General FAQ
All foreign students (except nationals from EU/EFTA countries as well as from Andorra, Australien, Brasilien, El Salvador, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Kanada, Monaco, Republik Korea, Neuseeland, San Marino, USA) have to apply for a study visa (Visum zu Studienzwecken) at the German Embassy in their home country prior to studies in the Federal Republic of Germany. For further information about visa regulations please contact the German embassy of the concerning country.
Your entry visa has to be approved by the Berlin Immigration Office (Landesamt für Einwanderung) in Berlin which will give you a residence permit for study purposes. Any change of this purpose (i.e. change of course of study or change of university) requires a new residence permit. Further information on residence permit are summarized in a information sheet (pdf-file).
If you need a visa before admission by the university, e.g. in order to take the Studienkolleg entry test or the German language exam (DSH) in Berlin, you may ask the German Diplomatic Mission in your country of residence for an applicant's visa (Studienbewerbervisum). This type of visa is valid for three months and can be converted into an entry visa for study purposes. A visa for a language course and a tourist visa will not be converted into an entry visa.
All students must have proof of full health insurance coverage for the respective semester/year before they can enroll at a German university.
Public Health Insurance
If you are under 30 years of age and do not have a health insurance from your home country you must purchase a state-regulated health insurance in Germany. It costs about € 105.- per month.
In some cases, it is not possible to acquire the state-regulated health insurance. In this instance, we recommend private health insurance policies.
Private Health Insurance
Students who have provided for insurance abroad in their home country, or students holding a German private health insurance contract, have to get an exemption from the state-regulated German health insurance at one of the insurance companies' branches in Berlin in order to have their own insurance recognized. In cases of illness, the insurance conditions fixed in your insurance policy contract are effective.
Exemption from a German state-regulated health insurance is not revocable.
* Information for Students from EU / EEA countries and Switzerland here
Your living costs mainly depend, of course, on your personal requirements and habits. You should count on spending a minimum of 934 Euro (rental fees, grocery, leisure time etc.). In order to obtain an entry visa or a residence permit for study purposes, you must prove that this monthly amount is at your disposal, independent of any job.
Degree program students with a residence permit for study purposes are allowed to work for a maximum of 120 days (or 240 half days) per year. Jobs as a student tutor at the university do not count.
Students receiving grants are not allowed to work.
