Broken Promises Leave Indian Students in Berlin Facing Deportation Instead of Degrees

Hundreds of Indian students enrolled at Berlin’s International University (IU) are facing deportation after German authorities questioned the validity of the university’s study format, turning their academic aspirations into uncertainty and distress. Many students, who paid high tuition fees and took loans to study in Germany, have received notices asking them to leave the country, as their programmes are no longer recognised as full-time, in-person studies eligible for student visas.

Deep Shambarkar, a 25-year-old master’s student from Maharashtra, invested nearly €20,000 in his business management degree but now faces removal instead of graduation. Authorities reportedly do not recognise IU’s hybrid teaching model as sufficient for residence permits, prompting similar action against an estimated 300 students. While some students from wealthier backgrounds managed to transfer or return home, others have been left stranded, financially burdened and emotionally distressed.

IU said it regrets the situation and blamed a sudden policy shift by Berlin’s immigration office regarding hybrid programmes. While courts have upheld IU’s accreditation, they also imposed stricter attendance and examination requirements, deepening uncertainty. As IU pauses new international admissions in Berlin, affected students continue to battle legal, financial and psychological hardship, with many describing the experience as devastating and life-altering.

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