Top Nursing Degrees in Germany: Opportunities and Insights

Germany’s high demand for nurses ensures ample job opportunities in hospitals, elderly care homes, rehab centers, specialized clinics, and home care services. The German government has streamlined the visa process and recognizes foreign qualifications, making the transition efficient and welcoming for Indian talent.

Starting your nursing career in Germany comes with a promising salary. New nurses can earn around €28,000 annually, with public hospitals often paying a bit more than private clinics and care homes.

As you gain experience, your salary increases. Nurses with 1-4 years of experience typically earn about €2,500 per month, while those with 5-9 years can expect around €3,050 per month. Experienced nurses with specialized skills can earn between €4,000 and €5,000 monthly.

Your salary can vary based on where you work and your education level. For example, salaries are often higher in cities like Berlin, though living costs may also be higher. Public sector jobs usually offer better pay, job security, and benefits than the private sector. Moreover, having a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree can boost your earnings compared to holding a diploma.

How to become a nurse in Germany?

When you first arrive in Germany, you can’t start working as a nurse right away. You need a recognized nursing qualification, equivalent to German standards, usually a nursing degree or diploma. If you trained outside Germany, your qualifications must be evaluated and recognized by the German authorities to ensure they meet the required standards.

The “Anerkennung” process is essential for international nurses. You’ll need to submit detailed documentation of your nursing education, such as transcripts and certificates (like General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc Nursing)). Authorities will compare your qualifications with German standards. If there are gaps, you might need to take additional courses or exams. This process can vary depending on the federal state where you plan to work.

Having professional experience greatly improves your chances of getting a nursing job in Germany. While exact requirements can vary, having at least one to two years of work experience is often preferred. This shows your practical skills and ability to work in a healthcare setting. Additionally, it can make the recognition process of your foreign qualifications smoother, as practical experience is highly valued in the German healthcare system.

Top universities to apply for nursing in Germany

• University of Freiburg

The University of Freiburg, located in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, has an acceptance rate of 33%. It offers a Master of Science in Nursing Sciences, which is a 2-year program. The tuition fee for this course is ₹2.73 lakh per year (€3,000 per year), and applicants are required to have a TOEFL score of 100. The university is ranked 128th by THE in 2024 and 212th by QS in 2025.

• University of Bremen

The University of Bremen in Bremen, Germany, has an acceptance rate of 58%. It offers a Master of Science in Community Health Care and Nursing, a 2-year program. The living expenses for students are approximately ₹3.64 lakh per year (€3,996 per year). Applicants need a TOEFL score of 95 to be considered for admission. The university is ranked 301st by THE in 2024 and 592nd by QS in 2025.

• Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, located in Saxony, Germany, has a 56% acceptance rate. It offers a Master of Science in Health and Nursing Sciences, a 2-year program. The tuition fee is very affordable at ₹9.6K per year (€105 per year), with living expenses around ₹2.36 lakh per year (€2,597 per year). The university is ranked 671 by QS in 2025 and 601 by ARWU in 2022.

• Witten/Herdecke University

Witten/Herdecke University in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, has a 72% acceptance rate. It offers a Master of Nursing (M.N) program that requires an IELTS score of 6.5. The course lasts for 2 years, with a tuition fee of ₹17.72 lakh per year (€19,464 per year). The university is ranked 1444 by CWUR in 2022.

• University of Trier

The University of Trier, located in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, has a 60% acceptance rate. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Clinical, which is a 4-year program. The tuition fee is ₹27.3K per year (€300 per year), and applicants need a TOEFL score of 80. The university is ranked 1576 by CWUR in 2022.

• Osnabruck University

Osnabruck University in Lower Saxony, Germany, has an 80% acceptance rate. It offers a Master of Arts in Nursing Science – Teaching, a 2-year program with a tuition fee of ₹65.8K per year (€723 per year). Living expenses are around ₹5.7 lakh per year (€6,260 per year). Applicants need an IELTS score of 6.

• Esslingen University of Applied Sciences

Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, located in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, has a 95% acceptance rate. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a 3-year program. The tuition fee is ₹2.73 lakh per year (€3,000 per year), and living expenses are around ₹35.3K per year (€388 per year). Applicants need an IELTS score of 6.5.

• Fulda University of Applied Sciences

Fulda University of Applied Sciences in Hesse, Germany, has a 70% acceptance rate. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a 3-year program with a tuition fee of ₹54.6K per year (€600 per year). Living expenses are approximately ₹16.7K per year (€183 per year). Applicants need an IELTS score of 5.5.

• Kempten University of Applied Sciences

Kempten University of Applied Sciences, located in Bavaria, Germany, has a 23% acceptance rate. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Geriatric Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Nursing, a 3-year program with a tuition fee of ₹18.6K per year (€204 per year). Applicants need an IELTS score of 5.5.

Muenster University of Applied Sciences

Muenster University of Applied Sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, has a 15% acceptance rate. It offers a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing Care and Public Health, a 3-year program. The tuition fee is ₹62.5K per year (€686 per year), and applicants need a TOEFL score of 72.

• Regensburg University of Applied Sciences

Located in Bavaria, Germany, Regensburg University of Applied Sciences has a 42% acceptance rate. It offers a Master of Science in Advanced Nursing Practice, which is a 1-year program. The tuition fee is ₹91K per year (€1,000 per year), and applicants need a TOEFL score of 85.

• Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences

Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences, also in Bavaria, Germany, offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The program lasts 4 years, and the tuition fee is ₹15.5K per year (€170 per year). Applicants need an IELTS score of 6.5.

• Saarland University of Applied Sciences

Situated in Saarbrucken, Saarland, Germany, Saarland University of Applied Sciences has a 35% acceptance rate. It offers a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Expertise in Nursing, a 3-year program. The tuition fee is ₹33K per year (€362 per year), with living expenses around ₹22.2K per year (€244 per year). Applicants need a TOEFL score of 107.

• City University of Applied Sciences

City University of Applied Sciences in Bremen, Germany, has a 30% acceptance rate. It offers a Bachelor of Science in International Nursing, a 4-year program with a tuition fee of ₹34.6K per year (€380 per year) and living expenses of approximately ₹4.24 lakh per year (€4,662 per year). Applicants need a TOEFL score of 57.

Scholarship to become a nurse in Germany

This is an overview of various scholarships and grants available for students in Germany:

• Zeppelin University (Friedrichshafen, Germany): The ZU Scholarship offers a merit-based grant of $1,000. The application deadline is September 1, 2024.
• The Smooth Movers Scholarships: This merit-based grant provides €861 but doesn’t have a specified deadline. Check the eligibility criteria for more details.
• University of Stuttgart (Stuttgart, Germany): They offer a merit-based grant of €300. The deadline to apply is not specified.
• The Deutschlandstipendium: This merit-based grant of €300 is offered by the German government. The deadline is also not specified.
• Freie Universität Berlin (Berlin, Germany): The Deutschlandstipendium Scholarship provides €3,000 and has no application deadline.
• Arden University Berlin (Berlin, Germany): The Merit Scholarship for Undergraduate Programmes offers €1,000. Details on the deadline are not specified.
• DAAD Prize (Berlin International University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany): This merit-based grant provides €650, with a deadline of November 30, 2024.
• LMU Nothilfe (Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany): For students facing financial difficulties, this need-based grant offers €500. There’s no specified deadline.
• EU Mobility Programme for Myanmar: This need-based grant provides €500 with a deadline of November 30, 2024.
• RWTH Aachen University (Aachen, Germany): This merit-based grant offers €250 with a deadline of October 15, 2024.
• TU Darmstadt (Darmstadt, Germany): They offer various benefits through their scholarship program, with no specified deadline.
• Hertie School Berlin (Berlin, Germany): Partial scholarships are available based on need, with various benefits and no specified deadline.
• Christian Wulff Scholarship (Berlin International University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany): This merit-based scholarship offers various benefits, with a deadline of November 30, 2024.
• SRH Distance Learning University (Riedlingen, Germany): They provide various benefits based on need, with an application deadline of October 26, 2024.
• IU International University of Applied Sciences (Berlin, Germany): An independent provider offers a substantial grant of $40,000 with a deadline of March 25, 2025.
• Mary Doctor Fine Arts Scholarship (Blumenthal Performing Arts): This is a grant for fine arts, but details about the location and deadline are not available.