Indian students at Berlin university face visa cancellations over hybrid courses

Indian students enrolled at IU International University of Applied Sciences in Berlin are facing the risk of deportation or being forced to continue their studies remotely after local immigration authorities reportedly rejected or revoked their student visas, as per reports.

According to reports, Berlin’s immigration office (LEA) ruled that the university’s hybrid programmes do not meet the ‘full-time, in-person’ study requirements under stricter visa policies implemented in early 2025. These revised interpretations are said to require clear and verifiable physical attendance for international students.

Students affected by the decision reportedly invested between €20,000 and €30,000, expecting a traditional on-campus academic experience in Germany. Many have described the situation as financially and emotionally devastating, with years of savings allegedly wiped out due to sudden changes in visa status.

As per reports, more than 500 international students, the majority from India, received emails from Berlin’s LEA instructing them to leave the country within a short timeframe. This reportedly forced several students to vacate accommodation and reconsider their future plans at short notice.

In a video circulating online, a student from Mumbai reportedly said that their family had sold assets to support overseas education, only to face uncertainty after arrival. The video reflects the distress shared by several students who relocated following visa approvals.

IU has reportedly attributed the situation to what it describes as a sudden policy shift by immigration authorities in early 2025. A university spokesperson said the institution holds valid national accreditation but is facing regulatory challenges over its hybrid teaching model, which combines online coursework with limited in-person sessions. As per reports, the university has suspended new international admissions at its Berlin campus and plans to move to fully in-person classes from October 2025.

Immigration officials, however, have reportedly maintained that student visas issued under Section 16b of Germany’s Residence Act require demonstrable physical presence to prevent misuse of study programmes. Similar visa rejections for hybrid courses have reportedly also been observed at German missions abroad, including in India.