GERMANY · CHAPTER 2
German universitiesand degrees.
Germany has research universities (Universitäten), technical universities and universities of applied sciences (Hochschulen/HAW) with practical, industry-linked teaching. Bachelor's degrees take 3–4 years and master's 2 years. The main intake is the winter semester (October); some programmes also start in summer (April).
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Tuition by provider
| Provider | Non-EU tuition |
|---|---|
| Most public universities | None — semester contribution only (≈€150–400) |
| Baden-Württemberg public universities | €1,500 per semester |
| Technical University of Munich | Programme-specific fees (about €2,000–6,000 per semester) |
| Private universities | Often €10,000–20,000+ a year |
Intakes and deadlines
- Winter semester (October): applications often close 15 July (earlier for many international master's)
- Summer semester (April): applications often close 15 January
- Many English master's set deadlines months earlier
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University types
| Type | Focus | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Universität / TU | Research and theory | Master's leading to research or PhD; engineering at TUs |
| Hochschule / University of Applied Sciences (FH) | Practical, industry projects | Job-ready master's, internships |
| Private universities | Business, management, often in English | Faster admission; tuition fees apply |
Bachelor's from India: direct entry or Studienkolleg
An Indian Class 12 certificate usually does not give direct entry to a German bachelor's. Students typically need one year of a bachelor's in India in a related subject, or a one-year foundation course (Studienkolleg) ending with the assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung), or a strong JEE Advanced result for some universities. Check your exact case in the DAAD admission database.
Semester calendar
| Semester | Lectures | Typical application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Winter semester | October–February | Around 15 July (earlier for some programmes and uni-assist) |
| Summer semester | April–July | Around 15 January |
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
A service many German universities use to check international applications before they reach the university. You upload documents and pay a fee per application.
A database of foreign institutions and degrees that German universities and authorities use to check recognition. Your Indian university should be listed as H+.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
GERMANY GUIDE
Admission requirements & APS
Indian applicants to Germany: APS certificate (₹18,000), uni-assist, grade conversion, Studienkolleg after Class 12 and master's requirements.
GERMANY GUIDE
Fees & cost of living
Semester contribution, tuition exceptions, €11,904 blocked account, health insurance and monthly living costs in Munich, Berlin and other cities.
DIRECTORY
University directory
Search real universities and courses by subject, country and city.
PROGRAMMES
Programmes
Researched programmes with published fees, deadlines and entry requirements.
TOOL
Compare countries
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FRANCE
Study in France
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