Summary of information about self-funded vocational study in Germany

Self-funded vocational study in Germany is becoming the choice of many young people not only because of the opportunity to study and work in a developed country but also because of the practical training program and salary support during the study process. To prepare well for this journey, you need to clearly understand the admission conditions, necessary costs and related procedures. In this article, SHD Academy will provide detailed information about self-funded vocational study in Germany, helping you have an overview and plan proactively and effectively.

>> Reference:

• Summary of German vocational scholarships 2025
• Should I study vocational training in Germany? The truth about vocational training in Germany
• What is life like in Germany? Daily life habits of Germans.

Conditions for self-funded vocational study in Germany

According to the latest regulations on visa application procedures for vocational training in Germany of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Vietnam, students participating in vocational training programs in Germany need to meet the following requirements: condition vocational training in Germany as follows:

• Male and female, 18 to 30 years old.
• High school graduate.
• German language certificate from B1 or higher. 
• Good health, no infectious diseases such as hepatitis A, B, C; no HIV infection; no disabilities.
• Good morality, no criminal records and criminal records.
• Successfully signed a work contract with a company in Germany according to the major. 

Note: Each different training major will have some additional requirements to suit the nature of the job. You can see detailed information at Website of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany to understand the requirements for the major you have chosen.

>> Reference: Summary of the highest paying occupations in Germany 2025

Cost of self-funded vocational study in Germany 

For self-funded vocational training in Germany, you do not need to pay tuition fees because the German Government has a policy of free training for international students. However, you still have to pay for other fees such as:

Cost of learning German

The cost of learning German from elementary level to B1 standard at German training centers today usually fluctuates around 30,000,000 - 35,000,000 VND/course in 9 months. If you do not know where to learn German effectively, you can register to study at Shd Education – The German language training center belongs to the SHD ecosystem with a streamlined scientific roadmap to help students quickly achieve B1 certificate from 9 to 12 months. Below is the detailed German language learning roadmap and tuition fees of the courses at German language center SHD Education that you can refer to:

• A1 level course: 9,500,000 VND (50 sessions/course; 3 hours/session, equivalent to 10 weeks)
• A2 level course: 10,500,000 VND (50 sessions/course; 3 hours/session, equivalent to 10 weeks)
• B1 level course: 11,500,000 VND (60 sessions/course; 3 hours/session, equivalent to 12 weeks)

After completing the course, students need to register for a German language certificate exam, the most popular being Goethe and TELC certificates. The exam fee for each type of certificate and the exam center will be different. Typically, TELC has a fee of about 5,000,000 - 6,500,000 VND for the 4 skills of Listening - Speaking - Reading - Writing and 4,000,000 VND for Speaking or Listening - Reading - Writing skills. 

Note: Exam fees German language certificates The above is for reference only and is correct at the time of statistics for this article.

Not only focusing on language teaching, SHD Academy also organizes cultural exchanges and experiences to help students gain a deeper understanding of German culture. 

In addition, during the A1 German course, SHD Academy also organizes career orientation sessions to advise students on study programs and careers. From the A2 level, students will receive support from the center to practice visa interviews with experts, helping students improve their confidence and increase their chances of passing the German vocational study visa. 

Especially near the end of the B1 course, SHD Academy also creates conditions for students to participate in direct interviews with partners in Germany. This helps students get familiar with the interview process, grasp frequently asked questions and increase the opportunity to sign a labor contract with a German company.

>> Reference: TOP 7 best German learning software and applications 2025

Visa application and processing fees

Application fees and Apply for a German vocational study visa Self-sufficiency includes:

• Application fee: About 600,000 – 700,000 VND, including notarization, translation, admission application, insurance contracts, labor contracts and other related documents.
• Visa application fee: The German vocational training visa fee in 2025 of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Vietnam is 75 Euro (about 2,000,000 VND), paid in VND at the current exchange rate.

>> Reference: All about health insurance in Germany for international students

Airfare to Germany

The cost of a flight ticket from Vietnam to Germany usually ranges from 15,000,000 VND - 25,000,000 VND for a one-way ticket, depending on the airline and flight time. 

Admission time of vocational schools in Germany usually takes place in 2 times: April or September, depending on the study program. Therefore, you can proactively book tickets early to take advantage of cheap tickets, helping to save costs when studying vocational training in Germany on your own.

Monthly living expenses

This is one of the biggest expenses that you need to calculate carefully before deciding to study in Germany on your own. Average monthly living costs in Germany for international students will fluctuate around 600 – 900 Euros (about 15,000,000 – 23,000,000 VND). However, this cost can vary depending on the spending level of each individual, the city or state where you live. Below are details of basic expenses in Germany:

• Rent: About 300 – 500 Euro/month. 
• Food: About 150 – 200 Euro/month.
• Transportation: You can buy a monthly pass for public transport for around 49 Euro/month.
• Compulsory health insurance: About 80 – 100 Euro/month.

>> Reference: Total cost of vocational study in Germany latest 2025

Steps to prepare documents for self-funded vocational study in Germany

For those of you participating German vocational study abroad program If you go through the centers, you don’t need to worry too much about this issue. However, for those who plan to study vocational training in Germany on their own, you need to have a specific plan and understand each step of preparing the following documents:

Step 1: Find out information about the school and choose a major

With the German vocational education system, there are more than 300 vocational schools and training in a variety of different professions such as nursing, construction, mechatronics, manufacturing, automotive engineering, etc. Therefore, before going to Germany to study a profession, you need to carefully research information about the school such as training programs, internship salaries or job opportunities after graduation, etc. 

This information can be easily found on the school’s official website or study abroad forums and social media groups. In addition, you should also research and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each profession to be able to choose the major that best suits your strengths and personal interests. 

To better understand the majors and career opportunities, please refer to the list of vocational study majors in Germany that are popular with many international students to make the most suitable choice.

• Culinary industry
• Automotive engineering
• Electrical and electronic industry
• Mechatronics industry
• Construction industry
• Dental assistant industry
• Nursing industry

>> Reference: TOP 9 prestigious, free vocational training schools in Germany 2025

Step 2: Learn German and take the TELC B1 certificate exam

German is one of the important factors that help international students quickly integrate into the new environment and expand job opportunities in Germany. Before starting your self-funded vocational study abroad journey in Germany, you need to take German courses at reputable language centers and take the exam to get the TELC B1 certificate.

>> Reference: Is learning German difficult? How long does it take to achieve a certificate B1

Step 3: Prepare documents for application for vocational contract

Once you have a German language certificate, the next step is to prepare a job contract application including the following documents:

• German language learning contract
• Lease agreement
• Practice contract
• Application letter
• Apprenticeship contract

In addition, you also need to prepare some personal documents such as:

• Resume
• Citizen identification card
• Civil certificate from local government agency of residence
• Degrees such as high school, college or university diplomas
• German language certificate at least level B1
• Application for vocational training according to the form of vocational school in Germany

Step 4: Translate documents as required

Types of documents in the application file German vocational training contract need to be translated into German as required by schools and authorities in Germany. To ensure accuracy and avoid errors, you should go to professional translation centers. 

Step 5: Submit your application online to the school you want to attend

Next, you submit your application online to the school you want to attend and wait for feedback from the school. 

Step 6: Open a blocked account and prove financial resources

Before going to Germany to study a profession, you need to open a business. blocked account to prove that your financial ability is sufficient to cover living expenses during your studies in Germany. However, according to German Government regulations, international students with an internship salary of over 929 Euro/month (after tax deduction) do not need to prove financial resources.

>> Reference: Does studying in Germany need financial proof?

Step 7: Apply for a German vocational study visa

The final step in the process German vocational study profile self-sufficient is to apply for a Visa. This is a relatively complicated visa application procedure, requiring you to fully prepare the required documents and Make an appointment with the German Embassy at least 12 weeks before your visa application date. In particular, the waiting time for approval of a German vocational study visa usually lasts from 8 to 12 weeks, so proactively preparing documents early will help the visa application process go more smoothly.

>> Reference: SHOULD I STUDY AT A VOCATIONAL COLLEGE IN GERMANY?

Benefits and difficulties of self-funded vocational study in Germany 

The benefits of self-funded vocational study in Germany include:

• Save on incidental costs: When you do your own application and procedures for vocational study in Germany, you will not have to pay service fees to consulting centers, helping to reduce initial costs.
• Flexibility in preparation: By applying for vocational study abroad yourself, you can proactively arrange your German language study schedule and necessary work to suit your personal situation without being pressured by the study time of the centers. 

Besides the above benefits, you will encounter some difficulties such as:

• Without support and guidance from the centers, you will have to learn and handle all the procedures yourself. This can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.
• Doing the application yourself can lead to mistakes, increasing the risk of visa refusal due to lack of experience and knowledge of complicated procedures.
• When you come to Germany, you need to solve all problems that arise in your studies and life without any guidance.
• Without support from Vietnamese centers or communities, you may feel lost and have difficulty integrating into your new environment.
• After graduation, you will have to find job opportunities on your own without support from companies or partner networks provided by the center. 

>> Reference: TOP 10 most prestigious German vocational study centers today

Comprehensive vocational study abroad program in Germany with SHD Academy 

Vocational study route in Germany in SHD Academy is systematically built to accompany and comprehensively support students, from the first stage to the completion of the training program, including the following steps:

• Step 1: Orientation consultation: Provide specific advice to each student on costs and study abroad itinerary. At the same time, suggest majors based on abilities, personal interests and labor market trends in Germany.
• Step 2: Learn German B1 and international integration skills: Students participate in a high-quality German course, achieving B1 level in just 9 months. In addition, SHD Education also organizes German cultural exchange sessions to help students prepare well before going to Germany.
• Step 3: Interview and sign contract with German business: After obtaining the B1 German certificate, students will directly meet and interview with leading prestigious businesses in Germany. If successful, students will sign a labor contract before going to Germany.
• Step 4: Complete the application for a German vocational study visa: With a student visa approval rate of up to 99%, SHD Academy confidently commits to supporting students in the process of preparing visa application documents, ensuring to meet all requirements from the consulate.
• Step 5: Departure to Germany: After receiving a German vocational study visa, students have about 10 days to complete the necessary procedures and prepare for their departure to Germany. As soon as you arrive in Germany, SHD Academy's German partners will welcome and help you find accommodation. 
• Step 6: Participate in a dual training program in Germany: Students will study 30% theory and 70% practice at leading German companies for 3 - 3.5 years. During the study period in Germany, SHD Academy always accompanies students through direct visits and giving meaningful gifts. 
• Step 7: Graduation and settlement in Germany: After completing the German vocational training program, students will receive an internationally recognized degree, ensuring 100% job opportunities in countries around the world. After graduating and working for 2 consecutive years, students will have the opportunity to become naturalized and settle permanently in Germany.

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Self-funded vocational study in Germany A journey to conquer knowledge and build a career is exciting but also full of challenges. For this journey to go smoothly and successfully, young people need to be well prepared in terms of language, knowledge, psychology as well as perseverance and constant effort to overcome all difficulties. If you have any questions related to vocational training in Germany, please contact SHD Academy immediately via hotline 0336 760 276 for free consultation.