Hundreds of Indian students in Germany face visa risk: What went wrong

German authorities say IU Berlin's hybrid programmes do not meet full-time study rules, putting hundreds of Indian students at risk

Hundreds of Indian students enrolled at the International University (IU) of Applied Sciences in Berlin are facing visa cancellations and possible deportation after German authorities ruled that the university’s hybrid courses do not meet full-time study requirements. Euronews reported in December that for many students, the dream of studying in Germany has taken a sharp turn.

 

Deep Shambarkar, 25, from Maharashtra, told Euronews he moved to Berlin in July to pursue a master’s degree in business management. He enrolled at the private International University, commonly known as IU.

 

Shambarkar has already spent around €20,000 (Rs 21 lakh) on his education, a large amount for him, funded through a student loan from an Indian bank.

   

“I don’t think the university will pay me back,” he said. Others, he added, have already dropped out and are left carrying the costs. Instead of working on his master’s thesis, he is now dealing with immigration officials.

 

His student visa was due for extension in the summer. Then a yellow envelope arrived at his Berlin address. It was from the Berlin Immigration Office, or LEA, asking him to leave Germany by November 3 or face deportation.

 

Why are students being asked to leave?

 

“I think it’s because the university may not have had the right accreditation for its courses,” said Shambarkar.

 

In a similar case, another student had already lost in court. “They said that the appropriate infrastructure was lacking. There are too few professors at the university,” he said.

 

Shambarkar has filed an appeal but says his chances look slim.

 

Since March 2025, more students have received orders to leave Germany. Shambarkar said he is aware of around 300 such cases. According to him, authorities do not recognise IU’s programmes as face-to-face teaching.

 

The courses can be completed remotely. In his case, this meant studying from India. “We were promised a degree programme in Germany,” he said.

 

With more than 130,000 students, IU is among Germany’s largest universities. Around 4,500 of its students are Indian, making up more than one-fifth of its international student population.

 

Many of them, including Shambarkar, found the university through the Indian placement agency upGrad, according to Euronews.

 

The company helps students looking to study overseas. The model involves completing the first part of the course online from India, followed by relocation to Germany to finish the degree. Shambarkar completed his first semester online before moving to Berlin.  Note: UpGrad clarified that the learner (Shambarkar) referenced in the article remains an enrolled student at the university and has not been deported yet.   

 

What upGrad says about visa compliance

 

In a YouTube video shared on upGrad’s channel, Praneet Singh, AVP – University Partnerships at upGrad Study Abroad, said, without naming the university, “A private university in Berlin has recruited over 100,000 students over the last 10 to 12 years. A small fraction of these students are now at risk of losing their student status due to alleged policy breaches.”

 

“To understand this, it is important to know how the German student visa system works,” he said.

 

How the visa process works

 

Singh explained, “Students going to Germany — whether to a public or private university — enter on a national D-type visa. This visa is valid for one year. After completing that year, students must apply for a residence permit extension.

 

“These students have now completed their first year in Germany. At the end of that year, they are required to apply for an extension, which depends on six key factors.”

 

What authorities check during visa extension

 

Singh said the extension assessment is based on the following:

 

• 100% ECTS progress, or 30 ECTS per semester

• Funds for tuition fees and living expenses for the remaining course duration

• An enrolment certificate confirming full-time status with 80%+ attendance

• Valid health insurance

• Proof of residence

• Proof of income or financial capacity, including bank statements

 

He said the first requirement is proof of enrolment, confirming that the student is fully compliant and attending classes regularly, whether on a campus in Berlin or Munich. This includes meeting the academic requirement of 30 ECTS credits per semester.

 

The second is proof of financial means. Students must show a blocked account with the prescribed amount — €11,904 for each year of stay in Germany.

 

The third is proof of residence.

 

The fourth relates to part-time work. If a student is working, it must be legal, with a registered social security number and tax ID. This employment is monitored and tracked.

 

The fifth relates to overall financial sustainability. Students must show clearly how they are supporting themselves in Germany and where their money is coming from. This may include bank statements or proof of sufficient earnings to cover living expenses for the coming months, as long as the course continues.

 

“All six of these requirements must be met and presented to the immigration authorities for every student,” Singh said.

 

“In this case, a fraction of students were asked by immigration authorities to appear and submit these documents. It is important to note that, as of now, not a single student deportation has taken place,” Singh added.

 

“Students who remain in Germany after the first year move from the D-type visa to the Section 16B residence permit. Regardless of whether the institution is public or private, students are required to keep these six requirements in order to maintain their legal status,” he said in the video.