Compare each route by stay and permit, work rights, cost and who it suits. Sources are under each row.
Which of the two you take decides the permit you need.
Who it suits
For people who want to see the place before choosing a school.
Up to 90 days (within any 180 days)
A stay without a visa is, as a general rule, up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
No gainful employment
People who enter on a passport from a visa-free country may not take up gainful employment while in Germany.
Source: German Federal Foreign Office: list of countries whose citizens need no visa
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Who it suits
For people whose main aim is to study in Germany.
Student residence permit (Section 16b)
The residence permit for students is set out in Section 16b of the German Residence Act.
Up to 140 working days a year
With this permit you may work up to 140 working days a year in total. Student assistant jobs are not counted.
Source: German Residence Act, Section 16b (residence permit and work for students)
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