Germany is a popular international study destination among students due to its high-quality education, modern infrastructure, low cost of living and career opportunities. The country offers free education at public universities and low-cost education at private universities along with an 18-month job seeker visa for graduates.

To get into a German university, you must fulfil certain standard eligibility criteria as well as the admission requirements specific to each institution and programme. For those who wish to study in Germany but are unable to meet all the requirements, several universities have come up with master’s preparatory programmes to equip students with the skills to ace the admission process.

What is the eligibility criteria for studying in Germany?

German law defines the eligibility criteria and applies to all candidates, German or international, irrespective of the programme they choose. Once you fulfil the eligibility criteria for universities in Germany, you must check the admission requirements set independently by each university for various courses. The eligibility criteria for studying in Germany can be summarised in three points.

• A valid undergraduate degree with a good GPA score is the most important eligibility criterion which must be fulfilled for admissions. Your undergraduate degree must be equivalent to what is known as the first academic degree in Germany. Universities in Germany will acknowledge your undergraduate degree if it had a three-year duration and was obtained from a recognised higher education institution.
• A certificate which proves your proficiency in the German or English language is the second requirement. German universities offer courses both in English and German, although international students prefer to take up programmes taught in English. So, whichever language you choose as a medium of instruction, you must have a valid certificate as proof of proficiency. IELTS and TOEFL scores are accepted by most German universities.
• Around two-thirds of international students require a visa to enter Germany for their studies. Apart from the countries with an exemption, all other international students must have a student visa to enter Germany and then apply for a resident visa after the course. You must submit proof of your financial resources and health insurance while applying for a student visa.

Once you fulfill the eligibility criteria, you can check if you meet the admission requirements for the programme of your choice.

What happens if all the Master’s academic requirements are not fulfilled?

Let’s consider a scenario where you fulfil all the eligibility criteria but fail to meet the academic requirements for a programme of your choice in any university in Germany. Does that mean you cannot pursue a master’s in Germany? No, because many German universities have introduced master’s preparatory programmes that will help you gain the skills required to study a master’s degree in Germany. 

A master’s preparatory programme is designed and structured in line with the master’s academic requirements, so if any student fails to meet the admission criteria, they can enrol in a programme which acts as a pathway to studying a master’s in Germany. Universities have preparatory programmes specific to each course such as business, tech and arts. With these programmes, you will be competent enough to secure admission to any master’s degree in Germany.

Master Preparatory Programme at UE Germany

The University of Europe for Applied Sciences is one of the recognised private universities in Germany that offers high-quality education and placement opportunities. UE has introduced its Master Preparatory Programme to assist students in their journey to secure admission to a master’s programme in Germany. The programme is specific to each field and helps students fulfil their admission requirements for programmes in business, IT and tech.

The programme is also preparation for the master’s degree. As the programme is specific for each field, students are introduced to the academic curriculum that follows. It also helps build and develop the linguistic abilities of the students. Depending on the language you choose to study in, UE’s preparatory programme helps you improve your linguistic competence. The orientation assistance throughout the programme helps you choose the best master’s degree and makes the transition to postgraduate studies easier.

You will learn advanced-level English and additional skills in programming and IT, develop scientific writing skills, build a network of connections and practise developing projects. The training sessions also prepare you to address the challenges in the competitive job sector.

If you wish to improve your skills and secure admission to a recognised master’s programme, enrol in the Master Preparatory Programme at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences. The master’s programmes for which the preparatory programme is available are MSc Software Engineering, MSc Data Science, MSc International Business Management, MA International Sport and Event Management and the Master of Business Administration.