How to Study in Germany without IELTS Score

Germany is an educational paradise with its world-class universities, affordable tuition fee, and a wide variety of courses to choose from. These globally valued programs often set you up for a high-paying job and so the growing interest in the country as a favored study abroad destination. What also adds to the popularity of the country among international students is the fact that they can also study in Germany without taking IELTS.

Top German Universities that Accept Students Without IELTS Score

Aspirants need to meet certain criteria if they want to be accepted into German universities without IELTS. Even though not all universities in the country admit students without IELTS, there are several reputed ones that may accept you. Here’s the list of top universities that are open to accepting international students without IELTS scores: 

• University of Kassel 
• University of Giessen
• Flensburg University of Applied Sciences
• University of Siegen
• University of Kiel
• Ruhr University Bochum
• Technical University of Braunschweig
• University of Bayreuth
• Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences
• Chemnitz University of Technology
• University of Koblenz and Landau
• Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
• University of Bonn
• Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
• Free University of Berlin
• University of Kaiserslautern
• University of Hildesheim

Note: The list is not exhaustive and there may be other German universities that admit students without IELTS. 

How to Study in Germany Without IELTS? 

Aspirants can study with upGrad Abroad to bypass IELTS while getting admitted to courses such as MBA, Master Degree in Data Science, Master in Computer Science, Master in International Management, and Master in Cyber Security at Germany’s IU International University of Applied Sciences. In fact, aspirants do not need to undertake, any English proficiency test if they can furnish a Medium of Instruction Certificate (MOI), which is an alternative to English language tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and others. Issued by a student’s previous institute, it states the language in which he/she has completed the degree education, in this case, English. If that is not an option, the university will take an aspirant’s audio-visual interview to check his/her command over the English language. One can also seek admission to a German language program if they intend to skip the IELTS test. For this, it is important to take German language tests such as TestDaf, WiDaf, DSH, Goethe-Zertifikat, and others.

upGrad under its UA Accelerator Programs has collaborated with IU Germany to offer the following benefits:

• Cost savings of up to ₹20 lakh.
• No requirement for IELTS scores. 
• Personalized learning journey.
• Live lectures and 24×7 QnA.
• Small group coaching sessions.
• Videos from industry experts.
• Student success mentors.
• Personalized feedback on assignments.
• Post-study work visa for up to 18 months. 
• Earn an average salary of ₹45 lakh after course completion.

Important Resources to Read About Germany:

Here is a list of the post-grad courses offered by IU Germany in collaboration with upGrad Abroad, along with its major USPs: 

MBA (90 ECTS) at IU Germany 

IU Germany is one of the best educational institutions to study in Germany. MBA is an 18-month-long program and requires learners to study online for the first two semesters. For the third semester, students will be studying on-campus in Germany. 

USPs of the program

• Five specializations to choose from-Engineering Management, Finance & Accounting, International Marketing, Big Data Management and IT Management. 
• Alumni status by IU Germany and London South Bank University. 
• Save up to ₹10 lakh. 
• Post-study work visa of up to 18 months. 
• No IELTS score is required for admission. 

Master Degree in Data Science at IU Germany

For the first year of this two-year course, learners will study online with IIIT Bangalore. The second year will be completed on-campus at IU Germany. 

USPs of the program

• Cost savings of up to ₹20 lakh. 
• Alumni status by IU Germany and IIIT Bangalore.
• Six specializations at IIIT Bangalore and 10 electives at IU.
• Post-study work visa of up to 18 months. 
• No IELTS score required for admission. 

MIM at IU Germany

IU Germany offers one of its most prestigious management courses, Master in International Management (MIM), in collaboration with upGrad Abroad. 

The two-year program allows one year of online learning at IMT, Ghaziabad. For the second year, students move to Germany to study at IU campus. 

USPs of the program

• Cost savings of up to ₹20 lakh. 
• Two specializations to choose from – Finance & Accounting and International Marketing. 
• Alumni status by IMT, Ghaziabad, and IU Germany. 
• Post-study work visa of up to 18 months. 
• No IELTS score is required for admission. 
  Source: Bharat in Germany

Master in Computer Science (120 ECTS) at IU Germany

The two-year course offers a  blend of online and on-campus education at IU Germany. 

USPs of the program

• Cost savings of up to ₹20 lakh.
• Alumni status by IU Germany and London South Bank University. 
• Option of nine electives. 
• No IELTS score is required for admission. 

Aspirants can also take the following English language proficiency tests if they want to study in Germany without IELTS: 

• TOEFL

Short for Test of English as a Foreign Language, TOEFL is an internationally accepted, standardized English language test accepted by universities across the globe, including Germany. TOEFL tests you based on four skills: writing, reading, listening and speaking. You are scored between 0-120, and anything over 110+ is good for admissions. 

• PTE

Pearson Test for English is a three-hour test whose scores are accepted in several countries, including Germany. PTE Academic is taken to study abroad. The results for PTE are usually declared 48 hours after taking it. 

• TOEIC Certification

Short for Test of English for International Communication, the TOEIC certification is unlike the other language proficiency tests. This certification focuses on conversational English language skills and your ability to use the language in an intercultural environment. This means there is an added emphasis on the verbal skills in this exam. The TOEIC certification test consists of tasks that analyze your vocabulary, coherency, intonation, pronunciation, and content. 

How to Get a German Student Visa Without IELTS?

An aspirant may only need to provide an MOI and a university confirmation letter that verifies his/her MOI to get a German student visa.

Here’s the process to follow when applying for a German student visa without IELTS: 

• Locate the German embassy nearest to you. 
• Understand in detail the procedure and process involved. 
• Fix your visa appointment.
• Get all your documents ready. 
• Prepare for your appointment with the passport. 

Documents Required to Study in Germany without IELTS

You will need an additional set of documents if you are planning to study in Germany without IELTS. They are: 

1. Medium of Instruction Certificate (MOI): This document is necessary not just for the purpose of admission but also for acquiring a German student visa. 

2. Confirmation Letter: Once you have been accepted by a German university, make sure you get an official letter stating that you have been accepted and your MOI has been verified. This letter can be used in place of a scorecard for any language proficiency test. 

3. Course in the German language: You can also seek admission to a German university without IELTS by taking admission to a German language program. However, to pursue this program you will need to submit a certification in the German language. A C1 to B1 level certificate will serve the purpose in this case. 

4. German student visa: There is no alternative to a German student visa and it is the most essential document required to visit Germany for education.

More Resources to Read About Germany:

Benefits of Studying in Germany

• Affordable tuition fee: With a no tuition fee policy at public institutes, Germany offers the same perks and advantages to domestic and international students.
• High-ranked universities: Germany has around 429 public higher education institutions. German universities adhere to the highest global education standards in terms of quality and some of them have been ranked consistently amongst the best in the world.
• Work opportunities while studying: International students can work part-time for a maximum of 20 hours every week to meet their financial needs or gain work experience. More than 60% of present international students work part-time while studying in the country.
• Job prospects: German degrees are globally recognized and trusted by employers worldwide. German university graduates are highly employable.

Scholarships in Germany 

Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships in Germany

Every year, the foundation awards as many as 1200 scholarships to international UG, PG, and Ph.D. students. Non-EU students pursuing graduate studies will receive €850 per month in addition to individual allowances. Meanwhile, Ph.D. students will receive €1,200 per month, in addition to a €100 mobility allowance per month and other individual allowances. 

DAAD Scholarship

These are awarded by the German government to students who qualify for a full-time master's course study. The applicants should be bachelor's degree holders, which must be completed in the last 6 years, and should have at least two years of proven work experience. The monthly stipend amount of the DAAD scholarship is €850 for postgraduate students and €1,200 for doctoral students.

Goethe Goes Global

The scholarship aims at boosting the career prospects of master’s students. There are around 20 scholarships sanctioned for international students annually. Those completing bachelor’s degrees may apply.

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)

International students planning to pursue their Ph.D. or master's course in the country may be eligible for KAS scholarship programs. The scholarship is awarded for one year.

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