Study in Germany from India — National Visa, APS, EU Blue Card, Opportunity Card

All visa pathways · Germany

Four ways to get to Germany.

Pick the pathway that matches your goal. Each links to the detailed process, costs, and what we handle for you.

Study Visa

National Visa, APS verification, Blocked Account — 6-step pathway.

View pathway

Tourist Visa

Schengen short-stay — 90 days within any 180-day window across 27 countries.

View pathway

Work Visa

EU Blue Card, Opportunity Card, Job Seeker Visa, employer-sponsored.

View pathway

PR & Migration

Settlement Permit after 21–33 months on Blue Card, EU Long-Term Resident.

View pathway

The pathway

Six steps to your National Visa.

The German process is short on steps and long on verification. The APS certification alone can take three to twelve weeks. Plan backwards from your university intake — Winter (October) or Summer (April) — and start nine months out.

01

Prerequisite

Clear your IELTS exam.

Take the IELTS Academic exam. Aim for an overall band of 6.5 or higher. Note carefully: the PTE exam is not accepted by German universities or consular authorities — IELTS or TOEFL only.

02

Mandatory document verification

Apply for your APS Certificate.

Register on the APS India portal (Academic Evaluation Centre at the German Embassy). Pay the validation fee and courier your physical Indian academic transcripts to New Delhi for source authentication. Issuance takes roughly three to twelve weeks — this is the longest single step in the process.

03

Admission

Apply to German universities and secure your Zulassung.

Once your physical APS certificate is in hand, apply to target public universities directly or via the Uni-Assist portal. Secure your formal Letter of Admission (Zulassungsbescheid). We shortlist programs that match your APS-validated profile.

04

Financial proof

Open and fund a German Blocked Account.

Open a Sperrkonto online via an approved vendor — Expatrio, Fintiba, or Coracle are the established choices. Transfer the mandatory one-year living-expense reserve of €11,904 upfront to secure your official Blocking Confirmation. The account releases roughly €992 to you each month after you arrive.

05

Health insurance

Secure approved health coverage.

For enrolment, German public insurance (TK, Barmer, AOK) is combined with a targeted incoming travel health policy for the initial entry visa phase. The visa officer will check both certificates.

06

Visa application

Book your slot and submit via VFS Global.

Schedule a National Student Visa interview slot at your regional VFS Global centre. Present your printed visa application, passport, APS certificate, admission letter, Blocked Account confirmation, and health insurance. Decisions typically arrive in six to twelve weeks.

Our university network

47 public & private universities in Germany.

Tuition-free public universities and specialist private institutions across Germany. Search by name, or ask us for a shortlist matched to your course and German-language level.

Constructor University (formerly Jacobs University Bremen)

SRH University – Leipzig Campus

SRH University – Heidelberg Campus

SRH University – Stuttgart Campus

SRH University – Berlin Campus

SRH University – Cologne Campus

SRH University – Dresden Campus

SRH University – Fürth Campus

SRH University – Hamburg Campus

SRH University – Hamm Campus

SRH University – Munich Campus

EBS University

EU Business School (Germany)

SRH Fernhochschule – The Distance Learning University

SRH International College

Steinbeis University

Northern Institute of Technology Management (NIT)

International School of Management (ISM)

CBS International Business School

Arden University Berlin Study Center

GISMA University of Applied Sciences

New European College

Munich University of Digital Technology & Applied Sciences

Munich Business School

Accadis Hochschule Bad Homburg

Berlin School of Business and Innovation (BSBI)

University of Europe for Applied Sciences

ICN Business School, Berlin Campus

Fresenius University of Applied Sciences

Karlshochschule International University

Macromedia University of Applied Sciences

Lancaster University, Leipzig

University Targu Mures Medical Campus, Hamburg (UMCH)

Media Design University of Applied Sciences

Schiller International University, Heidelberg Campus

PFH – Private University of Applied Sciences

Rahn Education in Halle (Studienkolleg)

Private Studienkolleg Leipzig

Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM)

Berlin International College (BIC)

EIIE Eurasia Institute for International Education

Health Innovation University of Applied Sciences (HIU Berlin)

German International College (GIC)

HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

University of Economics for Management (HDWM)

Whitecliffe University of Applied Sciences (Berlin International)

FOM Hochschule

No institutions match “” — ask us, we likely still work with your target school.

Don’t see your target institution? Ask us — our network extends beyond this list.

2026 financial structure

What it actually costs.

Because public university education in Germany is free, your capital requirement centres entirely on personal survival. The €11,904 Blocked Account is the bulk of your outlay.

Expense	Cost in EUR	Cost in INR
IELTS Academic exam fee	~€180	₹17,000
APS India document verification (mandatory)	€200	₹18,000
Uni-Assist processing (base + each additional university)	€75 + €30	₹6,800 + ₹2,700
Blocked Account setup and administrative fee	~€49 – 89	₹4,400 – 8,000
German National Student Visa fee	€75	₹6,800
Tuition at public universities	€0	₹0 — free
Mandatory Blocked Account capital deposit	€11,904	≈ ₹10.7 lakhs
First-year total liquid capital required	≈ EUR 12,500	≈ ₹11.3 lakhs

Public universities charge a minor semester contribution of €150 – €400 covering public transit passes and campus services. Private universities are not free.

What makes Germany different

Affordable, yes. Easy, no.

German is your real friend. Even English-taught programs reward A2 or B1 German for daily life, part-time work, and post-study employment. Start early — Goethe-Institut A1 takes roughly two months of focused study.
APS is the bottleneck. If your transcripts are flagged, the process can stretch by months. We pre-screen documents before couriering to New Delhi.
The Blocked Account is genuinely blocked. You cannot withdraw the full €11,904 at once — only €992 per month after arrival. Plan your initial cash separately.
Part-time work is generous. Students can work 140 full days or 280 half-days per year — among the most flexible in Europe.
The Job Seeker Visa exists. After graduation, you receive an 18-month residence permit to find work matching your qualification. Germany wants you to stay.

Next destination

South Korea — D-2 Student Visa

View South Korea pathway →