Moving to Berlin as a Language Student
Every year, thousands of newcomers arrive in Berlin to study German. Berlin is full of high-quality language schools – their intensive courses are a perfect way to boost your German language skills while also improving your chances on the Berlin job market.
But there are a number of key steps you must complete to successfully move to Germany as a language student. Find out how below…
Language Visa
If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, you will need a German Language Visa in order to attend a language course in Berlin. The visa permits you to live in Berlin for up to 1 year while enrolled in an intensive German language course.
To help you with your Language Visa application, we have put together some step-by-step visa guides:
Language Schools
To obtain a German Language Visa, you must first be enrolled in an intensive language course in Berlin. Here are some German language schools that we have had positive experiences with:
Health Insurance
Health insurance is mandatory for everyone living in Germany, including for language students. You also need suitable insurance to apply for a Language Visa for Germany.
Thankfully, there is a great health insurance option for language students in the form of Feather’s Expat Health Insurance. To read more about why this insurance cover is suitable, see our German health insurance guide.
Accommodation
As a language student, you may not want or be able to commit to a long-term lease in Berlin. But you will of course still need a roof over your head while studying.
Smartments are a perfect accommodation provider for language students looking for a short-term place to live. They have 3 Berlin locations in Prenzlauer Berg, Karlshorst and City-West.
For further tips on finding an apartment in Berlin, including longer-term options, see our Berlin Apartment Hunting Guide.
Banking
On arrival in a new country, it is essential that you can easily access your money while steering clear of costly bank fees, poor exchange rates and slow international transfers.
For language students, our favourite choice is a Wise borderless account. Through Wise, you can manage 40 currencies in your account and transfer between them in seconds, a valuable service for newcomers in Germany.
For alternative options, see our Banking Guide for Germany.
Personal Liability Insurance
While it is an ‘optional’ insurance, the majority of residents in Germany consider personal liability insurance to be a necessity. And for good reason. In Germany, accidents and mishaps can result in severe financial consequences in the event you cause injury or damage to a third party.
For under €5 a month, you can get the liability cover you need from GETSAFE, a reliable and expat-friendly insurance provider.
To find out more about the importance of personal liability insurance in Germany, see here.