The German government announced, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, International students who come to Germany this semester, whose courses are online-only, will not be eligible for visas.
Students from outside the European Union are now required to receive a “presence certificate” from their German university so they can apply for a visa.
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A statement from Education Minister Anja Karliczek reads said that “International students who can prove that their studies cannot be conducted entirely abroad, because of compulsory attendance, can enter the country to start their studies. But, the entry for online or distance learners will not be allowed.”
He also pointed out that international students pursuing courses offered by online German universities do not generally receive visas from the government. Flacke further suggested that those who are currently enrolled in an online and offline course should have the attendance certificate at the earliest opportunity.
Flacke explained, “German universities are planning a mix of online and physical classes for the winter semester, and this ‘mix’ entitles foreign students from outside the EU to come to Germany”.
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In Germany, more than 80,000 foreign students had left the country by April, with lecture halls and libraries closed due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Due to the slowly eased travel restrictions and domestic rules, many hoped things would return to normal after the summer. But a German Government announcement has cast fresh doubt on the visa status of students.
Top Universities in Germany
Here, you can also check the top universities in Germany.
| Ranking | University Name | Tuition fee |
| 1 | Technical University of Munich | 67.40 Euros |
| 2 | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | No tuition fee |
| 3 | Heidelberg University | 169.25 Euros |
| 4 | Humboldt University of Berlin | No tuition fee |
| 5 | Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | 1,500 Euros |
| 6 | Free University of Berlin | No tuition fee |
| 7 | RWTH Aachen University | 240 Euros |
| 8 | Technical University of Berlin | No tuition fee |
| 9 | University of Tübingen | 3,000 EUR |
| 10 | University of Freiburg | No tuition fee |
