A master’s degree abroad is a complete master’s programme at a university in the target country, with its own application, its own degree and its own costs. It can be funded through Auslands-BAföG, among other options. In EU countries and Switzerland, the entire degree can be funded, while in other countries this is usually possible for one year at most. The order matters, because the Auslands-BAföG application must reach the responsible office at least six months before you leave, while the application to the university is submitted directly to the university.
Quick answer
A master’s degree abroad is a complete programme at a university in the target country, with its own application. Auslands-BAföG can fund the entire degree in EU countries and Switzerland, elsewhere usually one year at most. The application must reach the office six months before departure. Deregistering in Germany ends compulsory student health insurance.
The most important points at a glance
- Auslands-BAföG: In EU countries and Switzerland, the entire master’s programme can be funded, in other countries usually for one year at most.
- The application must be submitted at least six months before departure. An informal application keeps the deadline.
- According to the City of Heidelberg, the surcharge for tuition fees is up to €5,600 and applies for one year at most.
- If you deregister in Germany, you lose compulsory student health insurance and need cover at your place of study.
- Foreign degrees may in principle be used. For professions with a state examination, such as teaching or law, check with the competent body before applying.
Which countries are suitable for a master’s degree abroad?
This depends on the subject, the language of instruction and your budget. Whether a master’s is the right step now is clarified by the comparison master or working straight away (in German). Four questions help you choose a country:
- In which language is the programme taught, and which language certificate does the university require?
- Which tuition fees apply?
- How is the target country treated for Auslands-BAföG?
- Do you need a visa, and are you allowed to work alongside your studies?
German students often head for the Netherlands, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Spain and France, as well as the USA, Canada and Australia. For Auslands-BAföG, it makes a big difference whether the target country belongs to the EU:
| Target area | Funding period under Auslands-BAföG | Foreign surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| EU countries and Switzerland, for example the Netherlands, Spain, France | The entire degree can be funded | Not applicable |
| Other countries, for example the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Australia | Usually up to one year, after at least one year of study in Germany | Yes, set per country following a purchasing power adjustment by the Federal Foreign Office |
How does the application for a master’s degree abroad work?
You apply directly to the university in the target country, usually through its online portal. Requirements differ from programme to programme. The following sequence makes sense:
- Choose a programme. The language of instruction, duration and fees are listed on the programme page. The study abroad must be beneficial for your degree programme, otherwise there is no Auslands-BAföG. A lecturer confirms this.
- Check the admission requirements. Usually these are a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject and a language certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL. Some business programmes also require the GMAT.
- Assemble your documents. Many universities ask for certificates, a transcript of grades, a CV and a letter of motivation, and some also for letters of recommendation. The application guidelines state whether translations or certified copies are required.
- Note the deadlines. Each university sets its own deadlines. Plan a buffer, because language tests and certificates take time.
- Apply for Auslands-BAföG. The responsible office is the one for your target country, not the office in your home town. An informal application keeps the deadline, and an advance decision is possible up to one year before departure. Example: If the master’s starts on 1 September, the application must reach the office by 1 March at the latest.
- Clarify visa, accommodation and health insurance. Outside the EU, you need a student visa depending on the country. Settle your insurance before departure.
Will a master’s degree from abroad be recognised in Germany?
Foreign degrees may in principle be used in Germany in the form awarded, with an indication of origin. The prerequisite is that the institution is properly recognised as a university. This is set out in the principles of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education (KMK). An initial classification of foreign universities is available in the anabin database, but only the information from the competent body is binding.
The question of what the degree opens up must be separated from the question of how the title may be used. For a later doctorate, the faculty decides, and as a rule a master’s degree or an equivalent degree is a prerequisite. Stricter rules apply to professions with a state examination or a licence, such as medicine, teaching or law. There, separate rules apply that differ by country and profession. Ask the competent body before you apply.
What does a master’s degree abroad cost?
A flat figure would be wrong, because fees and price levels differ by country, city and university. For comparison: No federal state in Germany charges general tuition fees. Abroad, you check the fees for each programme individually.
| Cost item | What to watch for |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Listed on the university’s programme page. Auslands-BAföG pays a surcharge of up to €5,600 for one year at most. |
| Living costs | Rent, food and transport depend on the place of study. Outside the EU and Switzerland, there is a foreign surcharge. |
| Health insurance | Long-term cover for the entire length of study. Auslands-BAföG includes a surcharge for the additional costs of foreign health insurance. |
| Travel | Auslands-BAföG pays a flat travel allowance of €250 within Europe and €500 outside Europe. Whether the amount applies per leg or in total for the outbound and return journey is stated by the responsible office. |
| One-off costs | Language tests, visa and moving fall due before the start of studies. Test providers and authorities state the amounts. |
To calculate your budget, add up the tuition fees for the entire programme, the living costs for each month, insurance, travel and one-off costs. Deduct Auslands-BAföG, scholarships and maintenance. What remains is the gap that a loan or a side job would have to close.
Financing a master’s degree abroad: Auslands-BAföG, scholarships and loans
A full comparison of all routes is available under Auslands-BAföG and Erasmus (in German). Here are the points that matter for a full master’s degree.
Auslands-BAföG
The monthly rate is based on the domestic rate, and surcharges are added. For tuition fees, the City of Heidelberg (in German) states up to €5,600 for one year at most, paid as a grant. Travel costs and the surcharge for foreign health insurance are each paid half as a grant and half as a loan. The foreign surcharge applies only outside the EU and Switzerland. The rules are described in detail in the FAQ of the Studierendenwerke.
Scholarships
Scholarships do not have to be repaid, and they can often be combined with other sources. You can search the scholarship guide of the Federal Ministry of Research, the DAAD scholarship database and mystipendium.de. Also check the pages of your target university, as many award their own funding. Deadlines differ widely, so start when you choose your programme.
Erasmus+ applies mainly to study periods abroad
Erasmus+ is intended for study stays in which you remain enrolled in Germany. How long funding is paid is set by the university within the guidelines, and at the University of Paderborn it is up to 140 days per semester for 2026/27. The monthly rate there is €540 or €600 depending on the country group, as the funding information of the University of Paderborn (in German) shows as an example, and the universities set rates and duration themselves. For a complete master’s degree abroad, this usually does not apply. If you only plan one semester, the guide to preparing a semester abroad (in German) helps.
Education loan and KfW student loan
Loans complement BAföG and scholarships. According to the principles of the Studierendenwerke, you should not finance the entire degree with a loan, because BAföG and scholarships are cheaper. Whether your programme abroad is eligible for funding is clarified by the Federal Administrative Office for the federal education loan and by KfW for the student loan.
- Federal education loan (Bildungskredit): €100, €200 or €300 a month, for at most 24 months. The interest rate is 4.09% effective and variable. The Federal Administrative Office states the age limit for applications. Repayment starts four years after the first payment, at €120 a month.
- KfW student loan: €100 to €650 a month, without collateral and regardless of income and assets, for ages 18 to 44. The interest rate is 6.38% effective for new contracts from 1 October 2026 and is variable. The next adjustment is planned for 1 April 2027. Details are provided by KfW.
Working abroad
Whether you may work alongside your studies depends on the country and the visa. Clarify this before you accept the offer, and read the notes on insurance when working abroad (in German).
Example calculation: Two-year master’s degree in Canada
Example: Jonas, 24, has completed his bachelor’s degree in Germany and starts a two-year master’s degree in Canada. Assumptions: He meets the BAföG requirements, and for countries outside the EU the rule “usually one year at most” applies.
- Year 1: He receives Auslands-BAföG based on the domestic rate, plus the foreign surcharge, up to €5,600 as a tuition fee surcharge, and a flat travel allowance of €500 for travel outside Europe.
- Year 2: Funding usually ends. With a federal education loan of €300 a month, €3,600 accumulates over twelve months. Whether that covers the tuition fees for the second year depends on the university. A scholarship or the KfW student loan can close the gap.
How are you health insured during a master’s degree abroad?
That depends on whether you remain enrolled in Germany. For a full degree abroad, you usually deregister here. Compulsory student insurance then ends, at the latest at the end of the day on which you give up your residence in Germany. It is different for a semester abroad in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland: If you remain enrolled and keep your residence in Germany, you stay in student insurance.
At your place of study, you need your own cover. Outside the EU, this is usually insurance in the country of study or private foreign health insurance. In countries without a social security agreement, such as the USA or Australia, the statutory health insurer does not pay for treatment in case of illness. Standard travel insurance often covers only a limited number of days per trip, so for stays of several months you need long-term cover. It should cover the entire length of study and include the repatriation that statutory health insurance does not pay for.
Different rules apply to an internship in the target country, which are explained in the article on health insurance during an internship abroad (in German).
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a master’s degree abroad?
You apply directly to the university in the target country, usually through an online portal. Typical requirements are the bachelor’s certificate, a transcript of grades, a CV, a letter of motivation and a language certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL. Each university sets its own deadlines. In parallel, you submit the Auslands-BAföG application at least six months before departure.
Can I get BAföG for a master’s degree abroad?
Auslands-BAföG is possible if you meet the BAföG requirements and the study abroad is beneficial for your degree programme. In EU countries and Switzerland, the entire degree can be funded. In other countries, this is usually possible for one year at most. The office for your target country is responsible.
What does a master’s degree abroad cost?
This cannot be answered across the board, because tuition fees, rents and living costs depend on the country, the city and the university. Add up tuition fees, monthly living costs, insurance, travel and one-off costs, and deduct the funding. The result shows how large your funding gap is.
Will a master’s degree from abroad be recognised in Germany?
The degree may in principle be used in Germany with an indication of origin, provided the institution is recognised as a university. Separate rules apply to professions with a state examination or licence, such as teaching, medicine or law. The competent body gives you a binding answer before you apply.
Do I stay covered by statutory health insurance during a master’s degree abroad?
If you deregister in Germany, you lose compulsory student insurance. You then need cover at your place of study or private long-term foreign health insurance. The statutory health insurer does not pay for medically necessary repatriation. Clarify the solution with your health insurer before departure.
How to proceed now
- Choose two or three programmes and note the admission requirements, language certificate and deadlines.
- Check whether you meet the BAföG requirements, and submit the informal application to the responsible office at least six months before the start.
- Search for scholarships in the databases and on the pages of the universities, and plan loans only as a supplement.
- Ask your health insurer what happens to your insurance after deregistration, and take out suitable long-term cover before departure.
- For professions with a state examination, clarify recognition before you apply.
Sources
- Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education, principles on the use of foreign degrees (version of 20 November 2025, in German)
- City of Heidelberg, applying for Auslands-BAföG (in German)
- German Student Services Organisation, FAQ on BAföG (January 2026, in German)
- KfW, questions and answers on the student loan (status 1 October 2026, in German)
- University of Paderborn, Erasmus funding 2026/27 (example, in German)
Related reading
- Planning a semester abroad: Application, Erasmus and funding (in German)
- Financing a study abroad: Auslands-BAföG, Erasmus and scholarships (in German)
- Health insurance with a side job abroad: What students need to know (in German)
- Master or working straight away: Which pays off more? (in German)
- DBA: Recognition and use of the title in Germany (in German)
- Dr. or Ph.D.: Which doctoral title you may use in Germany (in German)
- Master abroad: Health insurance with residence in Germany (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
