Coming to Berlin to study

Studying under section 16b Residence Act: admission, preparatory college, 2026 funds, working while studying and options after graduating.

In short

If you come from a non-EU country, studying in Berlin usually requires a residence permit for study under section 16b Residence Act (AufenthG). It is based on admission to a state or state-recognised university. The Federal Employment Agency does not have to approve it. After graduating there are specific routes to work and stay.

More: Studying in Berlin (German) and Looking for a study place and visa (German).

Residence permit: section 16b AufenthG

Requirements under section 16b AufenthG:

Admission to a full-time degree programme at a state or state-recognised university.
Preparatory measures are included: a language course if admission depends on it, and attending a Studienkolleg (preparatory college). Mandatory internships are also covered.
You only need to prove German skills if the university did not already check them during admission.
The permit is usually issued for 2 years, at least 1 year, and is extended while you are still studying.

Proof of funds 2026

You must be able to support yourself (section 2(3) AufenthG). For study in 2026 the amount is €992 per month, i.e. €11,904 per year (Federal Interior Ministry notice of 13 August 2025). If your rent is below €380 a month, the amount can be lower.

A blocked account is only one option. A formal declaration of commitment by another person (sections 66–68 AufenthG), a scholarship or regular income also count.

Applying and the preparatory college

uni-assist checks international applications for many German universities. TU Berlin, for example, requires a preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist. The check takes about 4–6 weeks and costs a fee.
If your school certificate only qualifies you for the Studienkolleg, you first have to pass the assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung).
Berlin has the joint Studienkolleg of FU, HU and Charité (at FU) and the International Studienkolleg of TU Berlin. For the FU college you apply to only one of the three institutions; the deadline is 15 July for the winter semester, 15 January for the summer semester (according to studienkolleg.org; check before relying on this). There is an entrance test in Berlin in August. German C1 is recommended, B2 is enough (e.g. DSH-1 or TestDaF 3 in all parts). The course lasts 1 year.
APS certificate: TU Berlin requires an APS certificate for school certificates from China, India or Vietnam. Ask the German embassy in your country early.

Universities in Berlin

Berlin has state universities, state universities of applied sciences, art colleges and around 30 private, state-recognised institutions. The Senate Department for Higher Education keeps a list (German). Before applying, check that your university is state-run or state-recognised.

Working while studying

Up to 140 full or 280 half working days per year (section 16b(3)). A half day is up to 4 hours.
This is not a separate, additional permission but a counting rule for the 140-day account: a week in the lecture period with up to 20 hours counts as a flat 2.5 working days; each week is counted in the way more favourable to you (section 16b(3)).
Student jobs at the university (e.g. as a student assistant) do not count towards this limit.
The minimum wage applies: €13.90 per hour from 1 Jan 2026, €14.60 from 1 Jan 2027.

No study place yet: section 17(2)

A residence permit for applying to study is possible for up to 9 months (section 17(2) AufenthG). You must meet the school and language requirements for studying (or acquire them during the stay) and be able to support yourself: in 2026 that is €1,091 per month (€9,819 for 9 months). You may work up to 20 hours per week and do trial work of up to 2 weeks in total. As a rule you can only switch to vocational training (section 16a), study (section 16b) or section 19c(2), or where there is a legal entitlement.

Steps

Choose a programme and university, check your eligibility (uni-assist, APS if needed).
Apply and get admission or a place at the Studienkolleg.
Prepare proof of funds and health insurance.
Apply for a student visa at the German mission abroad (many missions use an external service provider).
In Berlin: register your address (Housing and registration (German)), then apply for the residence permit at the State Office for Immigration (LEA).

Processing times for the visa and at the LEA vary a lot; check before relying on this.

After graduating: staying

Job search: After graduating in Germany, a residence permit to look for work is issued for up to 18 months (section 20(1) no. 1, (2)). You must be able to support yourself. You may work during this time.
Working: Afterwards as a skilled worker with an academic degree (section 18b) or with the EU Blue Card (German) (section 18g). In 2026 the salary threshold is €50,700. For new graduates with a degree from the last 3 years, the lower threshold of €45,934.20 applies (with Federal Employment Agency approval).
Settlement permit: With a degree from Germany, section 18c(1) requires only 2 years with a permit under sections 18a, 18b, 18d or 18g and 24 months of pension contributions. Further requirements: a suitable job and German at B1.
Family: see Family reunification (German).

Be careful

Agencies promising a “guaranteed” study place or visa for money: only the university decides on admission, and only the authorities decide on the visa.
Private universities: check state recognition before paying tuition fees.
Problems with pay or hours in a side job: free advice from Faire Integration (section 45b AufenthG) and the Berlin Advice Centre for Migration and Good Work (BEMA) (German).

Sources

A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.