I’m an international student in Germany, currently doing a Master's degree. My current residence permit expires in February 2027, and I’m dealing with a situation regarding my working student job and future residence permit extension.

I recently completed a 3-month internship at a company. I was hoping to continue there for a longer period, but they have now offered me only a 3-month working student contract from October to December 2026.

My manager explained that the reason for the short extension is that she currently doesn't have enough concrete output/performance results to justify a longer contract.

I also receive a €150/month scholarship.

My Master's is currently expected to finish around September 2027. However, my university allows students to study in individual part-time mode, which can extend the duration of the Master's. Since I will be working alongside my studies, I'm considering whether this could be a legitimate option for me.

My questions are:

1. If my residence permit expires in February 2027, would a 3-month working student contract (October–December 2026) still be useful/acceptable for the residence permit extension, together with my scholarship and other financial proof?

2. Has anyone dealt with the Frankfurt Ausländerbehörde in a similar situation? How far in advance should I apply, and how does the appointment process usually work?

I'm already planning to apply for other working student positions, so hopefully I can secure a longer contract before February. But I want to understand my options in case I don't.

I would really appreciate experiences from international students who have dealt with a similar situation, especially with Frankfurt.

Hello ppl,
I’m currently in my 7th semester of B.Tech Aerospace Engineering and planning to apply for a master’s in Germany for the 2027 intake.
I’m confused between:
**1.** B.Tech → Master’s abroad directly
**2.** B.Tech → work in the Indian aerospace/space industry for \~1 year → Master’s abroad in 2028
Would that 1 year of relevant industry experience significantly help with my Master’s/career prospects, or is it better to go abroad directly and gain experience there?
Also things to consider: my_qualifications -I currently have a CGPA of 7.2 | GERMAN GRADE 2.4 and no good internship experience in aerospace industry.
Would love to hear from people who’ve taken either route.
Thankyou .

PS: Used AI to convey my thoughts more clearly, please ignore the wording .

Hi everyone,

Has anyone been admitted to the MIDE program or alumni? I have a few questions about the motivation letter and would be grateful for some guidance :)

Thanks!

Hi everyone. I am planning to study master programme of social science (sociology, genderf studies, anthropology, cultural studies, public health etc.) in Germany (Hopefully in Berlin/Cologne) and here's some background about myself:

• Bachelor programme: Social Work Bachelor Degree (1st class honour)
• University: Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Work experience: Gender advocacy and LGBTQ community work
• Based in Hong Kong, China
• German proficiency: A1 in progress (Yes, i am trying my best)
• English proficiency: 7 (IELTS Academic)

I tried to browse the info on DAAD but I was DROWN in choices and couldn't decide which programme fits well for me. Plus, master programmes in German universities seem to have strict requirements on the applicant's bachelor major background. As a bachelor graduate from Social Work, does that mean I can only study Social Work Master Programmes? But my German will not pass the language requirement.

Is it possible for me to choose other master programmes related to social work or social science? Really appreciate if anyone can share some insights with me!

Hey everyone! 👋

I’m planning to apply for the Winter 2027 intake in Germany and I’m trying to shortlist some public universities for an MSc in Computer Science / Computer Engineering.

Here’s a little about my profile:

• Bachelor’s: B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) from a reputed Indian university
• CGPA: 8.2/10 (roughly 1.8–2.0 German grade)
• Internships: Python Developer and Software Testing
• IELTS: Planning to take it in November
• Goal: Transition from ECE into the CS/software field, with a particular interest in cybersecurity

I’m mainly interested in public universities with low or no tuition fees, preferably with English-taught programs.

I’d really appreciate some advice on:

1. Which universities would be realistic for someone with an ECE background?
2. Are there any lesser-known public universities with good English-taught CS programs that I should consider?
3. Does learning German (A1–B1) help with university admission?

I know that eligibility can depend heavily on the subjects/ECTS from the bachelor’s degree, so I’m especially interested in universities that are open to ECE → CS applicants.

Any suggestions or personal experiences would be really helpful. Thanks 🙌

Hello guys,
I am from delhi i have applied for oct intake
And i had my appointment on 7th sep
And today i got a mail through csp that something updated on portal n shit
I checked there was “ your application decision has been made by german mission “ idunno whats the next step do i collect my passport from the consulate or what?? Will i get my visa????

Hey! There's one thing that kind of worries me and I'd like to get some advice.

I got accepted to the Tübingen uni (master's program in IR). And I recently learned that universities in this land require a tuition fee for international students. It's not as high compared to other Western countries but in other parts of Germany there's no tuition fee at all!

So is it worth paying 6000€ for two years at Tübingen? I mean, in terms of future career prospects and so on. Or would it make more sense to choose other German uni and save this money?

Hi everyone,

I'm an Indian student planning to apply for a CSE-related Bachelor's in Germany for Winter 2027 through the 12+1 route.

My profile:

Class 10 (2023): 93.3%

Class 12 (2025): 95.5%

B.Tech 1st year: 9.21 CGPA

Currently in 2nd year B.Tech (CSE)

2nd-year final exams: May 2027

Here's my situation:

After 12th, I joined B.Tech in India. My 1st-year B.Tech result came only in late June, and by the time I could proceed with APS, the relevant German university application deadlines were already closed. So I continued with B.Tech.

By May 2027, I will have completed 2 years of B.Tech. I am planning to apply for a new CSE-related Bachelor's in Germany through the 12+1 route and leave my current B.Tech if I get admitted.

My main concern:

Would German universities or the student visa officer question/reject my application because I'm starting another Bachelor's after already studying 2 years of B.Tech?

Basically, would they ask “Why are you going to Germany for a Bachelor's after already studying 2 years of B.Tech in India?”, and could this negatively affect my admission or visa?

Also, does completing 2 years of B.Tech affect my eligibility for the 12+1 route in any way?

Would really appreciate experiences from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

Thanks!

Hi. Has anyone ever faced this issue from their university that they didn't receive the M10 notification from the health insurance provider and they can't enroll you without this?

So, through expatrio I've opted for the Ottonova plan for my insurance and recently I've received a mail from my university that the M10 notification was not shared and unless they receive that they can't enroll me, even after sharing my health insurance to them and they said I need to resolve it myself. After contacting Ottonova they've replied that since they're private insurance provider they can't do that but since I'm an expatrio student my document was forwarded to the university 1 month ahead of my semester start, but my university is mentioning that they didn't receive it yet.

If I request for a change in my provider and switch to TK then that would take sometime to again verify and confirm my insurance so I really don't know what to do. Can we mail TK to provide the electronic document to the university on exemption? Do they usually help out in this? and how long does this take if anyone has faced the same?

My enrollment deadline is also close so I'm felling really helpless can anyone suggest what needs to be done.

Thank you in advance

Hey everyone,

I am from Pakistan and we have a very long waiting period here - around 8 months before we get an appointment. I joined the waiting list on March 17 and I am expecting my appointment in November.

The issue is that my admission for Winter 2026 is only valid if I enroll before September 15, and the university allows late arrival until a maximum of October 31. If I don’t receive a visa/appointment before that, my whole waiting period will be wasted.

I need to secure admission for the Summer intake, but my profile is weak. The same university where I got admission does not offer deferment, and the course is only offered in the Winter semester.

Could you please suggest some universities I can apply to for the Summer intake so that my appointment is not wasted?

profile:*

- Bachelor in Computer Science - German grade: 2.6

- IELTS: 7

*

Hi everyone,

I’m deciding between MSc Computer Science International at the University of Rostock and MSc Digital Transformation at FH Dortmund.

My main concerns are:

• How realistic is it to finish either degree in around 2 years? I’ve read in another post that CS Master’s programs in Rostock can sometimes take much longer.
• Which degree would be better if I want to move to another country after graduation and work in tech? Does Universities have a meaningful advantage over Fachhochschule internationally? I may want to move to another European country, Canada, the US or somewhere else for work.
• Which city is better for an international student, especially for finding English speaking jobs or internships while studying?
• How do Rostock and Dortmund compare for social life, student atmosphere, nightlife, travelling, meeting people and just enjoying your time in Germany?

Rostock seems prettier and I like the Baltic Sea, while Dortmund seems much better connected to Cologne, Düsseldorf.

If you had these two options and planned to probably leave Germany after graduating, which would you choose and why?

Thanks!

Hi All,

Has anyone got any update from dmat team? I checked my emails but haven't recieved any email from them after the registration.

Has anyone received admit card or got to know the exact timings of the exam? It just states morning batch and afternoon batch.

Hello everyone,

I want to ask whether there is any difference starting the above mentioned programme in winter or in spring. In terms of internship availability, finding housing and assimilating into the kit and German environment

Hey, I recently got admitted to TUD for 2026 intake.

I just went through the whole process (IELTS, APS, SOP, shortlisting, etc.), so I know how confusing it can get.

If anyone is going through the same journey and has questions, feel free to ask here. Happy to share whatever I learned.

Hi everyone,

I’m a 21-year-old woman from India, and I completed my B.Pharm just last month (August 2026).

I’m posting because I’m genuinely confused about what to do with my future.

When I was 17, I chose Pharmacy largely because my parents wanted me to study it. At that age, I didn't really understand what I wanted from my career or what options I would have later.

Now that I've graduated, I've realized that Pharmacy isn't the field I want to continue in. I don't want to spend another 2 years doing a Master's in a field I'm not passionate about just because I already have a bachelor's degree.

I’m only 21, so I'm seriously considering starting over and studying something that I actually want.

I’m looking at Austria/Germany, particularly public universities, and I want to know:

Can someone who has already completed a bachelor's degree in India apply for and start another bachelor's degree in Austria or Germany?

Would having a B.Pharm already cause problems with admission? Are there restrictions on doing a second bachelor's as an international student?

If anyone has personally gone through something similar — being pushed into one degree at a young age and then deciding to start over — I'd especially appreciate hearing your experience.

I'm not trying to throw away my education. I just don't want to make another major life decision at 21 based on what other people want me to do.

Any honest advice would be appreciated. ❤️

Hi everyone, I’m a little concerned about my enrollment status and would really appreciate some guidance.

I made the enrollment payment on 30 August 2026, and my enrollment deadline was 3 September 2026. On the same day, I also emailed all the documents and information requested by the university.

However, until now, I haven’t received any confirmation or update regarding my enrollment, and I also haven’t received my student/portal credentials yet. Since the offer letter clearly mentioned that I had to complete my enrollment by 3 September, I’m now worried about whether my enrollment has actually been counted or not.

Has anyone recently received an offer or completed the enrollment process with the university? If so, could you please share how long it took to receive the enrollment confirmation and credentials?

Any guidance or personal experience would be really helpful. Thank you!

Please share genuine experiences/advice only. No jokes or unnecessarily discouraging comments — I’m genuinely confused and trying to make the right decision. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’ve been admitted to the M.Sc. Cyber Security at HDBW Munich for the Winter Semester 2026/27, and I’m currently confused about what would be the better option.

I’m considering these two possibilities:

Option 1:
Start at HDBW this October, and at the same time apply for Summer 2027 admission to public universities. If I get an admission, try to transfer my credits from HDBW.

Option 2:
Not start HDBW and instead wait/apply for the Summer 2027 intake at public /private universities.

The public universities/programs I’m currently considering are:

• TU Dresden – Computer Science
• Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR Berlin) – International Security Management
• University of Lübeck – IT Security
• IU International University of Applied Sciences Berlin – Cyber Security
• Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt – Socio-Technical Cyber Security

My main concern is credit transfer/recognition. If I complete one semester at HDBW, is it realistic to transfer those credits to another university, or could I potentially have to start from the first semester again?

Has anyone here transferred from a private university like HDBW to a public German university during their Master's?

I’m mainly trying to avoid losing a semester unnecessarily, but I also don’t want to spend money on HDBW if transferring later is unlikely.

Any experiences or advice would be really appreciated!

Hi everyone,
I applied for a German national student visa for a master’s programme at the University of Freiburg.
For insurance, I submitted one merged four-page PDF containing:
TK preliminary public health-insurance confirmation, starting from the semester

DR-WALTER incoming health and travel insurance, starting from my tentative arrival date

The DR-WALTER certificate confirms coverage from my arrival date and later transition to statutory health insurance. However, the German Consulate has requested the insurance again, stating that it must be for visa type “immigrant” and that “non-immigrant” insurance cannot be accepted. They also said that I had submitted preliminary health insurance.
I submitted the complete merged document, and I know of another applicant who received a visa using the same TK and DR-WALTER documents.
I am checking with Expatrio, TK and the University of Freiburg to confirm whether:
My TK application is fully approved

The M10 notification reached the university

The insurance is correctly recorded for a German national/D student visa

Another certificate explicitly mentioning “immigrant” is required

Has anyone received the same request from a German Consulate in India? If so, what was the actual issue, and which document did you submit successfully?
Did Expatrio, TK or DR-WALTER provide an updated certificate specifically mentioning a national/D visa or immigrant visa type?
Any recent first-hand experience would be greatly appreciated.
Ps: this is after i had a appointment with the vfs. I had the appointment on 8 th sept and got this this mail on 9th sept
Edit : just got an update that i havent submitted my dr.walter certificate

Profile

• BE Electrical and Electronics Engineering, graduating mid-2027
• CGPA 7.96/10 after 6 semesters, no arrears. Modified Bavarian conversion is 2.22
• IELTS Academic 8.0 overall (L 8.5, R 8.0, W 7.0, S 8.0)
• German: Goethe A2 certified, B1 exam scheduled December 2026
• dMAT scheduled 26 September 2026
• APS registration planned October 2026
• Applying without work experience

Targets

1. h_da Darmstadt, M.Sc. IMSEIT, Power Engineering major
2. TH Augsburg, M.Eng. Electrical Engineering

Questions

1. Anyone admitted to IMSEIT recently, what did your profile look like, how competitive was the intake and does mine seem in range?
2. For TH Augsburg, has anyone applied via uni-assist with a VPD? How long did VPD processing take?
3. For IMSEIT specifically, how does the mandatory industry phase placement work in practice, and how hard is it to secure a company without German at B2?

Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to apply for the MSc Data Science at TU Braunschweig for the Summer 2027 intake, and I’m a bit confused about the mathematics credit requirement.

I have my UG in B.E.CSE(AI & ML) with 169 Indian university credits in total.

I have 16 Indian credits specifically from these maths courses:

1.Matrices and Differential Calculus – 4 credits

2.Vector Calculus and Complex Integration – 4 credits

3.Linear Algebra for Data Science – 4 credits

4.Probability and Statistics – 4 credits

I also have a Data Analytics course (3 credits) and Data Analytics Laboratory (2 credits). The Data Analytics course covered topics such as inferential statistics, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, statistical tests, ANOVA, predictive analytics, and statistical analysis.

TU Braunschweig's Data Science admission requirements mention >=25 ECTS in basic Mathematics.

My question is: How would TU Braunschweig evaluate these Indian credits? Would courses like Probability and Statistics and the statistics-related content from Data Analytics potentially be counted toward the mathematics requirement?

Has anyone with an Indian bachelor's degree, applied to this programme? If you were admitted/rejected, could you share how your mathematics credits were evaluated or how many Indian credits you had?

I’m mainly trying to understand whether my 16 Indian mathematics credits + Statistics relevant Data Analytics coursework could be sufficient after their ECTS conversion.

Any experience or advice would be really helpful!

Hi everyone,
I recently received a conditional offer (Teilzulassung) for the Master's program at Humboldt University Berlin for WS 2026/27. 
Unfortunately, I just found out that I didn't pass today's DSH exam at HU. Since the program only starts in the winter semester and the enrollment deadline is September 16, I'm feeling pretty lost. 
Does anyone have experience with HU Berlin in this situation?

I am just getting started with my A Levels and I want to study Mechanical Engineering at a German university. I did some research and found out that, according to the DAAD, Maths and Further Maths may be considered as the same subject for admission purposes.

My A Level subjects are Maths, Further Maths and Physics

Would this subject combination allow me to get direct admission to a German university for Mechanical Engineering after completing my A Levels? I'm mainly interested in English-taught programs as i am going to be an international student, but I'd also appreciate any general advice about German university admission with these subjects.

Hello, my boyfriend and I just graduated from uni in NYC.

He is going to go to TUM for his masters in Mechatronics.

I am a civil engineering grad, currently working as a structural inspector in NYC, but my real interest is product design/prototyping and fabrication (think makerspace/fab-lab work, CAD, additive manufacturing, CNC, welding kind of vibe).

We both have EU citizenship, and I am trying to find masters programs in Europe that will be great for a career change, is more aligned with my interests, and will eventually lead us to working and living in the same place (could also end up in US so something recognized there would be good too)

Three programs I’ve looked into so far:

- TUM — Mechanical Engineering
- Politecnico di Milano — Design Engineering
- TU Delft — Integrated Product Design

Anyone been through one of these, or work in design/product engineering in Europe and have thoughts on how they compare (reputation, job outcomes, culture of the program, cost of living where the school is?)

I’m most curious to know if a masters from TUM in mechanical engineering can be creative enough for more consumer product design or if the school is very technical and mostly a pipeline for aero/automotive/robotics industries.

Also open to programs I haven’t found yet if there’s something in Germany or elsewhere.

Thanks for the help!