Germany vs UK for international students in 2026

On cost, Germany usually wins: most programmes at its public universities charge no tuition. On speed, the UK usually wins: most taught master's take one year, and everything is in English. Germany suits tight budgets and students willing to learn some German. The UK suits students who can pay tuition and want to finish and start working sooner.

Is it cheaper to study in Germany or the UK?

Usually Germany. Most programmes at public universities charge no tuition, even for international students. You pay a semester contribution of usually €100–€350, often with a transport ticket included. The exceptions for non-EU students are Baden-Württemberg, which charges €1,500 a semester, and TUM, which charges students who enrolled from winter semester 2024/25.

UK universities charge international students tuition, and each one sets its own fee, so check the figure on your offer. The visa itself costs £558, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for each year of your visa (£388 for six months or less).

Length changes the maths. Most UK taught master's last one year, so you pay living costs for a shorter time and start earning sooner. A German master's typically takes longer, which means more months of rent. Compare the total for the whole degree, not the fee for one year.

How much money do you need to show for the visa?

Both countries want proof you can support yourself, but they check it in very different ways:

• Germany: €11,904 paid into a blocked account before your visa appointment, then released at €992 a month after you arrive. Some visa types need about 10% more.
• UK: £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to nine months (£13,761 or £10,539), plus any unpaid first-year tuition shown on your CAS. From 30 November 2026 the figures rise to £1,570 a month in London (£14,130) and £1,203 elsewhere (£10,827). The money must sit in your or your parent's account for 28 consecutive days. Check the current rules on gov.uk.

The practical difference: Germany locks your money and pays it back monthly, while the UK only checks that the funds stayed in the account for 28 days. The UK sum is bigger on paper, but you keep control of it once the visa is issued.

Do you need German to study in Germany?

Not for every programme. Germany has many English-taught master's programmes, though some courses, and most bachelor's degrees, are taught in German. Even on an English-taught course, some German makes daily life, part-time jobs and later job hunting much easier. If you're weighing Germany seriously, start learning before you go.

In the UK, everything runs in English. Where you need a secure English test for the visa, it must be an approved SELT (secure English language test), such as IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, LanguageCert or PSI Skills for English. Standard Academic IELTS and Duolingo don't count for the visa. For degree-level study, your university can assess your English itself, and some accept a previous English-medium degree. Some German universities accept one too, as our guide to studying in Germany without IELTS explains.

Which is better for work after graduating?

Germany gives graduates an 18-month residence permit to look for work. While you study, you can work 140 full days or 280 half days a year.

The UK Graduate Route is changing. Bachelor's and master's graduates who apply on or after 1 January 2027 get 18 months, while eligible graduates who apply on or before 31 December 2026 still get two years. PhD graduates keep three years. The application date decides, so if you're only starting a UK course now, you'll almost certainly apply in 2027 or later. Plan on 18 months.

Two more UK points matter if you're planning ahead. New dependants generally can't join you on the Graduate Route; only family already in the UK as your Student-visa dependants can switch. From 8 January 2026 the UK also raised the English level from B1 to B2 for Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual visas. That matters if you plan to move into sponsored work later, but the Graduate Route itself has no separate English test. From 2027, the post-study windows are the same length on paper.

How do the visa processes compare?

• Germany: admission letter, then an APS certificate if you're from Pakistan, India, China or Vietnam (see how the APS interview works), a funded blocked account, health insurance and a visa appointment at the German mission. After arrival, you register your address and apply for a residence permit.
• UK: accept an unconditional offer, and your university issues a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies). Hold your funds for 28 days, take a TB test at an approved clinic if you've lived in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal or Sri Lanka, then apply and pay the £558 fee and the health surcharge.

Neither process is simple, but the German one has more steps before you apply, especially if you need APS. Build that time into your plan.

Which country suits you?

Germany tends to suit you if your budget is tight, you can live with a longer degree, and you're open to learning German. You'll pay far less in fees, but you need the full blocked account up front and more patience with paperwork.

The UK tends to suit you if your family can cover tuition, you want a one-year master's, and you'd rather work in English from day one. It costs more up front, but you're back in the job market sooner. If you're still unsure, price one real programme in each country before deciding.

Next steps

Run a German and a UK programme through the study abroad cost calculator to compare the full cost side by side. Then read the Germany study guide and the UK study guide for the full process in each country. Our cost of studying in Germany breakdown fills in the German side line by line.

FAQ

Is it cheaper to study in Germany or the UK?

Usually Germany, because most public university programmes charge no tuition. The UK's one-year master's cuts living costs and time out of work, so compare the total for the full degree.

How long is the UK Graduate Route from 2027?

18 months for bachelor's and master's graduates who apply on or after 1 January 2027, and three years for PhD graduates. Eligible graduates who apply by 31 December 2026 still get two years.

Do I need a blocked account for the UK?

No. The UK asks you to hold the required funds in your or your parent's account for 28 consecutive days instead.

Can I study in Germany in English?

Yes, especially at master's level, where many programmes are taught in English. Check the language of instruction on each programme page, and expect German to help outside the classroom.