Can I apply for a master's in Germany from Nigeria or Ghana with my bachelor's degree?
Short answer
DAAD Ghana says a bachelor's degree from an accredited Ghanaian institution lets you apply for postgraduate study in Germany. For Nigeria we found no official master's rule on the uni-assist and German Missions pages we checked. uni-assist does list the documents it wants from Nigerian applicants who studied at a university.
On this page
Can I apply from Ghana? What DAAD Ghana says
The DAAD Regional Office in Accra says a bachelor's degree from an accredited Ghanaian institution enables you to apply for postgraduate studies in Germany. That is permission to apply, not an offer. The same page says meeting every formal requirement does not guarantee a place, because each application is judged on its own.
On language, DAAD Ghana says German skills are usually only required if the course is taught fully or partly in German. For courses taught fully in English, it says you must show TOEFL or IELTS scores.
- If your whole bachelor's degree and secondary school were in English, DAAD Ghana says you may still be asked for proof of English. It adds that a letter confirming English proficiency will suffice in most cases, in place of test scores.
- GRE or GMAT scores may be asked for. DAAD Ghana calls them usually an advantage, and not a strict requirement in most cases.
- Germany grades from 1.0 (best) to 4.0 (lowest pass). DAAD Ghana says the German system differs from GPA or CWA and points to a grade calculator on its page.
Sources for this part1
Can I apply from Nigeria? What we found
We did not find an official Nigeria-specific master's rule on the uni-assist Nigeria page or the Missions anabin page we checked. DAAD advises asking the International Office of the university you want about its requirements.
What uni-assist does say for Nigeria is about your documents. If you studied at a university, you submit your official transcript of records. It must carry the university's stamp and be signed by the registrar.
Send the grading system for your programme and your year of graduation with it. uni-assist says that must show the classification of degrees, the highest possible mark and the lowest pass mark for a bachelor's degree. Often this is on the back of the transcript or in student handbooks and course guides, it says.
Sources for this part2
What should I check on the university's own page?
DAAD says that to find out what to submit, you ask the International Office of the university you want. Its general document list includes certified copies of your previous degree certificates and of any language certificates, plus an overview of your subjects and grades with an official translation.
DAAD Ghana says German universities do not apply through one central platform. Some want paper copies, some use their own portal, and a number accept applications through uni-assist.
The Lagos and Abuja missions add one more check. Look up both your university and your degree in anabin (the German database that gives information on how foreign educational certificates are assessed). The Missions say the search must cover both. If you can't find your university or degree there, they say you must go through a certificate evaluation at the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
When are the deadlines for a master's in Germany?
DAAD gives these windows for most German higher education institutions. For the winter semester (starting September or October), applications open in early May and close on 15 July. For the summer semester (starting March or April), they run from early December to 15 January.
DAAD says private universities may have other deadlines, so check with the university you apply to.
Sources for this part3
Reading the answer is the easy part. Say it out loud.
The officer will ask about this. Answer in your own words, then read what your answer missed. Your first practice interview is free.
Practise saying it out loudPeople also ask
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL for an English-taught master's in Germany?
DAAD Ghana says yes for courses taught fully in English. If your whole bachelor's and school years were in English, it says a letter confirming English proficiency will suffice in most cases, though you may still be asked for proof. 1
Do I need to speak German for a master's in Germany?
DAAD Ghana says German skills are usually only required if the course is taught fully or partly in German. 1
What does uni-assist want from Nigerian applicants who studied at a university?
Your official transcript of records with the university's stamp and the registrar's signature, plus the grading system for your programme and graduation year. The grading system must show the highest possible mark and the lowest pass mark for a bachelor's degree. 2
Does meeting the requirements mean I will get a place?
No. DAAD Ghana says meeting all formal admission requirements does not guarantee a place, and every application is evaluated individually. 1
Sources
- 1Admission RequirementsOfficialDAAD Regional Office Accra (DAAD Ghana) · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 2Details country: NigeriaOfficialuni-assist · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 3Application processOfficialDAAD · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 4Degree recognition through the ANABIN DatabaseOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 29 Oct 2026
Official is the embassy or a German government page. Applicant reports are what applicants say happened at their appointment. Secondary is everything else we checked.
General information, not legal advice. VisaRoom isn't connected to any embassy or government, and only the embassy decides on your visa. Something out of date? Tell us.