'How to Choose a University in Germany: Program, Requirements, and

Choosing a university in Germany starts not with rankings, but with checking the program, admission requirements, and the real cost of studying. In 2026, it is important to look in advance at the language of instruction, recognition of previous education, NC, deadlines, semester fees, and possible tuition fees for students from outside the EU.

1. Define your study goal

First decide why you want a German university: to get your first profession, switch fields, enter a master’s program, stay and work in Germany, or strengthen your international profile. Your goal determines the type of program and your admission strategy.

For a bachelor’s degree, it is important to check whether your school diploma gives you direct access to German higher education or whether you need a Studienkolleg. For a master’s degree, the profile of your previous diploma is decisive: the university may require a certain number of ECTS credits in specific subjects.

2. Compare not universities in general, but specific programs

The same university can be strong in engineering and average in another field. So compare programs using practical criteria:

Criterion	What to check
Program content	Modules, specializations, internships, labs, project courses
Language of instruction	German, English, or a mixed format
Admission requirements	Subject credits, GPA, portfolio, motivation letter, exams
Capacity limits	Whether there is NC or internal competition
Cost	Semesterbeitrag, tuition fees, city and housing costs
Career opportunities	Internships, company contacts, alumni, regional job market

Rankings can be used as an additional reference point, but they do not replace the page of the specific program on the university website.

3. Check the cost of studying

At many public universities in Germany, studying remains inexpensive compared with English-speaking countries, but “almost free everywhere” is already too rough a generalization. There is almost always a Semesterbeitrag, and in some federal states and universities there may be additional charges or tuition fees for students from third countries.

One separate example is the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Since the winter semester of 2024/25, TUM has charged tuition fees to new international students from countries outside the EU/EEA in bachelor’s and master’s programs, unless an exception applies. The amount depends on the program: for bachelor’s degrees, universities usually list amounts of around 2,000 or 3,000 euros per semester; for master’s degrees, 4,000 or 6,000 euros per semester. The exact amount must be checked on the page of the selected program.

4. Understand the admission requirements

In Germany, requirements are set not only by the university, but by the specific program. Even within one faculty, the conditions may differ.

Most often, they check:

• recognition of your school diploma or degree;
• the profile of your previous education;
• GPA and the competitive threshold;
• NC, if the number of places is limited;
• language certificate;
• motivation letter, CV, portfolio, or entrance tasks;
• application deadlines and certified copies.

If your grades are not ideal, that does not always close the path. Sometimes you can choose a less competitive program, another city, a preparatory route, or a related specialty. But there are no universal “life hacks”: you need to read the rules of the specific program.

5. Check the language of instruction and certificates

For German-language programs, you usually need confirmed German proficiency, for example through TestDaF, DSH, telc C1 Hochschule, or another certificate accepted by the specific university. For English-language programs, they more often require TOEFL or IELTS. GMAT or GRE may appear in some business, economics, and technical programs, but they are not a general requirement for everyone.

You should not choose a program only because it is in English. For daily life, internships, part-time work, practical training, and bureaucracy, German still helps a lot.

6. Make a shortlist of universities

It is optimal to choose 6-10 programs with different levels of competition:

• 2-3 ambitious options;
• 2-4 realistic options;
• 1-3 backup options with clear requirements.

For each program, create a table with the deadline, language, documents, cost, NC, a link to the program page, the admission office contact, and the document preparation status.

7. Do not postpone your documents

Admission often fails not because of a weak profile, but because of timing. Translations, certifications, APS for certain countries, uni-assist, the language certificate, and university responses take time.

Minimum checklist:

1. Check recognition of your education.
2. Find the pages of the specific programs.
3. Write down deadlines and requirements.
4. Take the required language exam.
5. Prepare translations and certifications.
6. Submit documents through the university portal or uni-assist, if it is used.
7. Watch for emails and requests for additional documents.

Common mistakes when choosing a university

• Focusing only on the city or ranking.
• Not checking ECTS requirements for a master’s degree.
• Assuming all public universities are free for all international students.
• Confusing the language of life in Germany with the language of the program.
• Not taking into account rental costs in Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, and other expensive cities.
• Applying to only one university.

A good choice of university in Germany is not one “best university”, but a program where your goals, academic profile, language, budget, and real chances of admission align.