The short answer
Yes — Rwandan students study in Germany in English (no German needed at the universities you can apply to through Craydel). German universities assess the Rwanda Advanced Certificate against A-Level (around CCC for direct entry); tuition is about €12,193/yr (≈ RWF 20.6m) with scholarships up to 50%. The visa needs €11,904 (≈ RWF 20m) in a blocked account, applied for at the German Embassy in Kigali.
Yes — Rwandan students can and do study in Germany, in English, at a fraction of the cost of Australia, the UK or the US. This guide walks the journey from Kigali: the English-taught universities you can apply to, how your Rwanda Advanced Certificate is assessed, what a year costs in francs, and the student visa step by step. For the wider picture — costs, scholarships, work rights and staying on — start with our complete guide to studying in Germany.
Can Rwandan students study in Germany?
Yes, and you don’t need German — the universities you can apply to through Craydel teach in English. 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 Kigali, then travel and enrol.
Zoe Craydel, Senior counsellor, Craydel Germany
Which universities can you apply to?
Through Craydel you can apply to 20+ English-taught universities — SRH University, the University of Europe for Applied Sciences, IU International, Constructor University, Macromedia, EU Business School, Gisma and more — strongest in business, IT, AI/data and creative fields (see our universities guide). Germany’s tuition-free public universities teach in German and need a direct application — see study in Germany for free.
What grades do you need?
Entry is per course. German universities assess the Rwanda Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education against the A-Level standard — as a guide, a solid A-Level-equivalent profile (around CCC) meets direct bachelor’s entry. Rwandan students at international schools who sit the IB, Cambridge A-Levels or IGCSE are assessed on those directly: an IB diploma (on points, ~24–30) or A-Levels (around CCC) can give direct entry, while IGCSE / O-Levels route in through a foundation year. Below the line, a foundation year is the route in. English is about IELTS 6.0–6.5.
How much does it cost from Rwanda?
Tuition starts from about €6,450 a year (≈ RWF 10.9m), with grade-based scholarships up to 50% off. Separately, the visa requires €11,904 (≈ RWF 20m) in a blocked account for living costs.
| Item | Amount | ≈ RWF |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest programmes from | €6,450 | ≈ RWF 10.9m |
| Blocked account (living funds) | €11,904 | ≈ RWF 20m |
Median first-year fees net of discounts; blocked-account figure set by the German government. RWF indicative (≈ 1,692/€); rates move.
Not sure your grades are enough?
A Craydel counsellor shortlists English-taught German courses you’ll get an offer for — no agent fees to you — and guides the blocked account and visa.
The student visa from Kigali
Rwandan students apply for a national (type D) student visa at the German Embassy in Kigali — and this is the step Craydel manages for you. Craydel prepares and manages your visa application end to end: assembling and checking the documents, setting up the €11,904 blocked account and German-recognised health insurance, confirming the current APS position with the Embassy, and getting your file embassy-ready — then guiding you through the in-person biometrics appointment you attend in Kigali. Start a few months ahead, especially for the October intake (April is the smaller second intake). See our 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).
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.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study in Germany from Rwanda?
Yes — in English, no German needed at the universities you can apply to through Craydel. You choose a course, get an offer, open a blocked account (€11,904 ≈ RWF 20m) and take health insurance, then lodge a national student visa at the German Embassy in Kigali.
How are my grades assessed — Rwanda Advanced Certificate, IB, A-Levels or IGCSE?
German universities assess the Rwanda Advanced Certificate against the A-Level standard — a solid A-Level-equivalent profile (around CCC) meets direct bachelor’s entry. International curricula are assessed directly too — the IB Diploma on points (~24-30) or Cambridge A-Levels around CCC can give direct entry, while IGCSE/O-Levels route in via a foundation year. English is about IELTS 6.0–6.5.
How much does it cost from Rwanda?
Tuition starts from about €6,450 a year (≈ RWF 10.9m), with scholarships up to 50% off. Separately, the visa needs €11,904 (≈ RWF 20m) in a blocked account. Public universities are tuition-free but German-taught.
Do I need 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 work.
Sources
- Craydel course, campus and admissions data (2026) — English-taught universities, fees, A-Level/IB entry thresholds, scholarships, work/post-study.
- Exchange rates for USD→EUR/RWF conversion (2026); indicative only.
- Federal Foreign Office / German Embassy Kigali — 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.
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