Universities in Germany

Students can choose among 394 nationally accredited German universities to study their choice of program. Universities in Germany are spread throughout the whole country, with universities being found everywhere from Berlin, Hamburg or Munich to more rural areas. German universities are widely regarded as globally leading research institutes and in the latest “Times Higher Education Ranking” Germany was the country with the fourth most universities ranked among the Top 100 universities world-wide.

Structure of degree programs

The first academic degree usually obtained in Germany is a Bachelor’s degree which encompasses 3-4 years of basic courses. Upon finishing their Bachelor’s degree some students continue their studies and pursue a 1-2 years master’s degree. Master programs usually focus on more advanced courses. Of course, there is also the option for a doctoral postgraduate degree. The duration of these research heavy degrees ranges anywhere from 2-5 years. For a selected few programs the bachelor/ master scheme does not apply. For law, (veterinary) medicine, dentistry and teacher certification programs a state examination replaces the bachelor/master degree.

Not only do students have the choice between different degrees and subjects, but there is also the opportunity for them to decide between different teaching methods. Generally speaking there are two different options: Students who prefer a strong scientific focus attend university, whereas others seeking a more practical approach enrol in universities of applied science (in German: Fachhochschule or FH).

Study and living costs

Because the vast majority of universities, regardless of which type, is publicly funded, students generally do not have to pay any tuition fee. There are only very few exceptions to this rule. Hence, the only costs associated with studying are the so-called semester contributions (payable twice a year) which currently amount to approximately 230 Euro and includes for example free local transportation. For certain special courses you may need to pay higher tuition fees and private universities might prove to be expensive. A good estimation for monthly expenses comes in at around 700 Euro. Because rent represents a major proportion of these expenses and strongly varies between cities this can only serve as a rough guidance. Additionally, health insurance coverage is mandatory for all students. Insurance accounts for about 50-70 Euro/month.

As your monthly expenses will to a large extent depend on your accommodation, it is worth to take some time in deciding which type of room suits you best. There are three main options for students. In most cases, the cheapest accommodation is a room in a student hall provided by the university, however the number of available rooms is limited, meaning it pays off to apply for a room as soon as you have been admitted to a university. The majority of German students lives in a flat-share as it is considerably cheaper than a one person flat. While a flat-share requires you to adjust a bit to other peoples way of life, it comes with the benefit of possibly finding close friends and getting insights into someone else’s culture.

Part time jobs/PSW

As an international student, you are permitted to work for up to 120 full days or 240 part time days in a year. This will help you in getting a bit of extra pocket-money. However, it is not realistic to fully finance your studies and living expenses in this way. After completing your degree in Germany, you can stay in Germany for up to one year to search for a suitable job that is in line with your educational background. Once you find a job, the residence permit issued to you for the purpose of studying, can be converted into a residence permit for taking gainful employment. Alternatively, you might like to consider returning to Nepal to apply the knowledge gained in Germany in your home country.

Obviously your stay in Germany is not only about studying and work, but also the opportunity to get to know the country, it’s culture and of course it’s people. Germany offers a wide range of leisure time activities. Many cities offer theatres, operas and all kinds of concerts. Germans like to go to cafés or bars to catch up with their friends or simply enjoy a Barbecue together. Furthermore, you will find a variety of clubs and university groups offering different kinds of sports activities. Germans are very open to foreigners and are often interested in learning about new cultures. Hence, the German society is a quite diverse one, a good indicator for that being the variety of restaurants you will find. Naturally, it starts with German classics like schnitzel or sausages, but the German cuisine has much more to offer. In addition you will find a good selection of Mediterranean food (e.g. Italian, Spanish or Turkish) as well as non- European restaurants (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, American). However, most Germans prefer to cook at home and often invite friends over for dinners or breakfasts. All this means, that with your international profile you will fit right in and make our German society even more diverse.

Study offers in Germany

Students can apply for studying Bachelor and Master degree in Germany in almost any subject. The study options for Nepalese students in Germany are as follows:

1. German taught Bachelor programs

   Students can apply for studying a German taught program upon completion of a one year foundation course in Germany. The basic requirement for studying foundation course is B1 level German proficiency in Nepal followed by an entrance examination upon arrival in Germany. Upon the completion of the entrance examination, you can start your bachelor degree in Germany.

2. English taught Bachelor programs

   Many public and private universities offer English taught Bachelor programs for international students who would like to study in English taught program in Germany. The basic requirement for studying such a program is an university entrance equivalent to German University Entrance Qualifications and a good English proficiency documented by an IELTS 6.0 or equivalent score.

3. German taught Master programs

   Many programs are offered as German taught master program at public and private universities in Germany. These programs are highly recommended for students who want to later on work in Germany upon the completion of their studies. In order to study a German taught Master program, students need to pass B1 level of German language course in Nepal followed by another 4-6 months of German language course at the university leading to DSH-2 Examination. Once you have passed the DSH-2 Examination, you can start your studies in German taught master degree programs.

4. English taught Master programs

   Many students want to study master degree in English medium at a university in Germany. There are a huge number of programs to choose from in different subjects for students who want to study English taught master degree programs at a university in Germany. Students who want to do so must have a good 4 year Bachelor degree and an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent. If you have marks above 70% and good IELTS score, you are welcome to visit us for application for studying in Germany.

Popular programs in Germany

Students can study almost any subject of their choice in Germany ranging from Aerospace Engineering to Zoology. The most popular programs in Germany are engineering and technology degrees, medical and life sciences with a growing interest in management education for International Students. Most of the programs in Bachelor degree level are offered in German language whereas there are many programs in Master degree in English medium and the number of English taught bachelor/ master program is increasing day by day with the increase in demand for such programs for international students.

1. Engineering & Technology
2. Human Medicine and life sciences
3. Natural Sciences and Mathematics
4. Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture, Forestry, Ecology
5. Economics and Social Sciences
6. Humanities
7. Art & Music

A huge number of Nepalese students are already studying in Germany at top rated universities and many of them already have ground breaking careers in the field of Engineering Sciences, Information Technology, Medicine and Life sciences.

Bachelor studies

Students can choose to study Bachelor degree in English or German medium based on their choice of subjects or universities. Subjects like Human medicine and Veterinary Medicine are offered as German taught programs only where as there is a growing number of English taught bachelor programs in IT and Management in Germany. Most private universities offer English taught bachelor programs for international students. In order to study Bachelor degree in Germany, students with 12 years of schooling must complete a one year foundation course in Germany before they can start their studies in Bachelor level. The requirement for attending the foundation course at the Studienkolleg is German language proficiency upto B1/B2 level followed by an entrance examination for the entry in the foundation course.

Students who have passed their first year bachelor degree in Nepal can study Bachelor degree in English medium if they have an English proficiency documented by IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. There are no tuition fee for studying at a public universities whereas the fees at private universities can be around 5000-6000 Euros per semester. We strongly encourage students to learn German as much as possible when they are applying for studying in Germany as German language skills help students a lot during the day to day life and to find some part time jobs in Germany.

The admission requirement may vary from program to program and university to university, however the general admission requirements for most programs are good marks in the 10+2 or equivalent studies followed by B1 level of German language for German taught programs and IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent for English taught programs. If you are planning to study bachelor degree in German taught program, we highly recommend you to join our intensive German language course which will help you to prepare in very short duration of time. If you are planning to study bachelor degree in a German taught program in Germany, the best time to join our Intensive German courses is immediately after your 10+2 examination.

Master studies

Universities in Germany offer Master degree programs in English or German medium. For international students there is a wide array of programs available in English medium. Nepalese students can choose to study in English medium their choice of programs if they have a good 4 year bachelor degree with excellent grades and an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent. Each year a huge number of Nepalese students go to study in Germany and many students choose to study Master degree in English taught programs at state universities. Recently the number of students applying for English taught programs in the field of Management and business administration at private universities have been increasing, although private universities are subject to tuition fees.

If you have completed your bachelor degree and have more than 70% marks and an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent you are welcome to apply for studying Master degree in English taught programs in Germany without having to pay tuition fees at most state universities. In case you do not meet the requirements for studying Master degree at a public university in Germany, you can always try to find a suitable program related to previous studies.

Here are few important things to note about studying master degree studies in Germany:

1. There are around 1500 English taught master programs available for international students in Germany.
2. The duration of the Master degree program may range from 1 year to 2 years depending upon your chosen course.
3. It is not possible to study clinical subjects like Pharmacy and or medical residency in English medium.
4. Admission in English taught programs are highly competitive and hence you need to be prepared very wel.
5. German language is not required for admission in most English taught programs but learning German is important for your day to day life and to find some part time jobs during your stay as a student in Germany./li>

How do I study in Germany?

1. Determine what subject you want to study in Germany
   Please send us an inquiry to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are not sure about the programs offered at German universities or do not know what program to choose for your higher studies.

2. Find out the requirements
   You can find out the requirements by visiting this page or if you want to study specific program and not sure about the requirements, you can always send us inquiry about the specific program and we can inform you accordingly.

3. Determine for which intake you would like to apply
   You should start preparing for studying in Germany as early as possible because most universities have earlier deadlines for English taught master programs and undergraduate students need at least 6 months of German language preparation time for studying at a state university in Germany which have to be taken in consideration when planning to apply for studying in Germany.

4. Prepare for required tests and German language
   If you are planning to study English taught bachelor or master program in Germany, it is important that you start preparing for IELTS examination and get the required score in IELTS for application in your desired program at your chosen university. It is highly recommended that you join our standard German course to have a basic fluency in German language for your day to day life and part time jobs. If you are planning to study in German taught bachelor program, you should join our Intensive German language course so that you can complete your B1 level in 6 months.

5. Application for admission
   Once you have taken the required tests and received your result, you are welcome to submit the required documents for your application processing for studying in Germany.

6. Application for accommodation in Germany
   Upon receiving your admission, we provide additional support for application for accommodation which has to be done in timely manner in order to secure an accommodation place at the Studentenwerk in Germany.

7. Visa application for studying in Germany
   Upon arrival of your admission in your desired course, we shall guide you for your application for visa and upon the decision of your visa application, you can plan your travel to Germany.

8. Travel arrangement
   Once you have received your visa, we shall guide you to arrange for your travel and other things for your studies in Germany.

9. Enrolment
   It may be possible to complete the enrolment for studies while you are still in Nepal or we shall provide you further guidance and support for your enrolment at the university.

10. Start of your studies
    You can start your studies by after your introductory week where the university will inform you about basic things like how the study is structured and more information about surrounding and other things which are important during your study such as activation of your blocked account etc.

How much does it cost to study in Germany?

There are no tuition fees in Germany at most public universities in Bachelor and Master degree, however you need to take the following related costs in account when planning to study in Germany.

Budgets & Expenses

Overhead	Amount	Remarks
German language course	NRs 13560 per level plus Books and materials (NRs 1750)	Slight variation on cost for standard and Intensive German course. Students applying for German taught programs need to complete B1 and pass B1 level examination .
Examination fees	SD1 Fees: 58 EUR	Highly recommended for English taught Bachelor/Master applicants.
	SD 2 Fees: 75 EUR
	ZB1 fees: 93 EUR	Mandatory for students applying for German taught programs.
IELTS preparation fees	NRS 5000-7000	Can vary from institute to institute. Students can prepare online using the following link: https://www.edx.org/ course/ielts-academictest- preparation
IELTS Examination fees	NRs 21500	Mandatory for English taught Bachelor/Master Applicants. Students can register for IELTS examination date with us.
Placement fees	Ca. 700-900 EUR	Can vary depending upon the choice of programs - German or English taught and or Bachelor or Master program.
Visa Application fees	75 EUR	Payable at the German Embassy Kathmandu at the time of submission of visa application
Draft letter cost	25 EUR	Payable at the German Embassy for the Draft letter
No Objection letter	NRs 2000	Payable at the Ministry of Education, Nepal for the No objection letter to facilitate the transfer of funds to your blocked account
Blocked Account Deposit	10500 Euros	First year living cost to be deposited in your German account from which you can withdraw 850 Euros/month upon arrival in Germany.
Travel Mediclaim Insurance	70 USD	Required at the time of visa collection
Airfare	Ca. NRs 45-55000	Can vary from airline to airline and or high season or low season
Initial Settlement expenses	1500 EUR	Required for your initial settlement expenses upon arrival in Germany until your blocked account gets activated
Overall Budget	Ca. 16-17 lakhs	Can vary depending upon EUR exchange rate in Nepal

Visa Information

1. In order to apply for your visa, you are required to book an appointment for visa application and on the day of the visa appointment, you are required to submit your visa application.
2. Upon submission of your visa application and if your interview goes positively, you will be required to transfer the 1 year living cost to your blocked account.
3. It takes 6-8 weeks for the visa application to be processed by the German Embassy.
4. The German Embassy usually provides for 3 months visa which has to be extended upon arrival in Germany.
5. For more information regarding the required documents for visa application, please visit the following link of the German Embassy.

https://kathmandu.diplo.de/blob/1788692/ b9b4dfbe10df74e88aa11e36364d9721/student-visa-checklistdata. pdf

Document checklist

Bachelor Degree Application Checklist

Document	Remarks
Passport	Mandatory
SEE Marksheet and Character	Mandatory
NEB Transcript, Provisional and Migration or equivalent	Mandatory
Bachelor first year Marksheet	If available
B1 certificate	Mandatory for German taught programs (not required for English taught programs)
IELTS Certificate	Mandatory for English taught program (Not required for German taught programs)

Master degree Application checklist

Document	Remarks
Passport	Mandatory
SEE Marksheet and Character	Mandatory
NEB Transcript, Provisional and Migration or equivalent	Mandatory
Bachelor degree Transcript	Mandatory
Bachelor degree or provisional certificate	Mandatory
Bachelor degree character & Migration	Mandatory
IELTS Certificate	Mandatory for English taught program (Not required for German taught programs)
B1 certificate	Mandatory for German taught programs
Work experience	If available
Other documents	If available
Curriculum Vitate	Mandatory
Other documents such as motivation and recommendation	Upon program selection

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