Dual studies in Germany: how Duales Studium works

Duales Studium is a higher education format in Germany in which studying at a Hochschule or Berufsakademie is combined with working in a company. The student receives an academic qualification, usually a Bachelor’s degree, and at the same time gains practical experience. In some programs, the degree is supplemented by a recognized professional qualification.

How Duales Studium differs from Ausbildung

Duales Studium is often confused with Ausbildung because both formats include practical work with an employer. The difference is in the goal and the level of education.

Format	What you get in the end	Where training takes place	Who it suits
Ausbildung	A professional qualification	A company and a Berufsschule	People who want to enter a profession faster without an academic program
Duales Studium	An academic degree, usually a Bachelor’s; sometimes also a professional qualification	A company and a Hochschule/Berufsakademie	People who want to combine higher education, practical experience, and an early start in the labor market

In Duales Studium, a student does not simply do an internship during the holidays. The practical part is built into the program, and a separate contract is usually signed with the company.

What kinds of programs exist

DAAD distinguishes several models of dual study:

Ausbildungsintegrierend: studies are combined with recognized vocational training. In the end, you can receive both an academic degree and a professional qualification.
Praxisintegrierend: theoretical semesters alternate with practical phases in a company, but there may be no separate recognized Ausbildung qualification.
Berufsintegrierend: an option for people who already work and combine employment with further academic study.

For applicants from abroad, the first two models are usually the most relevant, but the conditions depend heavily on the specific program and employer.

How the course is organized

The schedule can vary. A common option is a block system: for several weeks or months, the student studies at the university, then moves to a practical phase in the company. In other programs, university days and work days alternate within the same week.

Usually, the student has to meet the requirements of two sides at once:

pass exams and project work at the Hochschule;
carry out work tasks in the company;
follow the schedule, vacation rules, and internal employer procedures;
maintain academic performance, because weak results can affect whether the contract continues.

Because of this, the workload is higher than in a traditional full-time Bachelor’s program.

German language and admission

Most dual programs in Germany are designed for German. For international students, good German is one of the main requirements, because you need not only to attend lectures, but also to go through interviews, work in a team, and communicate with clients or colleagues.

In practice, level B2 or C1 is often required, but the exact minimum is set by the specific program, university, and company. English-language dual programs do exist, but they are fewer in number, so relying only on English is risky.

Where to look for programs

You should search in two directions at once: through universities and through employers. Useful sources include:

Hochschulkompass for searching programs at German universities;
AusbildungPlus for dual programs and partner companies;
the websites of large employers with sections such as Karriere, Duales Studium, or Ausbildung;
Hochschule pages listing partner companies and admission requirements.

The process is similar to a job search: you need a CV, a motivation letter, educational documents, a language certificate, and interview preparation.

Money: salary, tuition, and expenses

A major advantage of Duales Studium is that the student usually receives payment from the company. But there is no universal amount: the salary depends on the industry, region, study year, collective agreement, and employer. Old ranges such as 600-1400 euros per month can be used only as a rough historical reference, not as a guarantee.

Before signing the contract, you should clarify:

the amount of the monthly payment for each study year;
whether the company pays tuition or semester fees;
whether there is an obligation to work for the company after graduation;
what happens if the student changes programs or terminates the contract;
whether transport, study materials, exam fees, or housing are covered.

Some private Hochschulen charge tuition fees. Employers often cover them fully or partially, but this should be stated directly in the contract.

Visa and blocked account

For citizens of non-EU countries, the visa issue must be checked separately. If the program is treated as study in Germany, you usually have to prove that you have enough funds to live on. Make it in Germany lists several ways to prove financing: a Sperrkonto, a scholarship, or a Verpflichtungserklärung. The exact minimum amount has to be checked before applying, because visa benchmarks change.

Salary from Duales Studium may help prove funding, but it does not automatically cancel visa requirements. The consulate or Ausländerbehörde evaluates the specific contract, the amount of payments, and the type of program. Because of that, saying that “you can enroll without a blocked account” is too risky: sometimes it is possible, but not as a general rule.

Advantages of Duales Studium

You gain practical experience already during your studies.
There is regular pay from the company.
The employer often helps with study-related costs.
After graduation, the chance of staying with the company or finding a job more quickly is higher.
It suits people who do not want a purely theoretical university track.

Disadvantages and risks

High workload: studies and work run in parallel.
Admission is harder, because you have to convince both the university and the employer.
German is required at a working level.
The choice of fields is narrower than at a regular university: engineering, IT, business, social work, healthcare, and applied fields are especially common.
The contract may contain clauses about repaying part of the costs or mandatory work after graduation.

Who dual studies suit

Duales Studium is well suited to people who want practice-oriented education, are ready for an intensive schedule, and already have a rough idea of their professional direction. It is not the best option for someone who first wants to explore different academic fields freely or plans a purely research-oriented career.

Before applying, it is worth checking three things: whether your German is strong enough, whether the specific profession suits you, and whether the financial terms of the contract are clear. If at least one point is unclear, it is better to compare Duales Studium with a traditional Bachelor’s program and Ausbildung.

FAQ

Can you apply to Duales Studium with only English?

Sometimes yes, but there are fewer such programs. For most options, German is required because the practical part takes place in a German company.

Is Duales Studium always free?

No. Employers often cover tuition or semester fees, but that depends on the contract. The payment terms must be checked before signing.

Is a student’s salary enough to live in Germany?

Sometimes it is enough partly or almost completely, but that depends on the city, rent, insurance, and the company’s payment. For a visa, what matters is not an assumption but officially documented financing.

Do you have to stay with the employer after graduation?

Not always. Some contracts contain obligations after graduation or repayment clauses. You need to read that in the contract before signing.