TOEFL iBT Requirements
TOEFL Score for Germany
TOEFL iBT is widely accepted for English-taught bachelor's and master's programs at German universities, most of which charge little to no tuition.
Quick answer
German universities running English-taught programs typically ask for a TOEFL total between 80 and 95, with some competitive master's programs setting the minimum closer to 90 or 100. Because most public German universities charge little or no tuition even for international students, English-taught master's degrees have become a major TOEFL use case, and applicants should check each program's exact minimum since Germany has no single national TOEFL standard.
Typical TOEFL iBT requirements for Germany
| Purpose | Typical TOEFL total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| English-taught bachelor's degree | 80-90 | Fewer programs available than at master's level |
| English-taught master's degree | 80-100 | The largest TOEFL use case in Germany |
| Technical university (TU) master's | 90-100 | Engineering and CS programs often at the higher end |
| PhD / doctoral admission | 90+ | Less standardized, supervisor and funding matter more |
| Student visa / residence permit | Set by university | Immigration relies on your admission letter, not a fixed score |
Approximate; verify with each institution.
Germany has become one of the most attractive study destinations in Europe, largely because most public universities charge little to no tuition, even for international students, while offering a rapidly growing number of English-taught bachelor's and especially master's programs. TOEFL iBT is broadly accepted across these English-taught programs as proof that an applicant can follow lectures, participate in seminars, and write academic papers in English, since German is not required for programs explicitly delivered in English. There is no single nationwide TOEFL requirement in Germany. Each university, and often each individual program within that university, sets its own minimum, so requirements can vary meaningfully even between two master's programs at the same institution depending on how discussion-heavy or writing-heavy the coursework is. This program-by-program variation is worth building into your application timeline, since comparing five similar-sounding master's programs can turn up five different TOEFL thresholds.
TOEFL Acceptance in Germany
TOEFL iBT is well established in Germany's English-taught program market because German universities, particularly the well-known Technische UniversitΓ€ten and research-focused institutions, attract large numbers of international applicants for STEM and business master's programs where TOEFL is the default or co-accepted proficiency test alongside IELTS Academic. Since German-taught programs are a separate track requiring German language certificates instead, TOEFL's relevance in Germany is concentrated specifically in the English-taught degree pathway, which has expanded significantly over the past decade as universities compete for international talent. Program pages typically list TOEFL and IELTS as interchangeable options with no institutional preference for one over the other, and the decision for applicants usually comes down to test format preference and local test center access rather than which test German admissions committees respect more. Because so many applicants come through centralized portals like uni-assist, TOEFL score reports are generally uploaded as a standard part of the digital application file rather than requiring any separate verification step.
Common Use Cases
English-taught undergraduate admission
TOEFL 80-90English-taught bachelor's programs in Germany, while less common than English-taught master's programs, typically ask for a TOEFL total in the 80 to 90 range. These programs are concentrated at a smaller number of universities and often combine core coursework with academic German language modules over the degree.
English-taught Master's admission
TOEFL 80-100This is the largest TOEFL use case in Germany. Most English-taught master's programs, especially in engineering, computer science, and business, set TOEFL minimums between 80 and 95, with some highly competitive or research-oriented programs at technical universities asking for 90 to 100 or above.
Doctoral / PhD admission
TOEFL 90+ as general guidanceGerman PhD admission is often less standardized around a fixed TOEFL number than at the master's level, since doctoral acceptance frequently depends more heavily on securing a supervisor and funding. Many programs still expect a TOEFL total broadly in line with the master's benchmark, around 90 or above, as informal evidence of readiness.
Student visa / residence permit support
Set by university, not by immigration authoritiesGermany's national student visa process does not set a fixed TOEFL number itself; instead, the university's admission letter, which already reflects that you met its TOEFL requirement, is the key document supporting your visa or residence permit application at the local German consulate or immigration office.
Score requirements vary by program and institution. Always verify current requirements directly with the institution before booking your test.
How to Plan Your Preparation
Search specifically for English-taught programs, since TOEFL is most relevant to that track in Germany, and confirm the exact TOEFL minimum on each program's own admissions page rather than assuming a university-wide standard applies.
Compare requirements across similar programs at multiple universities, since German master's program TOEFL minimums vary noticeably by field, with engineering and business programs sometimes setting different thresholds even within the same institution.
Budget time for both TOEFL preparation and Germany's separate application system, since many programs use uni-assist or direct university portals with their own deadlines that do not always align with when your TOEFL score becomes available.
Strengthen your Writing and Speaking sections in particular if targeting research-oriented technical universities, since German academic culture places real weight on precise, well-structured argumentation in both written and oral academic work.
Once admitted, keep your official admission letter and TOEFL score report organized together, since these are the documents you present to the German consulate for your visa, and if you are applying through uni-assist, upload your TOEFL score early since centralized portals can take several weeks to verify documents before forwarding your file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Compare TOEFL With Other Tests
TOEFL Scores for Other Countries
the USA
TOEFL iBT is the traditional home-turf English test for US university admission, and most American schools still list it alongside IELTS as an accepted option.
Canada
TOEFL iBT is widely accepted by Canadian universities for admission, but it generally cannot be used for Canadian immigration programs like Express Entry.
the UK
Many UK universities accept TOEFL iBT for direct admission, but student visa routes often require a specific UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test instead.
Australia
TOEFL iBT is accepted by Australian universities for admission and by the Department of Home Affairs as English evidence for the student visa.