How to Apply to Universities in Germany (2027/28 Step-by-Step Guide)

To apply to a university in Germany, you choose a program, check that your certificates give access, then apply either through uni-assist, directly on the university's portal, or via hochschulstart before the program's deadline. There is no single national application system for international students, so the program page always decides.

This guide explains each step for the 2027/28 intake (winter semester 2027/28 starts in autumn 2027), with real deadlines from university websites and fees from uni-assist.

The three application channels

According to DAAD, which channel applies depends on where you got your school certificate, your qualification and the subject. For example, Freie Universität Berlin asks non-EU master's applicants with non-German degrees for a uni-assist VPD, while TH Rosenheim sends applicants with foreign certificates through uni-assist.

Step-by-step: how to apply

1. 1

   Shortlist English-taught programs

   Use the DAAD international programmes database and Hochschulkompass, then read each program page. Requirements and deadlines differ by university and even by program. See English-taught programs in Germany.

2. 2

   Check your eligibility

   Check your school certificate or bachelor's in anabin or the DAAD admission database. If your school certificate is not enough you need a Studienkolleg. Details in admission requirements.

3. 3

   Book your language test

   Most English-taught programs ask for IELTS, TOEFL or similar. Some accept proof later (RWTH Aachen wants it by enrolment), others need it with the application.

4. 4

   Prepare certified copies and translations

   Upload complete certificates in the original language with a certified German or English translation by a sworn translator or the issuing institution. See documents and translations.

5. 5

   Write your CV and motivation letter

   Most master's programs ask for program-specific documents such as a CV, motivation letter or module descriptions. Tailor each one to the program.

6. 6

   Submit via the right channel and pay

   Apply on uni-assist (My assist) or the university portal. Pay uni-assist only through the My assist portal – uni-assist does not work with commercial agencies.

7. 7

   Forward the VPD if required

   If the university uses VPD, upload it to the university portal before its deadline.

8. 8

   Receive the admission letter

   The Zulassungsbescheid is what you need for a master's or PhD visa. Some programs that charge tuition also ask for first-year payment.

9. 9

   Start your visa straight away

   Open a blocked account and apply for the visa as soon as you are admitted. See the Germany student visa guide.

When to apply: real 2027/28 deadlines

uni-assist says the deadline is often 15 July for the winter semester and 15 January for the summer semester, but that this applies to many, not all, programs. English-taught master's programs often close much earlier. These are official dates published by the universities for the 2027/28 winter intake:

Some universities have not yet published 2027/28 dates. Freie Universität Berlin, for example, publishes winter dates each March; for 2026/27 its master's window with restricted admission ran from 20 April to 31 May 2026. Use last year's dates only as a planning guide, never as the official deadline.

Summer intake: is it worth it?

Some programs also start in the summer semester (April). For summer 2027, for example, TUM's Informatics M.Sc. window ran from 1 October to 30 November 2026, and RWTH Aachen's restricted master's close on 15 January 2027. Fewer English-taught programs offer a summer start, so check whether yours does.

Processing times and what to expect

uni-assist usually sends the evaluation result within 4 to 6 weeks. Its current estimate (updated 28 September 2026) is 4–5 weeks for Asia, 2–3 weeks for Africa, the Middle East and Iran, and 3–4 weeks for Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey. University decisions come later, often weeks after the deadline.

How many programs should you apply to?

There is no official number, but spreading risk makes sense. Admission-restricted programs rank applicants, and each university checks your subjects differently. A balanced list mixes large research universities and universities of applied sciences, programs with different deadlines, and at least one program whose requirements you clearly exceed. Remember TU Berlin's rule of only one master's application per semester.

Application fees

• uni-assist: €75 for the first program, €30 for each further program in the same semester; you pay again if you re-apply in a new semester. Some universities pay this fee for their applicants.
• Direct applications: many public universities charge no application fee, but check the portal.
• Private universities: often charge enrolment fees, for example €1,490 for non-EU students at Munich Business School and €940 at Constructor University.

Tips for a strong application

• Match your bachelor's modules to the program's required subjects; many master's programs check credits in specific areas.
• Read the language rules word by word. TUHH does not accept an English-medium degree as proof except from listed countries, and Bonn does not accept a medium-of-instruction letter for Computer Science.
• Upload every page of every certificate, including the grading system. uni-assist does not accept anabin or Wikipedia links as a grading scale.
• Apply to several programs. With uni-assist each extra program in the same semester costs €30.
• Keep a list of portal logins, deadlines and status per program, or track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.

Bachelor's applicants: what is different

Applying for a bachelor's degree with a foreign school certificate is harder than applying for a master's. Many large universities, including LMU Munich, Bonn and Mannheim, teach all bachelor's programs in German. English-taught bachelor's programs are more common at universities of applied sciences such as Rhine-Waal, Deggendorf and TH Ingolstadt.

• Check anabin first: if your certificate only gives access after one or two years of university study at home, or requires a Studienkolleg, you cannot enter a bachelor's program directly.
• Some universities require or recommend the TestAS aptitude test for bachelor's applicants; each university decides how much it counts.
• Some English-taught bachelor's programs also involve German. TH Rosenheim asks for German A2 for its English-taught programs, and Deggendorf requires German B1 to be proven by the end of a bachelor's degree. Starting German early makes both admission and daily life easier.
• Bachelor's deadlines at universities of applied sciences are often 15 July for the winter semester, for example at Rhine-Waal and TH Ingolstadt for 2027/28.

After you apply: admission, waiting list or rejection

Admission letters arrive through the university portal or by email, often several weeks after the deadline. Read the letter carefully: it may set a deadline to accept the place, pay a deposit or tuition, or upload certified documents by post. Missing that step can cancel the offer.

If you are rejected, check whether the decision was about missing documents, grades or language. A missing document can often be fixed for the next semester. With uni-assist you pay the handling fee again when you re-apply in a new semester.

If you live in Afghanistan

uni-assist asks Afghan applicants for the school-leaving certificate with subjects and grades and the university diploma with transcript, if available. Because Afghanistan is not a party to the Apostille Convention and the Kabul consular section is closed, plan extra time for certified copies at another German mission in the region. More in our Germany country hub.