How to Study in Germany for Free for International Students 2024

Indian students who plan to study abroad generally search for universities abroad where they can study at low fees. Germany is one of the best options to study abroad with low fees 2024.

International students planning to study abroad generally prefer Germany to be the most opted higher studies destination in the world. They chose this nation because it is a hub of some of the publicly owned top German universities in the world which provides free education in Germany for international students as well.

This Story also Contains

1. Top Universities in Germany Offering Free Education for International Students
2. Eligibility for Free Education in Germany
3. How to Study in Germany for Free After 12th?
4. Can you Study in Germany for Free from India?
5. Is Education Free in Germany for Masters?
6. Cost of Living in Germany

These public universities in Germany provide top-quality education, cutting-edge research facilities, world-class faculties, pocket-friendly cost of living in Germany, and job opportunities for Indian students. So, the question is ‘Can you study in Germany for free?’. The answer is yes, there is access to free education in Germany for international students.

There are no tuition fees in Germany for all students worldwide at public universities in Germany. However, admission to these free universities in Germany for international students is quite difficult. One must have complied with all the academic requirements including German and English proficiencies. The number of applications to these universities in Germany is mostly high which indicates more competition among international students as well.

Top Universities in Germany Offering Free Education for International Students

One must consider that few of the universities in Germany charge Indian students approximately EUR 1,500 per semester. Moreover, each student is required to pay their part of the ‘social contribution’ or administrative or registration fees ranging from EUR 50 to EUR 250.

Top Free Universities in Germany for International Students in English

RWTH Aachen University

RWTH Aachen University is a public research university located in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. RWTH Aachen University is well-known for its engineering and natural science programmes. However, it also offers RWTH Aachen University courses in business, humanities, and medicine. There are no RWTH Aachen University tuition fees for international students. However, all students are required to pay a social contribution fee every semester. For the summer semester of the academic year 2024, the social contribution fee at RWTH Aachen University amounts to EUR 303.49.

University of Hamburg

The University of Hamburg is a public research university located in Hamburg, Germany. It was established in 1919 and is recognized as northern Germany's largest research university. The University of Hamburg acceptance rate is approximately 18-20% which means that the university is highly selective, increasing the competition among applicants. The University of Hamburg offers a wide range of degree certifications, including humanities, law, medicine, and scientific sciences. The University of Hamburg charges no tuition fees to both domestic and foreign students. However, the semester cost for the summer semester of 2024 is 332 EUR (Rs. 29,927.49).

Technical University of Munich

The Technical University of Munich is a public research university in Munich, Germany. The university was established in 1868. A wide range of Technical University of Munich courses for international students are offered across various departments and schools.

Some Technical University of Munich popular courses include economics, business administration, political science, and philosophy. Some popular master's programmes at TUM include aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, data engineering and analytics, and environmental engineering, and MA in public policy, urban and regional planning, and European studies.

The Technical University of Munich tuition fees for international students usually range from 2,000 or 3,000 Euros (INR 1,78,598 to INR 2,67,897) per semester for undergraduate programmes and 4,000 or 6,000 Euros (INR 35,7,196 to INR 5,35,794) per semester for postgraduate degrees. Studying at the Technical University of Munich is free of tuition for students who meet any of the following requirements:

• Candidates are from Germany, the European Economic Area (EEA, which includes the member states of the EU + Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), or equivalent states.

• Students who have acquired their higher education entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur) or an undergraduate degree (e.g. Bachelor) in the German education system.

• Students who are already enrolled at TUM before the winter semester 2024-25 and are continuing their course of study.

• Doctoral students and guest students degree programs leading to a state examination, as well as modular and other studies.

Eligibility for Free Education in Germany

Now, we know that one can get free education in Germany but many international students ponder over ‘What is the eligibility for free education in Germany?”. So, the eligibility criteria for German universities vary as per the university. One is thereby required to select the university, opt for the course and review the selected course eligibility requirements in a German university.

Generally, all international students must be academically fit to study the selected course curriculum and are required to demonstrate their eligibility to be accepted at the institution. Some of the common eligibility requirements for public universities in Germany include the following:

Requirements for Undergraduate Studies in Germany

International students generally must have completed the highest school, have English and German language command up to the level of the course if required and must submit official transcripts.

Eligibility to Study Masters in Germany

The academic requirements vary from one programme to another. However, each student must hold a bachelor’s degree in the same discipline as a master’s degree course, demonstrate English and German language proficiencies, and provide other asked supporting documents for complete review.

How to Study in Germany for Free After 12th?

After the 12th, one can apply to study in Germany for free. Certain procedure has to be followed by international students which include the following:

• Opting Course: Indian students are advised to opt for the academic programme they want to pursue at bachelor or master levels. A wide range of courses are available for international students are available with English as a language of instruction. Some of the popular courses at the public universities in Germany include Engineering, Computer Science, Medicine, Social Science, Mathematics, Business, Data Analytics and many more.

• Selecting Public University: The next important step for Indians is the selection of a university which provides free education in Germany for international students. One can choose some of the top public universities in Germany which include the Technical University of Munich, the University of Hamburg, the University of Bonn, Heidelberg University, RWTH Aachen University, and many more.

• Cost of living in Germany: One is required to search about the city where the university in Germany is located. They can check basic living costs such as rent, transportation, food, clothing, and many more to easily make budgeting decisions.

• Application: One must apply after considering all the above-mentioned factors. They can consider checking the eligibility for free education in Germany and the application process of the selected public university in Germany. The application method is generally either through the online admission portal or through the mail post.

• German Student Visa Application: Apply for a student visa in Germany by filling out a visa application form and submitting it to the German Embassy.

• Travel: One can carry on and travel to Germany to start their academic course.

Can you Study in Germany for Free from India?

Yes, one can study in Germany free of cost if they meet the eligibility criteria as per their course of study. As the acceptance rate at the top free universities in Germany for international students in English is always low, admittance is quite hard. However, an academically fit candidate along with one with a good GPA score, SOPs, IELTS score, LORs, and many more has a higher chance of admission at German universities.

Is Education Free in Germany for Masters?

No matter the level of education, all students including international students are exempt from paying any tuition fees at public universities in Germany. However, all public universities charge certain fees in the name of union fees, administrative costs and semester tickets instead of the tuition. These fees are generally very affordable for international students.

Cost of Living in Germany

As already discussed above there are no tuition fees at the universities in Germany. Hence, one can study in Germany for free. However, the living costs must be bear by international students. A general break-down of living expenses at top public universities in Germany is mentioned below:

Top German Universities Cost of Living 2024