To ensure that the education certificates and diplomas acquired abroad comply with the admission requirements of the ifs (higher education qualifications), applicants can consult the following database: http://anabin.kmk.org. If your degree does not fulfil the ifs's admission requirements, but you have a recognisable talent and previous adequate experience, you may be invited to participate in a separate admission’s procedure to demonstrate your individual artistic aptitude.
Please also check at the German embassy of your home country whether you need to provide an APS certificate by the Academic Evaluation Center for your visa application.
To obtain a residence permit, international students have to demonstrate sufficient funds to secure their livelihood. The required blocked amount for a student visa application is based on the current BAföG rate - the national standard that defines the absolute minimum of a student’s necessary expenses for an adequate standard of living. As of the winter semester 2022, international students must prove that they have sufficient funds to cover an amount of €934 per month or €11,208.00 per year. Note that this amount may change from year to year due to the ongoing increase in costs for housing, electricity, food, etc.
Citizens of member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) – that is Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein – as well as Switzerland have equal legal status in the labour market as German citizens. Students from these countries therefore have the same access to the labour market as German students and are permitted to work without needing prior approval of the German authorities. In general, students are advised not to work more than 20 hours a week. Note that you will have to pay social insurance contributions once you exceed this number of working hours.
International students from countries that are NOT member states of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland are usually permitted to work 120 to 140 full days or 240 to 280 half days (or 20 hours/week) per year once they have a valid residence permit for Germany. The immigration office will record these provisions in your residence permit. To work more days per year, you must obtain the approval of your immigration office and the German Federal Employment Agency.
