The short answer
Study in Germany for quality at low cost: through Craydel you can apply to 20+ English-taught universities where tuition is around €12,000 a year — a fraction of Australia or the UK — with grade-based scholarships up to 50%, the right to work part-time, and an 18-month permit to find work after you graduate. Public universities are largely tuition-free but need German and direct application.
Germany is one of the most sought-after study destinations in the world for international students — and for African students it offers a rare mix: globally respected degrees, some of the lowest tuition of any major destination, the right to work while you study, and a clear route to stay and work after you graduate. This guide sets out the real reasons, with honest numbers, and links to the detail behind each one.
Why should you study in Germany?
Because few destinations pair this level of quality with this little cost. Through Craydel you can apply to more than 20 English-taught universities in Germany where a first year of tuition runs around €12,000 — a fraction of what Australia, the UK or the US charge — with grade-based scholarships worth up to 50%, the right to work part-time, and an 18-month permit to find a job after you graduate.
Is studying in Germany really free?
Partly — and it’s worth being precise. Germany’s public universities are largely tuition-free (you pay only a small semester contribution), which is why “study in Germany for free” is so widely searched. But those places are competitive, most degrees are taught in German, and you apply to them directly rather than through an agent. The route Craydel places students into is different: English-taught private universities that do charge tuition — around €12,000 a year — but offer easier entry, teaching in English, scholarships, and full application support.
The honest version. If your German is strong and you can navigate direct public-university admission, a tuition-free public degree is a real option worth pursuing. If you want to study in English with guided admissions and scholarships, the private universities in this guide are the practical route — far cheaper than Australia or the UK, just not free. We’ll always tell you which is which.
You can study entirely in English
This is Germany’s quiet advantage for African students. Every university you can apply to through Craydel teaches its programmes in English, so there is no German-language exam standing between you and your degree. German public universities usually require German (DSH or TestDaF); the English-taught private universities do not. Learning some German still helps daily life and work, but it is not a barrier to enrolling.
A degree at a fraction of the cost
Tuition at the English-taught universities you can apply to runs from about €6,500 to €20,000 a year, with a median near €12,000 — well below Australia (around €37,000-equivalent). And Germany’s scholarship picture is genuinely strong: several universities award automatic, grade-based scholarships worth up to 50% of tuition.
| What | Figure (first year) |
|---|---|
| Median bachelor’s tuition | €12,193 (≈ KES 1.8m / NGN 19.1m) |
| Median master’s tuition | €12,818 |
| Cheapest programmes from | about €6,500 |
| Scholarships (grade-based) | up to 50% of tuition |
Median first-year fees across the English-taught universities in our data; local-currency figures indicative (rates move). See our cost of studying in Germany and scholarships guides.
Want to see which German universities fit your grades and budget?
A Craydel counsellor will shortlist English-taught German courses you’ll actually get an offer for — matched to your results — at no cost to you.
Work while you study — and stay after you graduate
Germany lets international students work, and the pathway afterwards is one of the clearest in Europe.
140 days / 20 hrs a week
You can work up to 140 full days (or 280 half-days) a year, or around 20 hours a week during term, and more in the breaks.
18-month job-seeker permit
Graduates get an 18-month residence permit to look for work related to their degree.
Route to settlement
Once you’re working, you can move to a work permit or EU Blue Card — a recognised path towards permanent settlement.
The detail is in our working while studying in Germany guide.
Which universities and fields can you study?
Through Craydel you can apply to more than 20 English-taught universities across Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, Leipzig and beyond — including SRH University, the University of Europe for Applied Sciences, IU International University of Applied Sciences, Constructor University, Macromedia University, EU Business School, Gisma and EBS. They are strongest in the fields international students want most: business and management, computer science and IT, AI and data science, marketing, MBA, creative and design, and finance. Build a shortlist in our universities in Germany guide.
How to get started
The path is straightforward: choose an English-taught course, meet the entry requirement, apply through a registered agent, accept your offer, then prove your funds and apply for the student visa. Our step-by-step guide walks the whole process, and the German student visa guide covers the funds requirement (a blocked account of €11,904) and paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to study in Germany?
Public universities are largely tuition-free (you pay a small semester fee), but they are competitive, mostly taught in German, and you apply directly. The English-taught private universities you can apply to through Craydel do charge tuition — around €12,000 a year — but offer teaching in English, easier entry, and scholarships. Cheaper than Australia or the UK, but not free.
Can I study in Germany in English?
Yes. Every university you can apply to through Craydel teaches in English, so you don’t need a German-language qualification to enrol. German public universities usually require German (DSH/TestDaF). Some German still helps with daily life and work.
How much does it cost to study in Germany?
At the English-taught universities in our data, first-year tuition runs from about €6,500 to €20,000, with a median near €12,000 — well below Australia. Grade-based scholarships can cut that by up to 50%. On top of tuition, you must show living funds in a blocked account (€11,904).
Can I work and stay in Germany after studying?
Yes. You can work up to 140 full days a year (about 20 hours a week in term) while studying, and after graduating you get an 18-month permit to find work related to your degree, which can lead to a work permit or EU Blue Card and eventual settlement.
What grades do I need?
Entry is set per course. As a guide, a KCSE mean around C+, or A-Level / ACSEE / UACE / ZIMSEC around CCC, meets direct bachelor’s entry at many programmes; below that, a foundation year is the route in. Exact requirements are checked per course.
Sources
- Craydel course, campus and admissions data (2026) — English-taught universities and course counts, first-year fees by level and field, scholarships, work and post-study pathways, entry thresholds by curriculum.
- Exchange rates for USD→EUR/KES/NGN conversion (2026); rates move daily and are indicative only.
- Federal Foreign Office / Make-it-in-Germany — student visa, blocked account (€11,904) and work rules. make-it-in-germany.com
- DAAD — studying in Germany, requirements and finances. daad.de
Want this built around your grades and budget?
A Craydel counsellor will shortlist Germany universities that fit what you can actually afford — free.