🇩🇪 Study in Germany: The 2026 Journey, Step by Step
The full 2026 student journey to Germany: APS, a blocked account of €11,904, Anmeldung and 140 working days a year. What visa officers check, what to pack to cut first-month costs, and how much part-time work really covers.
At a glance: the 2026 numbers
| What | Germany |
|---|---|
| Document you need from the school | admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid) |
| Living costs to show | €11,904 (blocked-account amount for one year (€992 a month)) |
| Work in term | 140 days/year |
| Minimum wage | €13.90 an hour |
| Plugs and voltage | Type C/F plugs, 230 V |
| Cash to declare | €10,000 or more |
Step 1–9: the journey in order
Timings count back from your course start date. Start earlier if you need a scholarship or an education loan: both add months.
What the visa officer is looking for
✅ A real fit with the course
Your motivation letter and interview answers should link your past study to the program and your career plan.
✅ Verified documents
An APS certificate (for Indian applicants), admission letter and certified transcripts.
✅ Funds in a blocked account
€11,904 for the first year, confirmed by the provider.
✅ Health insurance
Valid cover from arrival until you switch to public student insurance.
✅ Language readiness
Proof of the language your program is taught in, and some basic German helps your case and your job search.
Before you leave: pack to cut your first-month costs
The first month abroad is the most expensive: deposits, bedding, a phone plan, transport cards and kitchen basics all land at once. Packing the right things from home, and leaving the wrong ones behind, saves real money and trouble at the border. Germany runs on 230 V, so Indian appliances work with a Type C/F adapter.
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| ✅ Bring: Winter clothing | warm layers and a proper coat for November–March |
| ✅ Bring: Pressure cooker and one heavy pan | cooking at home saves the most |
| ✅ Bring: Ground, sealed spices | allowed for personal use |
| ✅ Bring: Prescription medicines in original packs | with an English prescription; some need a Schengen certificate |
| ✅ Bring: Type C/F plug adapters | Indian 230 V appliances then work |
| ✅ Bring: Passport photos (biometric) | for the residence permit |
| ✅ Bring: Certified document copies | for enrolment and the Ausländerbehörde |
| 🛒 Buy there: Bedding | cheap at discount stores |
| 🛒 Buy there: A bicycle | second-hand bikes are the cheapest transport in most cities |
| 🛒 Buy there: Groceries | discount supermarkets keep food costs low |
| ⛔ Never pack: Meat or dairy from outside the EU | banned for personal import |
| ⛔ Never pack: Undeclared cash of €10,000 or more | fines and seizure |
| ⛔ Never pack: Strong painkillers or ADHD medicine without a certificate | can be confiscated |
💵 Declare cash of €10,000 or more in writing when you enter from outside the EU. Use a forex card or a low-fee multi-currency account for most of your money, and carry only enough cash for the first few days. Full Germany customs rules →
Paying your fees by working, within the rules
| Rule | Germany in 2026 |
|---|---|
| During term | No weekly cap in residence law: 140 full or 280 half days a year in total. Over 20 hours a week in term usually ends student social-insurance rates |
| Breaks | Full days in breaks count toward the same 140/280-day limit (student assistant jobs at the university do not count) |
| Minimum wage | €13.90 an hour (statutory minimum wage from 1 January 2026; a mini-job pays up to €603 a month) |
| Maximum under the day limit | €15,568 a year (140 full days × 8 hours) |
Worked example. A realistic plan is fewer hours than the legal maximum, because shifts are not always available and grades matter. Here is what 10 hours a week in term and 35 in breaks earns: In Germany the more reliable route is a mini-job: up to €603 a month (about 43 hours at €13.90) is largely free of tax and social charges for students, which is €7,236 a year.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Term: 10 h/week × 28 weeks × €13.90 | €3,892 |
| Breaks: 35 h/week × 10 weeks × €13.90 | €4,865 |
| Gross earnings a year | €8,757 |
| Tuition (two semester contributions at a public university) | €700 |
| Living costs (blocked-account amount for one year (€992 a month)) | €11,904 |
| Share of living costs covered | 74% |
| Share of tuition + living covered | 69% |
The pattern is the same everywhere: part-time work can cover much of your living costs, but rarely tuition. Plan to pay tuition from savings, a loan or a scholarship, and use wages for rent, food and the second year's buffer. Never go over your hour limit: breaching visa conditions can lead to cancellation and refusals later.
Other ways to bring the bill down
- Tuition-free public universities in most states
- Student assistant (HiWi) jobs: do not count toward the 140-day limit
- Werkstudent jobs: up to 20 hours a week in term keeps student social-insurance rates, but these days do count toward the 140/280-day limit
- DAAD and Deutschlandstipendium scholarships
Try your own numbers below. The legal-maximum button fills the most you are allowed to work.
Your first two weeks after landing
| Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Anmeldung | within 2 weeks; unlocks your tax ID |
| Activate the blocked account | monthly release starts once you have a German bank account |
| Health insurance | switch to public student insurance for enrolment |
| Residence permit | before your entry visa expires |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the steps to study in Germany?
1) Find a program and check the language. 2) Get your APS certificate (India). 3) Apply through uni-assist or directly. 4) Open a blocked account. 5) Book and attend the visa appointment. 6) Book flights and a room. 7) Register your address (Anmeldung). 8) Enrol, insure and apply for the residence permit. 9) Work within the day limit.
What do visa officers look for in a Germany student visa application?
A real fit with the course: Your motivation letter and interview answers should link your past study to the program and your career plan. Verified documents: An APS certificate (for Indian applicants), admission letter and certified transcripts. Funds in a blocked account: €11,904 for the first year, confirmed by the provider.
Can I pay my tuition by working part-time in Germany?
Only partly. Working 10 hours a week in term and 35 in breaks at €13.90 an hour earns about €8,757 a year before tax, roughly 74% of the €11,904 living-cost figure. You must show the first year's funds before the visa is granted, so wages are for later years and living costs, not for getting the visa.
How many hours can international students work in Germany?
No weekly cap in residence law: 140 full or 280 half days a year in total. Over 20 hours a week in term usually ends student social-insurance rates. Full days in breaks count toward the same 140/280-day limit (student assistant jobs at the university do not count).
What should I pack to save money when moving to Germany?
Bring: winter clothing; pressure cooker and one heavy pan; ground, sealed spices; prescription medicines in original packs; type C/F plug adapters. Buy there: bedding; a bicycle; groceries.
Do HiWi jobs count toward the 140-day limit in Germany?
No. Student assistant jobs at your own university do not count toward the 140 full or 280 half days, and nor do compulsory internships that are part of your course. Optional internships do count.
Sources
Figures on this page were checked against these sources on 31 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official site before you apply.