin | Bachelors | Winter | 15 July |
| Masters | Varies as per program | ||
| University of Tübingen | Bachelors, Masters | Winter | 15 July |
| Summer | 15 January | ||
| Humboldt University of Berlin | Bachelors, Masters | Winter | 31 August 2020 |
| Summer | 28 february 2021 | ||
| University of Freiburg | Bachelors, Masters | Summer | 9 April 2021 |
| RWTH Aachen University | Bachelors | Winter | 15 October |
| Summer | 15 April | ||
| Masters | Winter | 1 March | |
| Summer | 1 September | ||
| University of Bonn | Bachelors | Winter | 20 August |
| Summer | 15 January | ||
| Masters | Varies as per program | ||
| Free University of Berlin | Bachelors | Winter | 15 July |
| Summer | 15 January | ||
| Masters | Varies as per program | 31 May | |
| 15 August | |||
| 15 January | |||
| 15 February | |||
| University of Göttingen | Bachelors, Masters | Winter | 15 July |
| Summer | 15 January | ||
| University of Hamburg | Bachelors, Masters | Winter | 15 July |
| Summer | 15 January | ||
| International Masters | Winter | 31 March | |
| University of Mannheim | Bachelors | Fall | 15 July |
| Masters | Fall | 31 May | |
| Technical University of Berlin | Bachelors, Masters | Summer | 28 February 2021 |
| Winter | 31 August 2021 | ||
| Preparatory | Summer | 30 November 2020 | |
| Winter | 30 June 2021 | ||
| Ulm University | Bachelors, Masters | Winter | 15 July |
| Summer | 15 January | ||
| University of Würzburg | Bachelors, Masters | Winter | 15 July |
| Summer | 15 January | ||
| University of Cologne | Bachelors | N/A | 12 January 2021 |
| Masters | N/A | 15 June | |
| International Management, Economic Research | N/A | 31 March | |
TU Dresden | UG, PG | Winter | 15 July |
| Summer | 15 January | ||
| Doctoral | Winter | 15 September | |
| Summer | 15 March | ||
| Bielefeld University | Masters | Winter | 31 July |
| Summer | 15 january | ||
| University of Münster | Bachelors, Masters | N/A | 15 January 2021 |
| Doctoral | N/A | 15 May 2021 |
Certain courses like medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and dentistry are high in demand, hence they have a limited number of seats available. This is known as numerus clausus, and NC programs are likely to have earlier deadlines.
Germany University Admission Requirements For International Students
Germany is the most popular non-English speaking destination for international students worldwide. Well-known for its top universities offering high-quality and inexpensive education to students from inside or outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), there’s no wonder Germany is such a heaven for education.
If you have decided to study abroad in Germany, here are the steps you need to take to be admitted at an international university in “the Land of Ideas”.
German universities to consider for your studies abroad
Here are some top German universities you should consider for your study abroad adventure:
- University of Cologne
- SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences
- CBS International Business School
- IU University of Applied Sciences
- University of Bonn
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- GISMA Business School
- Hochschule Bremen – International Graduate Center
- University of Applied Sciences Europe – BiTS and BTK
How to apply to a university in Germany
Check if you meet the admission requirements of your chosen German university by contacting the university’s international office. You will need a higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung – HZB) or equivalent to be admitted.
Foreign students with qualifications outside the EU zone may have to sit a university entrance examination (Feststellungsprufung), after attending a preparatory course (Studienkolleg).
Even if you meet the admission requirements, you will often not be able to enrol directly. The most popular degree courses in Germany usually have certain restrictions called Numerus Clausus (NC). You will have to go through a selection process based on these restrictions. To avoid not being admitted because of course restrictions, it’s best to apply to more German universities at once.
Admission at German universities is based on the high school grade point average (GPA). The higher your score, the greater the chances of being admitted at your dream university.
Where to apply?
In Germany, some study disciplines are in very high demand, which is why there may be certain restrictions in place. These will influence the way in which you will apply for a university degree in Germany. The courses that follow this kind of admission procedure either have national or local admission restrictions. Current subjects with national NC restrictions:
- Architecture
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Veterinary Medicine
Where to apply for degrees with national restrictions
Students with university entrance qualification in Germany or at an EU/EEA member country apply through the Trust for admission to higher education (Deutsche Hochschulreife – Hochschulkompass).
Students without a German higher education entrance qualification, or from a non–EU/EEA country apply through Uni–assist or directly at the university.
Where to apply for degrees with local restrictions or no restrictions
If you want to apply for a degree with local restriction or no restrictions, it’s best to apply through Uni–assist or contact the local university.
Language requirements for German university application
Germany offers a very limited amount of undergraduate courses entirely taught in English. However, there are some courses that are taught both in German and English – a great way to advance your German skills during your Bachelor’s studies. Graduate students will find an increasing variety of English–taught degrees in Germany.
Two main German language tests are accepted by all universities in Germany:
- DSH (German language exam for university entrance) – available only in Germany
- TestDaF – available in 90 countries worldwide
If the course you plan to attend is partially taught in English, you will have to provide an English language certificate. The most popular are:
- IELTS Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- PTE Academic
Required university application documents
Each university sets its own admission criteria, but, generally, most of the following will be included:
- Certified copy of a high-school diploma or a previously completed degree
- Translation of the course modules and grades
- Passport photo(s)
- Copy of your passport
- Proof of language proficiency – German and/or English
- Motivation letter
- Application fee
An official authority should certify all the documents you submit.
University application deadlines in Germany
Students planning to enrol at German universities can start their studies either in winter or summer:
- The application deadline for the winter enrolment is 15th of July
- The application deadline for the summer enrolment is 15th of January
These application deadlines can vary from one higher education institution or study programme to another. Always check the dates and start your application process early on. It will give you an advantage if you need to resubmit some documents or something unexpected happens.
Free Tuition Universities in Germany
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Now you know the steps to take if you want to apply to study in Germany, perhaps we can delve into the tuition-free universities available in Germany to enable you to narrow down your choice.
If you want to apply for these free universities in Germany, that’s great! However, you have to be very smart at which universities you have to apply to maximize your chances. In order to increase your chances of free study in Germany, you need to contact universities that accept a high percentage of applicants. I mean, that’s common sense, right?
But first, where can I study in English language in Germany? I bet that’s the next thing on your mind now.
Where can I study in English Language in Germany?
From the beginning, you should know: if you plan to take a bachelor’s degree or even a Master’s degree at a German public university, you will have trouble finding a course taught in English because the absolute majority of them are taught in German.
The first question I can think of is which universities offer higher education in English. Nobody wants to choose a university simply because they offer programs in English, but studying in a language you understand, would determine the quality of the education you will receive.
One of the possibilities for you is to conduct an online search by consulting the websites of the universities to find out if they offer study programs in English. To alleviate this burden, we have compiled a list of universities offering the opportunity to study in English in Germany.
Here are some of the best list of universities in Germany that teach in English:
- Hochschule Mannheim –University of Applied Sciences
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- Berlin International University of Applied Sciences
- Bremen University of Applied Sciences
- Jacobs University
- Technische Universitat Munchen
- University of Gottingen
- Max Planck Institute
- Freie Universitat Berlin
- University of Freiburg
- Technische Universitat Dresden
- Munich University of Applied Sciences
- University of Bonn
- Saarland University
- University of Hohenheim
- Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
- Technische Universitat Kaiserslautern
- Universitat Hamburg
- ULM University
- HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management
- University of Bayreuth
- WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management
- University of Stuttgart
- RWTH Aachen University
- HTW Berlin
- Technische Universitat Berlin
- TU Darmstadt
- University of Erfurt
Entrance Requirement into a German University Taught In English
Admission requirements are similar to those taught in German. The main difference is that you have to demonstrate English proficiency in English-taught classes by sending a standardized test result, with TOEFL and IELTS which are the most common.
The following documents will be requested in other to be admitted into German University taught in the English language
- A recognized qualification
- Certified transcripts of your previous study notes
- Fluency test in English
- GRE or GMAT
- Motivation or reference letters (optional).
Your qualifications must meet the standards of German higher education, otherwise, you may not attend a normal university course. On this occasion, the University of your Choice may require you to complete a preparatory course to acquire the skills and knowledge you need to participate in the normal course you intended to study.
Depending on your English proficiency, there are several types of recognized grades accepted at German universities, but most often TOEFL and IELTS test grades are preferred.
The minimum admissions score is 80 for TOEFL and 6.5 for IELTS but varies depending on the university and the type of course. At the graduate level, English has a higher standard, which means that the minimum score is higher than that of the undergraduate courses.
In any case, we recommend that you achieve the best possible result, as this plays an important role in your admission, especially in high-demand universities where competition is fierce and the admission committees must have several performance elements.
The other standardized tests mentioned in the list are mainly needed in the business and commercial sectors. If you have chosen a course of this kind, you should be prepared to follow the GMAT or GRE as stated by the University of your choice.
List of Universities in Germany for International Students that are Tuition-Free
- Technical University of Munich
- Ludwig Maximilians University
- Heidelberg University
- Karlsruher Institute of Technology
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- Free University of Berlin
- RWTH University
- Technical University of Berlin
- University of Tubingen
- Albert Ludwig University
- Georg-Augusta University of Göttingen
- University of Hamburg
- University of Bonn
- Goethe University
- University of Stuttgart
- Darmstadt University of Technology
- TU Dresden
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