A growing crisis is unfolding for Indian students in Germany, where hundreds enrolled at a private university in Berlin are now facing the threat of deportation after their courses were deemed ineligible for student visas.
The issue centres on the International University of Applied Sciences, commonly known as IU, which has a large Indian student population. German authorities have ruled that several of IU’s programmes do not meet the legal definition of on-campus study, leaving many students without valid residence permits.
How the problem began
IU was founded in 1998 in Bad Honnef and later rebranded in 2021 as IU International University of Applied Sciences. It has since grown into one of Europe’s largest private universities, with more than 130,000 students from over 190 countries enrolled across physical campuses and online programmes. Around 4,500 of these students are from India.
The trouble began with IU’s hybrid courses, which combine online learning with limited in-person classes. Following anonymous complaints, German authorities began examining whether these programmes met visa requirements. A court later supported the Berlin Immigration Office’s assessment that many of the classes did not qualify as proper on-campus study under German law.
As a result, the programmes were reclassified as distance learning. Under German regulations, distance learning courses do not qualify students for a residence permit. This decision left hundreds of students in legal limbo.
The situation worsened in 2025 when Germany scrapped its informal remonstration procedure, which had allowed students to appeal visa rejections quickly and at low cost. With this option gone, students were left with expensive and time-consuming legal routes, or none at all.
Students caught off guard
The impact has been severe. Deep Shambharkar, a 25-year-old student from Maharashtra, told Euronews that he had already spent about $21,000 on his education after moving to Berlin in July to complete a master’s degree in business management. He had taken loans to fund his studies.
Under the programme, Shambharkar completed part of his degree in India before moving to Germany. His student visa was due for extension in the summer. Instead, he received a notice from the Berlin Immigration Office ordering him to leave the country by November 3 or face deportation.
“I don’t think the university will pay me back,” he said. “Most of the students have since left. Many have changed universities, at least those from wealthy families. Others have gone back home. They were helpless.”
Shambharkar said he was aware of at least 300 similar cases involving Indian students.
University response
IU told Euronews that it “regrets” the situation and said students were being forced to leave because the Berlin Immigration Office changed its assessment of hybrid programmes “without informing IU International University”.
The university described the change in visa policy for students “who have entered the country under different conditions” as incomprehensible. It added that it would allow some affected students to complete their degrees from their home countries at no additional cost.
For many Indian students, however, the damage has already been done. With loans to repay, disrupted degrees and uncertain futures, the Germany education dream has turned into a costly and painful setback.
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