Question 1

My name in my marksheet is different from my passport. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Get an affidavit prepared that explains and confirms the name discrepancy.

Question 2

Do I need to mention my gap year? If so, where?

Accepted Answer

You can mention it subtly in your motivation letter. You don't need to make it a focal point. We have seen students with gaps of up to 2 years get accepted without any issues.

Question 3

How do I find accommodation?

Accepted Answer

Reach out to the student dormitory (Studentenwerk) as early as possible, as waiting lists can be long. If you don't secure a spot before your departure, look for sublets. There are WhatsApp and Facebook groups dedicated to sublets in each city.

Question 4

What is a Urlaubssemester?

Accepted Answer

A Urlaubssemester is a semester of leave of absence. You remain enrolled but are not required to attend classes or take exams. It is useful if you need time off for personal, medical, or professional reasons.

Question 5

How much do I pay for transport?

Accepted Answer

The Deutschland-Semesterticket costs around EUR 35-40 per month and covers all local and regional public transport across Germany. Some universities include this in the semester contribution fee, so you may already have it covered. Check with your specific university to confirm.

Question 6

What documents do I need for city registration (Anmeldung)?

Accepted Answer

You need three things: your passport, a completed Anmeldeformular (registration form, available at the Burgeramt), and a Wohnungsgeberbestatigung (landlord confirmation form). The Wohnungsgeberbestatigung is a form your landlord fills out confirming you live at that address. Some landlords provide it automatically, others need to be reminded. Without it, you cannot register.

Question 7

Can I take the ICE train with the Deutschlandticket?

Accepted Answer

No. The Deutschlandticket does not cover ICE, IC, or EC trains. These are long-distance express trains that require a separate ticket. You need to book and pay for these separately.

Question 8

Can I take the RE train with the Deutschlandticket?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Deutschlandticket covers RE (Regional Express), RB (Regionalbahn), S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram, and bus across all of Germany. Regional trains are fully included.

Question 9

Do I need a German language certificate for admission?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Many Master's programmes are taught fully in English and don't require German proficiency. However, some programmes do, so always check the specific programme's requirements.

Question 10

Do I need IELTS?

Accepted Answer

Most universities require proof of English proficiency for English-taught programmes. IELTS is widely accepted, but TOEFL and Duolingo are also accepted at many universities. Check the specific programme's requirements.

Question 11

What is the minimum IELTS validity?

Accepted Answer

Your IELTS score must be valid for at least one year at the time of application or visa submission.

Question 12

Do I need to include IELTS in my APS application?

Accepted Answer

No. IELTS is not required for the APS certificate application.

Question 13

Do I need GRE to study in Germany?

Accepted Answer

GRE is not required by most universities. However, some universities like TU Munich (TUM) and TU Darmstadt require a strong GRE score for certain programmes. Always check the specific programme's admission requirements.

Question 14

What is TU9?

Accepted Answer

TU9 is an alliance of the nine leading technical universities in Germany: RWTH Aachen, TU Berlin, TU Braunschweig, TU Darmstadt, TU Dresden, Leibniz Universitat Hannover, KIT Karlsruhe, TU Munich (TUM), and University of Stuttgart.

Question 15

What is a VPD?

Accepted Answer

VPD (Vorabbewertung der Prufungsdokumente) is a preliminary assessment of your academic documents issued by uni-assist. Some universities require a VPD before you can apply directly with them.

Question 16

Do I need uni-assist for all universities?

Accepted Answer

No. Some universities offer a direct application portal. For example, the University of Stuttgart allows direct applications. Always check the specific university's application process.

Question 17

How long does it take to complete a Master's degree?

Accepted Answer

At most TU9 and research universities the standard duration is 4 semesters (2 years), though many students take up to 3 years. At universities of applied sciences (Hochschule/FH), Master's programmes are often only 3 semesters.

Question 18

Do I need German to study in Germany?

Accepted Answer

No, if you are enrolled in an English-taught programme. There are many high-quality Master's programmes taught entirely in English. That said, learning basic German will significantly improve your day-to-day life.

Question 19

What is a Schein?

Accepted Answer

A Schein is a certificate issued by a professor or lecturer confirming you have attended a course, passed an exam, or fulfilled a specific academic requirement. It is often needed for exam registration or to satisfy programme prerequisites.

Question 20

What is a Studienkolleg?

Accepted Answer

A Studienkolleg is a one-year preparatory course for international students whose qualifications don't directly meet German university admission requirements. For Indian students, this is most relevant for undergraduate admission. Students with a 3-year bachelor's degree may need to complete a Studienkolleg before applying to a German undergraduate programme. For Master's programmes, you typically don't need one.

Question 21

Do I need an APS certificate?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in most cases. An APS (Akademische Prufstelle) certificate verifies the authenticity of your academic documents and is mandatory for almost all Indian applicants. The exceptions are if you're doing a PhD or Post Doc, if you've received a scholarship or stipend from German or EU public funds, if the German university will award you a non German degree, or if your earlier qualification was itself a non Indian school or university certificate. Apply early since it can take several weeks.

Question 22

Do I have to pay tuition fees before applying for the visa?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your university. Most public universities charge no tuition at all, so this doesn't apply to you, and the only payment is the small semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag), which you pay after you arrive and enrol. If your university does charge tuition or study fees, which is the case at Baden Wurttemberg's public universities, TU Munich's Master's programmes, and most private universities, the visa checklist requires proof that you've already paid those fees before your appointment, so budget for that ahead of time.

Question 23

Where can I apply for a German student visa?

Accepted Answer

You apply at the German Consulate or Embassy. In India, applications are submitted through the Consular Services Portal and appointments are booked via VFS Global.

Question 24

Can I apply through VFS?

Accepted Answer

Yes. VFS Global handles appointment bookings and document collection on behalf of the German Consulate. Your application is ultimately processed by the German Consulate.

Question 25

What is the Consular Services Portal?

Accepted Answer

The Consular Services Portal (service2.diplo.de) is the official online platform of the German Consulate where you upload all your visa application documents. Consulate staff review your documents there and may leave comments if anything needs to be corrected.

Question 26

How do I know if my visa is rejected before the official result?

Accepted Answer

You typically won't receive a pre-rejection notice. However, if there are issues with your application, the consulate staff will leave comments on your Consular Services Portal asking you to fix or resubmit documents.

Question 27

What happens if I upload a wrong document on the Consular Services Portal?

Accepted Answer

A consulate representative will leave a comment specifying what needs to be corrected. You then re-upload the correct document.

Question 28

How quickly can I get the visa after my VFS appointment?

Accepted Answer

Processing times vary, but our students have received their visas in as little as 4 days after their VFS appointment. Plan conservatively, but it can move very fast.

Question 29

Do I need to submit a bank statement?

Accepted Answer

Not a regular bank statement, no. The consulate accepts proof of financial means through one of three specific routes: a blocked account (Sperrkonto) holding enough for your first year of study, a formal sponsor declaration (Verpflichtungserklarung) from someone living in Germany, or proof of a German or EU scholarship. If your university charges tuition or study fees on top of that, you'll separately need to show proof that you've paid them, unless you've already cleared that.

Question 30

Do I need to submit an ITR (Income Tax Return)?

Accepted Answer

No, it isn't part of the consulate's official document checklist. What you actually need is proof of funds through the blocked account, sponsor declaration, or scholarship route covered above.

Question 31

Do I need to show proof of accommodation for the visa?

Accepted Answer

It is not mandatory, but it is recommended. You could be asked about accommodation at the airport upon arrival, so having something ready, even a temporary sublet confirmation, is helpful.

Question 32

How much money do I need to have in my blocked account?

Accepted Answer

As of the German missions' latest published checklist, you need at least EUR 11,904 for your first year of study, with withdrawals capped at EUR 992 per month. This figure is revised periodically by the German government, so we always verify the current number on the official embassy website before advising students.

Question 33

My course has already started. Can I still apply for a visa?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. You can still apply for your student visa even if your course start date has passed. Explain the situation clearly in your application.

Question 34

What is the difference between an RP and a Fiktion?

Accepted Answer

An RP (Aufenthaltserlaubnis / Residence Permit) is the actual permit card that legally allows you to stay and work in Germany. A Fiktionsbescheinigung (Fiktion) is a temporary paper document issued while your RP application is being processed. It extends your right to stay legally during the waiting period, but it is not the same as having the actual permit. Some restrictions may apply while you are on a Fiktion.

Question 35

When can I apply for a Notfalltermin (emergency appointment) at the Auslanderbehorde?

Accepted Answer

You can request a Notfalltermin when your current visa or permit is about to expire in the next few days and no regular appointment is available in time. You typically need to show proof that your status is expiring imminently. Each city's foreigners' office has its own process for this, so check your local office's website.

Question 36

Do I need German to get a job in Germany?

Accepted Answer

German is not strictly mandatory, especially in the tech sector where many companies operate in English. However, not knowing German can make job hunting significantly harder. Having at least B1-B2 German will open many more doors.

Question 37

What can I do to cover my expenses while studying?

Accepted Answer

There are several options:
- Werkstudent (Working Student): a part-time job related to your field of study
- HiWi (Hilfswissenschaftler): a student research or teaching assistant role at your university
- Teilzeit (Part-time): general part-time employment
- Minijob: a low-hour job with no income tax and a capped monthly earnings limit

Question 38

How many hours can I work per week?

Accepted Answer

As a student on a student visa, you are allowed to work 20 hours per week during the semester, or up to 120 full working days (240 half-days) per year.

Question 39

How hard is it to get a Werkstudent position?

Accepted Answer

It can be quite competitive, especially in the first semester before you have a local network. It is not impossible, but expect it to take time and multiple applications.

Question 40

How long can I look for a job after completing my Master's?

Accepted Answer

After graduation, you can apply for an 18-month job-seeker visa (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Arbeitssuche), which allows you to stay in Germany and search for a qualified job.

Question 41

What is the difference between an internship and a working student position?

Accepted Answer

An internship (Praktikum) is a fixed-term position for gaining work experience, either mandatory as part of your degree (Pflichtpraktikum) or voluntary. A Werkstudent position is a regular ongoing part-time employment contract alongside your studies. Werkstudent roles typically pay better and are more stable.

Question 42

How much can I earn from a Minijob?

Accepted Answer

The earnings cap is around EUR 560 per month. The best part is there is no income tax on minijob earnings, so you get to keep everything you make. The exact cap changes occasionally so it's worth verifying the current figure.

Question 43

What is a HiWi?

Accepted Answer

HiWi stands for Hilfswissenschaftler (student research or teaching assistant). These positions are offered by professors or university departments and involve assisting with research, grading, or lab work. They are a great way to gain academic experience and earn income while studying.

Frequently Asked Questions