Everyone already knows that German education is highly respected worldwide and is considered free even for foreigners. Meanwhile, Germany’s economy remains the leader of the European Union, creating new jobs every minute. But did you know that in Germany you can not only study for free, but also receive a salary while studying?
My name is Artem Shevtsov, and in this article I want to share a personal discovery that helped me earn a European diploma in the medical field with minimal expenses.
Seven years ago, I completely immersed myself in studying articles, forums, and documents to find the best way to enroll in Germany. Many people say that studying at prestigious German universities is free… But when I learned all the admission details, it turned out that for an ordinary family from Russia it was still unaffordable.
Let’s first break down why that is, and then I’ll tell you about an alternative path that became my salvation and led me to my goal without major investments.
Option 1: Standard Admission to a German University
Is it really free?
First of all, you still have to pay: semester fees are around € 300−500. Secondly, to obtain a visa you need to open a blocked account and deposit at least € 12,096 per year at the time of writing this article (March 2025). You’ll need to replenish it every year, and the required amount will only continue to grow.
And of course, housing, food, and insurance are also your responsibility — around € 1,000 per month. Although with a student visa you can work 20 hours a week, and such a salary might even be enough, you won’t be working in your field and will have to combine work with studies. That means classes in the morning and work in the evening — in such a rhythm, burnout comes quickly.
What You Need for Admission
A regular 11-year school diploma is not enough. Citizens of CIS countries need either to study at a specialized preparatory department for foreign applicants at German universities (Studienkolleg) or complete one year of university studies in their home country. This is because German school students study for 13 years, which creates a difference in educational levels during admission.
A preparatory college (Studienkolleg) is a division of a university where applicants compensate for differences in educational systems, study German, and adapt to life in Germany.
To study at a Studienkolleg, you need a B1 level of German confirmed by one of the following certificates:
Goethe Zertifikat B1 or higher
Telc Zertifikat B1 or higher
ÖSD Zertifikat B1 or higher
TestDaF Zertifikat with at least 3333
DSD Zertifikat I or higher
For admission to a university, language requirements rise to C1, confirmed by one of these certificates:
TestDaF Zertifikat with at least 4444
telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule Zertifikat
DSD Zertifikat II
DSH Zertifikat II
Don’t forget about the motivation letter, the full package of documents, and entrance exams. The latter are usually held for admission to Studienkolleg or creative specialties.
At the same time, there are programs in public universities where almost anyone can enroll, while others have competitive admission quotas.
Briefly About the Pros and Cons
+ Full EU higher education degree + Opens the path to science and research + Education is cheaper than in many Western countries + Visa for 3−6 months with extension inside Germany + Student transportation pass for free travel
— A blocked account with € 12,000 every year — An 11-year school diploma alone is not enough — High language proficiency requirements — Housing, food, and insurance expenses: around € 1,000 per month — A long path toward employment in your specialty and stable income — You can only work up to 20 hours per week
Not as simple and affordable as it sounds, right? However, there is another path…
Option 2: Dual Vocational Training System (Ausbildung) — A Worthy Alternative “With a Salary”
Now let’s talk about that very opportunity to study in Germany for free while earning money at the same time.
The "Ausbildung" program is Germany’s dual education system, perfectly combining theory and practice. Imagine not just studying, but immediately immersing yourself in real work, receiving a salary, and building a career at leading German companies.
What You Get:
Free education and a European diploma
A salary during studies from € 900 to € 1,300 per month. And if it exceeds € 927 — you do NOT need a blocked account.
Half of your health insurance paid by the company
Paid vacation
Social benefits and sometimes housing assistance
Employment opportunities after the program
A visa valid for one year with easy annual extensions, without worrying about saving money for a blocked account
Requirements: Minimum German level B1, willingness to study, and a school diploma.
❗️Just don’t confuse it with the school-level "Ausbildung" program — make sure you choose the dual vocational version.
How It Works
You alternate between classes at a vocational school (Berufsschule) and practical training at a company. For example, I had 3 weeks of studying and 3 weeks of practical work. This allowed me to integrate into the profession immediately and gain invaluable experience in the German healthcare system.
By the way, I studied to become a Medical Laboratory Technologist (MTL). And I can confidently say that working in German healthcare is not limited to being a doctor. I talked about other professions in this stable and prestigious field in a Telegram post.
The beauty of this dual system is that it gives you not just a diploma, as often happens with standard university education, but real skills and even the first lines on your resume!
I shared my personal study experience in detail in this YouTube video, where I also calculated how much I realistically earned and spent during the process.
What You Can Study
The program offers more than 330 fields: from sales and technical specialties to art history, floristry, IT, and even aviation.
For example, Mercedes-Benz offers the following specialties:
Mechatronics Technician (Mechatroniker) — specialist in maintaining high-tech systems in modern vehicles.
Salary during training: € 950−1,200/month After graduation: from € 2,500 to € 4,000/month
Automotive Sales Manager (Automobilkaufmann) — expert in sales and customer service in the automotive sector.
Salary during training: € 900−1,100/month After graduation: from € 2,300 to € 3,800/month
Body and Vehicle Construction Mechanic (Karosserie- und Fahrzeugbaumechaniker) — professional in body repair and restoration.
Salary during training: € 940−1,200/month After graduation: from € 2,400 to € 4,000/month
And for creative people, I left examples from the fashion industry in a post on my Telegram channel!
Why Is This Path Rarely Discussed?!
In reality, choosing the right specialty is extremely important because several conditions must be met at once:
✅ Salary of at least € 927 according to embassy visa requirements ✅ Real accessibility of the program for foreigners ✅ Career growth potential so you don’t end up stuck after graduation
I often saw people waste an entire year sending hundreds of applications to the "wrong" specialties with lower funding. They received study and employment contracts, everything was almost ready… But the visa was denied!
Frustrating? Very. But not everyone is ready to dig that deeply into the details of the program…
This is not just a list — it’s the result of collaboration with German HR specialists and analysis of contracts from people I’ve already helped relocate. You won’t find this information publicly available anywhere else.
Yes, over the past 6 years many of my friends and hundreds of clients have also fulfilled their dream of studying in Germany. With careful guidance from me and my team ;)
"Our" students now work at leading companies in the country: from innovative medical clinics to technological giants like BMW, Siemens, and Bosch.
And we’re happy to share this experience — let our guide save you months of searching and protect you from mistakes when choosing a specialty.
Pros and Cons of the Dual Vocational Training System (Ausbildung)
+European diploma +Completely free education +No blocked account with thousands of euros required +Visa and legal residence status during studies +Opportunity to extend the visa for another 12 months to search for work +A school diploma and B1 language level are enough +Health insurance and housing assistance from the company +Immediate work experience and resume-building +Salary up to € 1,200, increasing each year +Faster path to permanent residency and citizenship
— You need to search for the right specialty and company — Housing and food expenses are usually your responsibility, though these are basic needs not covered in standard education either
What do you think about these conditions? I recorded a step-by-step guide so you can understand whether this option suits you and where to start.
5 Steps Toward Free Education and Life in Germany
In this YouTube video I shared my tips on where to search for training positions, how to apply, and how to prepare documents that HR specialists will definitely notice.
I also shared the story of my client Daria, for whom we increased the funding offered by the company in order to obtain a visa.
We clearly demonstrate that nothing is impossible!
From my own experience, I know that learning a language is much easier when you are already immersed in the language environment. Especially when language courses are provided completely free of charge!
On my social media platforms YouTube, Instagram* and Telegram I regularly share updates about the most affordable ways to relocate to and study in Germany. Subscribe and learn how to get a free consultation!
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