Study in Germany for Indian Students: Costs, APS, Routes

To study in Germany, Indian students need three things: an admission route that German universities accept for an Indian Class XII or degree, an APS certificate from the German Embassy's Academic Evaluation Centre (fee ₹18,000), and proof of €11,904 for the first year, usually in a blocked account. Most public universities charge no tuition, but two important exceptions exist, and a semester contribution of €100–350 applies everywhere.

Most pages on this topic are written by consultants. This guide uses only official sources fetched in October 2026: the DAAD India office, APS India, the German Embassy in New Delhi, and the universities and state ministries that set fees. Rules change, so check each one again before you pay anything.

Photo: Burkhard Mücke, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What are the requirements for Indian students to study in Germany?

The German Embassy's student visa page (last updated 16 February 2026) and the DAAD India brochure list the same core requirements:

An admission letter from a German university or a Studienkolleg (preparatory college).
An APS certificate, which verifies your Indian school and university documents. It is a precondition for the student visa unless you are exempt (for example PhD applicants, holders of German or EU public scholarships, and IB holders).
Proof of funds for the first year: €11,904 in a blocked account, from which you can withdraw no more than €992 a month. A formal declaration of commitment from a sponsor living in Germany, or proof of a scholarship, can replace it.
Health insurance valid from your date of arrival.
A language certificate in the language of instruction. For degree studies the Embassy generally expects level C1; APS India says that without a preparatory language course, at least B2 is required as a rule.

Step 1: Check which admission route fits your qualification

This is where Indian applicants most often go wrong. A Class XII certificate alone does not give direct entry to a German bachelor's degree. According to DAAD India, you are eligible for a bachelor's programme if you meet one of these conditions:

Studienkolleg plus Feststellungsprüfung. A Studienkolleg is a full-time foundation course in Germany, usually up to two semesters, that ends with an assessment exam (Feststellungsprüfung). To enter, you need a Class XII certificate with the right subject combination, German at roughly B1/B2 level, and a pass in the Studienkolleg's own entrance exam. Students with Class 10 followed by a diploma are not eligible.
One year of a bachelor's degree in India at a recognised university, in the same or a related subject.
A pass in JEE Advanced, for courses in technology and the natural sciences.
IB or a similar international qualification with the required subjects.

DAAD also notes that a TestAS score is required for school leavers applying for the APS certificate.

For a master's degree, your Indian bachelor's degree is the basis. Universities set their own grade and subject requirements, and German grading runs the opposite way to Indian percentages (1.0 is the best grade), so see how your marks convert in our guide to what counts as a good GPA.

Can I study in Germany after 12th?

Yes, but in most cases not directly. After Class XII, the usual paths are a Studienkolleg (which means learning German first) or a year of university in India before applying. JEE Advanced is the exception that opens technical and science courses directly.

Step 2: Choose a university and check its fees

Germany has two main types of institution. Universities and technical universities (TU) are research-oriented and can award doctorates. Universities of applied sciences (FH/HAW) are practice-oriented and focus on engineering, business, social sciences and design. DAAD notes that most bachelor's programmes are taught in German, with only some in English. Its International Programmes database lists the English-taught options.

If you want to compare universities by research output, the EduRank ranking of the best universities in Germany places Heidelberg University at #49 in the world and the Technical University of Munich at #85. Our Germany country page covers cities and student life.

Is education free in Germany for Indian students?

At most public universities, yes for tuition, but not completely free. Every student pays a semester contribution of €100–350, according to DAAD, which usually covers administration and student services. Two exceptions matter for Indian applicants:

| Where | Tuition for non-EU students | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Most public universities | No tuition fee; €100–350 semester contribution | DAAD India |
| Public universities in Baden-Württemberg (e.g. Heidelberg, KIT, Stuttgart) | €1,500 per semester (since winter 2017/18) | Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science |
| Technical University of Munich, bachelor's | €2,000 or €3,000 per semester | TUM |
| Technical University of Munich, master's | €4,000 or €6,000 per semester | TUM |

TUM has announced that these fees rise from winter semester 2027/28 to €2,300 or €3,400 for bachelor's and €4,600 or €6,800 for master's programmes. The Baden-Württemberg ministry lists exemptions, for example for exchange students.

Step 3: Apply to the university or through uni-assist

German programmes have a winter intake (October to March) and a summer intake (April to September). Each programme page explains how to apply. Many universities do not take direct applications and use uni-assist, which screens your documents for a fee and forwards them to the universities you choose. Check the deadline on the programme page itself, because it varies by university and intake.

Step 4: Get your APS certificate

The Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) is part of the German Embassy in New Delhi. It checks that your Indian documents are genuine before you apply for the visa. The procedure, from APS India's leaflet valid as of June 2026:

Register online at aps-india.de, then print and sign the application form.
Pay the APS fee of ₹18,000. It is non-refundable, whatever the result.
Courier copies of your documents to APS India: Class X and XII marksheets, all semester marksheets, your degree or provisional certificate, passport, Aadhaar card and language certificate. Do not send originals.
Tell your college that APS may contact it. Colleges must reply from an official email address.
If you pass, you receive a digital APS certificate by email and can apply for the visa through VFS.

New for master's applicants: from the summer semester 2027 intake, some applicants must also take the Digital Master Test (dMAT), run by g.a.s.t., and submit its certificate with their APS documents. It applies only if your bachelor's degree is in one of the fields APS India publishes on its dMAT page.

APS verification is a check of your documents, not an admission decision. APS India says it does not replace the university's decision or the Embassy's visa decision, so apply to universities in parallel.

Step 5: Fund your blocked account and apply for the visa

Apply for the visa as soon as you have your admission letter: DAAD India says the procedure can take 8 to 12 weeks. The German Embassy's student visa page guides you through the Consular Services Portal. You will need the €11,904 blocked account (or an accepted alternative), your APS certificate, admission letter, health insurance from your arrival date and a recognised language certificate.

Is IELTS compulsory for Germany?

Not for every programme, but you must prove your level in the language you will study in. For English-taught courses that usually means IELTS or TOEFL. The Embassy and APS India accept only recognised certificates such as Goethe-Institut, telc, IELTS and TOEFL. They do not accept medium-of-instruction letters, exemption letters, Duolingo or the TOEFL Home Edition for the visa.

How much does it cost to study in Germany for Indian students?

DAAD India estimates living costs of about €900–1,000 a month for housing, food, health insurance, study materials and leisure, depending on the city. A first-year budget from the official figures above looks like this:

APS certificate: ₹18,000, paid once.
Proof of funds: €11,904, which you then spend on living costs in Germany (up to €992 a month).
Semester contribution: €100–350 per semester.
Tuition: €0 at most public universities, €1,500 per semester in Baden-Württemberg, €2,000–6,000 per semester at TUM.
Extras: uni-assist fees, language tests, flights and visa costs, which depend on your choices.

As a student you may work 140 full days or 280 half days a year. After graduating, you can stay in Germany for up to 18 months to look for a job that matches your qualification.

Your checklist before you apply

Confirm your admission route: Studienkolleg, a year of university in India, JEE Advanced or IB.
Check the programme's language of instruction and the certificate you need.
Check whether the university charges tuition (Baden-Württemberg, TUM) before you shortlist it.
Register for APS early, and check whether the dMAT applies to your field.
Plan €11,904 for the blocked account, plus the semester contribution.

When you have an admission letter, read our guide to student visa applications for the next step.

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