Study Free in Germany: Admission Requirements

If you are thinking of studying free in Germany, then you need to know the admission requirements. If you are reading this, then you must have heard about free tuition Universities in Germany. Now you need to know the requirements for admission into the various schools.

First of all, the requirements for admission into different courses and different Universities on Germany differ across board. However, there are some common requirements in terms of documents and results that make you eligible for admission.

List of General Documents You Need for Germany University Admission

The fact that these Universities in Germany are tuition-free does not make them lower in standard than other one where school fees are charged. Therefore, you must be prepared to provide all the requirements for admission as you would for other Universities.

Even though admission requirements vary from school to school, these are the common ones. I am using examples of Nigeria because I am a Nigerian, you can look up the equivalence of those things for your country:

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

• English/German Language Proficiency Test Result (explained below)
• Birth Certificate (in Nigeria, from National Population Commission)
• Medical Certificate showing how healthy an applicant is
• O’ level Results and Transcripts showing grades (in Nigeria, WAEC/NECO)
• A Valid International Passport

Postgraduate Admission Requirements

• English/German Language Proficiency Test Result (explained below)
• Birth Certificate or Attestation of Birth (in Nigeria, from National Population Commission)
• Medical Certificate showing how healthy an applicant is
• O’ level Results and Transcripts showing grades (in Nigeria, WAEC/NECO)
• A Valid International Passport
• Undergraduate Certificate
• Academic Transcript
• Should provide Two Reference Letters
• Statement of Purpose and/or Research Proposal

Note that you have to send authenticated copies of these certificates. Click here to see how to authenticate your credential for admission in Germany.

Language Requirements (Germany and/or English)

When searching for courses, you want to check the options under “Course Language”. Don’t forget to check the English option there unless you understand German. When it comes to tuition-free Universities in Germany, there are several courses taught in English at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels.

When you apply for courses taught in English at German Universities, you have to provide proof of proficiency in English Language. Countries in which their primary/native language is English are however exempted from this requirement.

Written Tests

There are usually options when it comes to Language requirements. The common ones include the following. You have to provide one of the following by writing the exams and getting the cut-off marks for admission.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
• Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE)
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency (CPE)
• Business English Certificate (BEC)

Different school and courses have different marks usually ranging from 79 to 110 out of 120. For example, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences accepts TOEFL minimum score of 87 (Internet-based) for Biomedical Engineering, while for International Business Administration (MSc) at the European University Viadrina, Frankfurt the TOEFL score required is 100 points at the minimum.

Medium of Instruction Document

In some cases, there are also exceptions for students who were taught in English in the schools they have attended prior to applying for admission into the free tuition universities in Germany. This largely depends on the school you are applying to; some accept it while others don’t.

You can provide a proof of this by getting a letter from your previous school stating that you were taught in English Language during your previous studies. The document is usually called “Medium of Instruction” and it should be addressed “To Whom It May Concern” so that you can use it for any school.

Standardized Test Requirement

Some Universities will require Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for some courses. The requirements all boils down to the course and the schools you are applying to, for admission.

So thinking of getting started now? Then check out the easy way to apply for admission into Germany’s Tuition Free Universities and how to apply for German Student Visa in Nigeria. If you are reading from other country, the process should be similar.