Study In Germany

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Study In Germany

Germany offers good quality education to international students with globally ranked universities that offer various courses, degrees, and scholarships, with a promise of high employability across the globe. Germany is also known for its rich culture and affordable cost of living and education. It is a popular destination for international students.

Universities in Germany offer a lot of courses and degrees. The students can choose from the following options:

  • Foundation Courses
  • Study Programs
  • German language courses
  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Master’s Degree
  • PhD Degree

Types of Student Visas for International Students and their Validity

Non- EU or non- EEA students need to apply for one of the following types of German student visa depending upon the course selected by them:

  • Student Visa/National Visa:It is the most popular type of German student visa for students who have been accepted by a German university. It is valid for the first 3 months and the student will have to apply for the Residence Permit before the expiration of the Student Visa to be able to stay for a period of over 3 months.
  • German Student Applicant Visa:This visa is a short-term visa for students who have not yet been granted admission to a German university. This visa gives the students a chance to visit university campuses in person and make a better judgment. The visa is only valid for 3 months but upon being accepted to a German university, the student can extend their visa by 6 months.
  • German Language Course Visa:This visa is available to international students who are looking to study a German language course from Germany. The validity of this visa is up to 1 year.
  • Student Schengen Visa:This is a less popular approach for international students. This visa is only valid for 3 months and cannot be extended. This visa might be a good option for international students looking to take short-term language/art courses.

It is very important to apply for the right type of visa. In case the applicant tries to study while on a tourist visa, they will be required to leave the country as soon as their visa expires. Also, visa conversion is not a possibility while in Germany.

The cost of applying for a German visa depends upon the type of visa being applied to. The cost can vary anywhere from 60 euros to 80 euros. While Schengen Visa costs 80 euros, a German Student Visa costs 75 euros.
Remember: The visa fee is non-refundable and the applicant will not get their money back if they are denied the visa.

There are certain prerequisites to applying for a German Student Visa to be fulfilled before moving forward with the visa process

  1. Applying to a German University.

2. German language proficiency.

3. Financial resources to cover up the costs.

4. Applying for health insurance.

5. English language proficiency

Documents Required to Apply for German Student Visa

  1. Visa application form – filled out in entirety and signed
  2. A valid passport
  3. 2 copies of the passport – A4 size. In case the applicant has an expired passport, that needs to be submitted along with the current valid passport
  4. Two recent biometric portrait photographs, with a neutral gray color as the background and 80% face area
  5. Birth certificate
  6. Marriage certificate/child certificate – if applicable
  7. Copies of any previous German visas – if applicable
  8. Copy of university acceptance letter confirming the course admission or conditional admission letter
  9. Previous academic qualifications – translated if needed which includes original school leaving certificate and college degrees (if applying for graduate courses)
  10. Curriculum vitae mentioning previous internships or work experiences
  11. Proof of financial resources
  12. Proof of health insurance coverage
  13. German Higher Education Entrance Qualification or HZB requirements fulfilled based upon the course being enrolled in
  14. Motivational letter
  15. Proof of German language proficiency
  16. Proof of English language proficiency
  17. Proof of payment of visa application fee

EU and non-EEA students have a limit on the number of hours they can work. They cannot work more than 120 full days or 240 half days in a year.

After completion of the course, international students can choose to stay and work in Germany by applying for a work permit. They will have to apply to Federal Employment Agency and the Foreigners’ Authority to get a work visa which is usually valid for 3 years.