Application & Admission to Dual Study Programs in Germany for International Students

Knowing who offers dual study programmes can influence your search strategy to find the best dual study programme in Germany for you. One challenge in this search process is that it is not easy to grasp the details of a dual study programme at first glance: It will take some time to research which time model is used to structure the practical and theoretical parts of a specific programme. The salary may not be visible at first glance, nor may the type of programme, i.e. whether it is an integrated training or practice programme.

In other words, even after an initial desktop research, questions may remain. To overcome this challenge, we encourage you to contact the programme coordinators or the international office of the higher education institutions for clarification, as well as the contact person at the company you are considering for the work placement.

Another difficulty is that definitions of dual study programmes vary. For example, you may find different terminology in different federal states in Germany. Similarly, universities or information websites (such as ours) will present different typologies of dual study programmes. As a result, the search for dual study programmes can sometimes feel a little opaque or confusing. A practical difficulty that arises from this is that it is difficult to compile a complete database of dual study options, as certain programmes may not qualify depending on the definition used.

In addition, the diversity of higher education institutions offering dual study options and the diversity of companies recruiting for the work placements means that some options are bound to be overlooked. To meet this challenge, we recommend that you use a mix of search strategies or search engines to maximise the results and options you find. Of course, if you come across some programmes that you like early on, you can always stop the search.

In 2019, there were more than 1,660 dual study programmes available. To systematically sift through all these options, we recommend three search strategies:

One way to identify your dual study options is by exploring which institutions offer dual study programs and then see which offers they have. This may be especially useful for you if you have a regional preference. On the institution's websites, you will find information on cooperating companies and program offers.

We have written an extensive article for you presenting to you different types of institutions that offer dual study options. This can be a good starting point for you if you want to search for programs using this strategy. In that article, we also included links to information portals on dual studies from the 16 federal states in Germany that can furthermore help you identify your options in a certain region in Germany.

Some websites provide you with databases of dual study programs in Germany. If you have a special interest in a certain subject field, it may be smart for you to look for programs in this subject area first and then inform yourself about conditions and cooperating companies on the respective course websites.

Search engines you can use to identify dual study programs are the portal AusbildungPlus, run by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (German: Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung) or the hochschulkompass, which is run by the German Rectors’ Conference and available in English. In the extended search function, you can decide to look for dual programs only.

As with any higher education institution in Germany, the exact requirements for what you need to submit and how you need to submit your application may vary from university to university and from programme to programme. You should therefore confirm this general overview with the specific programmes you are interested in and the institution you wish to apply to.

The majority of dual study programmes in Germany have no admissions restrictions, which means that if you meet the minimum requirements for a programme, you are very likely to be admitted. To prove that you meet the minimum requirements for a sandwich course, there is a list of criteria that you can expect to meet.

When it comes to applying to a company or institution that will serve as the learning environment for the practical part of your dual study programme in Germany, there are some general tips that we can give you.

Depending on the type of dual study programme you are pursuing, especially for the integrated vocational and work-based programmes, you will often apply for the work placement first, i.e. before you apply to the university. In some cases, you apply only to the company and not to the university, as a place at the company sometimes guarantees a place at the cooperating university. As the exact details vary from programme to programme, make sure you do your research for each dual study programme you are interested in.

Also, applications to companies can start VERY early. Some recommend that you start the application process 18 months before you are due to start your programme. Although you will still find a number of opportunities if you start a little later - let's say a year before your intended start date - we agree that starting early makes a huge difference, especially for international students. Starting early gives you time to do the necessary research, gather the necessary documents and explore ALL of your options and give them a realistic chance.

Once you have identified a company or institution to which you would like to apply for the practical part of your dual study programme, you will need to find out about the specific application process. Again, each company may have a different process, so it is important to do your research and ask any questions you may have. To give you a rough idea, here is a list of documents and requirements you may need to provide for the application process:

For most dual study programs in Germany, advanced German skills are required. The reason for this is obvious: The language of study in the programs is most often German, and you need to be able to follow the courses. Even if you study in an English language dual study program, working at a German company likely still requires you to speak German, for example, you have contact with customers in German or because the language spoken in the office is German. In any case, it will be more attractive to hire you on the German job market if you have some German skills, even if your work could be absolved completely in English.

For these reasons, German language skills are often a must for dual study programs in Germany. While exact details may differ from company to company, you can expect to prove your language abilities on a B2 - C1 level. These are the language-level indications set by the European Framework of Reference for Language Skills. B2 corresponds to upper intermediate language skills and C1 to advanced language skills.

To prove that you speak German on this level, there is a series of language certificates that are accepted by all universities and most employers:

To read more about these certificates, please check out this article.

The good news is that there are some, albeit few, alternatives in the form of English-language dual programmes; programmes that combine English and German; or programmes that mix English and German. The bad news is that you will need to spend a little more time researching these options.

We have already started this research process for you, and will highlight some alternative options for you here.

The largest higher education institution for dual study, the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University, offers undergraduate dual programmes that are taught entirely in English. Some of these international programmes include internships and exchange semesters abroad.

In our MyGermanUniversity StudyFinder you can also find some dual study options that are completely in English:

Another example of a program combining an English language study program and a work environment in which you have to speak German is this one:

International students from most countries outside the EU need a visa to enter Germany as (dual) students and a residence permit to stay there throughout the duration of their studies. You have to apply for a visa with the German embassy or consulate general that is nearest to your place of residence. This is also the place to which you should direct all sorts of detailed questions since they are the experts on the visa regulations that apply to you specifically. Another important point of contact is the International Office of the German University that you seek to apply to. It is essential that you verify the general information we can provide you with for your case.

Dual students apply for a so-called national visa, just like students of regular study courses do. Therefore, their visa application process is going to look quite similar. We have written articles with detailed descriptions of this process, and also about covid-19 related restrictions to the student visa process for Germany that you can read to get some general background information on student visas.

After you start the application process, the German embassy in charge of your visa application defines whether the practical portion in your study program is bigger and more significant, or whether the study portion has the primary role in your dual program. This happens in coordination with the Foreigner’s Office (German: Ausländerbehörde) of your future town in Germany as well as with the Federal Employment Agency (German: Bundesagentur für Arbeit [BA]). The BA has a special role in this process since they also grant dual students permission to enter the German labor market. There is not much you can or have to do in this process, since this happens internally. Therefore, your visa application will feel quite similar to that of regular students.

The assessment of your application should ensure that you have all the permissions as a resident in Germany that you need to fulfill your dual study program. Here are some questions, doubts, and uncertainties that may still come to your mind: