Field guide · Study

Private universities in Germany: check before you pay, and what to do in a dispute

Written by the RechtX team · Reviewed by Hassan Omran · Last checked 6 November 2026

Quick answer

Before you pay a private university in Germany, check three things: that a German state has recognised it, that your programme is accredited, and that its admission will get you a student visa. If you are already studying and have a dispute, put everything in writing, request all your data, and complain to the state ministry that recognised the university. If the ministry does not act, petition the state parliament. Fee and contract disputes go to the civil courts. Exam decisions and exmatriculation (being removed from the university) have their own short deadlines.

Run the 60-second check I have a dispute
A student holding a study contract next to a laptop
31-minute readLast checked 6 November 2026Official sources
Start with your situation
I haven'copy paid yetMy visa was refusedI have a disputeI'm being exmatriculated

On this page

  1. 01Before you pay: the 60-second check
  2. 02Key facts
  3. 03Part 1: Check the university before you pay
  4. 04Part 2: What to do in a dispute
  5. 05Part 3: Where to complain in five states
  6. 06Frequently asked questions

Before you pay: the 60-second check

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If one box stays empty, stop and check before you pay anything.

Key facts

  • 13%

    Private universities are a big part of German higher education: in winter semester 2023/24, 372,887 students (13% of all students) were enrolled at one, and the Higher Education Compass lists 110 private universities (CHE).

  • State recognition

    A private university can only award recognised German degrees if a German state has recognised it ("staatlich anerkannte Hochschule").

  • Student visa

    A student visa requires admission to a state university, a state-recognised university or a comparable institution (§ 16b AufenthG).

  • Your data

    You have the right to a free copy of your personal data, including your exam scripts and examiners' comments.

  • €10,000

    Since 1 January 2026, the local court (Amtsgericht) handles money claims up to €10,000.

Chapter 01

Part 1: Check the university before you pay

A person seen from behind walking towards a modern university building

Check 1: Is it state-recognised?

Germany has state universities and private ones.

Read more

A private university needs recognition from the higher education ministry of a German state. In Brandenburg, for example, only recognised institutions may call themselves a university, hold university exams and award degrees. Recognition can be time-limited and come with conditions, and ministries can order regular expert reviews of a recognised university. Ministries can also withdraw a recognition in certain cases.

How to check:

  • Search for the university on Hochschulkompass, the official database of the German Rectors' Conference. It only lists state and state-recognised universities, so if a university is missing, be careful.
  • Look at the university's website and Impressum (the legal notice German websites must publish). A recognised university says which state recognised it. If it does not say, ask in writing for the recognition decision and the name of the ministry.
  • If in doubt, email the ministry of that state and ask whether the institution is recognised. The table in Part 3 lists five of them.

Each state grants and withdraws recognition itself, and there is no national register of withdrawals. Hochschulkompass only lists recognised universities, but updates can take time. Some states publish their own list, for example Berlin's list of state-recognised private universities. The only definitive answer comes from the ministry: before you pay, ask it in writing whether the university is currently recognised (emails in Part 3). The German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) has also accredited private universities on behalf of the states since 2001. Ask the university whether, and when, it was accredited by the Wissenschaftsrat.

Check 2: Is your programme accredited?

Recognition covers the university.

Read more

Your degree programme should also be accredited. Search for the university and your exact programme in the Akkreditierungsrat database of the German Accreditation Council. "Internationally accredited" by an organisation you cannot find there is not the same thing.

If your programme is not in the list, check the list of accredited universities. A university listed there has system accreditation: its quality system is approved, so it accredits its own programmes and they count as accredited. Neither list replaces state recognition (Check 1). An end date ("Akkreditiert bis") is normal: universities apply to renew before it. If the date has passed and the database shows no new date and no ongoing renewal ("laufendes Verfahren"), ask the university in writing about your programme's status.

Check 3: Is the degree from a foreign university?

Some institutions in Germany teach programmes that lead to a degree from a university abroad.

Read more

Universities recognised in another EU country or the UK can run branches in Berlin, for example, after notifying the Berlin Senate department. Find out exactly which university awards your degree. For a foreign university, check its status in anabin, the database of the Central Office for Foreign Education: "H+" means the university as an institution is recognised in Germany, and "H+/-" means further checks may be needed. anabin rates the university, not the programme taught in Germany, so also ask in writing for proof that your programme is recognised in the university's home country.

If you plan to work in your home country later, check before you enrol how it recognises this degree.

Check 4: Will you really study on campus?

A student residence permit is for full-time study, and your stay in Germany must be needed for it.

Read more

Programmes that are mostly online, with optional attendance, are now a real risk. By 25 January 2026, Berlin's immigration office had held 665 hearings on this, issued just under 200 refusals and faced 173 court challenges (Berlin Senate). Courts disagree: one Berlin chamber ruled against a mostly online degree in November 2025, another took a softer view in March 2026, and higher courts have not settled the question (overview). Before you enrol, ask the university in writing how much on-campus attendance is compulsory, and keep the answer. If your permit is refused, the deadline to act is short, so get legal advice at once.

Why this decides your visa

A German residence permit for study is issued for full-time study at a state university, a state-recognised university or a comparable institution, after you have been admitted (§ 16b AufenthG).

Read more

If the institution does not qualify, expect your visa to be refused, and you may lose what you already paid. Before you pay, also check the refund rules in the contract for the case that your visa is refused.

You also need proof that you can cover your living costs, usually a blocked account: in 2026, €992 a month or €11,904 for a year. See our blocked account guide and calculator.

Red flags of a fake or dubious "university"

  • It is not listed on Hochschulkompass and cannot show a recognition decision from a German state ministry.
  • It is "accredited" by a body you cannot find in the Akkreditierungsrat database.
  • It promises a guaranteed visa, guaranteed admission or a "100% visa success rate".
  • It wants the full fee before you have an admission letter and a written contract, or asks you to pay into an agent's or a private person's account.
  • It calls itself an "academy", "institute" or "business school" and avoids the words "state-recognised university".
  • It offers a degree in a few months, "credits for life experience" or a degree without real study. Using a degree title from such a provider in Germany can be a criminal offence: unauthorised use of academic degrees carries up to one year in prison or a fine (§ 132a StGB).
  • The website has no Impressum, or the company named there is not the university.
  • It pushes you with deadlines and discounts that "end today".
  • Most teaching is online and attending classes on campus is optional.

Not every private university is a problem. Many are recognised and teach well. These checks take little time and can protect a large amount of money.

If you use an education agent

Agents are often paid a commission by the universities they recommend. Ask in writing whether your agent earns money from the university they suggest.

Read more
  • Do not rely on the agent's word about recognition or accreditation. Do the checks above yourself.
  • Pay tuition only into the university's own bank account named in your contract, never into an agent's account.
  • Get every promise in writing: scholarships, discounts, refunds, visa support. Spoken promises are hard to prove later.
  • No agent can guarantee a visa. Only the German embassy or consulate decides.

What to check in the study contract

How and when you can cancel, and the notice period

Read more
  • Whether the contract renews automatically
  • What you pay during a leave semester
  • Which payments are non-refundable, such as a deposit or registration fee
  • What you still owe if you stop studying or are exmatriculated
  • What you get back if your visa is refused
Chapter 02

Part 2: What to do in a dispute

Typical disputes are about fees and refunds, cancelling the contract, exams and grades, accusations of plagiarism or cheating, exmatriculation, and how your personal data is handled. Your relationship with a private university usually rests on a private study contract, plus its exam regulations (Prüfungsordnung). Read both before you act.

Printed letters, an envelope and a pen on a desk
  1. 01

    Step 1: Put it in writing, and watch the deadlines

    Write to the university by email and keep copies. Describe what happened, with dates, and say what you want: a refund, a re-marking, a decision reversed or an explanation.

    Read more
    • Use the internal routes first if they exist: the examination board (Prüfungsausschuss) for exams, the complaints office or ombudsperson for other problems.
    • Check every letter you receive for a deadline. If a decision includes information on how to challenge it (Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung), it tells you where and by when, often within one month. If you miss it, the decision can become final.
    • If you dispute a fee, ask for advice before you stop paying. Unpaid fees are a common reason for exmatriculation. Paying "under reservation" (unter Vorbehalt) can protect your place while you dispute the amount. This means you pay, but say in writing that you do not accept the amount.
  2. 02

    Step 2: Ask for all your data

    Under the GDPR, you can ask the university for a copy of all personal data it holds about you (Art. 15 GDPR).

    Read more

    The first copy is free, and the university must reply within one month. It can extend this by two more months for complex requests, but must tell you why.

    This includes your exam work. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled that a candidate's written answers and the examiner's comments are the candidate's personal data (CJEU, Nowak, C-434/16). Germany's Federal Administrative Court confirmed that candidates can get a free, complete copy of their exam papers and examiners' reports (BVerwG 6 C 10.21). The data often shows how a decision was made, and you need it before you complain anywhere else.

    Letter 1: data access request (send by email and keep the sent copy)Fill in
    Subject: Request for access to my personal data (Art. 15 GDPR)

Dear Sir or Madam,

Under Article 15 GDPR, I request access to all personal data you hold about me and a copy of this data (Art. 15(3) GDPR).

This includes in particular: my student file; my exam scripts with the examiners' comments and marks; emails, notes and minutes that concern me; all decisions and notices about my enrolment and exams, including any planned or completed exmatriculation; and the recipients to whom my data was disclosed.

Please reply within one month (Art. 12(3) GDPR).

Name: 
Date of birth: 
Student number: 
Address: 

Date, signature
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    If data about you is wrong, you can ask for it to be corrected. If the university does not answer, or refuses without a good reason, you can complain to a data protection authority (Step 5).

  3. 03

    Step 3: Complain to the ministry that recognised the university

    The higher education ministry of the state that recognised the university grants that recognition and checks it over time.

    Read more

    A complaint there is free. The ministry usually cannot change your grade, cancel your contract or order a refund. It can look at whether the university meets its legal duties and the conditions of its recognition, and complaints from several students carry weight.

    How to submit your complaint:

    1. Find out which state recognised the university. The university's website or Impressum says so, and Hochschulkompass shows it too.
    2. Write your complaint using Letter 2 below. German authorities work in German, so write in German if you can, or add a short German summary. A translation tool is fine.
    3. Send it to the ministry in the table below, by email or contact form, with your documents attached as PDFs. Keep a copy of everything you send.
    4. Ask for a confirmation of receipt and a file number (Aktenzeichen).
    5. If you hear nothing within four to six weeks, send a short reminder with the date of your complaint and the file number. Article 17 of the Basic Law gives you the right to have your complaint examined and answered (Art. 17 GG), so you can add: "Nach Art. 17 GG habe ich Anspruch darauf, dass meine Beschwerde geprüft und beantwortet wird."
    6. If the problem happened at a campus in another state, send a copy to that state's ministry too.
    7. If the ministry still does not answer, or does not deal with your complaint, petition the state parliament (Step 4).

    Students who had the same problem can complain together. A complaint to the ministry does not stop any deadline at the university, so keep following the university's procedures at the same time.

    Letter 2: complaint to the ministry (fill in the brackets)Fill in
    Betreff: Beschwerde über die [Name der Hochschule], Standort [Stadt]

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

ich studiere [Studiengang] an der [Name der Hochschule], Standort [Stadt], Matrikelnummer [Nummer]. Ich bitte Sie, den folgenden Sachverhalt im Rahmen Ihrer Zuständigkeit für die staatliche Anerkennung der Hochschule zu prüfen.

1. Sachverhalt: [what happened, with dates]
2. Bisherige Schritte: [your complaint to the university and its answer]
3. Meine Bitte: [what you ask the ministry to check]

Bitte bestätigen Sie den Eingang und teilen Sie mir das Aktenzeichen mit.

Anlagen: [contract, emails, decisions, receipts]

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
[name, address, email]

    Opens your own email app. Check the text, attach your documents and press Send. RechtX does not save or send your details.

    Where to send it:

    • Berlin
      Send to
      Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit und Pflege, Abteilungen Wissenschaft und Forschung
      Email or form
      Vorzimmer.V@SenWGP.Berlin.de
      Postal address
      Warschauer Straße 41-42, 10243 Berlin
    • Brandenburg
      Send to
      Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kultur (MWFK), unit for higher education law and non-state universities
      Email or form
      poststelle@mwfk.brandenburg.de
      Postal address
      Dortustraße 36, 14467 Potsdam
    • Hamburg
      Send to
      Behörde für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Gleichstellung (BWFG)
      Email or form
      info@bwfg.hamburg.de
      Postal address
      Hamburger Straße 37, 22083 Hamburg
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      Send to
      Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft (MKW)
      Email or form
      poststelle@mkw.nrw.de
      Postal address
      Völklinger Straße 49, 40221 Düsseldorf
    • Hesse
      Send to
      Hessisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung, Kunst und Kultur (HMWK), unit for private universities (Referat II 5 A)
      Email or form
      poststelle@hmwk.hessen.de
      Postal address
      Postfach 32 60, 65022 Wiesbaden

    Contact details checked on 5 November 2026. Authorities sometimes change names or addresses, so check the website before you send. Berlin is forming a new state government after the September 2026 election, so the name of its department may change soon.

  4. 04

    Step 4: If the ministry does not answer, petition the state parliament

    If the ministry ignores your complaint and your reminder, or answers without dealing with it, take it to the parliament of the same state.

    Read more

    Every state parliament has a petitions committee (Petitionsausschuss). In Hamburg it is called the Eingabenausschuss, and a petition is called an "Eingabe".

    • Anyone can petition, whatever their nationality, alone or together with other students. It is free.
    • You do not need supporters. The committee examines every petition, even from one person. A campaign on a private petition website is not the same thing and is not guaranteed to reach the parliament.
    • No one may be put at a disadvantage for sending a petition.

    What the committee can do:

    • Ask the ministry for a written statement and look at its files.
    • Press the ministry to take a decision it has failed to take, and recommend what it should do.
    • Tell you the result in writing.

    What it cannot do:

    • Give the ministry orders. It can only recommend.
    • Decide your contract or fee dispute with the university. That is a dispute between private parties, so your petition must be about how the ministry handled your complaint.
    • Review court decisions.
    • Stop or extend any deadline. Keep following the university's procedures and any legal deadlines at the same time.

    How to petition:

    1. Send it to the parliament of the state whose ministry you complained to. A complaint about another state's ministry goes to that state's parliament.
    2. Use the online form or a signed letter (table below). Of these five states, only Hesse also accepts petitions by email. Brandenburg says a plain email is not enough.
    3. In Berlin and Hesse, the online form sends you an email with a confirmation link. Your petition only goes through after you click it. In Hesse, the link expires after 30 days.
    4. Write in German if you can, using Letter 3. Name the ministry, the dates of your complaint and reminder, and the file number, and say what you want the parliament to do.
    5. Attach copies of your complaint, your reminder and any answer, and give your name and postal address.
    6. Expect it to take several months. Hesse says about four to six months.
    Letter 3: petition to the state parliament (fill in the brackets)Fill in
    Betreff: Petition wegen meiner Beschwerde vom [Datum], Aktenzeichen [Aktenzeichen, falls vorhanden]

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

hiermit reiche ich eine Petition ein.

1. Meine Beschwerde: Am [Datum] habe ich mich mit einer Beschwerde über die [Name der Hochschule], Standort [Stadt], an folgende Stelle gewandt: [Name des Ministeriums]. Es geht um: [short description of what happened].
2. Bisheriger Verlauf: Am [Datum] habe ich nachgefragt. Bis heute habe ich [keine Antwort (no answer) / keine Antwort zur Sache (no answer on the substance)] erhalten.
3. Meine Bitte: Bitte wirken Sie darauf hin, dass meine Beschwerde im Rahmen der Zuständigkeit für die staatliche Anerkennung der Hochschule geprüft und beantwortet wird.

Anlagen: Beschwerde vom [Datum], Erinnerung vom [Datum], [Antwort, weitere Unterlagen]

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
[Name, Anschrift, E-Mail]
[Unterschrift, wenn Sie einen Brief senden]

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    Where to petition:

    • Berlin
      Petitions committee
      Petitionsausschuss des Abgeordnetenhauses
      By letter (signed)
      Abgeordnetenhaus von Berlin, Petitionsausschuss, Margot-Friedländer-Platz, 10117 Berlin
    • Brandenburg
      Petitions committee
      Petitionsausschuss des Landtages Brandenburg
      By letter (signed)
      Landtag Brandenburg, Petitionsausschuss, Alter Markt 1, 14467 Potsdam
    • Hamburg
      Petitions committee
      Eingabenausschuss der Hamburgischen Bürgerschaft
      By letter (signed)
      Hamburgische Bürgerschaft, Eingabendienst, Alter Wall 38, 20457 Hamburg
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      Petitions committee
      Petitionsausschuss des Landtags Nordrhein-Westfalen
      By letter (signed)
      Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen, Petitionsausschuss, Platz des Landtags 1, 40221 Düsseldorf
    • Hesse
      Petitions committee
      Petitionsausschuss des Hessischen Landtages
      Online
      Online petition form or email petitionen@ltg.hessen.de
      By letter (signed)
      Hessischer Landtag, Petitionsausschuss, Schlossplatz 1-3, 65183 Wiesbaden

    Checked on 6 November 2026. Check the parliament's website before you send.

  5. 05

    Step 5: Complain to a data protection authority

    If the university ignores or refuses your data request, shares your data without a reason, or handles it carelessly, you can complain to a data protection authority for free (Art. 77 GDPR).

    Read more

    You can complain in the state where you live, and the authorities pass the case on if needed. Attach your request, the date you sent it and any answer.

  6. 06

    Step 6: Get consumer help or mediation

    The Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre) in your state offers low-cost advice on contracts, cancellations and refunds.

    Read more
    • If you signed the contract online or by email, you may have a 14-day right of withdrawal as a consumer. Check the withdrawal notice (Widerrufsbelehrung) in your contract and get advice quickly.
    • The federal consumer conciliation body (Universalschlichtungsstelle des Bundes) handles disputes from consumer contracts worth €10 to €50,000. The university does not have to agree beforehand, but it can decline within three weeks (§ 30 VSBG). Its proposal is not binding, and you can still go to court.

    Public universities often have a student union (AStA) with free legal advice. Many private universities do not, so use the Verbraucherzentrale or a lawyer.

  7. 07

    Step 7: Go to court if needed

    Fees, refunds and the study contract: these go to the civil courts. Since 1 January 2026, the local court (Amtsgericht) handles claims up to €10,000 (IHK Schwerin), and you can act there without a lawyer.

    Read more
    • Exams, grades and exmatriculation: follow the route and deadline stated in the decision. Depending on the state and the decision, this can be an objection to the university or a claim at a court. Get legal advice early.
    • Urgent cases, such as being blocked from an exam or an exmatriculation that ends your residence permit: a lawyer can ask the court for an urgent interim order (einstweiliger Rechtsschutz).
    • Low income: you can apply for legal advice aid (Beratungshilfe), usually at the local court. Hamburg has public legal advice instead, and Berlin offers both. Help with court costs (Prozesskostenhilfe) is applied for at the court that hears your case.

Refund after a visa refusal

If your visa is refused, ask for your money back in writing straight away, and attach the refusal letter.

Read more

What you get back depends on your contract and the university's refund rules, so quote them. If the university refuses or does not answer, use the steps above: consumer advice, mediation and, if needed, the local court.

Letter 4: refund request after a visa refusalFill in
Subject: Refund request after visa refusal, [your name], application number [number]

Dear Sir or Madam,

On [date], I paid [amount] to [university] for [programme], starting [semester]. On [date], the German embassy or consulate in [city] refused my student visa. The refusal letter is attached.

Under [clause or section] of my contract and your refund rules, I request a refund of [amount] to the account I paid from: [IBAN, account holder].

Please confirm the refund in writing by [date, two weeks from today].

Name: [your name]
Date of birth: 
Application number: [number]
Email: 

Attachments: contract or offer letter, payment receipt, visa refusal letter
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Exams, grades and accusations of cheating

Ask to see your exam file and the marking. Your exam regulations usually set out how to request a review or re-marking, and by when.

Read more
  • If you are accused of plagiarism or cheating, ask in writing for the exact accusation and the evidence, such as the plagiarism report, before you respond. Answer in writing, stick to facts, and keep copies.
  • Do not ignore any deadline while you wait for documents. Write that you are waiting for your data and ask for more time.
Letter 5: request to review an exam gradeFill in
Subject: Request for review of my grade, [module], exam date [date]

Dear examination board,

I request a review of my grade in [module], exam date [date], under [section] of the examination regulations.

My reasons: [specific points, for example: my answer to question 3 was not marked; the marking criteria were not applied; the points were added up wrongly].

Please also send me a copy of my exam script and the examiner's comments (Art. 15 GDPR).

Name: 
Student number: 
Programme: 
Email:
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Exmatriculation and your residence permit

If you study on a student residence permit, exmatriculation can remove the legal basis for your stay (City of Munich).

Read more

You must tell the foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) within two weeks of learning that your studies ended early (§ 82(6) AufenthG). Contact the foreigners authority as soon as exmatriculation is threatened, not after it happens, and ask what your options are, such as changing to another university. Bring proof that you are disputing the decision.

Discrimination

If you are treated worse because of your ethnic origin, the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) protects you in study contracts too (§ 19 AGG).

Read more

For other grounds, such as religion, gender, disability, age or sexual identity, the protection in private contracts is narrower. Deadlines are short, so contact the advice service of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency quickly.

Chapter 03

Part 3: Where to complain in five states

The responsible ministry is the one of the state that recognised the university. The university's website, its Impressum or Hochschulkompass tells you which state that is.

A quiet street of old office buildings in a German city in the morning
Choose a state

To petition a state parliament, use the table in Step 4.

Example: a university based in Berlin with a campus in Potsdam

  • The university is recognised by Berlin, so your main complaint goes to the Berlin Senate department.
  • If the problem happened at the Potsdam campus, send a copy to the Brandenburg ministry (MWFK), which is responsible for higher education in Brandenburg.
  • If the Berlin department does not act, petition the Berlin parliament (Abgeordnetenhaus). The Brandenburg parliament handles complaints about Brandenburg authorities, such as the MWFK.
  • For data protection, complain to the Berlin commissioner, where the university has its seat. If you live in Brandenburg, you can also complain to the Brandenburg authority, which passes the case on.

It works the other way round too. A university based in Potsdam is recognised by Brandenburg, so your main complaint goes to the MWFK. Universities recognised in another state must notify the Berlin Senate department before they open a branch in Berlin, so copy the Berlin department if the problem happened at the Berlin campus.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if a private university in Germany is real?

Check that it is listed on Hochschulkompass as state-recognised, that your programme is in the Akkreditierungsrat database, and, for a degree from a foreign university, that the university has the status H+ in anabin.

Can I get a student visa for any private university?

No. A student residence permit requires admission to a state university, a state-recognised university or a comparable institution. Check recognition before you pay.

Can I get a student visa for an online or hybrid programme?

Usually not if the programme is mostly online. The student permit is for full-time study that needs you to be in Germany. Berlin has refused permits in such cases, and courts are divided. Ask the university in writing how much attendance is compulsory before you enrol.

Can the ministry change my grade or refund my fees?

Usually not. The ministry checks whether the university meets its legal duties and the conditions of its recognition. For grades, use the exam procedure and the legal route stated in the decision. For money, use mediation or the civil courts.

What can I do if the ministry does not answer my complaint?

Send a reminder with your file number. If you still get no answer, petition the parliament of the same state. Anyone can do this, whatever their nationality, and it is free. The petitions committee can ask the ministry for a statement and recommend that it act, but it cannot decide your contract dispute with the university, and a petition does not stop any deadline.

Can I get a copy of my exam papers?

Yes. Your answers and the examiner's comments are your personal data, and you can ask for a free copy under Article 15 GDPR.

What happens to my residence permit if I am exmatriculated?

Exmatriculation can remove the basis of your student residence permit. You must report it to the foreigners authority within two weeks. Ideally, talk to them before it happens and ask about your options.

Is a degree from a foreign university's campus in Germany valid?

It is a foreign degree. It counts only if a recognised university awards it for a programme that is recognised in that university's home country. Check the university in anabin (status H+), ask in writing for proof that your programme is recognised at home, and confirm with the German embassy or consulate that the institution qualifies for a student visa.

My university will not refund my fees after a visa refusal. What can I do?

Send a written refund request with the refusal letter and the refund clause from your contract (Letter 4). If that fails, get advice from the Verbraucherzentrale, try the federal consumer conciliation body, and for up to €10,000 you can go to the local court without a lawyer.

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This guide is general information, not individual legal advice. For a dispute about your exams, exmatriculation or residence, talk to a lawyer early, because deadlines can be short.