德国留学指南 · Chinese Students Guide to Germany
Your Gaokao Score Opens
Doors in Germany
German public universities charge zero tuition — you pay only €150–€350 per semester. No GRE. No GMAT. Your Gaokao score of 70%+ is now directly recognised by German universities. Over 2,000 programmes are taught entirely in English at 400+ universities. 40,000+ Chinese students are already studying in Germany — the largest non-EU student group.
No GRE. No GMAT. APS guidance included. Your Chinese degree is fully recognised.
China vs Germany — Side by Side
Same quality education. Wildly different price tag.
Typical Chinese Private University
- Tuition (4 years)
- ¥120,000 – ¥400,000
- Living costs (4 years)
- ¥80,000 – ¥160,000
- Gaokao pressure
- Extreme (9.75M competitors)
- Job market competition
- 11.79M graduates/year
- International recognition
- Limited outside China
- Post-grad work abroad
- Separate visa needed
German University
- Tuition (2 years Master's)
- €0 (public universities)
- Semester fee (2 years)
- €600 – €1,400 total
- Living costs (2 years)
- €18,000 – €24,000
- GRE/GMAT required
- Not required
- International recognition
- Globally top-ranked
- Post-study work visa
- 18 months (guaranteed)
You Could Save
¥100,000 – ¥400,000+
And earn a globally recognised degree from a TU9 or Excellence University
The APS Certificate — Your Gateway to Germany
The Akademische Prüfstelle (APS) verifies your Chinese academic credentials. Here is exactly how to get it.
Prepare Documents
Gather your degree certificate, transcripts, Gaokao score, ID, and passport. All documents must be notarised copies. APS Beijing requires originals for verification at the interview. Start collecting documents at least 2 months before your planned submission date.
Apply at APS Beijing
Submit your application online at aps.org.cn and pay the fee of ¥2,500. The APS office is located in Beijing (Landmark Tower). You will receive a confirmation and interview appointment within 2–4 weeks of submitting your complete application package.
APS Interview
A 15–20 minute academic interview in English or German about your coursework and thesis. The interviewer tests whether you genuinely completed your studies. Prepare by reviewing your major subjects, thesis topic, and key projects. Pass rate is high if you know your own work well.
Receive Certificate
Processing takes 4–8 weeks after the interview. Once approved, you receive 10 copies of your APS certificate. Each German university application requires one original copy. Alternative: take the TestAS standardised test instead of the interview — ideal if your German/English interview skills are weaker.
TestAS Alternative
If you prefer a written test over an interview, you can take the TestAS (Test for Academic Studies) instead. TestAS is a standardised aptitude test offered at centres across China. It covers core competencies (language, maths, logical reasoning) plus a subject-specific module. Many Chinese students find this less stressful than the APS interview. The TestAS certificate is accepted by all German universities that require APS verification.
Your Gaokao Score Is Now Recognised
Since 2020, Germany directly recognises the Gaokao for university admission — a historic shift that opens doors for millions of Chinese students.
Direct Admission
If your Gaokao score is 70% or higher of the maximum (e.g., 525/750), you may apply directly to German Bachelor's programmes in the same subject area — no Studienkolleg required. You still need APS certification, but the path is now shorter and more straightforward for high-scoring students.
Studienkolleg Path
If your Gaokao score is below 70%, you can attend a one-year Studienkolleg (foundation year) in Germany. This prepares you for university-level study with intensive German language and subject courses. After passing the Feststellungsprüfung exam, you gain full university admission. Many cities offer Studienkolleg programmes.
Study Without Gaokao
Completed one year at a Chinese university (Project 211) or two years at any recognised Chinese university? You can apply directly to German universities without needing a Gaokao score at all. Your university transcripts plus APS certification are sufficient. This is the most common path for Master's applicants.
What Chinese Students Need & Don't Need
Required — APS Certificate
The APS certificate is mandatory for all Chinese students applying to German universities. Apply through APS Beijing (aps.org.cn), attend the interview or take TestAS, and receive your certificate within 4–8 weeks. Budget ¥2,500 for the application fee. Start this process early — it is the longest step.
Required — Blocked Account
You must open a Sperrkonto (blocked account) with €11,904 (~¥93,000) to prove you can support yourself financially. Providers like Expatrio and Fintiba handle the entire process online from China. You withdraw approximately €992/month upon arrival. This is a visa requirement, not a fee.
Required — Health Insurance
German student health insurance costs approximately €110/month through public insurers like TK or AOK. This covers virtually all medical costs including hospital stays, prescriptions, and mental health support. Coverage is mandatory for university enrolment and far cheaper than private insurance in China.
Not Required — No GRE Required
German universities do not require GRE scores for any discipline — engineering, computer science, natural sciences, or humanities. Your undergraduate GPA, motivation letter, and relevant experience are evaluated instead. Save the testing fees and months of preparation time entirely.
Not Required — No GMAT Required
Even for MBA programmes, most German business schools have waived the GMAT entirely or made it optional. Schools like Mannheim Business School and ESMT Berlin focus on your professional profile and academic record rather than standardised test scores.
Not Required — No Gaokao for Master's
If you are applying for a Master's programme, your Gaokao score is irrelevant. German universities evaluate your Bachelor's degree, GPA, and relevant coursework. Your Chinese Bachelor's degree from any recognised university (listed in anabin database) is fully accepted.
Programmes Available
Tuition at Public Universities
Chinese Students in Germany
Post-Study Work Visa
CSC Scholarship — Fully Funded Study in Germany
China Scholarship Council (CSC)
The China Scholarship Council funds thousands of Chinese students each year to study abroad, including in Germany. CSC scholarships cover tuition waiver (already free in Germany), monthly living allowance (€1,200–€1,350/month), international airfare, and health insurance. This makes studying in Germany essentially cost-free for recipients.
CSC scholarships are available for Master's, PhD, and visiting scholar programmes. Applications typically open in January–March each year. Strong academic records (top 30% of class) and university-level cooperation agreements with German institutions significantly improve your chances.
Other Scholarships for Chinese Students
- DAAD Scholarships — The German Academic Exchange Service offers funding specifically for Chinese students. Monthly stipend of €934–€1,300.
- Erasmus+ / Erasmus Mundus — EU-funded scholarships covering full tuition + living costs for joint Master's programmes.
- Deutschlandstipendium — €300/month merit-based scholarship available after enrolment at most German universities.
- Konrad-Adenauer / Heinrich-Böll / Friedrich-Ebert — Political foundation scholarships open to international students.
Showing 1201–1224 of 1,656 programmes
Frequently Asked Questions — Chinese Students Studying in Germany
Yes. German public universities charge zero tuition fees for all students, including Chinese citizens. You pay only a semester contribution of €150–€350 (~¥1,200–¥2,800), which typically includes unlimited public transport in your university city. The sole exception is Baden-Württemberg, where non-EU students pay €1,500 per semester — still far less than Chinese private university tuition of ¥30,000–¥100,000 per year. This policy applies to Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programmes at over 400 public universities. A two-year Master's degree in Germany costs approximately €18,000–€26,000 in total living expenses, compared to significantly more at top Chinese universities when you factor in living costs in Beijing or Shanghai. Germany funds its universities through taxation, and this policy has been stable since 2014.
The APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate is a mandatory verification of your Chinese academic credentials, required by all German universities. To obtain it, apply online at aps.org.cn, pay ¥2,500, and submit notarised copies of your degree, transcripts, Gaokao score, and passport. You will be invited to the APS office in Beijing for a 15–20 minute academic interview in English or German about your coursework and thesis. The interview tests whether you genuinely completed your studies — prepare by reviewing your major subjects and key projects. Processing takes 4–8 weeks after the interview. Alternatively, you can take the TestAS standardised aptitude test instead of the interview, which many students find less stressful. You receive 10 original copies of the certificate, and each university application requires one copy.
Yes. Since 2020, Germany has directly recognised the Gaokao for university admission. If your Gaokao score reaches 70% or higher of the maximum (for example, 525 out of 750), you can apply directly to German Bachelor's programmes in the same subject area without attending a Studienkolleg foundation year. You still need the APS certificate, but the path is shorter. If your score is below 70%, you attend a one-year Studienkolleg in Germany to prepare. For Master's applicants, the Gaokao score is irrelevant — German universities evaluate your Bachelor's degree and GPA instead. Students from Project 211 universities with one year of study, or any recognised university with two years of study, can also apply directly without Gaokao. This recognition was a historic policy change that has opened doors for millions of Chinese students.
Over 2,000 programmes are taught entirely in English, especially at the Master's and PhD level. Fields like computer science, data science, engineering, business, economics, and natural sciences have extensive English-taught options at TU9 universities and beyond. You do not need any German language skills to enrol in these programmes or complete your degree. For English-taught programmes, you typically need IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL 80–90. That said, learning basic German (A1–A2 level) significantly improves your daily life, social integration, and career prospects after graduation. Many universities offer free German language courses for enrolled students. Having German at B1–B2 level after graduation opens roughly 80% more job opportunities, as many German companies conduct internal communication in German. GradGermany also offers German A1–B2 courses.
Chinese students must apply for a German student visa at the German Embassy in Beijing or consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, or Shenyang before travelling. Unlike some nationalities, you cannot enter Germany visa-free and apply later. The process requires your university admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid), APS certificate, blocked account (Sperrkonto) with €11,904 (~¥93,000) through Expatrio or Fintiba, health insurance proof, and passport with at least 12 months validity. Book your visa appointment early — wait times can be 4–8 weeks at busy consulates. Processing takes 6–8 weeks on average. Once in Germany, convert your visa to a residence permit at the local Ausländerbehörde. After graduation, you qualify for an 18-month job seeker visa automatically. No lottery, no employer sponsorship needed.
Germany's 18-month post-study work visa is guaranteed to all graduates — no lottery system like many other countries. During this period you can work in any field while searching for a role matching your qualifications. Germany's economy, the largest in Europe and fourth-largest globally, has strong ties with China: over 5,000 German companies operate in China, and thousands of Chinese companies have offices in Germany. Bilingual Chinese–German or Chinese–English professionals are in exceptionally high demand. Starting salaries for Master's graduates average €45,000–€55,000 (~¥350,000–¥430,000), with tech and engineering roles reaching €60,000–€70,000+. The EU Blue Card provides a fast track to permanent residency after 21 months for qualifying salaries. Germany offers universal healthcare, 20–30 vacation days, and strong worker protections.
For Chinese students, Germany offers globally recognised degrees at zero tuition cost, while even top Chinese public universities charge ¥8,000–¥15,000/year with intense competition for admission (Kaoyan exam). German TU9 universities (TU Munich, RWTH Aachen, KIT) consistently rank alongside the best globally in engineering and sciences. The 11.79 million graduates entering China's job market annually create fierce competition, while Germany faces talent shortages with over 100,000 unfilled IT positions alone. Germany's post-study work visa gives you 18 months to find employment, and permanent residency is achievable within 2 years. The trade-off: German programmes may have less campus life than Chinese universities, and learning German improves your career prospects significantly. But the combination of zero tuition, global recognition, and clear immigration pathways makes Germany an exceptional choice for Chinese students seeking international careers.
The application process has clear steps. Step 1: Get your APS certificate — start 4–6 months before the application deadline. Step 2: Choose programmes on GradGermany (browse our database of 20,000+ programmes, filter by English-taught for Chinese students). Step 3: Prepare documents — APS certificate, Bachelor's degree/transcripts, motivation letter, CV, language proficiency proof (IELTS/TOEFL for English programmes, TestDaF/DSH for German programmes). No GRE or GMAT needed. Step 4: Apply through uni-assist (€75 first application, €30 each additional) or directly to the university. Step 5: Once accepted, open a blocked account, get health insurance, and apply for your visa. Deadlines: July 15 for winter semester (October start), January 15 for summer semester. Start 8–10 months early. GradGermany offers free profile evaluation for Chinese students.
You'll Need an
APS Certificate
Yes, Chinese students need to get APS-certified — an extra step compared to some countries. But with zero tuition, 40,000+ Chinese students already thriving in Germany, and a guaranteed 18-month work visa after graduation, it is absolutely worth it. We guide you through every step of the APS process.
No obligations. 100% free evaluation. The choice is entirely yours.