Study in Germany: your university application, step by step
From TU München to RWTH Aachen, from engineering to medicine: which route a Turkish high-school diploma opens into a German university (direct, Studienkolleg or IB/AP), what level of German is required and how the blocked account and visa work — all managed in one plan.
Why Germany?
Tuition-free public universities
The vast majority of public universities charge no tuition; students pay only a semester contribution that usually includes a transport ticket. Baden-Württemberg and some Bavarian universities are the exception.
Engineering and industry links
Education closely tied to industry in automotive, mechanical, electrical, computer and chemical engineering; compulsory internships and final projects are often done inside companies.
18 months after graduation
Graduates can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to find a job; once employed, the EU Blue Card or a work permit follows. During studies, 140 full working days a year are allowed.
Close to Türkiye, a familiar country
Direct flights, a large Turkish-speaking community, the Schengen area and the Erasmus network; Turkish student associations in many cities and a familiar daily life.
The education system in Germany
German higher education follows the Bologna bachelor's – master's – PhD structure; medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law and teacher training are single-cycle programmes ending in a Staatsexamen (state examination).
| Level | Length | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Studienkolleg + FSP | 1 year · 2 semesters | Foundation year when a Turkish high-school diploma alone is not sufficient; ends with the Feststellungsprüfung |
| Bachelor's | 3 years · 180 ECTS | At a Universität or a university of applied sciences (HAW / Fachhochschule); some HAW programmes run 7 semesters |
| Master's | 2 years · 120 ECTS | Bachelor's degree + programme-specific prerequisites; most English-taught programmes are at this level |
| Staatsexamen | 5-6+ years | Medicine 6+ years, dentistry 5+ years, law and pharmacy; taught in German, capacity-restricted (NC) |
| Promotion (PhD) | 3-5 years | After a master's; usually on a research position or a grant |
Universities (LMU, Heidelberg, Humboldt…) are research-oriented; technical universities (TU München, RWTH Aachen, KIT, TU Berlin) stand out in engineering and sciences; universities of applied sciences (HAW / Fachhochschule) offer smaller classes, compulsory internships and an industry-focused curriculum. A small number of private universities (Jacobs / Constructor, WHU, ESMT, Frankfurt School…) charge tuition but offer a wider choice of English-taught bachelor's degrees. The academic year has two semesters: winter starts in October, summer in April; most bachelor's intakes are in the winter semester. The key admission concept is the Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB) — the "university entrance qualification": which diploma grants which right is defined country by country in the Conference of Education Ministers' anabin database.
How to apply to a university in Germany
1. Settle the entry route (HZB)
A Turkish high-school diploma alone does not grant direct entry. The route is chosen from the student's situation: YKS placement at a Turkish university in a related field (in most cases direct, subject-restricted access), Studienkolleg + FSP, an IB diploma, or a sufficient AP + SAT combination. The decision is verified against anabin and the target university.
2. Choose the programme and university
From the DAAD and Hochschulkompass databases, 4–8 programmes are chosen by subject, teaching language, city and admission type (NC / open); for each one it is noted whether it applies via uni-assist or directly, and its deadline.
3. Language and test plan
TestDaF (4x4), DSH-2, Goethe C1/C2 or telc C1 Hochschule for German-taught programmes; IELTS / TOEFL for English-taught ones go on the calendar. For a Studienkolleg application, B1–B2 German and the entrance test (Aufnahmetest) are planned.
4. Apply via uni-assist / the university portal
Many universities require the preliminary review of foreign diplomas through uni-assist (a VPD document or direct forwarding); others use their own portal. Diploma, transcript, language certificate and motivation letter are uploaded with sworn translations; fees and dates change yearly.
5. Offer, blocked account and insurance
Once the admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid) arrives, the blocked account (Sperrkonto) is opened and the yearly amount deposited; health insurance and the Studentenwerk housing application are handled in this period. The semester contribution is paid for enrolment (Immatrikulation).
6. Visa and arrival
The national (type-D) student visa is obtained from the consulate; appointment waits can be long, so the application is filed as soon as the offer arrives. On arrival: address registration (Anmeldung), university enrolment and the residence-permit application at the Ausländerbehörde.
Admission requirements
Academic
- High-school diploma and transcript — on its own it usually grants access to a Studienkolleg
- For direct entry: ÖSYM placement at a Turkish university in a related field via YKS, or 1–2 semesters completed in Türkiye (verify on anabin)
- Alternatives: an IB diploma (with the KMK subject conditions) or the high-school diploma plus a sufficient SAT and AP combination
- For a master's: bachelor's degree, transcript and course descriptions; programme-specific minimum GPA
Language
- German-taught programmes: TestDaF (TDN 4 in every section), DSH-2, Goethe-Zertifikat C2 (C1 at some universities), telc C1 Hochschule or DSD II
- Studienkolleg: usually a B1–B2 German certificate + a written entrance test
- English-taught programmes: usually IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 88–95; some programmes ask for 7.0
- For a German-taught degree, preparation should start in grade 11 at the latest (roughly 800–1,000 hours from A1 to C1)
Tests and preparation
- Feststellungsprüfung (FSP): the subject exam at the end of the Studienkolleg (T, M, W, G, S courses)
- Studienkolleg entrance test (Aufnahmetest): German and usually mathematics
- TestAS: an academic aptitude test that some universities require or give credit for — confirm the current status with the university
- Capacity-restricted programmes (NC): medicine, dentistry, psychology, pharmacy — ranked by GPA and additional criteria; interviews at some universities
Documents
- Passport (check validity) and biometric photos
- Sworn German / English translations of the diploma, transcript and ÖSYM documents (some universities require an apostille)
- Motivation letter, CV and — depending on the programme — references or a portfolio (architecture, design)
- Blocked-account confirmation, proof of health insurance and the admission letter (for the visa)
Application calendar
Dates vary by university and programme; this table shows the general flow. Confirm exact deadlines on the target university's page.
| Period | What happens |
|---|---|
| September – December (grade 12) | Entry-route decision (direct / Studienkolleg / IB-AP), anabin check, German level plan, programme list; IELTS for English-taught programmes |
| January – March | uni-assist account and VPD application; applications to programmes with early deadlines; TestDaF / Goethe registration; translations and apostille |
| April – July | Winter-semester applications (deadlines between 31 May and 15 July at most universities); Studienkolleg application; high-school diploma and YKS placement document added |
| July – August | Admission letters; blocked-account opening, health insurance, Studentenwerk housing application; consulate visa appointment (book early) |
| September – October | Visa, Studienkolleg entrance test (August–September), arrival and Anmeldung, enrolment (Immatrikulation), residence-permit application; classes start in October |
Tuition and living costs in Germany
In Germany the real cost is living, not tuition: most public universities charge nothing, but the yearly living amount must be shown in a blocked account for the visa. Housing in big cities is scarce and expensive; Studentenwerk halls are the most economical option.
| Item | Yearly range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Public university — semester contribution | €200 – 800 | No tuition; Semesterbeitrag for 2 semesters, transport ticket included. Exceptions: Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester; TUM and some Bavarian universities may charge €2,000 – 6,000 per semester — verify |
| Private university tuition | €5,000 – 20,000 | Constructor, WHU, ESMT, Frankfurt School, CODE; merit awards can reduce it |
| Living (Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin) | €11,000 – 16,000 | €900 – 1,300 a month: housing, insurance, food, transport; Munich is the most expensive |
| Living (Aachen, Karlsruhe, Leipzig, Dresden, Göttingen) | €8,500 – 12,000 | €700 – 1,000 a month; lower with a hall of residence |
| One-off (incl. blocked account) | €13,000 – 15,000 | Blocked account roughly €11,904 (2025; updated yearly — your own money, withdrawn monthly) + visa, uni-assist fee, translations, apostille, deposit |
Figures are approximate ranges as of 2026 and vary by university, city and programme. Always confirm current numbers on the university's and the official bodies' pages.
Scholarships and funding
Since there is no tuition, scholarships in Germany target living costs; most large programmes are for master's and PhD students, some are open to enrolled bachelor's students. The plan should not rely on a full scholarship before applying.
DAAD scholarships
The German Academic Exchange Service's master's, PhD and research grants; very limited at bachelor's level. Applications from Türkiye run through the DAAD scholarship database and its Ankara / Istanbul offices; deadlines vary by programme.
Deutschlandstipendium
A merit scholarship co-funded by the state and private sponsors, open regardless of nationality: €300 a month for at least two semesters. Applications are made after enrolment through the university's own call; GPA, social engagement and personal circumstances are assessed together.
Begabtenförderungswerke (foundation scholarships)
Monthly grants and programme support from 13 foundations such as Heinrich Böll, Konrad Adenauer, Friedrich Ebert and the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes; most are open to international students enrolled in Germany. Alongside grades, social engagement and an interview are decisive.
University awards and Erasmus+
Some universities offer partial fee waivers, completion grants or hardship funds for international students (through the Studentenwerk and the International Office). During studies an Erasmus+ exchange semester in Europe is possible; grant amounts depend on the country.
Well-known universities
A selection of universities Turkish students often apply to — a starting point, not a ranking.
Technische Universität München (TUM)
Munich
Engineering, computer science, natural sciences; one of the few public universities charging non-EU tuition — verify
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU)
Munich
Medicine, law, physics, social sciences; a large research university
RWTH Aachen
Aachen
Mechanical, electrical and computer engineering; strong industry ties
Universität Heidelberg
Heidelberg
Medicine, life sciences, humanities; Germany's oldest university
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Berlin
Humanities and social sciences, law, medicine (jointly with Charité)
Technische Universität Berlin
Berlin
Engineering, architecture, planning; English-taught master's options
Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
Karlsruhe
Engineering, informatics, physics; subject to the Baden-Württemberg fee exception
Freie Universität Berlin
Berlin
Social sciences, politics, natural sciences; a large international student community
Visa and residence permit
For Turkish citizens, study longer than 90 days requires a national (type-D) student visa, which is converted into a student residence permit at the foreigners' office (Ausländerbehörde) after entering Germany.
- Application: at the German consulate / consulate general in Istanbul, Ankara or Izmir, with the admission letter (or a Studienkolleg / application confirmation). Appointment waits can be long, so apply as soon as the offer arrives.
- Documents: admission letter, blocked-account confirmation (roughly €11,904 a year for 2025; the amount is updated yearly) or another accepted financial guarantee, health insurance, language certificate, diploma and translations, motivation letter, passport and biometric photos.
- Residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Studium): after arrival, address registration (Anmeldung) and then the application at the Ausländerbehörde; usually issued for 1–2 years and extended.
- Work: on a student permit you may work 140 full days or 280 half days a year; student-assistant jobs at the university do not count towards this.
- After graduation: a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a job; once a qualified job is found, the EU Blue Card or a work-based residence permit.
For the current document list, fees and appointment system check tuerkei.diplo.de and make-it-in-germany.com.
How Studrise helps with your Germany application
From choosing the country to the visa file — one consultant, one calendar.
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The application file
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After the offer
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