Steps to Study in Germany for Free for Indian Students

Planning to study in Germany for free? Yes, you can study tuition fee free in Germany. Here are 7 steps to study in Germany for free. Studying in Germany would also allow students to have access to high-quality education, and affordable courses, and reap the benefits of a robust economy.

Is it possible to Study in Germany for free? Yes, the education in Germany is mostly free. There are multiple German universities that offer quality education at zero or low cost. Both local and international can benefitted from the tuition fee free German universities for their undergraduare and Postgraduate degrees both. Candidates can access a high quality education in abroad at very cheaper price. 

When it comes to studying abroad, study in Germany is one of the top choices as it offers affordable education. Due to this, students from across the world apply for admission and face high competition. It is tough to get admission to any of the Public Universities in Germany as the eligibility is strict.

These universities offer both UG and PG courses. Some of them are highly specialized courses. Indian students who want to study in public German universities need to pay only the administration fee. The semester fees is around €100 to €350. This is a great opportunity for Indian students seeking quality education at a lower cost.

Why Study in Germany?

Apart from the obvious fact that the tuition fee is waived for candidates, thus allowing students to study in Germany for free. Studying in Germany would also allow students to have access to high-quality education, and affordable courses, and reap the benefits of a robust economy.

Students looking to pursue higher education in Germany have the benefit of being able to choose from a large pool of programmes and schools. Students can choose from hundreds of UG courses, offered in the country by all kinds of institutions of higher education such as business schools, art schools, colleges, technical colleges, universities, and universities of technology which are both private-run and state-funded.

 Also Read: 

• 10 Lesser-Known Good Colleges in Germany
• How to Get Admission to German Universities

While Germany offers avenues to study without tuition fees, it's worthwhile to compare these opportunities with those in the Netherlands. Our Study in Netherlands vs Germany guide provides a detailed comparison to aid your decision-making.

How to Study in Germany for Free – Step by Step Guide

One can check the step by step on how to study free in Germany. 

Choose the right course

Go to trusted websites like DAAD and search for tuition-free bachelor or master programs in Germany.

Find tuition-free public universities

Focus on public universities in Germany because most of them don’t charge tuition fees.

Open a Blocked Account

You need a Blocked Account in Germany to show you can pay for your living costs. Right now, it is around €11,904 per year.

Prepare your application

The document required are transcripts, SOP, LORs, IELTS/TOEFL/TestDaF scores and keep them ready before applying.

Apply to universities on time

Don’t wait for last minute. Most German universities have intake in September and some in January.

Apply for German student visa

After you get admission, apply for a student visa for Germany. You must show proof of money for living.

Plan your move and prepare

Check for student housing in Germany, get health insurance, look at part-time job options, and know the cost of living in German cities.

Research Suitable Programs and Universities

Out of all, around 88 programs are taught in English in Germany. Still, it is better for students who want to study in public universities in Germany to know some German language before applying. Students can check course details and university information on the official college websites and then apply.

The universities in Germany have two intakes in one year – January and September. But the January intake has very few seats. The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) website for researching. Students should check if the program is in English or German.Students usually need to show English proficiency with exams like IELTS or TOEFL.

When to start applying to universities in Germany?

Once you have selected your course, the next thing is to start looking at German Universities and enrolling in your school of choice. While every college has different admission eligibility, candidates need to have their academic transcripts, work experience (depending on the course), GRE/GMAT Scores, English test scorecards, LOR, and SOP ready before applying to German universities.

Since this article talks about studying in Germany for free, students should note that this is most prevalent across public universities in the country. Hence, candidates would be required to have a basic understanding of the German language because applicants would require it in general during their tenure in Germany and also during the visa process.

There are standardized language tests of German proficiency for non-native German speakers such as (TestDAF) as well as university-level (DSH) exams, which applicants may be required to appear for to prove their German Language skills. 

Admission Requirements to Study in Germany

There are basic requirements which one needs to fulfill before studying in Germany. 

Related read

Top Tuition-Free Public Universities In Germany

Here are some of the top universities in Germany which offer admission with zero tuition fee. These are based on QS Rankings 2026.

Cost of Studying in Germany

The cost of studying in Germany is free in Public Universities. However, students would be required to pay an administration fee at the start of every year/ semester. This is a negligible amount. The Germans take their education system very seriously and have everything calculated to the last cent.

Every year, according to the prevailing economic conditions as well as the relevant fee structure, every university would request that a monthly sum be provided for the student to facilitate their living expenses in the country as well as for completing his education, this money is deposited in a Blocked Account. This usually varies from state to state and is about €992 a month, which would roughly amount to €11,904  for an entire academic session. This would include their accommodation, living expenses, and even travel pass costs.

Students wanting to apply for financial aid or assistance can apply for various scholarships for studying in Germany and also apply for an education loan to study in Germany. Students can also apply for part-time jobs in Germany and benefit from their noteworthy post-study work options in Germany in place for the benefit of international students.

Cost of Living in Germany

The cost of living in Germany would depend largely on where the student is residing in Germany. If the candidate opts for one of the famous cities of Germany, then the accommodation in Germany could vary greatly and can go as high as €410 per month for a single room accommodation in cities like Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, or even the famous university towns of Heidelberg. These cities do have cheaper options available in terms of Residence Halls for students but being the country with the third-largest International student population, it does have its shortcomings.

In other words, finding a place in residence halls would be a challenge. The idea, hence, to curtail your cost of living in Germany is to either find a university in the lesser-known cities or start early and aim to find a place in one of the cheaper accommodations. The rest of the expenses and overheads are fairly similar across Germany. Adding to the expense of studying in Germany are the mandatory Health Insurance as well as miscellaneous expenses that are uniform. 

German Application Duration

So you picked your German university, great! Now comes the application part. I'd say start applying like 2-3 weeks before they want it done. That way you won't be rushing around at the last minute trying to get everything together.

Oh, and if you need a student loan for Germany, make sure you have all those extra papers ready beforehand. Trust me on this one. It is recommended to verify everything before you submit. It makes the whole thing go way smoother.

Read: Study in Germany: Timeline for German university intake

How to Apply for a German Student Visa?

To stay in Germany for more than 90 days as a student, candidates are required to get a residence permit or a student visa for Germany. Candidates would be required to prove to the visa officer that they have finances for one year in a Blocked Account as mentioned previously. The amount would be €992per month or €11,904 per annum.

A residence permit issued to students is valid for a maximum of two years. It needs to be renewed if the duration of the course is longer than the stated two years. Once your university admission letter has reached you and you have successfully applied for a German Student Visa, the next and final step is leaving for Germany to pursue your dreams.

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How is Life in Germany?

Once the application has been accepted and the Visa stamped, candidates, have to only fly out and reach their dream destination of studying in Germany. It would be a little difficult for students who would be flying out to a foreign land for the first time, however, the warm nature of the Germans would make students feel at home, the moment they land.

Beautiful landscapes, extra-curricular activities, and robust nightlife would keep students far from feeling lonely in a foreign land. Germany has a robust industry and fresh graduates can benefit from jobs in Germany in their related fields.