In my last newsletter, we talked about something that doesn’t get discussed enough:
Just because a university is being recommended to you doesn’t mean you should automatically trust the recommendation.
If you’re an Indian student planning to study in Germany, you should be able to independently answer:
Is this institution recognised?
Is my degree legitimate?
Is this specific programme accredited?
And you don’t need to be an education expert to find out.
You just need to know where to look.
Here are the three websites I would check.
Hochschulkompass is the Higher Education Compass of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK).
It provides information on German state-funded and state-recognised higher education institutions and their degree programmes. The information is provided and updated by the universities themselves. (Hochschulkompass)
Go to Hochschulkompass → Higher Education Institutions
Search for the university you’re considering.
You can also search for the specific degree programme.
Does the institution appear in the database?
If yes → good first sign.
If you can’t find it → don’t panic, but investigate further.
Don’t immediately conclude that the university is fake. There can be differences in how institutions are listed.
But this is your signal to dig deeper.
You’re not relying on:
❌ Instagram
❌ A consultancy
❌ Google reviews
❌ An education agent
❌ The university’s own marketing
You’re checking a source maintained by Germany’s higher education system.
This one is particularly important when you’re trying to understand recognition.
Anabin is the database of the German Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) and provides information about foreign higher education institutions and qualifications.
For institutions listed there, you’ll see classifications such as:
Generally recognised as a higher education institution.
Recognition can depend on additional conditions.
The institution is not recognised in Germany.
Anabin’s own guidance explains that institutions recognised in Germany are generally marked H+, while some are marked H+/- where additional criteria may apply. (Anabin)
Go to:
Institutionen → Suchen nach Institutionen
Then:
Select the country
Search the university name
Open the institution’s record
Check its status
Don’t just Google:
“Is XYZ university H+?”
Go to Anabin yourself.
And don’t assume that finding a university somewhere online automatically tells you everything about the recognition of a particular qualification.
Now we move from:
“Is this institution recognised?”
to:
“What about the programme I’m actually paying for?”
This is where ELIAS, the public database of the German Accreditation Council, becomes useful.
The database publishes accreditation results for degree programmes and higher education institutions. (Stiftung Akkreditierungsrat)
The German Accreditation Council explains that programme accreditation applies to Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes offered by state or state-recognised higher education institutions. (Stiftung Akkreditierungsrat)
Search for:
University + exact programme name
Don’t just search:
“University X”
Search:
“University X – MSc Digital Transformation”
or whatever the exact programme is.
Look at:
Accreditation status
Accreditation period
Conditions, if any
Exact programme
Institution offering the programme
This matters because checking the university alone isn’t enough.
Imagine a consultancy tells you:
“This private university in Germany is excellent for international students. You should apply immediately.”
Instead of saying yes, take 10–15 minutes.
Search the institution.
Found it?
✅ Continue.
❌ Investigate why it isn’t appearing.
Search the institution.
Check the classification.
H+?
Good.
H+/-?
Read the conditions carefully.
H-?
🚨 Stop and investigate before proceeding.
Search the exact programme.
Check its accreditation status and validity.
NOW go back to the university website.
Compare what they’re claiming with what you’ve found through the official sources.
For example:
University website says: “Accredited Master’s programme.”
You should be able to independently verify that claim.
Many students start their research like this:
Instagram → Consultancy → University website → Apply
I want you to reverse it.
Try:
Official database → Recognition → Accreditation → University website → Alumni → Career outcomes → Apply
That’s a completely different approach.
This is important.
Private does NOT automatically mean unrecognised.
Germany has private higher education institutions that are officially recognised by the state. Hochschulkompass explicitly includes state-recognised private institutions in its higher education landscape. (Hochschulkompass)
So please don’t turn this into:
“Never study at a private university.”
That’s not the point.
The point is:
Don’t pay for a university just because someone recommended it.
Verify it.
Here’s the question I would ask:
“Do you receive any commission or financial incentive if I enrol at this university?”
If the answer is yes, that doesn’t automatically mean the university is bad.
But now you know there is a commercial relationship.
And you should compare that recommendation against alternatives.
Ask:
“Why THIS university?”
“What are the alternatives?”
“Why is this programme better for my profile?”
“Can you show me the official recognition/accreditation?”
“Who awards my degree?”
A good consultant should be able to answer these questions.
Before paying your application fee, do this:
① Hochschulkompass
☐ Is the institution listed?
☐ Is the programme listed?
② Anabin
☐ Is the institution recognised?
☐ What is its classification?
③ ELIAS
☐ Is the specific programme accredited?
☐ Is the accreditation current?
④ University website
☐ Does its information match the official databases?
☐ Who actually awards the degree?
⑤ Career research
☐ Where are alumni working?
☐ What companies hire graduates?
☐ Does this degree actually fit your career goal?
⑥ Consultancy
☐ Do they receive a commission?
☐ Did they show you alternatives?
☐ Can they explain why this university is right for YOU?
Not mine.
Not a consultancy’s.
Not an influencer’s.
Not your friend’s.
Use recommendations as a starting point.
Then verify everything yourself.
Because you’re not just choosing a university.
You’re choosing where you’ll spend your money, your time, and potentially the next several years of your life.
Hochschulkompass → Anabin → ELIAS → University → Alumni → Career outcomes
And if you’re planning to study in Germany, save this newsletter before you start applying.
I’ll keep sharing practical, no-fluff guides for Indian students planning their education and career in Europe. 🌍
The databases and recognition frameworks can change, so always verify the current status directly on the official websites before making an application or financial decision.
👉 Want to ensure your application stands out to European universities? Book a 1:1 call with me for study abroad and scholarship support 💼 📑
Additionally, we’ve started offering comprehensive assistance for studying in Europe for the Summer Semester 2027 and . Please fill out this form, and let’s begin your journey to Europe. 🚀: Fill out this form
Excited to see your application shine!
Your career’s best friend
Sheenam
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