How to Study in Luxembourg?

Studying in Luxembourg can be a life-changing decision for Indian students. This article covers information on your entire journey of studying in Luxembourg, from your initial decision to your life as a student and your career prospects afterwards. Read on to learn how to study in Luxembourg.

Choosing to study in Luxembourg is a strategic decision. It’s not about picking from a hundred universities, but it’s about choosing from a few highly rewarding ones. The choice is narrow, but the career path is wide in terms of earnings. So, if you’re wondering how to apply in Luxembourg, then this article is for you. 

How to Apply to the Universities in Luxembourg?

Here is the step-by-step guide, distinguished in phases to apply to Luxembourgish universities:

Phase 1: Prepare

This phase of your application comes even before you open the university’s application form. Getting this phase right makes the actual application process smooth and successful. Here’s what you need to prepare for as part of applying to the universities in Luxembourg:

• Research and select your program on the basis of your interests and career goals. You must start researching for the right course for you by September- December of the preceding year. Read how to select a course for studying abroad to get more clarity.
• Check the subject and language exam requirements of your course. Make sure you take and qualify for these exams before the application window for your course opens.
• Check the course content of your chosen course - and analyse whether the subjects taught genuinely interest you. 
• Connect your chosen course with a career to check the feasibility of your dreams coming true. Also, research how your program connects to Luxembourg's key industries (Finance, IT, Law, Logistics), as you may easily get a job post-course completion in these fields. 

Phase 2: Check Your Eligibility 

To be eligible to study a master’s course in Luxembourg, you need a recognised bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Note that a three-year bachelor's degree from a reputable Indian university is generally considered acceptable, as it aligns with the European "Bologna Process" followed by the education system in Luxembourg. 

The second major requirement for getting admitted to a university in Luxembourg is language proficiency. If your course is taught in English, try to prove your fluency either by providing a certificate from your previous institute or by taking an acceptable English exam such as IELTS and TOEFL. Usually, an IELTS score of 6.5 (with no band lower than 6.0) or a TOEFL iBT score of 90+ is a standard requirement.

Phase 3: Gather Required Documents

This is the part that most students generally make mistakes in or lag in. So, gather all your documents well in advance so that your entire application process does not get paused due to a lack of required document(s). For online application submission, you will generally be required to submit the digital (soft) copies of your documents in formats such as a PDF, JPG, JPEG or more. Take a note of the formats and number of copies in which the documents are asked of you for the application process. Here is a list of documents required for the application process in Luxembourg:

• Academic Transcripts: All your university mark sheets, semester by semester and also your consolidated marksheet
• Degree certificate: If you’re applying for a master’s degree, then a bachelor’s degree completion certificate is often required. 
• Detailed CV/Resume: Use the Europass CV format. It is the standard in Europe and shows you've done your homework.
• Letter of Motivation/Statement of Purpose: One of the most important documents, an SOP gives you a chance to convince the admissions committee why you are the perfect fit for the given admission slot/seat.
• Letters of Recommendation (LORs): Usually, two LORs are required from your professors or ex-employers who know you well.
• Copy of your valid passport
• English Language Test Scorecard (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE)

Note on Translations: If any of your documents are not in English, French, or German, you will need to get them officially translated.

Phase 4: Start Applying Online

The application window to apply to universities in Luxembourg is falls between January to April for non-EU students. Universities in Luxembourg, like the University of Luxembourg accept online applications. For that, you need to follow the below-given steps:

• Step 1: Create an account on the university’s official website and start application for your desired course. 
• Step 2: Enter your personal, academic, and professional details carefully. Double-check everything for spelling mistakes or errors before moving to the next section.
• Step 3: Upload the clear, scanned copies of all the documents you prepared in Phase 3.
• Step 4: Remember - Apply for the scholarships at the same time you submit your main application for admission, as this is a common mistake among students to assume that scholarships need to be applied laterwards. For the Guillaume Dupaix International Master's Scholarship, there will be a section or a checkbox within the application form. Do not miss this section!
• Step 5: Now this is the last step in your application journey. Review your entire application one last time, and then submit it. You will likely need to pay the first semester's administration fee (around €200-€400) upon enrollment confirmation, not during the initial application.

Phase 5: Apply for a Residence Permit

Once you get an offer from a university in Luxembourg, you can move on to apply for a Residence Permit in Luxembourg. You cannot apply for a student visa straight after getting an offer; a residence permit acts as a bridge to that. So here is the two-step process of getting a student visa in Luxembourg:

Step 1: Getting the Residence Permit

Apply for your Luxembourg residence permit. Remember, this is not a visa; it’s a pre-approval from the Luxembourg Immigration Directorate, and you cannot apply for Luxembourg’s student visa without this. The residence permit is initially granted for one year or less, as per the length of your course. As an Indian student, you must apply for a residence permit from within India before travelling to Luxembourg. 

Apply for a residence permit by sending the required documents, proof of funds (which is usually a minimum of 80% of the current social insertion income, i.e. 1,201 euros; this sums up to €860.8) and your offer/acceptance letter from the host university. The entire application and processing period may take upto 3 months. 

Step 2: Getting the student visa

You need to apply for a student visa near the expiration of your residence permit. Once you receive the approval letter for your authorisation, you take it to a VFS Global Centre in India to get the actual visa sticker placed in your passport.

If you need more details on studying in Luxembourg, then check "Everything about studying in Luxembourg for Indian students". 

This was all about how to study in Luxembourg as an Indian student. For more details on studying abroad, reach out for Shiksha’s Counselling Services for free.