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University studies
Studium Visa © GKSP/Canva.com
Non EU-students who have been admitted by a German university (possibly with a preparatory language course) or who have been accepted by a preparatory college (“Studienkolleg”) may apply for a visa to study in Germany.
General information
A student visa may also be granted to individuals undertaking a preparatory language course or attending preparatory college (“Studienkolleg”) in advance of their university studies.
If you have not been admitted to a German university yet or have not yet decided on the university or the course of study, you may be granted a study applicant visa limited to 9 months.
In general, students holding a visa or residence permit are permitted to work part-time to support themselves, up to 120 days or 240 half-days per year. This limit does not apply to academic employment (“studentische Nebentätigkeiten”). Students at a preparatory college (“Studienkolleg”) may not work during their first year of residence, except during holidays.
Upon successful completion of their studies at a German university, students may be granted an additional residence permit of up to 18 months to find suitable employment.
Submitting an application
Necessary documents
The CSP will require upload of the following documents.
Please note, that in some cases the Embassy might ask for additional documents.
Please complete the online application form (application forms are required for each applicant separately; all children require separate forms) and bring the printed and signed form including the barcodes to your appointment.
A valid passport signed by the holder, issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least one year is necessary. The passport needs to have at least 2 subsequent blank pages. Please bring 1 photocopy of the passport biodata page to your appointment.
1 fully biometric passport photo, 35 x 45 mm, no older than three months. Digitally altered passport photos cannot be accepted. Please ensure that your photo adheres to German biometric requirements and is taken in front of a white/bright background.
Bring your valid Qatar residence permit (QID) and 1 photocopy to your appointment.
You will be asked to upload the university's admission letter (“Zulassungsbescheid”).
If for some reason you only apply for your student visa after the semester has already started, please also upload a confirmation of enrollment or a letter from the university confirming that late entry to the chosen programme is possible.
Evidence of sufficient funds (minimum 11.904,- EUR for the first year of study)
if you are staying in Germany for less than a year (e.g. exchange semester), you need to have 992,- EUR per month of stay
- Options below may be combined, provided that the total requirement is being met. Please note that NO alternative evidence of funds is acceptable.
- Blocked account
- OR evidence of scholarship
- OR evidence of Qatar student loan indicating the maintenance loan component per month, term or year PLUS personalised confirmation by Student Loan Corporation that loan is also payable to students undertaking a full undergraduate/graduate course or a semester/year abroad
- OR formal obligation letter (“Verpflichtungserklärung”) by sponsor resident in German
If you are studying at a private universities and/ or have to pay tuition fees, please upload also a receipt issued by the university for payment of the tuition fees for the first year of studies (i.e. the first two semesters).
- Professional/ academic curriculum vitae
- Please upload also your latest qualification, i.e. school leaving certificate or undergraduate degree
Where not confirmed by the university in the admittance notification:
Proof of language skills in the language of instruction at least B2 level
For courses taught in English: IELTS/ TOEFL
For courses taught in German: Goethe-Institut e.V., telc GmbH, Austrian Language Diploma (ÖSD), TestDaF-Institut e.V., ECL Examination Center (examination provider, examination conducted by AFU GmbH)
If you obtained your school leaving certificate or your undergraduate degree from an Indian, Chinese or Vietnamese educational institution, you will need to upload an APS certificate.
The APS is a joint institution of the German Embassy and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). It exists in China, Vietnam and India. The APS checks the authenticity of educational biographies and the corresponding educational certificates, and issues certificates if the result is positive. For these countries, the APS certificate is a requirement for applying to a German university.
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