Study in Germany and Europe, with a clear plan for each country.

Class 12 alone does not give direct entry.

DAAD India says a Class 12 certificate from an Indian board does not give direct admission to a German university. The routes are:

• A valid JEE Advanced result, for a course in a related subject
• One year of a bachelor’s in India, for a course in a related subject
• A Studienkolleg, a preparatory course in Germany

A preparatory course of up to two semesters.

It needs Class 12 with the right subjects and German at about B1 to B2, so confirm the level with each Studienkolleg. There is an entrance exam and a final exam (Feststellungsprüfung) in Germany. Passing does not give automatic admission, and English medium Studienkollegs are few.

Universities convert Indian marks to the German scale.

RWTH Aachen, for example, asks for a grade of 2.5 or better on the German scale for a bachelor’s. A good TestAS result can make up for a weaker grade, and TestAS is compulsory for medicine.

A 4 year bachelor’s is treated at par.

DAAD India says a 4 year Indian bachelor’s is treated at par with a German bachelor’s. With a 3 year degree, contact the course coordinator before applying. Some programmes ask for IELTS or TOEFL, GRE or GMAT.

Needed for the student visa, with few exceptions.

The APS office checks Indian certificates. The fee is Rs 18,000 and is not refunded. APS gives no fixed processing time, so apply early. From the summer 2027 intake, master’s applicants with a bachelor’s in engineering, commerce, accounting, finance, economics, business or management must also take the dMAT test. The next cycles are in mid January and mid March 2027.

English or German, depending on the course.

English taught courses ask for IELTS or TOEFL. German taught courses ask for TestDaF level 4 in all four parts, or DSH. For the visa, language proof is generally B2 in the language of teaching unless the admission letter confirms it.

See our IELTS coaching

Directly to the university or through uni-assist.

uni-assist deadlines are often 15 July for winter and 15 January for summer, and master’s courses often close earlier. Apply at least 8 weeks before the deadline, since checks take 4 to 6 weeks. The fee is EUR 75 for the first course and EUR 30 for each extra course. Some universities, such as RWTH Aachen, take applications directly, free of charge.

English speaking, with direct applications.

Apply directly to each university. Bachelor’s fees for 2025/26 run from EUR 10,300 to 29,000 a year for business (Rs 11 to 30.9 lakh) and EUR 14,500 to 28,500 for engineering and science.

Apply online for a Long Stay D study visa through AVATS: EUR 60 single entry or EUR 100 multi entry. Pay at least EUR 6,000 of the fees before applying, show EUR 10,000 a year in addition to fees with six months of bank statements, and buy private medical insurance. Register on arrival for EUR 300.

Students can work 20 hours a week in term and 40 in the holidays (June to September and 15 December to 15 January). The Stamp 1G permission gives 12 months after an honours bachelor’s and up to 24 months after a master’s.

Research universities and universities of applied sciences.

A bachelor’s takes 3 years at a research university and 4 years, with internships, at a university of applied sciences. Most programmes use Studielink. The deadline is 15 January for capped (numerus fixus) and some selective programmes, and 1 May for the rest. Universities often set earlier dates for students from outside the EU.

Fees for 2026/27 are EUR 9,000 to 20,000 a year for a bachelor’s and EUR 12,000 to 30,000 for a master’s. Some charge an application fee of EUR 75 to 100. The university applies to the IND for the residence permit (EUR 254), and students show EUR 1,130.77 a month.

Students can work up to 16 hours a week, or full time in June, July and August, with a work permit from the employer. After graduating, the orientation year permit gives one year to find work.

Apply through Etudes en France.

Indian students apply on the Etudes en France portal, run by Campus France India. The fee is Rs 20,000 from 1 August 2026, and some students have an academic interview. The visa costs EUR 50, plus a VFS service fee, and needs proof of EUR 877.50 a month.

Public universities charge students from outside the EU EUR 2,902 a year for a bachelor’s (Rs 3.1 lakh) and EUR 3,950 for a master’s in 2026/27. Engineering, business and arts schools set their own, often higher, fees.

Students can work up to 964 hours a year. After a master’s, France gives a 12 month permit to look for work. Campus France India describes up to 24 months for Indian graduates, and a 5 year Schengen visa for Indian alumni with a French master’s or PhD.

Pre enrol on Universitaly.

Complete the pre enrolment on Universitaly. The university then issues a letter of eligibility. The D study visa costs EUR 50, and applications open no earlier than six months before travel. Students from Delhi, Haryana and Punjab apply to the Embassy in New Delhi. Within 8 working days of arrival, apply for the residence permit at the Questura (about EUR 116.46).

Public fees depend on family income. The University of Bologna’s reduced fee for citizens of countries outside the OECD is EUR 1,000 a year for a bachelor’s and EUR 1,200 for a master’s. India is not an OECD member, but check the university’s country list. English taught medicine needs the IMAT test. Regional grants (DSU) and Italian government (MAECI) scholarships can help.

A short note.

The study visa needs proof of EUR 600 a month for 2026 and health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain. Fees and the recognition of Class 12 vary by region and university, so we check each case.