Germany — Study (Master's degree (English- or German-taught, via uni-assist or direct))

Main requirements

You need a bachelor's degree and an unconditional or conditional admission from a German university. Each university and programme sets its own rules (grades, prerequisite courses, language) and the university decides. Many universities take applications through uni-assist, and some ask for a 'VPD' (uni-assist preliminary review) that you must send to the university yourself before the deadline. Iranians do not need an APS certificate: according to uni-assist, APS exists only for China, Vietnam and India.

Documents

For the visa the Tehran embassy asks for: passport valid at least one more year; signed VIDEX form; biometric 35x45 photo on white background; motivation letter (why this field, your career plan); admission letter naming programme and semester; language certificate; proof of funds; bachelor degree and transcripts with German translation pre-certified by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; gap-free CV in German or English; travel health insurance for at least 90 days with EUR 30,000 cover for the whole Schengen area. The embassy says education documents no longer need to be legalised by the embassy. All documents in original plus one copy, in the embassy's order.

Language

English-taught programmes need a recognised certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL; the required score is set by the university. German-taught programmes need the level required at the start of the programme. The embassy says the language certificate must not be older than one year at the appointment.

Costs and proof of funds

Proof of funds for a study visa per the Tehran embassy (2026): EUR 992 per month, i.e. EUR 11,904 for the first year. Accepted: blocked account (Sperrkonto) at a German bank; formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) by someone resident in Germany; a recognised scholarship; or (Tehran-specific option) a signed Sperrkontoerklärung plus a bank-confirmed statement, in which case the visa carries a condition that you bring the amount in cash and pay it into a blocked account after arrival. If the university charges tuition, you must also show first-year tuition. Public universities mostly charge no tuition for master's, but Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students EUR 1,500 per semester and some Bavarian universities charge non-EU students several thousand euros per semester. The semester contribution is EUR 70–430. uni-assist charges EUR 75 for the first programme and EUR 30 for each additional one in the same semester. The visa fee is EUR 75, paid in cash in euros. Per German customs, if you enter Germany from a non-EU country carrying EUR 10,000 or more in cash, you must declare it to customs yourself. DAAD estimates living costs at EUR 900–1,200 per month depending on the city.

Steps and timeline

Many programmes have deadlines of 15 July (winter semester) and 15 January (summer semester), but master's programmes often have earlier ones. uni-assist recommends applying at least 8 weeks before the deadline; its processing time for Iranian documents is 2–3 weeks (updated 28 September 2026). After admission, register on the TLScontact list 'NEW National visa: Students Master/ PhD (§16b AufenthG)'; a conditional admission (e.g. pending language proof) is accepted for registration. After the appointment the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs (BfAA) processes the file and the visa is usually issued for the first year. According to the German Embassy Tehran website (checked 2026-10-14), the visa section works in a 'limited' mode due to serious staff and technical constraints. Since 15 July 2026 new TLScontact waiting lists are open, and appointments are again being issued for the study lists (Master/PhD, Bachelor, Studienkolleg and preparatory language course), but no waiting time is published. The embassy explicitly says not to travel to neighbouring countries to apply: applications there are rejected for lack of jurisdiction.

Notes for Iranian applicants

According to the embassy site (2026-10-14) Iranian airspace is still closed and the embassy points to land routes to Turkey and Armenia; Iranians need no visa for either. The embassy also notes reports of Iranian nationals being refused exit at border crossings. Release your degree documents first (degree release) and get translations certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. uni-assist fees are paid by Visa/Mastercard or bank transfer, which is not directly possible from Iran, so you usually need an intermediary or a contact abroad. Before paying any blocked-account provider, ask whether it opens accounts for residents of Iran; if not, use the Tehran embassy's Sperrkontoerklärung route. Under EU Council Decision 2010/413/CFSP (Art. 21) member states must prevent specialised teaching of Iranian nationals in disciplines that would contribute to proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or weapon delivery systems, and per BAFA these sanctions were reinstated in 2025; universities may therefore run export-control checks on Iranian applicants in such fields. Male applicants subject to conscription must clarify their exit permit first.

After arrival (work while studying, post-study stay, path to permanent residence)

Non-EU students may work 140 full days or 280 half days per year (DAAD). After graduation you can get a job-seeker residence permit for up to 18 months and then switch to a skilled-worker permit or EU Blue Card. For a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) DAAD lists, among other things, at least three years in Germany, covering your own living costs and German at B1.