Germany · Local newsHow spouses of skilled workers can get fast-track permanent residency in Germany
The Local Germany ↗ (read at source)
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Study in
Imagine a world-class engineering degree with little or no tuition at a public university, weekend trains across Europe, and 18 months to find your job.
Little or no public tuitionEngineering powerhouse18-month job-seeker permit
BerlinMunichHamburgBremen
Your journey
From choosing a course to working in Germany
Seven steps, using Germany’s real rules. Tap any step, or let it play.
Step 1 of 7 · Start here
Choose a career
- Start with what you enjoy and the career you want.
- Pick a course in Germany that leads there.
- An adviser checks the entry requirements with you, free.
Key facts
Taught master’s2 years
Work after graduating18 months
Work while studying140 full days a year
IntakesWinter (October) · Summer (April)
Master’s2 years (120 ECTS)
Bachelor’s3–3.5 years (180–210 ECTS)
Post-study work18-month job-seeker residence permit
Work while studying140 full days or 280 half days a year
Blocked account€11,904 / yr (€992 / month)
Every policy line is checked against official sources. Last verified: 22 Sep 2026.
Life in Germany
Climate
Cold winters, warm summers
Transport
Semester ticket often included (Deutschlandticket)
Healthcare
Public insurance ≈ €130 / month
Typical rent
€350–€800 / month (WG)
Part-time wage
Mindestlohn (minimum wage)
Careers here
What students build in Germany
Careers with example courses at our partner universities in Germany. Open one to see its career ladder and the courses.
Grows with AI
AI, data & analytics
Build and question the systems everyone else will use.
Data analyst, junior data engineer, BI analystExample courses in Germany Grows with AISoftware & cybersecurity
Every AI system needs to be built, connected and kept safe.
Junior developer, SOC analyst, cloud support engineerExample courses in Germany Grows with AIEngineering & robotics
Put AI into the physical world: machines, cities, energy.
Graduate engineer, engineering technologist, CAD technicianExample courses in Germany Grows with AIBiotech & life sciences
Where biology meets data and AI.
Lab technician, quality control analyst, research assistantExample courses in Germany Changing with AIManagement, marketing & supply chain
Lead people and projects in AI-powered organisations.
Operations coordinator, marketing executive, supply chain analystExample courses in Germany Changing with AIDesign, UX & digital media
AI makes images. Designers solve problems for people.
Junior UX designer, content producer, game artistExample courses in GermanyAlready studying in Germany?
Free help for students in Germany →Our service for your next course is free: advice, applications to our partner universities and colleges, and document checks, planned around your visa end date. Tuition and the university’s own fees are paid to the university as usual.
Checklists
Admission & student visa checklists for Germany
Free for everyone. Tick items off as you go (saved on this device), keep a printable copy, then ask an adviser for a free check of your list.
- Required
- Required
- If applicable
- If applicable
- Required
- Required
- If applicable
- If applicable
- If applicable
- If applicable
- Required
Want a dated plan to your intake? Build your full checklist for Germany.
Free adviser check
Send us your list. We’ll tell you what’s missing.
An adviser reviews your checklist for Germany and replies within one working day with:
- Which “if applicable” documents apply to you
- A realistic, dated plan to your September 2027 intake
- Courses at our partner universities that fit your profile
- The common mistakes that delay Germany applications
GermanySeptember 20270% ready13 required to go
Free. Your checklist summary is sent with your message, so you don’t have to type it. We give general guidance on official checklists; we do not prepare visa applications.
Education system
How education works in Germany
GrundschuleGrades 1–4Primary
SecondaryGrades 5–12/13Gymnasium → Abitur; Realschule; Gesamtschule
StudienkollegFoundation yearFor school certificates not recognised as equivalent
Bachelor’s180–210 ECTSUniversity or University of Applied Sciences
Master’s120 ECTSMany programmes taught in English
DoctorateResearchIndividual or structured PhD
Institutions
Universities, colleges and schools
Search the institutions we work with, by type.
UniversityUniversity of Europe for Applied Sciences (Potsdam)Potsdam
- Master of Science in Data Science
UniversityInternational School of Management (Dortmund Campus)Dortmund
- Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Science
UniversityUniversity of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) - Potsdam (Innovation Hub)Potsdam
- Bachelor of Science - Software Engineering
UniversityConstructor UniversityBremen
- Bachelor of Science - Robotics and Intelligent Systems
CollegeHochschule Fresenius - IdsteinIdstein
- Master of Science - Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
UniversityUniversity of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) - BerlinBerlin
- Bachelor of Arts - Game Design
UniversitySRH UniversityBerlin
- Master in Big Data & Artificial Intelligence (M.Sc)
- Bachelor in Computer Science (B.Sc.)
CollegeMunich Business SchoolMunich
- Master in International Business
- Bachelor International Business
A selection of the institutions we work with. Register with us for personalised course recommendations.
Curriculum
What and how you’ll study
- Two kinds of university: research universities, and Universities of Applied Sciences (Hochschulen), which focus on practice.
- Many South Asian school leavers need a Studienkolleg year or one year of university at home before starting a bachelor’s.
- Indian applicants need an APS certificate before applying for a visa.
Assessment
How you’ll be assessed
| Exams | Written and oral exams at the end of semester |
|---|---|
| Grades | 1.0 (best) to 4.0 (pass); 5.0 is a fail |
| Thesis | Bachelor’s and Master’s theses |
| Credits | ECTS: 30 per semester |
K-12
We don’t place school-age students here
Higher education only
Luminous places school-age students in Canada and New Zealand only. State schools rarely take international minors without a resident family. Private international schools are an option for families who relocate together. For Germany we can answer general questions, but we don’t handle school admissions here.
Where we place children →Costs & work
What it costs
| Tuition (public) | €0 + semester fee €150–€400 |
|---|---|
| Tuition (Baden-Württemberg) | €1,500 / semester for non-EU |
| Blocked account | €11,904 / yr |
| Visa fee | €75 |
Sample ranges. Confirm your programme’s exact fees in your offer letter.
Self-service
True cost & proof of funds
Tuition€700
Living costs€11,904
Visa fee€75
Health cover€1,500
Total for 1 year€14,179≈ USD 15,880 at sample rates · Public-university semester fees + blocked account
Sample 2026 figures and exchange rates. The live calculator uses the dated policy register and daily exchange rates.
Latest news
Germany: education & immigration updates
Official visa announcements and international-education news, updated automatically every day.
Germany · Education sector1 in 3 international students stay in Germany until retirement
The PIE News ↗ (read at source)Germany · Education sectorNumber of Indian students in Germany rises to record 70k high
The PIE News ↗ (read at source)Germany · Education sectorGermany says new dMAT will not be a “pass-fail barrier” for Indian students
The PIE News ↗ (read at source)Germany · Education sectorGermany adds new test to pre-visa checks for Indian master’s applicants
The PIE News ↗ (read at source)Germany · Education sectorBorderPlus maps out global expansion with training-first healthcare mobility model
The PIE News ↗ (read at source)Germany · Education sectorInternational grads three times more likely to find work in Germany
The PIE News ↗ (read at source)Germany · Education sectorGermany risks weakening academic ties with global south
The PIE News ↗ (read at source)How we help with visas. Luminous International is an education consultancy. We are not licensed immigration consultants (RCIC) or lawyers, and we do not represent anyone to any immigration authority. We provide general guidance and document checklists. For Canadian study permits, visa guidance is free and general only. Our paid services cover admissions documents, not immigration documents. We do not offer paid visa document preparation for any destination.