A Scholar's Guide on Relocating to Germany

study in a country with free tuition and English as their language of instruction

Jun 18, 2025

Welcome to issue #016 of ScholAfrica. Every Wednesday, I send an essay that helps you get the scholarships and visa you need to experience a better life abroad and give your family the life they deserve. If this was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here:

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Last week, I interviewed an amazing Nigerian scholar named Favour. She's been living in Germany for three whole years, and wow, did I learn a lot!

One cool thing I found out is that Favour is studying for her master's degree in English right there in Germany. Isn't that neat? It shows just how good Germans are at teaching English!

But here's the best part: I also discovered that Germany can be one of the cheapest places to move to, if you have the right information. Soon, you'll be able to hear my full chat with Favour on my channel. (Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don't miss it!)

Today, I'm going to share all the super important stuff you need to know. This will help you decide if Germany should be on your japa list or not!

The German Advantage

Germany has consistently ranked as one of the most attractive study destinations globally, and for good reasons:

World-Class, Tuition-Free Public Universities: This is the game-changer. Most public universities in Germany charge little to no tuition fees. You'll primarily pay a "semester contribution," which is a small fee (typically €100-€350 per semester). One of the benefits of this small fee is free public transportation within your city or region. I can't even compare this with the US, UK, or Canada.
Many English Programs: While learning German is highly beneficial, you'll find a lot of really good Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD programs taught entirely in English. My friend Favour is a testament to this point.
Post-study opportunities: Germany offers clear pathways to work and potentially permanent residency after graduation. After graduating, you can apply for an 18-month job seeker residence permit.
Experience New Culture: Beyond academics, Germany has a vibrant culture and a chance to experience a new way of life. You can explore the headquarters of German companies like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, DHL, and Adidas.

The Application Process

One of my key takeaways from the conversation was that the application process for German schools is straightforward.

Step 1: Find the Right Program and University.

In the German school search, you only need one website: www.daad.de. It's an official and comprehensive database for study programs, universities, and scholarships. You can filter by whatever you like. For example, I can filter by "tuition fee: no", "language: English", and "start semester: Winter" to find free tuition English programs that start in the Winter semester. German schools have two major semesters: Winter (October to March) and Summer (April to September).

In your search, prioritize public universities, as they often offer free tuition. There are still private universities with high tuition fees. It is wise to avoid them.

Step 2: Prepare Your Application Documents

Every program is different, but here’s a list of documents that most universities will ask for:

Your school-leaving certificate or university degree
Academic transcripts
Proof of language proficiency (English or German)
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Motivation letter (a.k.a. Statement of Purpose)
Letters of recommendation
Passport copy
Application form(s)

It's very similar to the requirements for U.S. schools. For language proficiency, if you did your first degree in English, you can submit a letter of English proficiency, and the school can waive the TOEFL/IELTS requirements for you.

Step 3: Apply

Some universities accept online applications, while many others require the use of Uni-assist (www.uni-assist.de) to process international applications. If you're applying through Uni-assist, they require €75 for the first application and €30 for each additional school.

You also need to take note of the deadlines. For winter intake (starting October), the deadline for most schools is July 15th. (So you can still move to Germany this year). For summer intake (starting April), the deadline for most schools is January 15.

Some schools might require you to send documents through the post (DHL) in addition to applying online. Make sure you complete every application requirement for the schools you choose to apply to.

Getting a German Student Visa

The German student visa requirements are:

Application form: Two completed and signed VIDEX forms.
Passport: Valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay, with at least two blank pages.
Passport Copies: 2 copies of your passport biodata page.
Letter of Acceptance: From a recognized German university.
Proof of Financial Means (more on this in the next section)
Health insurance: You must have a valid health insurance that meets German standards.
Visa Fee: Approximately €75 payable at the embassy just before you are interviewed.

Germany also has a visa interview like the US. So, prepare to answer questions about your program, study plans, future goals, and other relevant topics. My friend, Favour, has a YouTube channel where she prepares scholars for German admission, scholarships, and visa interviews.

The Germany visa interview has different wait times in Nigeria depending on your category. When applying for a visa, you are either in Category A or Category B.

Category A: You finished with a first class, you are going for a PhD, or you have a German scholarship (no matter how small).
Category B: Every other student visa applicant.

Using Nigeria as an example, the wait times for Category A are like 2 weeks, and the wait times for Category B are like 2 years. This will be different for you if you aren't a Nigerian.

The good news about Germany student visa appointments is that you don't need admission before joining the interview pool. So if you decide to apply to Germany after reading this letter, you can apply for a student visa today so your wait time starts counting.

Proof of Funds

Tuition is free, but you'll have many other things to pay for while you're in Germany. Things like your rent, food, health insurance, utilities (electricity, internet, phone bill), and shopping. The embassy requires you to show proof of funds before it will issue you the visa.

Now, how much do you need to show?

As of September 1, 2024, this amount is €992 per month, which is €11,904 per year.

I can hear you saying it's too much but calm down. There are 3 ways you can show this. Always remember that international scholars who you are much richer than are currently studying abroad. If they can do it then you can do it too.

A blocked account: This is a special bank account in Germany where you deposit the required annual amount. The money is "blocked," meaning you can only withdraw a certain amount (e.g., €992) each month. It's your money, just disbursed over time.
A sponsorship letter: If you have any legal resident in Germany who is also financially stable, they can sign a letter of commitment promising to cover your costs while you study. This could be a friend or relative. Many international students have explored this option.
Scholarships: There are several scholarships for international students. If you receive scholarships that total €992 per month, then you are all set. Even if you don’t, your block account just has to show the balance. The top ones are DAAD Scholarships, Erasmus+, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Heinrich Böll Foundation, and Deutschlandstipendium.

Putting It All Together

If I knew the whole amount I spent on getting to the US before I started the process, I would never have started. It is the same with everything; you take it one step at a time. Don't let the blocked account disturb you when you haven't even gotten your transcript.

Start with the next step and have faith that God will provide whatever you need at the exact moment (just as He always does).

That’s it for today!

As always, thanks for reading.

Hit reply and let me know if Germany is a “yes” or “no” for you (and why, if you can).

**Nzube Ohalete (**Find me on YouTube or X)

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