Studying in Germany for Indian students comes with a lot of benefits because universities in Germany have high global rankings and are valued for their top-class quality. Their state-of-the-art facilities, countless funding options, research-based courses, award-winning curriculums, diverse and vibrant student community, plus a unique lifestyle are some of the most pressing reasons to study in Germany. The number of Indian students in Germany has increased threefold in the past seven years. Indians form the 2nd largest group of international students enrolled at German universities. But many students find it difficult to understand the requirements to study in Germany. If this is the case with you, then don’t worry. Here’s our comprehensive guide to help you gain complete knowledge of the requirements to study in Germany for Indian students and how to apply to study in Germany. In particular, these requirements concern your school-leaving certificate, your prior knowledge of the subject you intend to study and your language skills.

First and foremost, you need to shortlist the universities in Germany in which you want to make the applications. Fortunately, there are countless of hot courses in Germany to choose from which are taught in English. You may like to consider the latest rankings of the top universities in Germany while making your decision, or check the latest World University Rankings by Subject to find the top German institutions in your field.

After you select the university, you need to check the eligibility requirements at the University of your choice. Although, a few admission requirements may vary from university to university, in most cases following requirements to study in Germany must be fulfilled by every student.

Also Read: How to choose a university for Studying Abroad

Requirements to Study in Germany for Masters Courses

The first question that comes to mind when considering masters is what are the MS in Germany requirements? To pursue a Masters in Germany, you will have to meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. An Undergraduate Degree

At master’s level, you will need to have completed (or be about to complete) an undergraduate degree. Specific requirements will vary depending on course, institution and where you have previously studied. For some master’s degrees, applicants are required to have earned a minimum number of credits in specific fields of study. You should have passed your undergraduate studies with a minimum of 60% aggregate score to be eligible to apply for MS in Germany.

2. APS Certificate

As of 1 November 2022, Indian students who want to pursue higher studies in Germany have to include a certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) in their application for admission at universities in Germany as well as for the German student visa. APS checks the authenticity and validity of your educational documents as per the requirements of German authorities and thus ensures a hassle-free admission and visa application process. To know more about the APS certificate and the documents required for obtain it, read our detailed article here.

3. Work Experience

There are two types of Masters in Germany. Consecutive & Non-Consecutive. A consecutive master’s programme builds on a first undergraduate university degree and deepens it, extends it in an interdisciplinary manner or supplements it with other subjects. Whereas a Non-Consecutive Masters does not build on the content which was in Bachelor’s degree program and focuses on your professional growth. For example, If you have a Bachlelor’s degree in Computer Science, then pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science will be considered to be a Consecutive Masters, whereas, studying Masters in management will be considered to be a non-consecutive masters. It is mandatory to have work experience to apply for a Non-Consecutive Masters in Germany, but not for consecutive masters.

4. English Language Proficiency: IELTS or TOEFL Score

Courses taught in English require international applicants to submit proof of proficiency in English language. Two main tests are IELTS and TOEFL, although IELTS is the more popular one. While the score requirements vary between universities and courses, a minimum overall score of 6.5 in IELTS and 95 in TOEFL iBT is recommended.

5. German Language Proficiency: TestDaF (only if course is taught in German)

Courses taught in German require 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 (formerly Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache, meaning “Test of German as a foreign language”). The DSH is offered only within Germany, at various universities, while the TestDaF can be taken at centres in more than 90 countries worldwide. However, this requirement is only for courses taught in German. Most universities in Germany offer English-taught courses where knowledge of German language is not required. They will process your application with an IELTS or TOEFL score.

6. GRE or GMAT (optional)

Taking the GRE or the GMAT test an optional eligibility requirements for MS in Germany for Indian students. You will be required to give the GRE or the GMAT depending on the university you are applying to. GMAT scores are sometimes asked by the Top Business Schools, while GRE scores are occasionally requested for Engineering or Natural Science courses. Make sure you check the standardised exam requirement by visiting your desired university’s official website. Bottom line is that you can easily get admission to study in Germany without appearing in GRE or GMAT exams.

7. Statement of Purpose

A SOP is a written essay which convinces the admission committee of your suitability for the program. It is the gist of who you are (mainly academically) and how you reached that point, why you want to study the particular course from the chosen university and this will help in achieving your future goals. SOP is one of the most important documents in your application package. A well-written SOP is essential to get admission in one of the top universities of Germany or elsewhere. To understand how to write an excellent SOP, read our guide on “How to Write Statement of Purpose”.

8. CV or Resume

Make sure that you submit a CV which is 1-2 pages long and contains all the required information in a proper chronological order. Remember, first impression is the last impression. A well-made CV can have a long-lasting positive impact on the minds of admission committee. So, do not take this lightly.

9. Two Letters of Recommendation (LOR)

An academic reference letter is typically one to two pages in length. It highlights a student’s academic history, character, and academic or career goals. The letter expands upon a student’s report card or transcript, providing insight into how the applicant behaved as a student and is likely to perform in the next degree course he or she intends to pursue. To get LORs, you should contact your teachers at school or university, discuss your desire to pursue higher education in Germany and request their support in form of LORs.

10. TestAS

Conducted in German & English, TestAS is a central standardised scholastic aptitude test which measures intellectual abilities particularly important for university studies. TestAS is not compulsory for admission in MS in Germany, but some universities may ask for it. You may also decide to take TestAS to strengthen your academic profile, especially if your CGPA in undergraduate course is low. We have covered everything about TestAS in detail in a separate article which you can read here.

Requirements to study in Germany for Undergraduate Courses

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. If you are planning to pursue undergraduate studies from Germany, then you will have to fulfil the following eligibility requirements:

1. School Leaving Certificate

You must have completed Class 12th with 50% or higher. If you have scored less than 50% or have completed class 10th followed by a 3-year technical diploma, then sadly you are not qualified for admission in Germany. In short, passing class 12th with a minimum score of 50% is mandatory requirement to study in Germany. Besides, you must be at least 18 years old.

2. Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB) or Higher Education Entrance Qualification

If you have completed Class 12th from outside Europe like in the case of Indian students, you have to sit the Feststellungsprüfung Entrance Examination after attending a preparatory Studienkolleg as well as appear in TestAS. (Please note that German language proficiency is required for attending Studienkolleg and appearing in Feststellungsprüfung). However, if you have completed 1 year of bachelors study in India after Class XII, then Studienkolleg and Feststellungsprüfung are not required, but TestAS will still need to be taken. Finally, students who have cleared JEE Mains and Advanced are eligible for direct admission in a bachelor’s programme related to their previous field of studies without the need of taking TestAS, Studienkolleg or Feststellungsprüfung.

3. APS Certificate

As of 1 November 2022, Indian students who want to pursue higher studies in Germany have to include a certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) in their application for admission at universities in Germany as well as for the German student visa. APS checks the authenticity and validity of your educational documents as per the requirements of German authorities and thus ensures a hassle-free admission and visa application process. To know more about the APS certificate and the documents required for obtain it, read our detailed article here.

4. TestAS

Conducted in German & English, TestAS is a central standardised scholastic aptitude test which measures intellectual abilities particularly important for university studies. This test is compulsory for all Indian applicants planning to do undergraduate studies at German universities if they have not cleared JEE Mains and Advanced. We have covered everything about TestAS in detail in a separate article which you can read here.

5. Proof of Language Proficiency – German and/or English

Courses taught in German require 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 (formerly Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache, meaning “Test of German as a foreign language”). The DSH is offered only within Germany, at various universities, while the TestDaF can be taken at centres in more than 90 countries worldwide. Courses taught in English require international applicants to submit proof of proficiency in English language. Two main tests are IELTS and TOEFL, although IELTS is the more popular one. While the score requirements vary between universities and courses, a minimum overall score of 6.0 in IELTS and 94 in TOEFL iBT is recommended.

6. Statement of Purpose

SOP is gist of who you are (mainly academically) and how you reached that point, why you want to study the particular course from the chosen university and this will help in achieving your future goals. To understand how to write an excellent SOP, read our guide on “How to Write Statement of Purpose”.

7. CV or Resume

Make sure that you submit a CV which is 1-2 pages long and contains all the required information in a proper chronological order. Remember, first impression is the last impression. A well-made CV can have a long-lasting positive impact on the minds of admission committee. So, do not take this lightly.

8. Two Letters of Recommendation (LOR)

An academic reference letter is typically one to two pages in length. It highlights a student’s academic history, character, and academic or career goals. The letter expands upon a student’s report card or transcript, providing insight into how the applicant behaved as a student and is likely to perform in the next degree course he or she intends to pursue. To get LORs, you should contact your teachers at school or university, discuss your desire to pursue higher education in Germany and request their support in form of LORs.

Please note that fulfilling these eligibility requirements to study in Germany does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process. We suggest you to have high academic and language test scores to improve your chances of getting admission at a German University.

What is Feststellungsprüfung?