Concerning the IGCHE programmes, you have to
- finish all subjects of your first three years of the bachelor programme and
- pass the telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule test or TestDaF examination with 16 points (level 4).
Other prerequisites include
- APS application (takes several weeks),
- valid passport,
- proof of financial support (blocked account),
- student visa for Germany (please note the visa process will take up to 6-8 weeks!),
- certificate of German health insurance (part of the enrollment in Germany).
This list is not complete. You will get additional information from your German university. For further information on the visa process please have a look at this webpage on German student visa.
A year before you go to Germany is a good time to start. Your home university in India will help you with preparations. Please have a look at the website above and prepare for your visa at least half a year before you want to come to Germany.
You can take the tests as often as you like (but you have to pay a fee each time).
telc: You can combine the result of the written part with the result of the oral part of another test to pass telc in total, as long as the results are not more than a year apart. Some other restrictions may apply. Once passed, the result does not expire.
TestDaF: The results do not expire and the best result counts, so you could register for and/or take the next TestDaF before you know the result of the last attempt. But you cannot combine points from different tests to clear the four parts in several attempts.
Also, you should listen to the German language teacher's advice on your readyness for the tests. Trying again and again just costs money.
You need a travel health insurance for the first 4 to 6 weeks of your stay in Germany. This travel insurance must have a cover amount of 30.000 Euros. After your arrival in Germany you have to take out a German student’s health insurance with a local company. You will obtain addresses of health insurance companies upon your enrollment. German health insurance for students will cost about 70 Euro per month. Please don’t take out private health insurance in your home country for the whole period of your stay in Germany. This kind of insurance cannot be accepted so that you would have to pay cash for medicine, medical treatment and stay in hospital.
After completing your final exams at PSG and your last German telc examination, you will receive an official IGCHE letter together with detailed instructions for the application process.
The first step is to register with the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS India), which verifies the authenticity of Indian educational documents. Once the APS procedure is complete, you can apply for a student visa through VFS, the official service provider of the German Embassy in India.
Processing times vary. It is strongly recommended to apply as early as possible. During the summer months, applications may take longer due to overlapping holiday periods in Germany and India. Please note that IGCHE has no influence over visa decisions or processing speed.
The purpose of the Blocked Account is to prove that you have sufficient financial means to cover your living expenses in Germany. Each month, only a fixed sum can be withdrawn, ensuring that students budget their funds for the entire year.
The Blocked Account must be opened before applying for the German visa. At present, the required amount is about €11,000 for one year, which equals roughly €930 per month.
You should only book your flight once your visa has been issued. Most students travel a few weeks before the start of the semester to move into their accommodation and complete the necessary formalities.
Each partner university provides student halls of residence, and international students are usually given priority. Alternatively, you may rent private accommodation. The International Offices at your German universities will assist you with housing arrangements.
Within two weeks of arrival, you must register at the local Residents’ Registration Office ("Einwohnermeldeamt"). The International Office at your university in Germany will also help you to get access to your Blocked Account, activate your health insurance, and complete your university enrolment.
Disclaimer: The information in this FAQ has been thoroughly put together and checked for errors. However, we cannot guarantee that information is accurate or up to date. You are advised to contact IGCHE by phone or email before acting upon information given in this FAQ. Anyone using this FAQ and acting on information published on it does so at their own risk.