Study in Germany
Getting from Nairobi to a German university, step by step
Most of what's written about this online is either a sales pitch or out of date. This is the version we give our own students — including the parts that are inconvenient.
The six steps
- 1
Get your German to the level your route needs
Not the level you think you need. A degree taught in German wants C1-level proof; a programme taught in English may want none at all. The study visa itself generally expects B2. We'll tell you which applies before you pay for a single course.
- 2
Sit the right language exam
This is where most plans go wrong. For unrestricted admission, German universities accept TestDaF at TDN 4, DSH-2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule or Goethe-Zertifikat C2. Goethe-Zertifikat C1 is accepted by many universities but is not on the national exemption list — always confirm with yours.
- 3
Choose programmes and check the entry route
A Kenyan secondary certificate usually doesn't give direct entry — most applicants go through a Studienkolleg foundation year first, or enter after a year of recognised university study in Kenya. Requirements differ by programme, so this step is research, not guesswork.
- 4
Apply — usually through uni-assist
Most German universities process international applications through uni-assist, which verifies your documents for a fee before passing them on. Deadlines are typically 15 July for the winter semester and 15 January for the summer semester, but they vary.
- 5
Blocked account, visa appointment, documents
You'll need to prove you can support yourself, normally through a blocked account, plus health insurance and your admission letter. Appointment waiting times at the German Embassy in Nairobi can be long — start this the day your admission arrives, not later.
- 6
Arrive, register, enrol
City registration (Anmeldung), a residence permit, a bank account, university enrolment. Tedious rather than difficult — but it goes faster if your German is already at the level you claimed on the form.
What it actually costs
"Free university in Germany" is mostly true and occasionally expensive. Here's the detail.
Tuition — mostly free, with real exceptions
Germany has 426 higher education institutions; 273 are public and most of those charge no tuition, even to international students. The private and church-run ones do charge. Among the public ones, Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester — Heidelberg, KIT, Freiburg, Tübingen and Mannheim — and TU Munich charges non-EU students €2,000–6,000 per semester since winter 2024/25.
Semester contribution
Every public university charges one, typically €100–450 per semester. It usually includes a local transport pass, which makes it better value than it sounds.
Living costs and the blocked account
The blocked account requirement is set by the German government and changes; check the current figure with the embassy before you budget. Living costs vary widely between Munich and, say, Leipzig.
Working while you study
140 full days or 280 half-days a year — raised from 120/240 in March 2024 — or up to 20 hours a week during the lecture period, with unrestricted work in the breaks. Student assistant jobs at your own university don't count against the cap.
Sources: HRK, Higher Education Institutions in Figures 2024 ; Make it in Germany . Checked August 2026. Rules change — verify with the German Embassy before you commit money.
Study in Germany FAQ