Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last checked: 17 October 2026
Quick answer
Germany has no single minimum GPA. Each university and programme sets its own admission rules, and subjects with limited places use a cut-off average that changes each year. We found no national minimum.
The country has 422 higher education institutions offering 22,426 programmes (HRK, winter semester 2025/26). State universities generally charge no tuition for Bachelor’s and most Master’s programmes, but Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester, and Bavarian institutions may charge them too.
To see where your grade sits, convert it to the German scale with the converter below, then check the programme’s own rules.
German grade converter
Enter your grade with the best and lowest passing values of your scale. The result is an orientation figure on the German scale, where 1.0 is best and 4.0 is the lowest pass.
German grade converter
Lower is better in Germany: 1.0 is the best grade and 4.0 is the lowest pass.
Formula: German grade = 1 + 3 × (Nmax − Nd) ÷ (Nmax − Nmin), cut to one decimal and not rounded, as in the KMK decision on foreign entrance certificates. For official use, Nmax and Nmin come from the ZAB assessment proposals in anabin; the presets above are our assumptions. This is an orientation figure, not a binding result.
How many universities are in Germany?
In winter semester 2025/26, 422 German higher education institutions offered 22,426 study programmes, according to the HRK (German Rectors’ Conference, as of 1 September 2025). About 2.86 million students were enrolled in winter semester 2024/25 (2,864,122, Federal Statistical Office figure quoted by the HRK).
| Institution type | Programmes offered |
|---|---|
| Universities | 13,266 |
| Universities of applied sciences (HAW/FH) | 7,543 |
| Art and music colleges | 1,188 |
| All institutions (HRK total) | 22,426 |
The three types add up to 21,997, so other institution types account for the remaining 429 programmes. We did not find an official split of the 422 institutions by type, so we do not give one. The official searchable list is the HRK Hochschulkompass.
Types of university, TU9 and the Excellence Strategy
Universities
Research-oriented institutions with a broad range of subjects. They award Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral degrees.
Universities of applied sciences (HAW/FH)
Practice-oriented institutions, strong in engineering, business, computer science and social work. Many programmes include internships or industry projects.
Art, film and music colleges
Specialised creative institutions. Admission usually involves a portfolio or audition.
TU9
TU9 is the alliance of nine leading technical universities: RWTH Aachen, TU Berlin, TU Braunschweig, TU Darmstadt, TU Dresden, Leibniz University Hannover, KIT, TU Munich and the University of Stuttgart (TU9).
Excellence Strategy, funded from 1 January 2027
On 11 March 2026, ten current Universities of Excellence were confirmed for a further seven years of funding from 1 January 2027: RWTH Aachen, Bonn, the Berlin University Alliance, TU Dresden, Hamburg, Heidelberg, KIT, LMU Munich, TU Munich and Tübingen. Konstanz did not qualify (Wissenschaftsrat).
On 2 October 2026, five more were selected: Freiburg, Jena, Cologne, the Rhine-Main Universities (TU Darmstadt, Frankfurt and Mainz) and the Ruhr Innovation Lab (Bochum and TU Dortmund). All 15 start the second funding phase on 1 January 2027 (Wissenschaftsrat). Excellence status is a research funding label, not an admission rule.
What GPA do you need for German universities?
We found no national minimum GPA. What we could confirm is how admission works:
- Restricted subjects use a numerus clausus. Medicine has a nationwide restriction, and some subjects are restricted at individual universities, where “the universities then calculate an average grade that you must have achieved in order to gain admission” (deutschland.de).
- Each university chooses its own procedure. It may also use interviews, internships or skills tests.
- Open subjects have no grade cut-off of this kind, but may still ask for subject prerequisites.
So the honest answer to “is my GPA enough?” is on the programme page of the university you want. Look for the entry requirements and, for restricted subjects, last year’s cut-off.
Putting your grade on the German scale
Germany grades in reverse: 1.0 is the best grade and 4.0 the lowest pass. The method used for foreign entrance certificates is the modified Bavarian formula, 1 + 3 × (Nmax − Nd) ÷ (Nmax − Nmin), cut to one decimal. In an official assessment Nmax and Nmin are reference values published by the German authorities, not numbers you choose.
As an illustration only, with Nmax 4.0 and Nmin 1.0 (our assumptions), a 3.5 GPA gives 1.5. A university may assess your grades differently. The step-by-step method and the school and Abitur scales are in our German grading system guide.
Fees and costs for international students
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition at state institutions | Generally none for Bachelor’s and most Master’s programmes | DAAD |
| Semester contribution | €70 to €430 per semester | DAAD |
| Baden-Württemberg, non-EU students | €1,500 per semester (doctoral students exempt) | DAAD |
| Bavaria, non-EU students | Can be several thousand euros per semester; each institution decides | DAAD |
| Living costs | €900 to €1,200 per month, depending on the city | DAAD |
| Blocked account for a student visa | At least €11,904 in 2026 (€992 a month since 1 January 2025) | Make it in Germany, DAAD |
| Blocked account, visa to look for a place | €1,091 per month (as of 2026) | Make it in Germany |
The semester contribution covers student services and the student body. Check your own university for its exact figure, and check its policy on non-EU fees before you apply. Insurance, visa and other costs depend on your situation, so we do not give a single figure.
Highest-ranked German universities in QS
The table shows the German universities listed highest on the QS Germany page (topuniversities.com, updated 17 June 2026). The main QS table is the 2027 edition (QS); the Germany page does not print the edition, so we match it by date. Ranks change every year.
| University | QS rank |
|---|---|
| Technical University of Munich (TUM) | 25 |
| LMU Munich | 61 |
| Heidelberg University | 86 |
| Free University of Berlin | =98 |
| RWTH Aachen University | 104 |
| Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) | 110 |
“=” marks a tied rank. A high rank does not tell you a programme’s entry requirements.
How to apply
Deadlines
For the winter semester you generally have to apply by 15 July, and for the summer semester 15 January is often the key date, but some universities set other deadlines (deutschland.de). Check the exact date on your programme page.
uni-assist
You submit one set of documents to uni-assist, which reviews them. It charges a fee, and it does not work with every university (deutschland.de). Many universities take applications directly, so check which route your programme uses.
APS certificate
Applicants from some countries need an APS certificate. Expatrio lists India, China, Vietnam and Mongolia among them, and says the list is not exhaustive. APS fees and processing times change, so check the official APS or embassy page for your country and apply early.
Language
English-taught and German-taught programmes each set their own language test and minimum score. Use the figure on the programme page rather than a general range.
Scholarship and after graduation
The Deutschlandstipendium pays €300 a month, split between federal and private funds. It is merit-based, does not depend on income and is open to students of all nationalities (University of Heidelberg). For other scholarships, search the DAAD database for your country and level.
Graduates of German universities can apply for a residence permit for jobseekers under Section 20 of the Residence Act, which lasts 18 months. The federal portal says you can work part-time without restrictions during this time (Make it in Germany).
Related guides:
Frequently asked questions
How many universities are there in Germany?
422 higher education institutions offered 22,426 programmes in winter semester 2025/26 (HRK). We did not find an official split of the 422 by type.
What GPA do you need for German universities?
We found no national minimum. Each university and programme sets its own rules, and restricted subjects use a cut-off average that changes each year. Check the programme page.
Is university free in Germany for international students?
Generally yes at state institutions for Bachelor’s and most Master’s programmes, apart from a semester contribution of €70 to €430. Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester, and Bavarian institutions may charge them too.
How much is the blocked account for a German student visa?
At least €11,904 in 2026, which is €992 a month for 12 months. Requirements can differ by embassy, so check yours.
When are the application deadlines?
For the winter semester the general date is 15 July, and for the summer semester 15 January is often the key date. Some universities set other deadlines.
Do I need uni-assist?
Not for every university. uni-assist reviews your documents for the universities that use it, and it charges a fee.
Do I need an APS certificate?
Applicants from some countries do, including India, China, Vietnam and Mongolia according to Expatrio. Check the official APS or embassy page for your country.
Which German universities rank highest in QS?
On the QS Germany page updated 17 June 2026: TUM 25, LMU Munich 61, Heidelberg 86, Free University of Berlin =98, RWTH Aachen 104 and KIT 110.
Can I stay in Germany after I graduate?
Yes. Graduates of German universities can apply for an 18-month residence permit for jobseekers under Section 20 of the Residence Act.
How we researched this
Last checked: 17 October 2026. We read the HRK statistics for winter semester 2025/26, DAAD’s cost page, the federal portal Make it in Germany (student visa and jobseeker permit), deutschland.de on applications, the Wissenschaftsrat press releases of 11 March and 2 October 2026, TU9’s page, the QS pages, Expatrio on APS and the University of Heidelberg on the Deutschlandstipendium.
Limits: we found no official minimum GPA, so we give none. We could not open uni-assist’s own site, and the APS list comes from a secondary source. The QS ranks come from a listing that does not print its edition. Fees, deadlines and visa amounts change, and DAAD’s semester contribution range is a general figure, so confirm every figure with your university, the embassy and DAAD before you apply.
This page is for general information. LearnViaHub is not affiliated with DAAD, HRK, uni-assist, APS, QS or any German university.
Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, with 6+ years of research experience in international education — including GPA systems, scholarships, student financing, and study-abroad guidance — for students worldwide.