Student Visa

Why Study In Canada?

Overseas students can study for free at public universities in Germany. However, there is enrolment, administration and confirmation charge per semester that must be paid by them. This varies depending on the University – private or public and the chosen course.

Do note that only Public Universities offer Free Education. While Private Universities charge tuition fees, variable in keeping with the course opted for. However, the tuition fee is usually on the lower end of the spectrum and is quite affordable when compared to other countries such as Canada, U.S. or even Australia.

Study Program	Average Fees(in CAD*)
Undergraduate Bachelor Degree	€500 -€20,000 yearly
Postgraduate Master's Degree	€5000 -€30,000 yearly

Upcoming Intakes In Germany

Universities in Germany have diverse deadlines for application. However, these two general timelines are broadly applicable:

Intake 1: Summer Semester – The application must be submitted prior to January 15th every year

Intake 2: Winter Semester – The application must be submitted prior to July 15th every year

Work Authorization For Students:

Student Applicant:

Over 60% of international students in Germany opt to work part-time towards covering their living expenses.

Ways of financing studies in Germany include scholarships, parental income, student loans, personal savings and working part-time.

For the student applicant, the work authorization is as given below –

• The student must be over 18 years of age
• International students in Germany are allowed to work for up to 120 full days or 240 half days of the year.
• Do note that a job as a research assistant or student assistant at your university will not be counted towards your limit.
• Overseas students can work full-time in Germany during their regular university breaks.
• They can also work additional hours if their job can be considered to be mandatory work under certain regulations.
• An internship during semester break, even if unpaid, will be regarded as normal work and subtracted from the 120-day credit balance.
• Required mandatory internships that are part of the course do not count.
• Non-EU students are not allowed to work as a freelancer or in a self-employed capacity.
• Those aiming to work longer than the 120-day limit must take specific permission for the same. The foreigner’s registration office [Ausländerbehörde] and the local employment agency [Agentur fur Arbeit] issue these permissions.

The recommended course of action for anyone looking at part-time work while studying abroad in Germany would be to find a job that is related to their field of study.

This way, not only do they stand to gain in terms of covering their living expenses, but they can also use the work experience gained to add credits to their studies.

Spouse:

In general, spouses are given the same rights as the spouse is already in Germany. Therefore, if the spouse in Germany has the right to work, the spouse who comes to join him or her will also have that right. But also note that only work permit holders can apply for the dependent visas.

German Student Visa Requirements:

• Transcript and certificates of your Undergraduate studies
• Details of the Secondary education
• Interview – Universities in Germany can discuss your experience and application in an arranged interview
• Additional tests for admission such as the GRE or GMAT
• Results of tests in the English language like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE if you are a non-native English speaker
• Programs in German will need test certificate for the German language as a part of your application
• Your University will make you aware of additional requirements if any prior to your application

After You Graduate:

• Upon completing the studies in Germany, students can apply for and get a residence permit of 18 months to look for a job as per their qualification
• As soon as a student gets a job offer, s/he can choose whether to apply for a German residence permit or an European Union Blue Card for the next part of their stay
• Students may get a residence permit though they get a job offer for a part-time employment, provided that the expected salary secures all the means of subsistence
• If a student wants to stay in Germany and become a permanent resident, s/he can apply for a ‘settlement permit’ as early as two years after receiving their permanent residence permit or EU Blue Card.

Work Opportunities After Graduation

• The right university degree is quite essential for securing a high-paying job in Germany
• Salaries in Germany are worth it
• For an international worker seeking employment in Germany, the major sectors to consider are – IT, coal, machine tools, textiles, engineering, electronics, chemicals, machinery, shipbuilding, vehicles, food and beverages
• Recent growth areas in Germany include the automotive industry, high-tech manufactured products, telecoms, banking and tourism

Can The Students Apply For PR Visa Upon Graduation?

As a student to be allowed to stay on in Germany, you will need to get the German Permanent Residence Permit, also referred to as the Settlement Permit or the Niederlassungserlaubnis in German.

The permanent residence permit lets you work in Germany. You can also travel in and out of the country.

The Niederlassungserlaubnis is usually given to people who have either the EU Blue Card or have held the temporary residence permit for some years. To be eligible for the permanent residence permit, such people must prove the following

• That they have worked in Germany for at least 5 years
• That their job has the approval of the Federal Employment Agency
• That they have paid the necessary taxes and cleared other contributions to the German government

Moreover, knowledge of some advanced German is also necessary at this stage, as the requirements for German language proficiency are more stringent for the permanent residence permit.

Once you have the permanent residence permit, your spouse and children will be allowed to join you in Germany. Initially, they will be given a temporary residence permit. After a few years, your family can get a permanent residence permit as well.

Requirements To Be Fulfilled For Eligibility For A Residence Permit

To be eligible for any of the residence permits, you will be expected to fulfill certain requirements, which include –

• Possess a valid passport of another country
• Not have a criminal record
• German proficiency, of at least B1 level
• Have German health insurance
• Pass a health check-up which proves that you are healthy enough for study and/or work
• Be financially stable, with the ability to support your family and yourself.
• If you will be working in Germany, a letter from your employer will be required, stating the job offer along with a job description
• If you will be studying in Germany, proof of admittance into a university will be needed
• If you will be joining your spouse in Germany, a marriage certificate as proof of marriage will be needed.

Top Universities

The QS World University Rankings 2021 includes 25 top Canadian universities. The 10 highest-ranked universities in Canada are –

Germany rank	QS World University Rankong	University Name
1	50	Technische Universität München
2	63	Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
3	64	Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
4	117	Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
5	130	Freie Universität Berlin
6	131	KIT, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
7	145	Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
8	148	Technische Universität Berlin
9	=173	Technische Universität Dresden
=10	=175	Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
=10	=175	Universität Freiburg

The cost of studying in Canada will include other factors such as the cost of living and the student and visa application fees you will need to pay.