Language of study

When exploring your school and program options in Germany, make sure you check the language requirements. Although there are many bachelor programs offered in English, a majority of the undergraduate programs are taught in German. The level of proficiency you'll need in German varies for each program, but you may be required to prove your skills with a test.

However, there's always some exceptions to a rule. Many graduate programs are taught in English and don't require German as a prerequisite. The same goes for international degree courses. So, if you're looking for a Master's degree in English or a Doctorate degree in English, you'll find plenty of options. Also, 56% of the population in Germany speak English, so you won't have to be fully fluent to get by in your daily life, but knowing some basic German can come in handy. German schools will typically offer courses for learning German to international students.

Requirements for studying in Germany

If you decide to pursue an education in Germany, there are a couple requirements you need to be aware of:

Higher education entrance qualification

German universities require their applicants to have a university entrance qualification. This can be your high school diploma or a year or two at university in Canada. To be eligible for direct admission to a German university, you would need:

• Secondary School Diploma from Ontario
  • Must take six university preparatory courses in grade 12: two languages (English or French and a second language); Advanced Functions; Calculus & Vectors; Chemistry, Physics, or Biology; and two additional subjects
• Diplôme d'études collégiales (CEGEP) from Québec
  • Admission requirements include DEC with 24 - 28 successful courses

If you have a high school diploma from outside Ontario and Quebec, then you'll need to get at least one year of undergraduate studies at a Canadian university to apply to a German university. Just keep in mind that what you choose to study in Canada during this time could lead you to program restrictions when you apply in Germany.

If you don't want to take a year of undergraduate studies, you could take a "Studienkolleg" (preparatory course) that will cover several subjects that match your choice of program, and then pass an assessment exam.

Each university will accept different levels of requirements, but for a general idea of whether your credentials will be accepted, try out this entrance qualification questionnaire from DAAD.

For other admission requirements, you can use also use uni-assist. But it's a good practice to also check with each individual university, as the requirements often vary.

Language tests

If German is a requirement for a program you're interested in, then you can take one of two exams to prove your skills: the TestDaF language exam (test of German as a foreign language) or the German Language Test for University Admission in Germany (which many universities will offer).

If your German isn't sufficient, or is non-existent, then you can take a language course in Germany during the summer break.

How to apply to universities in Germany

The best way to apply to universities in Germany is to apply directly to each individual school. This will help you keep track of each school's prerequisites and important dates. You can also apply using an association like uni-assist.

The general deadline to apply to universities in Germany is in early January for a fall start. However, application deadlines can vary between each school, and a given school may even have different deadlines for each of their programs. So, make sure you do your research first!

You'll typically need these documents to apply to a German university:

• a copy of your high school diploma or undergraduate transcript
• a copy of your courses and grades
• a copy of your passport
• your passport photo
• proof of language proficiency

Do you need a student visa in Germany?

Nope! As a Canadian studying in Germany, you don't need a student visa, which typically takes months to apply for. Instead of a student visa, you'll need to apply for a residence permit within 90 days of entering the country.

A residence permit allows you to live in Germany while you pursue your studies. It's valid for one to two years with the initial cost of €110 ($172 CAD) and has the option to extend it for the period of your studies. This means that you won't need a visa to enter Germany.

You'll typically need these documents to apply for a residence permit:

• a valid passport
• proof of enrolment at your school
• proof of registration from the Residents' Registration Office
• proof of health insurance valid in Germany (not typically offered by universities)
• proof of funds with €11,904 ($18,617 CAD) in a blocked account

If you've signed up for a language course or a preparatory course, then you may need a different type of residence permit, which you can learn about in this step-by-step guide on how you can obtain your German residence permit.

Free tuition for public universities

One of the biggest benefits to studying at a university in Germany is having free tuition! Studying abroad as an international student can usually be very expensive, but as of 2014, the German government got rid of tuition fees for all students, including international students, enrolled in public universities for undergraduate and graduate programs. You'll save thousands of dollars not having to pay tuition fees! However, there may be some exceptions to this rule, like how the state of Baden-Württemberg reintroduced tuition fees of €1,500 per semester for non-EU citizens in 2017.

Keep in mind that although you don't have to pay tuition fees, you'll still need to pay a small amount of money known as a semester contribution, which usually costs €150-250 ($234-390 CAD). These small fees will cover public transportation, administrative costs, student union costs, and more.

Since public universities in Germany offer free tuition, this makes Germany one of the top study abroad destination for international students. This popularity unfortunately means German universities typically have a much lower acceptance rate than Canadian universities, averaging around 30% or lower.

Cost of living in Germany

Your cost of living will vary depending on where in Germany you choose to live and study. Larger, more populated cities may be more expensive, whereas smaller, student-friendly cities can be more affordable.

Here's a quick look at the general cost of living in Germany as a single person each month (CAD):

• Estimated monthly costs excluding rent: $1,559
• Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city: $939 - $2,347
• Rent for a one-bedroom apartment outside the city: $704 - $1,856

So, for each month of living in Germany, you can expect to pay $2,263 - $3,906 CAD.

In comparison, you could be spending $2,591 - $4,232 CAD each month in Berlin, $2,592 - $3,842 CAD each month in Cologne, and $2,622 - $3,808 CAD each month in Konstanz for your cost of living. Make sure you do your research to find out what the cost of living is in locations you want to study.

Working as a student in Germany

Since you won't have to worry about tuition costs (so long as you chose to study at a public university), there's still your rent and other expenses you'll need to pay for. A great way to earn money for these expenses is by working while you study in Germany.

As of March 2024, as an international student, you can work part-time (20 hours per week) during your semester, and full-time (40 hours per week) during your school breaks. In total, you can work for a maximum of 140 full days (280 half days).

However, if an internship is part of your program requirements, or you work as a student assistant at your university, then the hours you work don't count towards the 140-day rule. But, if you work as a student assistant, you'll need to let the immigration office know you've been offered this position.

Phew! That's a lot of information to digest, but hopefully this helps you determine if Germany is the right study abroad location for you! Remember, you can use resources like My GUIDE and uni-assist to make your application process to German universities easier! They can help you with any questions or concerns regarding tuition, language and program requirements, and scholarships. Good luck with your school search!