GRE Accepted Universities in Germany 2027: Which Programs Need It, Minimum Scores & Strategy for Indian Students

If you are planning a master's for the 2027 intakes, one question comes early: do you need the GRE for Germany at all? The honest answer is "mostly no, sometimes yes." This guide lists the GRE accepted universities in Germany that matter most for Indian applicants. It separates programs that make the GRE compulsory from programs where a good score only adds points, and it gives you the exact cut-offs published by each university.

Germany's pull for Indians keeps rising. According to DAAD's Wissenschaft weltoffen 2025 report, India is now the largest country of origin for international students in Germany, with just under 59,000 students, up 20 per cent in a year. More applicants means sharper competition, and a strategic GRE score is one of the few levers still in your control.

Is the GRE Mandatory for Studying in Germany?

No, not as a national rule. Admission in Germany is decided program by program. Each program's examination regulations decide whether a GRE is required, optional, or ignored.

In practice, programs fall into three groups:

1. GRE compulsory, often only for applicants with Indian (and certain other Asian) degrees.
2. GRE optional but scored. A good result adds selection points.
3. GRE not considered. Your CGPA, subject match, SOP and APS carry the file.

The rest of this guide tells you which group your target program falls in.

GRE Accepted Universities in Germany: 2027 Comparison Table

Always confirm against the program's official page before you apply. Requirements are updated each cycle.

Find GRE-Accepting Master's Programs in Germany With Pacific Course Finder

Not sure which German programs match your GRE score, CGPA and budget? Use the Pacific Course Finder to explore 20,000+ courses from 700+ global universities. Filter by country, course and duration to shortlist German master's programs in minutes.

Once you have a shortlist, our counsellors can check each program's GRE, GMAT or GATE rule for you, so you prepare for the right test from day one.

Universities in Germany That Require GRE for Indian Students

Technical University of Munich (TUM)

TUM is the biggest reason Indian students search this topic. For its computing programs, applicants with a degree from Bangladesh, China, India, Iran or Pakistan must submit the GRE General Test, and TUM states that scores below its minimum will not be accepted: Quantitative Reasoning 164 and Analytical Writing 4.0. Verbal is no longer counted. The Indian GATE (Computer Science) is accepted as an alternative at the qualifying score for that year. TUM School of Computation

The same rule applies to MSc Data Engineering and Analytics. Engineering programs vary. TUM's FAQ lists MSc Automotive Engineering at QR 164 and AW 4.0, and MSc Transportation Systems at QR 157 and AW 3.0. IIT graduates do not need a separate GATE and upload their IIT transcript instead. TUM also accepts the GRE at Home. MSc Materials Science and Engineering sits at QR 157 and AW 3.0. Master Data Engineering and Analytics - TUM - TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology +2

Watch out: TUM's management school works differently. Applicants to the TUM Master in Management with a bachelor's from India must submit a GMAT (classic or Focus) at or above the 65th percentile. If TUM MiM is your target, prepare for the GMAT, not the GRE. TUM Management

University of Mannheim

Mannheim uses the GRE in two very different ways. For the Mannheim Master in Data Science, non-EU applicants must prove a GRE score of at least 162 in Quantitative and 151 in Verbal Reasoning, not older than five years. For these applicants, the GRE is the only selection criterion. Your CGPA does not rank you here. The score does. uni-mannheim

For business programs, the test is optional but valuable. The Mannheim Master in Management does not make GMAT or GRE an admission requirement, but it calls the result an important selection criterion. Ranking points start above a GMAT Focus score of 555, and an equivalent GRE score is accepted. Mannheim's GRE institution code is 2620, and the GRE at Home is also accepted. University of MannheimUniversität Mannheim

German Universities Where GRE Is Optional but Boosts Your Score

Goethe University Frankfurt

For the MSc in Money, Macro and Finance, you may submit a GRE, GMAT or GMAT Focus if your coursework does not show your quantitative skills. Only the quantitative percentile is considered, and it carries a 19% weight. Goethe's GRE code is 4258. For its Management Science programs, the test is not obligatory but counts for 6% of the total score, and applicants who skip it get zero points for that criterion. Uni-frankfurtUni-frankfurt

ESMT Berlin

ESMT is private and tuition-based. It does not require GMAT or GRE if your bachelor's shows strong quantitative training, for example an engineering, science or maths degree. As a guideline, a GRE below 304 is not considered competitive. Total tuition for an ESMT master's starting 7 September 2027 is €38,000. ESMT BerlinESMT Berlin

Private Business Schools in Germany Accepting GRE Instead of GMAT

WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management

WHU's Master in Management requires one of GMAT (min. 555), GRE (min. 158 Verbal and 158 Quant, code 7175) or GTEBS (min. 102). You can apply before you have a score and receive a conditional offer. WHU

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

For the Master of Finance, the GMAT/GRE or Frankfurt School's own admission test is compulsory and cannot be waived. The two-year program costs €42,000 in total, plus a €100 application fee and a €400 enrolment fee.

GRE Score for MS in Germany: What Score Should You Target?

Published minimums are floors, not targets. Here is how we translate them for Indian applicants:

Our data-based conclusion: Across the programs above, Quant 164 plus AW 4.0 clears every published GRE floor except WHU's verbal requirement and Mannheim Data Science's verbal requirement. So an Indian engineering applicant should build prep around Quant first, then lift Verbal to 153–158 only if Mannheim or WHU is on the list.

GRE vs GATE vs dMAT for Germany: Don't Mix Them Up

Three tests now show up in Germany applications, and they do different jobs:

• GRE: A university-level requirement for certain programs, as listed above. Accepted worldwide, so one score also works for the US or Canada.
• GATE: Accepted by TUM as an alternative to the GRE for its GRE-mandatory programs. Useful if you already have a strong GATE score.
• dMAT: A new APS-linked test, not a replacement for the GRE. It applies to Indian graduates in Engineering, Commerce, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business or Management who apply for a German master's from Summer Semester 2027 onward. Students who started APS before 29 June 2026 are exempt.

If you are a 2027 applicant, you may need both a dMAT and a GRE. Check whether the dMAT applies to you in our dMAT exam date and eligibility guide.

GRE Fee in India and Other Costs for 2027 Applicants

ETS lists the GRE General Test at $249 / ₹25,522 for registrations from 1 August 2026. Rescheduling costs ₹5,650 and each additional score report costs ₹4,150. The test runs 1 hour 58 minutes, and scores stay valid for five years. The APS certificate fee is ₹18,000 and is non-refundable. In 2026, student visa applicants must deposit €11,904 in a blocked account, which works out to €992 per month. GRE General Test Fees +3

Budget tip: send free score reports to TUM, Mannheim and your other targets on test day. Adding recipients later costs ₹4,150 each.

The Pacific "GRE-for-Germany" Decision Checklist

Tick each box before you register:

• Listed every program on your shortlist with its official admission page open.
• Sorted each program into Compulsory / Scored / Not considered.
• Checked for country-specific rules. Did the program add a GRE rule only for Indian degrees? (TUM does.)
• Confirmed the test type. GRE, GMAT or either? (TUM MiM wants GMAT.)
• Noted the section-wise floors (QR, V, AW), not just the total.
• Checked whether GATE substitutes, and whether you have a valid qualifying score.
• Checked dMAT applicability for Summer 2027 or later intakes.
• Worked backwards from the deadline: GRE score + APS + uni-assist VPD, each needing weeks.
• Listed institution codes for free score reports (TUM 7806, Mannheim 2620, Goethe 4258, WHU 7175).

If three or more programs land in "Compulsory" or "Scored," the GRE is worth taking. If all land in "Not considered," put that time into your SOP and CGPA-to-German-grade conversion instead.

How to Send GRE Scores to German Universities

1. Take the GRE General Test (the Subject Test does not count at TUM).
2. Pick your free score recipients using each university's code.
3. Upload a copy of your score report to the application portal or uni-assist as well. Goethe, for example, disregards scores without an uploaded copy.
4. Track the deadline for the score reaching the university, not only your application deadline.

For intake-wise deadlines, see our winter intake in Germany guide. If your list is mostly tuition-free public universities, compare them in our public universities in Germany guide.

Key Takeaways

• The GRE is not a national requirement in Germany. It is set program by program.
• TUM requires GRE (or GATE) from Indian degree holders for Informatics, Data Engineering, Automotive and several engineering master's, with QR 157–164 and AW 3.0–4.0 floors.
• Mannheim Data Science requires Q 162 / V 151, and the score alone ranks non-EU applicants.
• WHU and Frankfurt School need GRE, GMAT or their own test. ESMT and Goethe treat it as optional or waivable.
• TUM MiM wants the GMAT from Indian applicants, not the GRE.
• The dMAT (from Summer 2027) is separate. Some students will need both.
• A Quant 164+ and AW 4.0 profile clears most published GRE floors in Germany.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Which universities in Germany accept GRE scores?
Key GRE accepted universities in Germany include TUM, the University of Mannheim, Goethe University Frankfurt, WHU, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and ESMT Berlin. Whether the GRE is compulsory, scored or optional depends on the specific program.

2. Is GRE mandatory for MS in Germany for Indian students?
Not for most programs. It is mandatory for certain programs, such as TUM's Informatics and Data Engineering master's for Indian degree holders and Mannheim's Master in Data Science for non-EU applicants.

3. What GRE score does TUM require?
For Informatics-profile programs, Data Engineering and Analytics, and Automotive Engineering: QR 164 and AW 4.0. For Materials Science and Transportation Systems: QR 157 and AW 3.0. Verbal is not counted.

4. Can I use GATE instead of GRE for Germany?
At TUM, yes. GATE is accepted as an alternative for programs where GRE is compulsory, at that year's qualifying score. IIT graduates can upload their IIT transcript instead. Most other universities do not use GATE.

5. Does TUM accept the GRE for its Master in Management?
TUM asks Indian applicants to its MiM for a GMAT at or above the 65th percentile. Plan for the GMAT if TUM MiM is your target.

6. Is a GRE score of 310 good for Germany?
It is enough for programs where the GRE is optional, such as ESMT or Goethe. It will not clear TUM's CS programs if your Quant is below 164, so check section scores, not the total.

7. How much is the GRE fee in India in 2026?
ETS lists ₹25,522 for the GRE General Test for registrations from 1 August 2026. Rescheduling costs ₹5,650.

8. Is the dMAT the same as the GRE?
No. The dMAT is a new APS-linked test for certain Indian graduates applying from Summer Semester 2027. The GRE is a university-level requirement. Some applicants will need both.

9. How long is a GRE score valid for German universities?
ETS scores are valid for five years. Some programs, such as Mannheim Data Science, also require the result to be no older than five years at the application deadline.

Plan Your Germany Test Strategy With Pacific

Getting the test decision right saves you months and thousands of rupees. Our counsellors can map your shortlist to the right test (GRE, GMAT, GATE or dMAT), then support you through GRE preparation, APS and applications. You can also explore our study in Germany services. When you're ready, book a free counselling session and we'll build your 2027 plan together.