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If you come from the EU, the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or Switzerland, you do not normally need a visa. However, it is important that you register with the relevant residents’ registration office after your arrival. If you come from another country but already have a residence title to study in an EU country, you also generally do not need a visa. Individual requirements also apply here, though. It is therefore best to obtain information from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

If none of these apply to you, you will need either a visa or a residence permit for your studies. There are a number of countries with which entry to Germany is regulated by special agreements. It is therefore best to find out from the German diplomatic mission in your home country what conditions apply to you. Remember to apply for your visa in your home country in good time, as it can take several months to be issued.

In order to apply for your visa, you must provide proof of funding. This enables you to demonstrate that the standard requirement of approximately 11,904 euros for your living expenses for one year is covered. There are various ways to demonstrate this. It is best to find out from the embassy what is possible for you. For example, many prospective students from abroad use a blocked account as proof. The 11,904 euros will then be blocked until you have entered Germany. Make sure you set up the blocked account in good time and have it certified. Once you arrive in Germany, you will have access to your money via your bank.

The Federal Foreign Office offers a tool that allows you to quickly and easily find the right visa for you. Go to the Visa Navigator
Go to the Visa Navigator

The same applies here: If you come from the EU, the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or Switzerland, you can usually study in Saxony with the qualification you obtained in your home country. You can find out exactly which qualification you need here.

If you have a school-leaving qualification from another country, other requirements may apply. It may be that you first have to complete two to three semesters of a comparable degree programme in your home country or a preparatory course in Germany.

You can check whether your higher education entrance qualification is recognised in Saxony via the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) admissions database or on Anabin, the information portal for foreign educational qualifications.

Important: Most degree programmes are taught in German. You’ll therefore have to be able to prove that you have at least B2 level German according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Universities often require a German certificate or a language test on site during the application process. Some advanced degree programmes can also be studied in English.

Learning a new language is often not easy. However, this is usually a prerequisite for studying at a university in Saxony. There are numerous language schools in Saxony where you can improve your German language skills. Make sure you attend a German course that corresponds to your language level. You can find out exactly what level you are on the Goethe-Institut website, for example. It is also important that the course can be completed with a recognised German exam.

TUDIAS
Studienkolleg Sachsen
Studienkolleg Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz (HSZG)
Studienkolleg Hochschule Mittweida

The cost of living in Saxony is relatively low compared to other regions in Germany, but you should still plan your finances well in advance. Health insurance is particularly important. For students from the EU, statutory health insurance from their home country is usually sufficient. All other students must take out German health insurance, which costs around 110 euros per month. However, if you are older than 30, this amount increases to at least 170 euros per month.

In addition to living expenses, you will pay a semester fee of between 100 and 300 euros to your university. This usually includes a semester ticket that allows you to use public transport free of charge or at a reduced rate.

Students from the EU or EEA countries can work just as much as German students. Students from non-EU countries are subject to certain working time restrictions (maximum of 140 full days or 280 half days per year). Another helpful source of funding is a scholarship.