Studying in Germany: Honest Pros and Cons for International Students

Studying in Germany is worth it for many non-EU students because public universities are cheap or free, there is a wide choice of English-taught master's programs, and graduates can stay up to 18 months to find a job. The downsides are real too: you need German for daily life, the visa and paperwork take time, housing is hard to find, and the upfront proof of funds is high.

Here is the honest picture, using official figures only. Use it to decide whether Germany fits your profile, budget and plans.

The pros and cons at a glance

Pro: low or zero tuition

DAAD states there are generally no tuition fees for bachelor's and most master's programs at state universities. Universities such as RWTH Aachen, Göttingen, Bonn, Freie Universität Berlin, TU Dresden and LMU Munich list no tuition for non-EU students in their regular programs. You pay a semester contribution, which DAAD puts at about €70–€430.

Compared with countries where international students pay full tuition, this is a big saving. But read the next point before you assume all of Germany is free.

Con: free is no longer universal

Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester (Freiburg, Heidelberg, Mannheim, Stuttgart, KIT and others). In Bavaria, universities may now charge non-EU students: TUM charges €2,300–€6,800 per semester from winter 2027/28, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg will charge €1,000–€6,000 per semester from summer 2027, and universities of applied sciences such as Munich, Ingolstadt and Deggendorf charge between €500 and €1,200. Check the fee page of every university on your list. Full table in cost of studying in Germany.

Pro: a huge choice of English-taught master's programs

In FindUniPath's database, 233 German institutions offer at least one English-taught bachelor's or master's program, with 2,038 English-taught master's in total. Large public universities such as TUM (71 English-taught master's), LMU Munich (38), Göttingen (35) and Bonn (35) offer wide choices in engineering, science, economics and the humanities.

Con: German still matters

Most degree programs in Germany are taught in German, and the English-taught bachelor's offer is small: 434 programs in our data compared with 2,038 master's. Many big universities teach all bachelor's programs in German. Some English-taught programs still ask for basic German, and outside the classroom you will meet German at the foreigners' office, in housing contracts and in most part-time jobs.

Con: many school certificates need a Studienkolleg

If anabin says your school certificate does not give direct access, you need a Studienkolleg (usually two semesters) and the Feststellungsprüfung, or one to two years of university at home first. Studienkollegs mostly teach in German. For example, the Afghan 12th-grade certificate requires a Studienkolleg or two years of successful university study. See admission requirements.

Con: high upfront money and a slow visa

Before the visa you usually have to prove €11,904 for one year (€992 per month), most often in a blocked account. That money is yours, but you need it upfront. Then the visa can take months: DAAD warns of long waits, and the German Embassy Islamabad says processing for applicants from Afghanistan can take up to six months. Since July 2025 you can no longer file a remonstration against a refusal – you must re-apply or go to court. Plan in the Germany student visa guide.

Con: housing is your job

German universities do not automatically give you housing. You apply for a Studierendenwerk residence or find a room in a shared flat yourself. DAAD's 2023 survey figure for average rent including utilities is €410 per month, but averages hide the pressure in big cities. Start early and arrange your first nights before you travel.

Pro: you can work while you study

Non-EU students may work 140 full days or 280 half days per year, and student assistant (HiWi) jobs at the university have no day limit (you must inform the foreigners' office). The minimum wage since January 2026 is €13.90 per hour. A job helps, but it rarely covers all costs, and many jobs require German.

Pro: a real path to a career and residence

After graduating you can get a residence permit for up to 18 months to look for qualified work, and you may take any job to support yourself while searching. Once you find a suitable job, you can switch to a work permit for skilled workers or an EU Blue Card. Read work and stay in Germany after graduation.

Con: bureaucracy and waiting

Expect paperwork at every stage: certified copies and translations, uni-assist, the visa, address registration within about a week, the residence permit card (which can take several months) and later extensions, since permits are usually issued for up to two years at a time. None of it is impossible, but it rewards people who are organised and start early.

Pro: transport is often included

Many semester contributions include a public transport ticket. At Rhine-Waal University, for example, the winter 2026/27 fee of €365.10 includes €226.80 for the Deutschlandticket, and Göttingen's semester fee includes a Deutschland semester ticket. That covers local and regional transport, which makes cheaper housing outside the city centre a realistic option.

Con: scholarships are scarce for beginners

Study in Germany says scholarships are generally not awarded to students just starting out, rarely fund a whole program, and there is no entitlement. DAAD master's scholarships (€992 per month) are very competitive and have early deadlines. Most students fund themselves at first, then apply for the Deutschlandstipendium (€300 per month) or university funds once enrolled. Details in scholarships in Germany.

Con: health insurance and costs rise with age

Students under 30 pay a reduced statutory health insurance rate of about €120–130 per month, according to DAAD. From 30, the standard contribution applies, which DAAD says is often much more expensive. If you plan a master's and a PhD, include this in your long-term budget.

Questions to ask yourself before choosing Germany

1. 1.Does anabin give my certificate direct access, or do I need a Studienkolleg?
2. 2.Are there English-taught programs in my subject at tuition-free public universities?
3. 3.Can I show €11,904 for the first year, plus first-year tuition if my program charges it?
4. 4.Can I wait several months for a visa before the semester starts?
5. 5.Am I willing to learn German to at least everyday level during my studies?

Pro: official information is public and free

Most of what you need is published by official bodies: anabin for recognition, uni-assist for applications and processing times, DAAD and Study in Germany for costs and visas, and each German mission for its visa checklist. German missions state they do not work with agents and that checklists and appointments are free. You can do the whole process yourself if you are organised, and you can check any claim an agent makes against the official page.

Who Germany suits best

• Master's applicants with a recognised bachelor's, good grades and IELTS 6.0–6.5 or equivalent.
• Budget-conscious students willing to choose tuition-free states and cities with lower rent.
• Students planning to stay and work, who are ready to learn German alongside their studies.
• Engineering, science and technology students, given the large English-taught offer at technical universities.

Who may prefer another country

• Bachelor's applicants who want an English-only path and whose certificate needs a Studienkolleg.
• Students who cannot show €11,904 upfront and have no scholarship or sponsor in Germany.
• Applicants who need to start within a few months – the visa timeline may not allow it.

Still deciding? Start with the complete guide to studying in Germany and track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.