Residence permit for students

WHAT

As a foreign student enrolled as a regular student at German university you are entitled to temporary residence permit in accordance with section 16 of the Residence Act. In order to study in Germany, you need a so-called “Hochschulzugangsberechtigung” (HZB), or higher education entrance qualification. Depending on the type of higher education institution, this can be the Hochschulreife (general school-leaving qualification permitting tertiary study, which is the Abitur) or the technical school-leaving certificate (Fachhochschulreife).

WHO

If you’re a regular student from an EU country, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, you have equal rights to access education as German students.

If you‘re a student from a third country, your international higher education entrance qualification lets you study at a German university, provided that the international certificate of education is recognised as higher education entrance qualification in Germany.

You can also study in Germany as a foreign student under the framework of bilateral international programmes, as well as spend a period studying in Germany through the ERASMUS+ programme.

HOW

You have to apply firstly to the higher education institution for a university place. It’s important that you inform yourself properly at the institution of your choice about the requirements and deadlines necessary for the university application. This also includes the recognition of your qualification certificates. The German Academic Exchange Service offers a database where you can check which of your documents are recognised as a higher education entrance qualification in Germany: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/nach-deutschland/voraussetzungen/en/6017-the-requirements/
If your international higher education entrance qualification does not directly qualify you for admission to study in Germany, you can participate in a preparatory course at a German university. The “Studienkolleg” (preparatory course) websites for the German universities provide all the information you need: http://www.uni-assist.de/preparatory-courses.html
Also, you must be able to demonstrate an adequate knowledge of German in order to participate in the courses. Exceptions are made for students in international courses, post-graduate courses or if you want to study in Germany for one or two semester only. You can find more information about the language skills here: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/nachdeutschland/voraussetzungen/en/6221-german-language/

Once you have been accepted to study at a state or state-recognized institute of higher learning you will receive the letter of acceptance. This proofs your admission and with it you can apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studying. This residence permit is valid for a period of at least one and at the most two years. Studying must be the primary purpose of the stay; evening or weekend courses or correspondence courses therefore do not qualify. Limited employment as well as spare-time student employment is permitted. If you have not been accepted at a higher education institution yet, you can be issued a residence permit for up to nine months in order to apply for a study place in Germany.

WHEN

Each university has different deadlines. Please find out your universities’ deadlines as early as possible. Some universities also have different deadlines for applicants from EU and non-EU countries, and they may even differ from course to course.

GOOD TO KNOW

Every university or University of Applied Sciences in Germany has an Akademisches Auslandsamt (AAA) or International Office (IO). It is the central contact for international students and those interested in applying for a course. Here you can get answers to all your questions related to recognition of documents, the application process, visas and work permits. You can search for the International Offices at Munich’s universities at the website of the German Academic Exchange Service: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/in-deutschland/hochschule/en/9147-the-first-port-ofcall/

In Bavaria there are no tuition fees to study at universities. But you must pay semester contributions, including contribution to the student union and the costs of a compulsory
semester ticket which allows the use of public transport at a reduced price. Private institutions usually charge considerably higher fees. Students can claim state training support (BaföG) if they fulfil certain conditions and apply for scholarships or student loans.