Study in Germany tuition-free — earn while you learn

Choose your pathway

Pathway 1 — Vocational training in Germany

Requirements

• Aged 18 to 28
• High-school graduate (or vocational, college, university)
• Good health; for nursing, no infectious diseases or hepatitis A, B, C
• German B1 or B2 depending on the field and employer

Benefits

• 100% tuition-free training
• Trainee pay €1,000–1,350/month, rising each year depending on the field
• Part-time work at around €10–12/hour
• Stable employment after graduation at around €3,000–3,500/month
• After about 2 years of work, bring your spouse and children once you meet income and housing requirements; children receive German child benefit
• Apply for permanent residence and citizenship once eligible under German law

Step by step

In Vietnam

1. Learn German from A1 to B1 in about 8–10 months
2. At A2.2: personality analysis and career guidance
3. With B1: interview with German employers for a training contract
4. With a contract: visa application and departure

In Germany

5. Complete German B2 in 3–6 months, depending on the training start (March/April or August/September)
6. Start vocational training — learn and earn

Costs

• All-inclusive VND 225,000,000: German A1, A2, B1 and B1 exam prep in Vietnam; certified translations; interview and soft-skills coaching; contract paperwork for the German Embassy visa; international travel insurance; support in Germany during language and vocational training; enrolment and immigration-office formalities
• Paid in 3 instalments: VND 55 million on signing · 75 million after A2.1 · 95 million after the visa
• Free retake if you don't pass B1
• Blocked account (your own money for living costs in Germany): at least about €1,091/month for the B2 period — e.g. 4 months = €4,364. The amount follows current German rules
• Optional hostel while studying German in Vietnam: about VND 1.2–1.5 million/month plus utilities of about VND 300,000/month

Pathway 2 — Nursing qualification recognition

For graduates or final-year students of nursing colleges and universities in Vietnam. You study German B1, B2 and nursing content in Vietnam, so you start working and earning as soon as you arrive in Germany.

Work areas: nursing homes, operating theatres, intensive care, paediatrics, rehabilitation, neurology and more.

Requirements

• Aged 20 to 35, good health, no criminal record
• Nursing college or university graduate, or final-year student
• German B1

Benefits

• Free B2 course in Germany, no proof of funds required
• Pay of about €2,700/month (gross) during B2
• Free 6–12 months of specialised training in Germany, depending on your Vietnamese degree
• On completion: recognised nursing qualification in Germany and pay of about €3,000–3,500/month
• Insurance and benefits like German employees
• After 24 months of work, bring your spouse and children; apply for residence, permanent settlement and citizenship once eligible

Costs

• Recognition fee: €8,000 (may be lower at times), with a 100% loan
• 3 instalments: €2,000 · €3,000 · the rest when the visa is issued
• Once you have the visa, the amount paid is refunded and the loan is repaid from your monthly salary in Germany

The 100% loan applies only to current students and graduates of nursing colleges and universities, not to the 3-year vocational pathway.

Application process

1. Register and submit the student list to Germany to request cost support
2. Once approved: join a German class
3. Send your diploma to Germany for partial recognition
4. With B1: receive language and practical-training contracts and book a visa appointment within about a week
5. Visa processing takes about 8–45 days

Why Germany

Germany is Europe's largest economy and one of the safest, most liveable countries in the world. With a fast-ageing population it faces a severe shortage of workers, especially nurses and elderly-care staff, so many paid vocational programmes are open to young people from abroad. German nursing standards are widely recognised across Europe and beyond.

Challenges to prepare for

• A long and demanding journey, especially while learning the language
• Living far from home with a new language, culture, food and weather
• A different pace of life and work culture

Salaries (gross), costs and rules above are for reference and may change by field, employer and German regulations. An advisor will give you the latest information for your situation.