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Work in Germany

Large engineering, IT and industrial job market, essentially free public universities, and an unusually open job-seeking route (the Opportunity Card).

More about Germany

The real hurdles are German-language expectations outside IT and the need to have your SA degree formally recognised through anabin or ZAB.

See the 4 visa routesCompare countries

Degrees that travel best

12 of 23 fields rated 4 or 5

  1. 5 Computer Science & ITOpen door · shortage or priority list
  2. 5 Data Science & StatisticsOpen door · shortage or priority list
  3. 4 Natural SciencesOpen door
  4. 4 Agricultural ScienceOpen door
  5. 4 EngineeringExams or bridging · shortage or priority list
  6. 4 MedicineMajor requalification · shortage or priority list
  7. 4 NursingMajor requalification · shortage or priority list
  8. 4 PharmacyMajor requalification · shortage or priority list
Show all 23 fields
  1. 4 PhysiotherapyMajor requalification · shortage or priority list
  2. 4 Occupational TherapyMajor requalification · shortage or priority list
  3. 4 TeachingMajor requalification · shortage or priority list
  4. 4 Social WorkMajor requalification · shortage or priority list
  5. 3 Humanities (BA)Open door
  6. 3 Chartered AccountancyRecognised, paperwork only
  7. 3 Finance & EconomicsRecognised, paperwork only
  8. 3 Quantity SurveyingExams or bridging
  9. 3 Actuarial ScienceExams or bridging
  10. 3 ArchitectureMajor requalification
  11. 3 DentistryMajor requalification
  12. 3 Veterinary ScienceMajor requalification
  13. 3 PsychologyMajor requalification
  14. 2 Business ManagementExams or bridging
  15. 2 LawStarts over

Good to know

Working language
German usually needed; English workable in IT and research.
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A1 German or B2 English is the Opportunity Card minimum on the points route (Option 2); Option 1 (a fully recognised qualification) needs no proof of language skills.

For South African passport holders
South Africans need a visa for Germany.
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Short-stay Schengen visas are applied for via TLScontact centres in Bloemfontein, Centurion, Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). National visas for stays over 90 days, such as for study or work, are lodged in person at the German Embassy Pretoria (Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West) or the Consulate General Cape Town (Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape); skilled-worker and EU Blue Card applications can also be started online through the Consular Services Portal, with an interview in Pretoria or Cape Town. Germany's Working Holiday programme does NOT include South Africa. The practical gate is getting an SA degree recognised via anabin or ZAB.

Shortage list
Engpassberufe (shortage occupations), based on the Federal Employment Agency's Engpassanalyse
Blue Card shortage occupations named on the official portal include manufacturing, mining, construction and distribution managers; ICT service managers; professional services managers; academic STEM professionals; architecture, spatial planning and transport planning; doctors, vets, dentists and pharmacists; academic nursing and midwifery; and school and out-of-school teachers and educators.
Studying there instead
Public universities generally charge no tuition for bachelor's and most master's programmes, including for non-EU students.
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The exceptions: Baden-Wurttemberg charges non-EU students EUR 1,500 per semester, and Bavarian institutions may charge non-EU/EEA students fees that can reach several thousand euros per semester (each institution decides, so check the programme). All students pay a semester contribution of about EUR 70-430.

General information about published rules, not immigration advice; for an individual application use a licensed adviser in Germany. Researched 2026-10-07.