What are all required to get Germany Visa for studying Low Cost Courses

From the past few years, Germany has become one of the popular study destinations for international students because of its high quality education and low cost of studies. Students are even exempted from paying any tuition fees in public universities like Hamburg University, Cologne University, Bremen University, and many more. Thus German Student Visa is in demand off late. Germany offers several Bachelor and Master courses in the English language, thus providing great career opportunities and personal development programs. Students who wish to study in Germany need to apply for German Student Visa at the Embassy. Here you will get to know about  visa types and how to get them.

German Student Visa

To study in Germany, one needs to apply for German Student Visa at the Embassy under one of three different types of visa categories for educational courses, they are:

1. German Language Course Visa – This type of German Student Visa is required when students want to pursue a German language course which can last from 3 months to 1 year. This has two subsection-

• Language Learning Visa – It is for those students who are interested in learning the German language and after its completion will return back to their county.
• Residency for Study Preparation – This German Student visa option is availed by students who aim to study German in order to apply for higher studies in the country.

However, nationals of Canada, USA, New Zealand, Israel, South Korea, Japan, or belonging to European Union member states need not attain a visa to attend a language course

1. Student Visa – This type is applicable only for those students whose application has been accepted by German University. 
2. Study Applicant Visa – This type of German Student Visa is for those students who have to be present personally at the time of admission.

Time to Register German Student Visa Application 

As soon as the student receives their admission letter they should apply for the German Student Visa. Usually, short-stay visa processing time is 3-4 weeks whereas long-stay visa processing can take up to 10-12 weeks. It is better to apply at least 12 weeks before moving to the country. The cost of a student visa is €75 and the amount is only payable by a bank transfer, credit and debit card or cheque is not acceptable.

Documents Required for German Student Visa Approval

List of mandatory documents, original as well as xerox which are taken to the Embassy for verification are –

1. Language Proficiency Test Certificate – In order to get a German Student Visa, basic knowledge and proficiency in German language is required. Certain courses are taught in their native language, for that, the university requires language proficiency test scores. Universities usually accept two types of language tests – Test DaF (Test of German as a foreign language). It is applicable for non-native speakers, managed by TestDaF-Institut. 

One can take this test in their own country before coming to Germany. 

Another one is DSH Test. A German language examination for university entrance. This exam can be given only in German. However certain universities don’t consider these tests if the course duration is only six months or if students are participating in some study abroad program.

1. English Language – Next, to get a German Student Visa, English proficiency is needed. More than a thousand courses are taught in the English language. Citizens belonging to non-native English speaking countries have to give English language tests to study such courses. Two acceptable language tests are IELTS and TOEFL. These tests consist of four sections, reading, writing, listening and speaking. The minimum IELTS score required is 6.5 and TOEFL is 71 for admission in German universities.
2. Financial Resource Proof – This will ensure that students have enough money to cover their living and educational expenses. Financial proof can be presented in either of the ways:
3. Opening a blocked account – A bank account for international students is needed to get a German Student Visa which will contain all the money required to cover one year expenses. Fintiba bank account which is in partnership with Sutor Bank is preferred by many foreign students because it is approved by the German Federal Office and this account can be opened online from their native country. A blocked account will be required in the future while applying for a resident permit and a job seeker visa.
4. Scholarship – This certificate should indicate the scholarship amount received by the student to cover their expense.
5. Parent’s declaration letter – This letter will provide a surety that the parents will bear their child’s expenses as long as he or she stays.
6. Commitment letter by a local resident – Letter indicating that a local person of Germany will be covering student’s expenses during his or her stay.
7. Complete application form is needed for German Student Visa.
8. Passport having validity of extra 6 more months before your departure date.
9. Civil status containing marriage certificate or birth certificate of child or death certificate of a partner.
10. Cover Letter explaining the reason for choosing a particular course or university.
11. Finally, a motivational letter (only in case of  language course visa) is required to get a German Student Visa.

Other Documents are needed to avail the German Student Visa

1. Graduate Degree Certificate if applied to Study Masters
2. School Leaving Certificate
3. Travel Health Insurance
4. Health Insurance valid for at least 3 months.
5. College payment receipt
6. Admission letter
7. Two or three identical photographs
8. Birth certificate
9. Xerox of the previous visa, if you had any
10. Scholarship certificate

How can a German Student Visa be cancelled?

Though Germany has a visa acceptance rate of 92 %, more than any other country in the world yet there are chances of the German Student Visa getting canceled. They are –

1. Failing in a language proficiency test is one of the major reasons for German Student Visa rejection.
2. Another reason is financial instability. Depending on which city a student is staying in, their living expenses can change. The average living cost of a student ranges between €800 – €1000. Average accommodation cost can vary from €250 – €390 depending upon the student living in a common student residence, rented flat or separate studio. Annually international students have to show approximately €10,236 in their account for German Student Visa renewal.
3. If a student’s academic record is dissatisfying there are chances that the visa might get canceled, however in the interview and in the CV if the reason for obtaining such low marks is found genuine then the visa can be approved.
4. Uncertain choices of Programs. If the master’s program is of a totally different field from what was studied at the bachelor’s level, then it depicts the tedium behavior of the student. For example, if a student studied accountancy at the bachelor’s level and now wants to pursue history at the master’s level will depict inconsistency in choices and might result in German Student Visa cancellation.

So, students may now have a clear idea how visas can be cancelled. Hope, aspirants wanting to study in Germany, have got a clear idea about how to get the visa. The German Student Visa will thus be a gateway to study at quality colleges offering high quality but affordable courses.