You have your GCE A-Level, maybe your Bac, and you want to go to Germany. Sooner or later the question comes up: Ausbildung or university in Germany? Both lead to a German qualification and a residence permit, but they ask very different things of you. One pays you from the first month, the other requires money locked in a blocked account. One is hands-on, the other is academic. This comparison helps you choose based on your profile, your budget and your plans, without the sales talk. If you are simply wondering how to get to Germany for training, this is a good place to start.
Two paths, two ways of thinking
Ausbildung is vocational training. You sign a contract with a company, work there, and attend the Berufsschule (vocational school) for theory. At the end you take an exam and become a qualified professional: cook, mechatronics technician, nurse, warehouse specialist and more. The full overview is in our guide to Ausbildung in Germany from Cameroon.
University studies happen at a Universität or a Hochschule (a university of applied sciences, often more practical). You attend lectures, sit semester exams and earn a Bachelor’s degree, then possibly a Master’s. There is no employer: you are a student, and you pay for your own living costs.
The big comparison
| Criterion | Ausbildung | University |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Paid trainee with a contract | Student |
| Money during training | Monthly allowance (at least 724 EUR gross in year 1 for 2026 starts) | No salary, limited student jobs |
| Proof of funds for the visa | Pay of at least 1,048 EUR gross, otherwise a top-up | Blocked account (about 992 EUR per month, amount to be confirmed) |
| German required | Normally B1 | Usually higher for German-taught programmes, depending on the university |
| School certificate | No legal minimum for most dual trades | University entrance certificate, often via Studienkolleg |
| Duration | 2 to 3.5 years | Bachelor’s plus possibly a Master’s |
| Job search afterwards | Up to 18 months | Up to 18 months |
Money: the difference that matters most
For many families in Bamenda, Buea, Douala or Yaoundé, this decides everything.
In dual training the company pays you every month. For training starting in 2026, the legal minimum is 724 EUR gross in the first year (about 475,000 FCFA), then 854, 977 and 1,014 EUR. Many companies pay more: in 2025 the average collectively agreed allowance was 1,209 EUR gross per month.
But be careful: for the visa, your pay must reach 1,048 EUR gross or 822 EUR net per month. If it does not, the gap must be covered by a blocked account or a Verpflichtungserklärung (a formal commitment by someone in Germany to cover your costs). So an Ausbildung is not always “zero money”. The details are in our article on Ausbildung salary in Germany.
University students earn no salary. You must prove your funds, usually with a blocked account. The figure often quoted for 2026 is about 992 EUR per month, around 11,904 EUR for a year (roughly 7.8 million FCFA). That number comes from secondary sources, so confirm it with the embassy before transferring anything. You can work alongside your studies, but within limits: the law allows students up to 140 working days per year.
Put simply: if your family cannot lock away a large sum, Ausbildung is often the more realistic route. Check our costs page too, because pre-departure costs exist on both paths.
German level and school background
For Ausbildung, the visa normally requires B1 in all four modules. That alone is several months of real work. Companies also judge how well you speak during the interview.
For university, you need a certificate that gives access to higher education. The GCE A-Level and the Cameroonian Bac give access in your home country. In Germany they often lead first to the Studienkolleg, a one-year preparatory course with an entrance exam, before university. This depends on your subjects and grades and is checked case by case. For German-taught programmes, universities generally ask for more than B1.
For dual training, the law sets no minimum certificate for most trades. Your GCE O-Level and A-Level results still count, because the company compares candidates. Nursing is the exception: you need the equivalent of the German mittlerer Schulabschluss. It is all explained on our requirements page.
Duration and daily life
An Ausbildung lasts 2 to 3 years, some technical trades 3.5 years. You live like an employee: working hours, paid leave, school days. From day one you are part of a German team and speak German all day. It is tough at first, but you improve fast.
University takes longer once you add the Studienkolleg, the Bachelor’s and often a Master’s. You manage your own time, but you also have to work on the side to pay your way, which often slows students down. Many international students take longer than planned.
The visa: two different procedures
Ausbildung uses the § 16a visa. You need a training contract, B1 and proof of funds. The Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) gives its approval internally. Since May 2026, registration goes through the Auslandsportal, and you submit in Yaoundé at the embassy or at VFS Global. In 2025 the embassy announced waiting times of over a year for the training and work category. Details are on the § 16a visa page.
University uses a student visa, with a university admission and a blocked account. The student residence permit is usually issued for two years and then renewed.
On both paths the visa fee in Yaoundé is 50,000 FCFA (25,000 FCFA under 18).
And after the qualification?
Good news: the two paths meet again. After a successful Ausbildung in Germany, as after a degree, you can get a residence permit to look for work for up to 18 months, as long as you can support yourself.
After an Ausbildung, your German qualification also lets you apply for permanent residence sooner: 2 years as a skilled worker with 24 months of pension contributions, instead of the usual 3 years. We cover this in after the Ausbildung: work and residence.
And an Ausbildung does not close the door to university. Many qualified professionals go on to higher education later, with experience and a salary behind them.
Which profile fits which path?
Ausbildung is probably right for you if:
- you learn by doing, with your hands or with people;
- your family cannot lock away several million FCFA;
- you want to earn a living from the start;
- you are aiming at a field where Germany is hiring, such as care, cooking, logistics or construction (see Ausbildung jobs in demand).
University is probably right for you if:
- you have excellent GCE A-Level or Bac results;
- you are aiming at a profession that needs a degree (engineer, doctor, researcher);
- you can fund the blocked account;
- you are ready to reach a high level of German, or to take an English-taught programme.
At ILC we support Ausbildung candidates: German classes in Bafoussam and Douala, file preparation, applications and visa preparation. If you are unsure, talk it through with us via our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
How can I go to Germany for training without money?
You always need some money: German classes, the exam, translations, the visa and the flight. But Ausbildung needs the least capital, because you are paid every month. If your pay is below 1,048 EUR gross, you will need a top-up.
Can I switch from Ausbildung to university later?
Yes, once you are settled it is possible, but it is a new procedure with its own conditions. With a German qualification and work experience, your file will be stronger.
Is GCE A-Level enough for a German university?
It usually gives access to the Studienkolleg rather than straight to university. Strong results in the right subjects can change that, so check with the university you are targeting.
Which path is faster?
Usually Ausbildung: 2 to 3.5 years of training, against several years of study including the Studienkolleg. The visa wait is long on both paths, though.
Sources
- Make it in Germany: visa for vocational training
- BIBB: minimum training allowance 2026
- BIBB: collectively agreed allowances 2025
- Section 16b AufenthG: residence for study
- Section 20 AufenthG: job search after training or study
- Section 18c AufenthG: settlement permit for skilled workers
- Section 11 PflBG: entry requirements for nursing training
- German Embassy Yaoundé: work and training visas
Last checked: 19 October 2026.