Bachelor in Software Engineering in Germany for International Students
German universities of applied sciences are highly famed for their Bachelor in Software Engineering degrees. Their curriculum is designed in a way to include academics as well as vocational training. The training provides students with a wide range of technical competencies in the areas of software system analysis, design, testing, etc. Many international students, therefore, choose Germany as their preferred destination to study software engineering.
In addition to being a forerunner in education, the country is a leader in IT. Germany is one of the world’s biggest markets for information and communications technology (ICT). As per the official website of the International Trade Administration, it is the largest software market in Europe. As of 2022, there are ~1,124 million individuals employed by 95,808 IT (hardware and software) enterprises in Germany. The key players are Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, Dell, IBM, SAP, and Oracle. These businesses hire a sizable number of software engineers, thus their demand is consistently high in Germany.
Highlights: Bachelor in Software Engineering in Germany
| Degree type | B.Sc. or B.Eng. |
| Duration | 3 to 3.5 years |
| Medium of teaching | English |
| Annual fees in Euros | 1,128 to 15,750 |
| Average salary of software engineers in Germany | 55,442 Euros/year (Pay Scale) |
Popular German universities for Bachelor in Software Engineering
German universities utilize a number of teaching methods including classes, practicals, and group work. Students also get access to internships and real-life business projects in a range of leading companies while pursuing a bachelor’s in Software Engineering. German education thus produces industry professionals rather than just average graduates.
Although 201 bachelor’s programs are listed under the “software engineering” category of MY GUIDE, the number of English-taught programs is significantly low. The following is a list of popular Bachelor in Software Engineering programs offered by German universities in English.
| University Name | Course Name | Degree Type | Duration (years) |
| CODE University of Applied Sciences | Software Engineering | B.Sc. | 3 |
| University of Europe for Applied Sciences | Software Engineering | B.Sc. | 3 |
| Software Engineering (dual) | B.Sc. | 3.5 | |
| XU Exponential University of Applied Sciences | Coding and Software Engineering | B.Sc. | 3 |
| GISMA Business School | Software Engineering | B.Eng. | 3 |
| IU International University of Applied Sciences | Software Development | B.Sc. | 3 to 6 (depending on the mode of study) |
| Lancaster University Leipzig | Software Engineering | B.Sc. | 3 |
| SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences | Web Development | B.Sc. | 3.5 |
Gyanberry represents a few of the colleges indicated in the table above. Contact us for more details on their Bachelor of Software Engineering programs.
Tuition fees for Bachelor in Software Engineering in Germany
| University Name | Course Name | Tuition Fees (Euros/year) |
| CODE University of Applied Sciences | Software Engineering | 10,922 |
| University of Europe for Applied Sciences | Software Engineering | 12,100 |
| Software Engineering (dual) | 8,280 | |
| XU Exponential University of Applied Sciences | Coding and Software Engineering | 9,540 |
| GISMA Business School | Software Engineering | 10,500 |
| IU International University of Applied Sciences | Software Development (taught online) | 1,128 |
| Lancaster University Leipzig | Software Engineering | 15,750 |
| SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences | Web Development | 9,000 |
Living expenses in Germany for international students
The average living expenses in Germany is 861 Euros per month which is equivalent to around 10,332 Euros per year. A breakdown of living costs provided by DAAD statistics is as follows
| Particulars | Cost in euros/month |
| Rent | 350 |
| Food | 154 |
| Utilities | 32 |
| Transportation | 116 |
| Health insurance | 96 |
| Personal expenses | 113 |
Eligibility for Bachelor in Software Engineering in Germany
According to German law, you can start pursuing an undergraduate degree at a Germany university only if you meet the admission requirements. This includes completing high school in 13 years as opposed to 12 in other areas. By enrolling in a prerequisite course called Studienkolleg, the additional one-year requirement can be satisfied. The general eligibility for Bachelor in Software Engineering program at any German university is as follows
- General university entrance qualification (Abitur) or equivalent
- English proficiency: B2 level, IELTS 5.5, or equivalent
- Valid passport
- Official transcripts
- Motivational letter
In addition to this, international students also need a visa to study in Germany. You can apply for a visa once you receive an offer letter from the university. You can contact the German embassy or consulate in your home country for a German visa application. Gyanberry too offers visa services to over 20 countries including Germany.
Career scope after Bachelor in Software Engineering in Germany
Germany has the fourth-largest industrial base in the world. It boasts extensive networks of large IT organizations and startups that frequently have openings for software engineers. Therefore, many software engineering graduates prefer to stay in Germany after graduation for work purposes. To be able to find a job after graduation students should apply for a residence permit which allows them to stay in Germany for 18 months after graduation.
According to pay scale statistics, software engineers in Germany make an average of 55,442 Euros per year. If you are a true IT/software expert, bonuses and other compensation might bring this total up to six figures with a few years of experience.
With a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering degree, you can be hired as
- Software engineer
- Applications developer
- Cyber security analyst
- Data analyst
- Data scientist
- Information systems manager
- IT consultant
- Game developer
- Machine learning engineer
- Multimedia programmer
- Web developer
- Web designer
- Automation engineers
Germany is also famous for promoting good-work life balance policies. As per the OECD, only 3.9% of employees in Germany work very long hours at paid work. Full-time workers usually devote 65% of their day on average, or 15.6 hours, to personal care and leisure, which is slightly higher than the OECD average of 15 hours. That means software engineers in Germany have a good work-life balance as opposed to other countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.
