Germany is one of the most popular non-Anglophone study destinations in the world, and with its trendy student cities and low (or no) tuition fees, it’s not hard to see why.

If you’re planning to study in Germany at postgraduate level, check out our dedicated guides for master’s degrees in Germany and PhDs in Germany.

If you’re planning to study your first university degree in Germany, read on…

1. Choose a university 

So, you’ve decided on Germany as your study abroad destination – now it’s time to choose the right course and university for you. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has a database of almost 2,000 programs available to search from, including 1,389 programs in English.

Unfortunately opportunities to study in Germany in English at undergraduate level are currently fairly limited, though there are some courses taught in both English and German (typically starting with English for the first two to four semesters and then changing to German). This allows you to study in English while improving your proficiency in German, particularly as your university may offer German language classes.

You may also like to consider the latest rankings of the top universities in Germany while making your decision, or check the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject to find the top German institutions in your field, using the compare tool to help you narrow down universities.

Read more tips on how to choose a university.

2. Check the admission requirements 

Before applying, check that your current qualifications are recognized by your chosen university. To study in Germany you need to have a recognized Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB), meaning ‘higher education entrance qualification’.

For prospective undergraduate students, a high-school diploma, school-leaving certificate or university entrance exam result is usually sufficient, and the DAAD has a database of information on admission requirements for selected countries. Students with qualifications from outside Europe may have to sit the Feststellungsprüfung entrance examination after attending a preparatory Studienkolleg, although high-achieving students may be able to bypass this.

You’ll also need to check the language requirements. Most courses are taught in German, requiring international applicants to submit proof of proficiency in the German language. Two main tests are available for this purpose: the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH, meaning “German language examination for university entrance”) and the TestDaF.

Likewise, if your course is taught in English, unless you are a native speaker or have previously studied in English, you will need to prove your knowledge of the language with a test such as IELTS or TOEFL. Universities will usually state the score/s they require on their websites.

3. Get your finances in order 

In order to fulfill student visa requirements, you will need to show proof that you have, or have access to, around €8,700 per year (~US$10,000) to cover your living costs, although you may find you need more, depending on your lifestyle and spending habits (the average student spends €850/US$975 a month). Living costs also vary depending on the location; according to Mercer’s Cost of Living Survey, Munich is currently the most expensive city in the country.

If you’re concerned about costs, there are scholarships available to support students studying in Germany at various study levels.

4. Apply!

For most subjects, you can apply directly to the international office of the university. Alternatively, you can use the website www.uni-assist.de, a centralized admissions portal for international students, run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), although not all universities use this. You may wish to apply for numerous courses and universities separately to increase your chances of being admitted.

At many German universities it’s possible to apply for admission twice a year – to commence studies either in the winter or summer semester. In general, applications for winter enrolments need to be made by 15 July, and applications for summer enrolments by 15 January. However, application deadlines vary between institutions, and the same institution may set different deadlines for each program – be sure to carefully check the specific dates for your chosen course. 

It’s recommended to submit applications at least six weeks before the deadline, to ensure time for corrections or additions if any information is missing. You should expect to receive a formal acceptance or rejection approximately one to two months after the deadline has passed.

The specific documents required and application process will be set by each institution, but you’ll typically be asked to submit:

• A certified copy of your high-school diploma or previous degrees, and any other relevant qualifications in the original language
• A translated overview of your course modules and grades
• A passport photo
• A copy of your passport (personal information and photo ID page)
• Proof of language proficiency (a test certificate or online equivalent)

You may also need to pay an application fee.

For some subjects, there is a nationwide cap on the number of students who can enroll. For these subjects (mostly life sciences), students from the EU (plus Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein) need to apply through the Foundation of Higher Education Admission. Students from outside the EU should apply as normal.

5. Take out health insurance 

Before you leave your home country you should ensure you’ve purchased health insurance to cover you during your stay in Germany. This is required both before you enroll and before you get a student visa and/or residence permit. If you’re a resident of a country within the EU or EEA, there should be a social security agreement in place between your country and Germany. This means that if you have public health insurance in your home country, you should be covered in Germany as well. You will generally need to get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to take advantage of this (free to obtain).

If your health insurance is not valid in Germany, expect to pay between €80 (US$92) and €160 (US$176) per month to cover this. The cost is higher if you’re over 30, and if you’re over 29 when starting your course you can only obtain private insurance.

6. Get a German student visa 

The requirements for obtaining a student visa for Germany depend on your country of origin. You can find an overview of the countries for which a student visa is or isn’t required on the Foreign Federal Office’s website. You can also read this article to find out how to get a German student visa and a residence permit.

7. Find accommodation 

Once you’ve gained a place on a course and your student visa (if applicable), it’s advisable to start looking for accommodation, as unfortunately most German universities do not offer accommodation to enrolling students. Rent is likely to be your biggest monthly expense, and will vary depending on which part of the country you live in. In big cities within Western Germany (i.e. Dusseldorf, Cologne etc.) and smaller, student-oriented cities such as Heidelberg and Freiburg, you should expect to pay slightly more than if you were living in eastern Germany (i.e. Berlin).

Once you’ve found a place to live, you need to register at the ‘residents’ registration office’ (Einwohnermeldeamt) or the ‘citizens’ bureau’ (Bürgeramt).

8. Enroll 

You must enroll before you can start your course and use university facilities such as the library.  You’ll also need to re-register before the start of every semester. This usually costs between €150 and €250 (~US$170-290), depending on the university. There may be an additional charge of around €180 (~US$205) for a “Semesterticket”, which covers public transport expenses for six months.

The usual documents you need for enrollment are:

• Your passport with visa or residence permit
• Several passport photos
• Completed registration form
• Proof of higher education entrance qualification, either original certificates or officially certified copies and translations
• Notice of admission
• Evidence of adequate knowledge of German (or English)
• Evidence of statutory health insurance in Germany
• Payment receipt for the semester fee

Once enrolled, you will receive a registration certificate which acts as a provisional student ID, allowing you to apply for your residence permit and register for classes.

9. Settle in to student life in Germany 

Congratulations, you should now be (mostly) all set to begin your studies in Germany! Don’t forget to pack all the essentials, as well as arranging a few more important affairs:

• If you haven’t already, once you’ve found accommodation you must register with the local registration office of your city (Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt). Once registered, you’ll receive a document confirming your registration at that address, which you can then use for the next step…
• Get a student bank account. Most banks offer these for free, and it will make managing your regular payments (such as accommodation) much easier.
• If you’d like to find a part-time job while you study, you can find out how this works for EU and non-EU students here.

If you’re worried or unsure about anything, ask for help from the advisory service offered by the student committee (Fachschaft) or your university’s international office. Alternatively, if you have any questions, feel free to ask us in the comments below or view our frequently asked questions article.

This article was originally published in November 2015. It was updated in January 2019.

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Australia is one of the most popular destinations for solo travelers—it’s full of friendly people, a ton of opportunities to meet new people, and a relatively safe place to travel alone. It’s a popular choice for gap-year travelers, career breakers, students, and generally anyone who wants to have a good time while soaking up the Aussie sun.

A warm Aussie welcome will greet you wherever you go, from city lights of Melbourne all the way up to the rainforest in Cairns. Many travelers plan a trip and end up staying a lot longer than they planned, while some never leave at all.

1. Have a plan (somewhat)

A lot of people don’t realize how large Australia truly is and underestimate how much time it’s going to take to see everything they want to see. Especially if you are traveling by bus or train, you could spend an entire day getting from one place to the other. This doesn’t mean you have to plan each day to a tee, but It’s a good idea to have a general timeline.

2. Book things as far in advance as possible

Especially if you are traveling during high season (in the summer months from December-February), it’s a good idea to book accommodation and tours as well in advance as possible. The last thing you want is to not be able to tick off a bucket list item just because you waited too long.

3. Head to a travel agent

As mentioned above, in order to ensure that you don’t miss the boat on tours such as diving The Great Barrier Reef, four-wheel driving on Fraser Island, and sailing through The Whitsundays, it’s a good idea that you head to a travel agent upon arrival. A popular choice is Peterpans Travel, where an agent (who has actually done the trip themselves) will sit down with you and plan your entire trip for you.

4. Take advantage of freebies

There are a ton of freebies available whilst traveling in Australia that a lot of travelers don’t take advantage of. For instance, if you go to a travel agent to plan your trip, they will usually give you a discount card that is valid at different restaurants, museums, and a ton of different tourist attractions. Major cities such as Melbourne and Sydney also have free walking tours and your hostel may even offer you free breakfast. Every penny counts!

5. Book group tours

Obviously one of the best ways to meet people as a solo traveler is to book group tours throughout your trip. Don’t worry, most of the people that book these tours are solo travelers themselves, so everyone is in the same boat. You will travel around with likeminded people and might even find some people that are traveling the same route as you to tag along with. It’s all about making meaningful connections. After all, you’re never really alone when you travel solo!

6. Take advantage of hostel events

Hostel events such as quiz nights, group dinners, city tours, and pretty much any social gathering are literally catered to the solo traveler. Most hostels will have daily events happening, so make sure you take advantage of these in order to get to know the people you are staying with. Whether you participate or not can make or break your time in the hostel, so it would be silly not to.  

7. Utilize public transport

Public transport is the easiest and cheapest way of getting around Australian cities, with most offering a loadable card or simply a single ticket. Lots of cities also offer free shuttle services in the city center, so save your Uber money (we all know how easy that can rack up) and take the bus.

8. Take a bus over a plane

Especially if you’re traveling up the east coast of Australia from Sydney to Cairns, there are bus companies that offer great deals on hop-on-hop-off routes. So basically, you pay a flat fee and get on and off whenever you please. Both Greyhound and Premier Motors offer this service, and it’s an extremely popular way to travel the east coast on a budget. You will also meet like-minded travelers on these long bus journeys, which is ideal as a solo traveler.

9. Be open to meeting people

Traveling alone can be scary, especially when it comes to meeting new people and striking up a conversation with a complete stranger. The way I look at it, I can probably guarantee that most people traveling are thinking the exact same thing and have the same insecurities as you do. So, they’ll probably be relieved that you made the first move. And honestly, once you’ve done it once or twice, introducing yourself to people you come across with will become more and more natural.

10. Appreciate being on your own

While there will be times throughout your solo travels that you will feel lonely and homesick, it’s also a time where you have complete freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want, without having to cater to another person’s plans. If you feel like staying in a place longer, you can. If you want to leave, you can do that too. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, while traveling with another person requires a great deal of compromise. Being comfortable on your own is important, and going on a trip solo is one way to ensure that you will get there.  

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