Things to Know Before You Apply

Before beginning your application, it is useful to be aware of a few important aspects of studying in Germany. These are not steps you need to complete right away, but understanding them early will help you plan realistically and avoid unnecessary delays later on.

Financial Proof (Blocked Account)

International non-EU students who do not have a scholarship are often required by the German Embassy to provide proof of sufficient financial resources for living expenses. In most cases, this is done by opening a blocked account (“Sperrkonto”). Since the setup and transfer process can take time, it is worth knowing about the requirements and providers in advance. This way, you’ll be prepared to act quickly once you have your admission letter.

For detailed information on blocked accounts and available providers, please consult this resource.

Visa Regulations

Visa requirements vary depending on nationality:

• Students from the EU, EEA countries, Switzerland, and certain other states (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia, Japan) can usually enter Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit after arrival.
• Some nationalities may also enter without a visa if they do not plan to work in Germany.
• All other students must apply for a student visa before traveling to Germany.

Visa appointments can be difficult to obtain and processing times may be long. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to your country well in advance. Check the website of your local German embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information and required documents. A full list of German missions abroad can be found here.

We strongly recommend that you book an appointment as early as possible. If your embassy allows you to reserve a slot without yet presenting your official admission letter, it is advisable to do so immediately — even before you receive the letter.

Important: Do not enter Germany on a tourist visa if you intend to study, as it cannot be converted into a student visa.

1. Create an application account by self-registering for online application. After successfull self-registration you receive a mail to activate your application account. You can click the link in the mail, or you can enter the activation code manually. You can now sign in on HisInOne with your username (last name.first name) and the password you created in the registration process.
2. After successful activation of your self-registered accout you can now start your online application. Click on “Start Application”, choose your desired program, and complete the application form. Please also upload the required documents. After you successfully submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. For detailed instructions on the application process, please refer to the University’s online wiki.
3. To check your application, log in to HISinOne, click on “Studies offered” and choose „Online Application“. Here, you can cancel and re-submit your application in case you noticed any mistakes.
4. Once your application has been viewed by the Selection Committee, the status of your application will change to “In Process” – you can now no longer alter it.
5. We recommend that you enable e-mail notifications in order to receive automatic emails from the server whenever the status of your application changes.

The Selection Commitee reviews each application carefully. Evaluation is based on the academic transcript as well as on the motivation letter. A well-written motivation letter that clearly explains a candidate’s interest in the program can make a strong impression.

There’s no cap for the number of students admitted to the program. This means that the number of applicants who have already been admitted does not influence the evaluation of further applications. Each complete application is assessed individually based on its own merits by the Selection Committee.

After submitting your complete application, you can generally expect to receive an admission decision—whether acceptance or rejection—within approximately three weeks.

If you are admitted to our M.A. Program, you have to actively accept or decline our offer on HisInOne.

• If you do not intend to accept the offer, please decline the offer on HisInOne.
• If you accept our offer, the status on HisInOne will change to „admitted“ and you can make an online matriculation request. An official letter of admission will be issued via HisInOne, including information on enrollment at the University of Freiburg.
• On the overview page you can check your matriculation request, change input if necessary (by clicking ‚edit matriculation data‘) and finally download and print the matriculation request as a PDF. The printed and signed matriculation request has to arrive on time in the Student Service Center, together with the other documents required for your matriculation.
• During the enrollment procedure, you will need to proof German health insurance. If you do not have insurance that is valid in Germany and are younger than 30, you must take out insurance with a German health insurance company. For more info, check the SCS website on enrollment and find a list of public health insurance companies here.

For detailed instructions on the matriculation process, please refer to the University’s online wiki.

Once enrolled, you will receive a Student ID and UniCard, granting access to online learning platforms, the university WiFi (eduroam), the student cafeteria (“Mensa”), and numerous student discounts in Freiburg. Activate your UniCard by inserting it into one of the machines located in the Mensa or the Registry Office. After activation at the University Library information desk, your UniCard also functions as your Library Card.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees have to be paid at latest on the last day of the matriculation period. A confirmation of receipt is not automatically given and not needed for matriculation. If you need a confirmation of receipt for other purposes, please send an email to studierendenbuero@zv.uni-freiburg.de. Please note that the university usually needs 1-2 weeks to process your payment. If you need a confirmation that your payment has been received for your visa interview, please make the transfer – if possible – 2 weeks prior to your visa appointment.

If you should not be able to come to Freiburg, you need to cancel your enrollment prior to the beginning of the lecture period to be able to get a refund. Cancellation and reimbursement of the semester fee after the start of lectures is not possible. The lectures of the winter semester 2025 will begin on 13th of October.

Apply for Student Housing

Finding housing in Freiburg can be challenging, as demand is much higher than the number of available rooms. We recommend that you apply through several channels at the same time to increase your chances. You can find the available main options on our website or in our Student Guide.

Make Your Travel Arrangements

The ideal time to arrive in Freiburg is two weeks before the lectures begin. This will give you enough time to settle in and take care of any administrative tasks.

The Studierendenwerk Freiburg (SWFR) has compiled a useful „Guide to Bureaucracy for International Students„.

Register at Resident’s Registration Office

As soon as possible after your arrival in Freiburg—and within 14 days—you must register at the Residents’ Registration Office („Bürgeramt“). The white confirmation note obtained from the residents‘ registration office must be presented to the Foreigners‘ Office („Ausländerbehörde“). The blue carbon copy must be presented to SWFR or to your landlord and the bank.

Please note that you have to inform the residents‘ registration office about any changes in your residential address throughout your stay in Germany (even if you just move from one room to another in the same students residence).

Open a German Current Bank Account

After your arrival in Germany, you only need to open a regular current account (Girokonto) at any bank.

If you have a blocked provider, they will then transfer your funds in monthly installments to this account. If you didn’t have to open a blocked account to get your visa, you still need to open a current account, because most institutions in Germany (e.g. health insurance, SWFR, landlord) will ask you to make your monthly payments by direct debit. 

Apply for Appointment at the Foreigner’s Office

If you are a non EU-national, you will enter Germany with a 3 (or 6) months student visa. This has to be converted into a residence permit after your arrival. Since the procedure can take up to 3 months, you should contact Freiburg Foreigners‘ Office („Ausländerbehörde“) 3 months before your visa expires to ask for an appointment.