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Germany has changed its rules for international students! You can still study in Germany, but here’s how the process works now.

Before applying for Germany student visas, Indian students are now required to get their academic records assessed by the Academic Evaluation Centre(APS), which will then issue them an authenticity certificate. The European country took this step following the increase in fraudulent practices by international students seeking admission to German universities.

Applications for APS certification have been open since October 2022. Indian students can register at www.aps-india.de and print and sign the document. The German government has made the authenticity certificate from APS a mandatory document to be submitted along with the visa application.

Although short-term courses are excluded from this new rule, the APS certification is mandatory for students applying for long-term courses that last longer than 90 days. So, what exactly made the German government introduce the authenticity certificate? The numbers!

The last seven years have witnessed a three-fold increase in the number of Indian students studying in Germany. Even now, more than 3000 are waiting in line for the academic year 2022-23. Following desperate attempts to win a German university admission, students are resorting to malpractices like attaching fake documents and bogus academic records.

“Up to 15% of applications have fraudulent academic documents, which at times lead to genuine students getting rejected”, said German ambassador Philipp Ackermann as quoted in the Economic Times.

As per the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Indian students alone saw an 18% jump from 28,542 in the previous to 33,753 in the academic year 2021-22. Today Indian students form the second-largest international student group in Germany.

The German government made another significant change in its policy for foreign students. As a prerequisite to get hold of a German student visa, international students need to show sufficient funds in their blocked account. Starting January 2023, the required amount in the blocked account has increased to 8.5%, from €10,332 to €11,208. The monthly withdrawal amount has also increased from €861 to €934.

With these new changes, let’s answer one of the most asked questions about studying in Germany for Indian students.

What is the living cost in Germany for Indian students?

One of the reasons why international students are flocking to Germany is its affordable and high-quality education, besides the low cost of living. While public universities in Germany levy no tuition fee, private universities charge a reasonable amount of tuition fee. The table below shows the approximate cost of studying in Germany for Indian students, including their day-to-day expenses.

Expense Cost per month (approx.)
Germany university fees €250 – €400
Health insurance €80 – €120
Cost of living €1,000 – €1,500
Total €1,330 – €2,020

 

The living cost in Germany for Indian students also depends on their lifestyle, the city they live in, their courses, and the type of university they go to. Cities like Hamburg and Munich are more expensive as compared to other cities in Germany.

One-time fixed costs Amount
Student visa Germany cost €75
German blocked account €11,208
Total €11,283

 

Also read: How to study in Germany for free

While calculating the cost of studying in Germany, Indian students should also note that the blocked account and student visa costs are one-time expenses. Germany student visa fees in Indian rupees amount to ₹6,580, and the blocked account balance comes to around ₹9,83,300.

Despite these changes, Germany continues to be one of the most sought-after destinations for study-abroad aspirants, and there’s a long list of reasons for this, but that’s a discussion for another blog.

We know you’re keen to learn more about studying in Germany, but you don’t have to keep scavenging the internet for that. Book a free fifteen-minute session with our expert and know everything about exploring Germany as an international student.

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