The short answer
Yes — Kenyan students study in Germany in English (no German needed at the universities you can apply to through Craydel). A KCSE mean around C+ wins direct bachelor's entry; tuition is about €12,193/yr (≈ KES 1.8m) with scholarships up to 50%. The visa needs €11,904 (≈ KES 1.8m) in a blocked account, and you apply at the German Embassy in Nairobi.
Yes — Kenyan students can and do study in Germany, and for many it’s the most affordable route to a respected European degree. This guide walks the journey from Nairobi: which English-taught universities you can apply to, the KCSE grade you need, what a year costs in shillings, and the student visa step by step.
Can Kenyan students study in Germany?
Yes. You don’t need to speak German — the universities you can apply to through Craydel teach in English. The path has five steps: choose a course, get your offer, open a blocked account and take health insurance, lodge the national student visa at the German Embassy in Nairobi, then travel and enrol.
Which universities can you apply to?
Through Craydel you can apply to 20+ English-taught universities — including SRH University, the University of Europe for Applied Sciences, IU International, Constructor University, Macromedia, EU Business School and Gisma — strongest in business, IT, AI/data, and creative fields. See our universities guide. Germany’s tuition-free public universities are an option too, but they teach in German and you apply directly — see study in Germany for free.
What grades do you need with KCSE?
Entry is set per course. Across the English-taught programmes in our data, a KCSE mean of about C+ meets direct bachelor’s entry; below that, a foundation year (from a mean of D) is the route in. IB and A-Level are also assessed. English is proven with about IELTS 6.0–6.5.
KCSE alone isn’t the whole picture. Direct entry also depends on your subjects and the specific programme. If your mean sits below a course’s line, a foundation year or a “bachelor’s with integrated foundation year” gets you in, then you progress into the degree.
How much does it cost from Kenya?
Tuition at the English-taught universities runs a median of about €12,193 a year (≈ KES 1.8m), from as little as €6,450 (≈ KES 961k) — a fraction of Australia or the UK. Grade-based scholarships can cut that by up to 50%. Separately, the visa requires you to prove €11,904 (≈ KES 1.8m) in a blocked account for living costs.
| Item | Amount | ≈ KES |
|---|---|---|
| Median bachelor’s tuition/yr | €12,193 | ≈ KES 1.8m |
| Cheapest programmes from | €6,450 | ≈ KES 961k |
| Blocked account (living funds) | €11,904 | ≈ KES 1.8m |
Median first-year fees net of discounts; blocked-account figure set by the German government. KES indicative (≈ 149/€); rates move.
Prefer to talk it through with someone in Nairobi?
Craydel’s counsellors shortlist English-taught German courses on fit and cost — with no agent fees to you — and guide the blocked account and visa.
The student visa from Nairobi
Kenyan students apply for a national (type D) student visa at the German Embassy in Nairobi. You’ll need your university admission, proof of funds (the €11,904 blocked account), German-recognised health insurance, and — check whether Kenya needs an APS certificate with the Embassy before you start. Begin a few months ahead, especially for the October intake (April is the smaller second intake). Full detail in our German student visa guide.
Work, post-study and staying on
140 days a year
Work up to 140 full days (about 20 hours a week in term) to help with living costs.
18-month job search
Stay 18 months to find work related to your degree.
Route to residence
A work permit or EU Blue Card leads towards permanent residence.
Up to 50% off
Grade-based awards at several universities cut tuition — see our scholarships guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study in Germany from Kenya?
Yes. Kenyan students study in Germany every intake, in English — no German needed for the universities you can apply to through Craydel. You choose a course, get an offer, open a blocked account (€11,904 ≈ KES 1.8m) and take health insurance, then lodge a national student visa at the German Embassy in Nairobi.
What KCSE grade do I need?
Across the English-taught programmes in our data, a KCSE mean of about C+ meets direct bachelor’s entry; below that, a foundation year (from D) is the route in. IB and A-Level are also assessed, plus about IELTS 6.0–6.5 for English.
How much does it cost to study in Germany from Kenya?
Tuition is a median of about €12,193 a year (≈ KES 1.8m), from €6,450, with scholarships up to 50% off. Separately, the visa needs €11,904 (≈ KES 1.8m) in a blocked account for living costs. Public universities are tuition-free but German-taught.
Do I need to speak German?
Not for the English-taught universities you can apply to through Craydel. Public (tuition-free) universities mostly teach in German. Some German still helps daily life and part-time work.
Sources
- Craydel course, campus and admissions data (2026) — English-taught universities, fees, KCSE entry thresholds, scholarships, work/post-study.
- Exchange rates for USD→EUR/KES conversion (2026); indicative only.
- Federal Foreign Office / German Embassy Nairobi — student visa, blocked account (€11,904), APS. make-it-in-germany.com
Want this built around your grades and budget?
A Craydel counsellor will shortlist Germany universities that fit what you can actually afford — free.