Study and Research in Germany (DAAD)
The official DAAD guide to studying in Germany: finding international programmes, admission requirements, costs, scholarships, visas and life after arrival. It is the place to start before trusting any agent or forum about German universities.
Guide
Career Growth
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
Self paced
All
Free
What it is
The German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD, is Germany's main organisation for international academic exchange, funded largely by the federal government. Its Study and Research in Germany pages explain the whole process for international students: types of universities and degrees, how to find a programme, admission requirements, applying (directly or through uni-assist), costs and financing, scholarships, visas and residence permits, health insurance, housing and working during and after study. It links to the DAAD database of international programmes, which lists many masters and PhD programmes taught in English.
Why it matters
Germany is attractive because many public universities charge international students little or no tuition, but the details catch people out. As of 2026-09, Baden-Wuerttemberg charges non-EU students 1,500 euros per semester, and some universities in Bavaria, such as TUM, now charge non-EU students tuition too. Living costs must be proved for the visa, usually with a blocked account, which German missions list at 992 euros a month as of 2026-09. The DAAD guide puts these pieces in one place, in the right order.
How to use it well
- Start with the programme database, filtered by subject, degree level and language.
- For each programme, read the university's own admission page: many German universities check your previous degree course by course.
- Check whether the university uses uni-assist, and whether you need an APS certificate, which as of 2026-09 applies to applicants from China, Vietnam and India.
- Read the financing and visa sections before you apply, not after an offer.
Is it worth it?
Yes. It is official, free and written for international students. Its limits: it is a general guide, so specific requirements always come from the university and the German mission in your country, and some pages are updated less often than immigration rules change.
Free or paid
Free.
Common questions
Do I need German? Many masters programmes are taught in English, but German helps enormously in daily life and in the job market.
Is study in Germany really free? Tuition often is, not everywhere; living costs never are. Plan for both.
Ready to start?
Opens on DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) in a new tab.
Stuck on something specific?
Writing only gets you so far. If you want an answer to your situation rather than the general case, book a session and we will work through it together. Sessions are free for approved Sefism members, and a few slots open each week.
Follow along
New writing, resources and project ideas land here first.