Germany
1.1 German higher education system
If you want to study in Germany you can choose between ‘Universities’ or ‘Fachhochschulen’ (often called Universities of Applied Sciences in English). The qualifications offered at both types of institution are regarded as being equal in value but they offer very different styles of education. ‘Fachhochschulen’ in Germany are more practically orientated than universities. Normally the ‘Fachhochschulen’ route takes four years to complete because students must undertake internships as an integral part of their degree. Technical or artistic subjects are more likely to be taught at ‘Fachhochschulen’ than at universities.
‘Fachhochschulen’ are more likely to offer teaching in smaller groups whereas universities tend to follow the traditional lecture and tutorial approach to learning. Professors at Fachhochschulen are required to have a minimum of 5 years work experience to be able to demonstrate knowledge of real case studies. For some vocational courses, it is necessary for applicants to have relevant work experience before you can apply to study there although this is not often a restriction on English-taught courses.
As in the UK, most universities offer a more theory-based approach to learning without internship possibilities. However, this also depends on each university.
There are public and private examples of both universities and ‘Fachhochschulen’.
Of the approximately 250 Bachelor’s degrees taught in English in Germany, about 30 of them are at public research universities and 60 at public universities of applied sciences. The rest are offered by a wide variety of private universities. Because private universities often have their own terms and conditions around tuition fees and entry requirements, the majority of the information on this page will only be useful primarily to those students capable of studying in German at public universities. For private universities, you are best advised to contact them directly.
1.2 Entry requirements for German universities
While there any number of exceptions for competitive degree programmes, and sometimes confusing rules relating to particular A’ level subject combinations, the basic rule is that university admission is possible with 3 A’ levels at CCC or better. This fits the reality of British-educated students’ academic background far better than the previous regulations that still refer to AS levels and require a minimum of four subjects. It is no longer the case that Maths (or a science) is required for absolutely every subject at university. This change alone will make German higher education more accessible to British-educated students.
From summer 2025, there will be changes to the entry requirement for students with the International Baccalaureate. Without going into full detail here, Mathematics Standard Level (either A&A or A&I) is required along with at least one science or foreign language at Higher Level. Further information can be found here.
The IB Certificate or Career Diploma is not recognised for university entry.
General Requirements for A’ level Students
A minimum of 3 A’ levels at CCC or better is required to study at a German university. These A’ levels must be in independent subjects (eg. Maths and Further Maths count as only one A’ level).
Two of these A’ levels must be from subjects on List A. These subjects include: Languages (not mother-tongue), History, Geography, Politics, Sociology, Government & Politics, Economics, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Computer Science.
The third A’ level can be another one from List A or an independent subject on List B. The most common subjects on this list are: Art & Design, Ancient History, Classical Civilisation, Geology, Drama, History of Art, Music, Psychology, Religious Studies, Physical Education and Statistics.
If a subject on this list is deemed dependent, it cannot be considered. Examples would include History of Art for students who also have History, Statistics with Maths, Geology with Geography etc.
There is also a List C that includes a number of subjects that might be accepted if they relate directly to the intended degree programme. Acceptance of these subjects is at the discretion of the individual university. The most common examples include: Business Studies, Design & Technology, Film Studies, Law, Media Studies and Music Technology. The same rule about subject dependency applies, meaning that Business Studies cannot be offered alongside Economics, for example. Law cannot be offered with History, Politics, Sociology or Government & Politics.
We have not included all subjects on List B and C here, nor all of the subject-dependent clashes. However, this summary does cover the most obvious examples.
There do appear to be some omissions or apparent inaccuracies. For example, there is no mention of General Studies or Critical Thinking on any list, so it is safe to assume these subjects are not recognised.
On List A, “Informatik” is the German name given to Computer Science A’ level but it also includes Information & Communication Technology and Information Technology A’ levels which might be more equivalent to the vocational subjects in List C and are certainly treated as such in other countries eg. the Netherlands.
Subject - Specific Requirements
For certain degree programmes specific combinations of A’ levels are required. In reality, this affects most degrees except the arts.
Medicine and Pharmacy – 3 A’ levels from Maths, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Computer Science
Maths and Engineering – Maths is compulsory, one A’ level must be Biology, Physics, Chemistry or Computer Science. The third A’ level can be anything.
Sciences – Two A’ levels must be from Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science.
Social Sciences and Economics – One A’ level must be from Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science. One A’ level must be from History, Geography, Politics, Economics and Sociology.
Law – One A’ level must be from History, Geography, Politics, Economics and Sociology or a language.
In degrees that are not listed here, the universities can specify their own subject requirements if they wish.
Other factors
The guidelines above are adapted and translated from the Anabin website. From time to time these can change slightly so if you speak German you might want to refer to them directly.
Some Universities/Fachhochschulen offer one-year preparatory courses, in case you cannot meet the requirements.These are known as "Studienkolleg".
Moreover, if you decide to study a course that is only offered in German, you will have to undertake a language proficiency test, which is normally offered by the chosen institution.
Private universities in Germany are usually a little more flexible with regard to recognition of British qualifications. However, they will usually still insist that relevant subjects have been taken. Specialist education institutions such as art schools often have their own entrance procedures that mean the rigid A' level requirements might be waived.
A number of German universities now offer programmes that start in English but then transition into German. This model allows English speaking students to gain admission to their institutions without speaking German at the time of application. However, we would recommend that you only apply to these programmes if you already have basic German skills because becoming fluent in a language, starting from scratch in just one year is certainly not easy.
1.3 Application process for German universities
Most German universities now use a centralised admissions system, Uni-Assist, for the processing of international applications. You can find a list of which universities use Uni-Assist here. If you need to use Uni-Assist here is a summary of the application process.
For details on how to apply to degrees in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy please see the Hochschulstart website. The information is only available in German because there are no options for studying these subjects at public universities in English. There are some private German medical schools and you can find out more about them elsewhere on this site.
The deadline for applications can vary by institution and by Bundesland.
For Fachhochschulen
For Universities
1.4 Numerus Clausus
For many subjects, there is open entry to University or Fachhochschule meaning that a student only needs to have relevant qualifications to be awarded a place. However, for more popular subjects there are restrictions on entry known as ‘Numerus Clausus’. This restriction means that, with some exceptions, universities are free to choose the students they wish to accept based on a variety of criteria.
These criteria will usually include:
These criteria apply to domestic and EU applicants. Non-EU applicants, such as British nationals, are often considered in their own quota where only the grades at high school are taken into consideration.
The biggest issue for students applying to Numerus Clausus degree programmes with A’ levels is that the results come out too late. The first selection rounds take place shortly after Abitur results are known, usually in early July. If you are waiting for results in August, you will be too late and will need to take a Gap Year.
As most of the undergraduate degrees that are subject to Numerus Clausus are taught in German, there is very little information in English available on university websites. We have found this useful summary on the Freie Universitaet Berlin website but most of the actual detail is only in German.
In most parts of Germany, tuition fees are currently zero for all students and will remain that way for EU nationals for the foreseeable future; you only have to pay a small contribution of up to €200 per semester depending on the University/Fachhochschule. This is a semester fee, more akin to membership of the student union than an actual tuition fee, and often includes a local transport pass.
If you are a non-EU national, it is possible that you might have to pay tuition fees at a public universities. In Baden-Württemberg, tuition fees of €3,000 per year are payable at all universities. For 2024, the law in Bavaria has changed, meaning that universities there can also charge non-EU nationals tuition fees. Currently, only the Technical University of Munich has decided to do so. Here, fees are €4,000 – 6,000 per year.
If you decide to go to a Private University prices vary between €10.000 - €20.000. Private Fachhochschulen are less expensive, however still charge between €3.000 - €10.000. Private universities often quote their fees as a monthly figure. We do not adopt this on our site because we try to standardise all fees as annual amounts. If you come across a monthly amount, you will need to multiply this by twelve even if the academic year is only roughly ten months per year.
3.1 How do I get a visa to study in Germany?
No visa is required for EU citizens.
Non-EU nationals, including Brits, will need to obtain a student visa. In order to do so, it is necessary to not only show evidence of available funds but to deposit them into a blocked account (Sperrkonto) in Germany. Currently, you need to deposit €11,904 at the start of the academic year. This is then released back to the student at the rate of €992 per month. This is the German government’s estimate of the cost of being a student and it should be sufficient, except perhaps in more expensive cities such as Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg. There are several providers of these Sperrkontos in Germany and it is easy enough to find out more about their fees and financial guarantees.
If you have a German resident who is willing to guarantee your costs at university, it is possible to avoid this requirement. The requirement is also reduced or removed if you have a scholarship to cover some or all of your costs. This is extremely unlikely to be from your German university, particularly at undergraduate level.
3.2 Can I work there as a student?
If you are an EU citizen, you can work without a visa in Germany and can earn as much money as you want. The only thing you have to take care of is to register with your local ‘Einwohnermeldeamt’ (inhabitant registration office)
Non-EU nationals can work up to 140 days a year (or 280 half days). You cannot be self-employed. You can apply to work more than this but you have no automatic right to do so. It can depend on the local unemployment situation.
The German government advises that you are unlikely to earn enough to cover your living costs in full but a contribution to your pocket money is certainly possible.
You can earn up to €520 per month tax-free as a student.
Job prospects are dramatically improved if you speak German.
“ A much more unique experience rather than studying an hour away from home. ”
A Star Future provides information and guidance to British students looking to pursue their undergraduate studies abroad.
Through our presentations in schools and our websites we aim to ensure that British-educated students are well informed about their choices.
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