If you want to study in Germany from Nigeria, plan the blocked account, travel health insurance and admission documents early, because the visa office checks all three before it decides. This guide sets out the current figures, the insurance rules that apply after enrolment and a realistic order of steps.
Short answer: you usually need proof of 992 euros per month, or 11,904 euros for one year, in a blocked account in Germany (DAAD, 1 January 2025). Until you are enrolled, you need private health cover, because statutory cover starts only with enrolment (section 5 SGB V). The homepage of the German Embassy in Abuja contains no study-specific figures, so ask the Embassy for its current requirements before you apply.
Key points at a glance
- Blocked account: 992 euros per month, or 11,904 euros for twelve months (DAAD, 1 January 2025; general German figure).
- The German Embassy in Abuja publishes no minimum term or minimum cover for travel insurance, so ask the Embassy before you buy a policy.
- Statutory student insurance (KVdS) starts only after you take up residence and enrol. For 2026, the total is 142.96 euros per month on an assumed base of 855 euros.
- The Embassy in Abuja publishes no processing time, so plan a generous buffer before your start date.
- The language proof depends on your programme and your university, so check the requirements in your admission letter.
- The cited APS page does not name Nigeria. Ask your university whether it needs an APS certificate for your school and degree.
How large does the blocked account have to be?
Germany asks students from outside the EU to show a fixed amount for living costs. The general German figure is 992 euros per month (DAAD, 1 January 2025). The Embassy in Abuja’s website shows no study-specific amount, so confirm the figure with the German Embassy in Abuja before you transfer any money.
| Period | Amount | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Six months (one semester) | 5,952 euros | 6 × 992 euros |
| Twelve months | 11,904 euros | 12 × 992 euros |
| Alternative | Scholarship confirmation or declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung, Art. 68 Residence Act) | General German rule |
Annahme: a student who plans a six-month study period needs 5,952 euros in the account. Whether a shorter period is accepted depends on the mission and the programme, so ask before you calculate. Our overview of Studying outside the EU: health insurance rules covers the wider rules for students from outside the EU.
What does statutory student insurance cost after enrolment?
Once you are enrolled and living in Germany, most students join the statutory student insurance (KVdS) under section 5 SGB V. The contribution uses an assumed income base of 855 euros per month for students who do not live with their parents. The average additional contribution of 2.9 percent is an assumption, because each insurer sets its own rate.
| Item | Monthly | Six months | Twelve months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health insurance base (10.22 percent) | 87.38 euros | 524.28 euros | 1,048.56 euros |
| Average additional contribution (assumed 2.9 percent) | 24.80 euros | 148.80 euros | 297.60 euros |
| Care insurance (3.6 percent) | 30.78 euros | 184.68 euros | 369.36 euros |
| Total without childless surcharge | 142.96 euros | 857.76 euros | 1,715.52 euros |
The figures come from the GKV-Spitzenverband fact sheet (status 1 January 2026). If the childless surcharge applies to you, the monthly total is 148.09 euros. Before you enrol, Health insurance enrolment: proof, procedure and exemption explains what the health insurer needs from you.
An exemption under section 8 SGB V is possible only if you can prove other coverage that meets the legal requirements. The application must be filed within three months of the start of compulsory membership. Once granted, the decision cannot be revoked, so compare your options carefully.
What does the visa timeline look like?
The Embassy in Abuja publishes no timing rules or processing times. Ask the Embassy for its appointment rules, and plan a buffer before your start date.
- Collect your admission letter and the proof of your start date, then book your visa appointment.
- Open the blocked account or obtain a scholarship confirmation that covers the full period.
- Buy a private health policy that matches the wording the Embassy gives you, with validity from arrival.
- Apply within the window the mission allows, and leave ample time for processing.
Which language and admission documents do you need?
English is the main language of instruction in many Nigerian schools, but a German university still decides what counts as proof. Check the language requirements in your admission letter, and ask the Embassy in Abuja whether it has its own rules for visa applicants.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an APS certificate as a Nigerian applicant?
The cited university page does not name Nigeria, but that does not settle the question. Ask your target university whether it requires an APS certificate for your school leaving certificate and degree, and keep the answer in writing.
Will a travel policy from Nigeria cover my visa application?
The Embassy in Abuja makes no published statement on whether it accepts a policy from a Nigerian insurer. Ask the Embassy before you buy a policy, and check that the cover is valid in all Schengen states and does not exclude long stays.
When does statutory insurance start?
Under section 5 SGB V, statutory student insurance starts with enrolment and taking up residence. Until then, a private policy has to cover you.
Can a scholarship replace the blocked account?
A scholarship confirmation or a declaration of commitment can serve as an alternative. Check that it covers the amount and the period the visa office expects.
Can the amounts change?
Yes. Missions can change their requirements at short notice, so check the current information shortly before you apply.
Your next steps
- Get your admission letter with the start date and the teaching language.
- Calculate your blocked account amount for the period that applies to you.
- Compare your health policy with the Embassy’s requirements before you buy it.
- Plan your statutory enrolment and the exemption deadline of three months.
Related articles
- Health insurance for international students in Germany
- Studying outside the EU: health insurance rules
- Student health insurance in Germany 2026: key figures
- Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z
Sources: German Embassy Abuja, homepage (checked October 2026; no study-specific figures found); DAAD, costs and blocked account (1 January 2025); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on contribution figures (status 1 January 2026); Gesetze im Internet, section 5 SGB V; Gesetze im Internet, section 8 SGB V.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
