Masters Degree in Germany Requirements for Indians
Germany is now one of most preferred places when you think about doing a Master’s degree in Germany. But before you apply anywhere, it is important you know requirements to study Master’s in Germany. Things like GPA requirements in Germany, student visa for Germany, and some other important needs you must also prepare.
Germany is famous because many German public universities have no tuition fees, which is great for saving money. But, getting an admit is not very easy because they look at your grades very closely. First, the most important thing for Indians now is the APS certificate. Without this paper, you cannot even start your visa process. You also need a good CGPA in your Bachelors. Most top universities ask for at least 70% or 7.5 CGPA, and they usually want a 4-year degree like B.Tech. If you have a 3-year degree, you must check if the university accepts it.
For the language, you need IELTS (usually 6.5 band) for English courses. If you pick a German course, you need TestDaF or Goethe certificates. You also need to show money for your living costs in a Blocked Account. Right now, you need about €11,904 for one year. Lastly, your SOP (Statement of Purpose) and CV should be very clear about why you chose that specific course. If you follow these steps early, you have a good chance to study in Germany.
- Eligibility Requirements for MS in Germany for Indian Students
- Admission Process for Master's in Germany
- What is the APS Certificate and Why Do You Need It?
- Visa and Financial Requirements for MS (for non-EU students)
- Does Work Experience Required for MS in Germany?
Eligibility Requirements for MS in Germany for Indian Students
If you are an Indian student looking to apply for an MS in Germany, you need to meet specific academic, language, and financial rules. Below are the basic eligibility requirements explained simply.
1. Academic Requirements
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Bachelor’s Degree: You must have a recognized undergraduate degree. For most technical MS programs, a 4-year degree (like B.E. or B.Tech) is preferred.
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3-Year Degrees: If you have a B.Sc. or B.Com (3 years), many top public universities in Germany may not accept it directly. You might need to check if the university requires a 1-year Master’s in India first or a bridge course.
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CGPA/Grades: Most public universities are very competitive. You generally need at least 7.0 CGPA (70%). For top-tier universities like TU Munich or RWTH Aachen, an 8.5+ CGPA is often needed.
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Subject Matching: Your Bachelor's must be in a related field. For example, you cannot usually do an MS in Data Science if your Bachelor’s was in Mechanical Engineering unless you have enough "credits" in math and coding.
2. The APS Certificate (Mandatory)
Since 2022, all Indian students must get an APS Certificate before applying for a visa. This is a paper from the German Embassy that says your Indian degrees are real.
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When to apply: Start this as soon as you get your final year mark sheets because it can take 1–2 months.
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Cost: Around ₹18,000.
3. Language Proficiency
Depending on your course, you need one of these:
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English Taught (International Programs): You need IELTS (usually 6.5 band with no section below 6.0) or TOEFL (score of 80–90).
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German Taught: You need a high level of German like TestDaF 4 or DSH-2 (usually C1 level). Even for English courses, knowing A1/A2 German helps a lot with your visa and daily life.
4. Financial Requirements
You must prove you have enough money to live in Germany for one year without working.
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Blocked Account (Sperrkonto): You must deposit €11,904 (approx. ₹11 Lakhs) into a special German bank account. You can only withdraw about €992 per month for your expenses.
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Health Insurance: You need travel insurance for the visa and regular German Public Health Insurance once you arrive.
5. Other Required Documents
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GRE/GMAT: Not mandatory for all, but some top universities (like TU Berlin or RWTH) ask for a GRE score.
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SOP (Statement of Purpose): A 1-2 page letter explaining why you want to study that specific course.
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LOR (Letters of Recommendation): Usually 2 letters from your college professors or work manager.
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Updated CV: A professional resume in the Europass format.
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Admission Process for Master's in Germany
Getting into a German university for a Master's degree follows a very structured timeline. Because most public universities are funded by the government, they have strict rules about how and when you must apply.
Choose Your Intake
The universities here have two main German intakes:
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Winter Semester (Main Intake): Starts in October. This is when almost all courses are available.
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Summer Semester: Starts in April. Fewer courses are open for this intake.
Check the Application Portal
Every university has its own way of accepting students. You must check the "How to Apply" section on the university website to see which one they use:
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Direct Application: You upload your documents directly to the university's own online portal (e.g., TUMonline for TU Munich).
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Uni-Assist: This is a central service that many universities use to check international documents. You pay a fee (€75 for the first, €30 for each after), and they verify your grades before sending them to the university.
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VPD (Preliminary Documentation): Some universities ask you to get a VPD from Uni-Assist first, then you take that certificate and apply directly to the university portal.
Typical Admission Timeline
For the Winter Intake in Germany (October start), you should follow this plan:
| Month | Task |
| Jan – March | Research courses on DAAD.de and get your APS Certificate (mandatory for Indians). |
| April – May | Take your IELTS/TOEFL and gather your SOP, CV, and LORs. |
| May – July | Application Period: Most portals open in May and close on July 15th. |
| August | Receive your Admission Letter (Zulassungsbescheid). |
| August – Sept | Open your Blocked Account and apply for your German Student Visa. |
| October | Fly to Germany and start classes. |
How Applications are Evaluated
Germany does not use "holistic" review as much as the USA. They are very focused on your Academic Match.
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ECTS Credits: They count how many credits you earned in specific subjects (e.g., Math, Theory of Computation) during your Bachelor’s. If you don't have enough, they will reject you, even if your CGPA is high.
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Numerus Clausus (NC): Some popular courses are "NC," meaning there is a fixed number of seats. Admission is based strictly on your converted German grade (lower is better; 1.0 is the best).
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Aptitude Tests: Some technical programs might ask you to take an online test or an interview if your profile is on the borderline.
Final Step: Enrollment (Immatrikulation)
Getting an admission letter is not the same as being a student. Once you arrive in Germany, you must go to the university in person to enroll. You will need to show:
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Your original Degree/Transcripts.
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Proof of German Health Insurance.
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Receipt of the Semester Contribution (usually €150–€350 for your bus pass and admin fees).
Related Blogs
| CGPA into Marks | Percentage to CGPA |
| How to Calculate CGPA | CGPA to GPA |
What is the APS Certificate and Why Do You Need It?
All Indian students applying for a long-term student visa to Germany must obtain an APS Certificate. This certificate verifies your academic documents and is now a mandatory step before your visa application.
Make sure to:
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Apply early (processing can take 4–6 weeks).
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Submit verified transcripts and degree certificates.
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Attach your APS certificate with your university and visa application.
Also, Read
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
Visa and Financial Requirements for MS (for non-EU students)
- Student Visa: You need a student visa or a prospective student visa if you’re from outside the EU.
- Financial Proof: You must show you have enough money to support yourself. Often this means opening a blocked bank account in Germany with about €11,904 for one year.
- Health Insurance: You must have valid health insurance before your visa application and university enrolment in Germany.
Does Work Experience Required for MS in Germany?
A lot of universities could also ask students to have some kind of work experience in their related field of study as part of the application process requirement. Providing experience certificates will only further the candidates' application. Internships, research papers, vocational training, competitions and projects can all be submitted as part of work experience as long as it is in the related field of study.
Candidates looking to study MS in Germany can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for assistance with university applications or MS in Germany requirements. Candidates can also write to us in the comments section below.
While not always mandatory, many German universities require or recommend GRE scores for MS admissions. It's essential to check the specific requirements of the university and programme you're applying to.
The work experience is not always required for MS in Germany. But having internships, research projects, or relevant experience in your academic profile can definitely add weight to your application.
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The minimum CGPA required to pursue an MS in Germany is generally 7.0 or 70%. However, top universities often expect a CGPA of 8.5 and above.