Route: studying in Berlin

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

Legal basis: § 16b AufenthG (residence permit for studies). You apply for a national visa before you travel. The German Embassy in Ankara states that a tourist (Schengen) visa cannot be turned into a study permit in Germany.

Steps

1. Check what your Turkish certificates are worth: lise diploma, YKS placement, years of university. See Admission with Turkish certificates.
2. Learn German (or English for an English-taught programme) and take a recognised exam: Learning German in Türkiye.
3. Apply to the university, directly or through uni-assist. Public universities in Berlin charge no tuition, see Costs of studying.
4. Prove your funding: blocked account, scholarship, or a declaration of commitment from someone in Germany.
5. Apply for the visa: for study and study-place search, only through the Federal Foreign Office portal (digital.diplo.de/studium), not through iDATA. See Visa application.
6. Travel, register and collect your residence permit in Berlin: After arrival in Berlin.

What the mission asks for

• Admission or Studienkolleg letter, language certificate, CV and motivation letter.
• Notarised copies of the lise diploma and of the ÖSYM (YKS) result, with a sworn translation (Embassy study leaflet). See Documents from Türkiye.
• 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.
• The immigration office in Berlin usually has to consent.

Fees and work

• Visa fee €75, not refundable. The Embassy publishes no fixed processing time for Turkish applicants; plan several months for appointment and processing.
• A preparatory German course before studies is possible on the study visa.
• Working while studying (§ 16b (3) AufenthG): up to 140 full or 280 half days a year, plus student jobs at the university or research institutions. The Embassy's Turkish study leaflet still shows the old limit; the statute prevails.

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; the application also runs through the portal. You must show €1,091 a month: the student amount plus 10 % (§ 2 (3) sentence 6 AufenthG).