Route: studying in Berlin

Visa (§ 16b), the steps in order, timing and what to prepare in China.

Legal basis: § 16b AufenthG (residence permit for studies). You apply for a national visa at the German mission responsible for your province before you travel; you cannot turn a visa-free or Schengen stay into a study permit in Berlin.

Steps

1. Check what your Chinese certificates are worth: Gaokao score, Huikao, years of university. See Admission with Chinese certificates.
2. APS certificate from APS Beijing: The APS certificate. Start early – the university application usually needs it too.
3. Learn German (or English for an English-taught programme) and take a recognised exam: Learning German in China.
4. Apply to the university, directly or through uni-assist. Public universities in Berlin charge no tuition, see Costs of studying.
5. Prove your funding: blocked account, scholarship, or a declaration of commitment from someone in Germany.
6. Apply for the visa at APS or the consulate general: Visa application.
7. Travel, register and collect your residence permit in Berlin: After arrival in Berlin.

What the Embassy checklist asks for

• Passport valid at least 3 months beyond the visa, with 2 free pages.
• APS certificate, admission or Studienkolleg letter, language certificate, CV, motivation letter.
• Proof of funding (€11,904 for a year, see Costs).
• Health insurance until enrolment: statutory student insurance only starts once you are enrolled, so you need private cover for the time before. Students over 30 are usually privately insured.
• The immigration office in Berlin usually has to consent.

Fees and timing

• Visa fee €75, not refundable. Processing about 3 weeks according to the Embassy leaflet; apply at most 6 months before entry.
• A preparatory German course before studies is possible on the study visa: at least 18 hours a week, fees paid for 3 months, at most 1 year, work only in the holidays.
• Working while studying (§ 16b (3) AufenthG): up to 140 full or 280 half days a year, plus student jobs (studentische Nebentätigkeiten) at the university or research institutions.

Study-applicant visa (§ 17)

If you have no admission yet, § 17 AufenthG allows a stay of up to 9 months to look for a study place. Secondary sources name €1,091 a month (the study amount of €992 plus 10 %); we found no primary source for this case, and the Embassy Beijing leaflet of July 2024 shows an older figure. Confirm with your mission.