How much does it cost to study in Germany? (2024)

How Much Does it Cost to Study in Germany? main image

Cost of living in Germany

While many students can study in Germany for free, living expenses are unavoidable. Thecostof living in Germanyis more expensive in some areas than others –Munich, for example, is considered the most expensive German city to live in, with living costs averaging about €12,000 (~US$13,900) per year. By comparison, the average annual living costs in Germany are around €10,200 (~US$11,800).

Rentwill be your largest monthly expense, though this is cheaper if you live in a shared flat (average rent of €280/~US$340 per month) or a student hall of residence (€234/~US$290 per month).

Based on data fromDAAD, other average monthly costs are as follows:

€168 (~US$205) for food
€42 (~US$52) for clothes
€94 (~US$115) for transport
€31 (~US$38) for telephone, internet and TV license
€20 (~US$25) for work/study materials
€61 (~US$75) for leisure activities

To find living expenses for specific cities in Germany (and compare them to the average costs in your home city)Numbeois a useful tool.

You won’t need a visa to study in Germany if you’re an EU national or citizen of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Otherwise, expect to pay€60(~US$74) for your student visa, but there are also feereductions or waiversforSchengen visas. In order to fulfill the visa requirements, you will need to show proof you have, or have access to, around€8,700 (~US$10,680)per yearor €725 (~US$890) per month to cover your living costs.

For more information on getting a German student visa, seethis article.

Undergraduate costs to study in Germany

Althoughyou can study for free at public German universities as an undergraduate, there is a charge per semester for enrolment, confirmation and administration. This is typically no more than €250 (~US$290) per semester, but varies depending on the university.

There may be an additional charge to purchase a “Semesterticket”, which covers public transport expenses for six months – the price varies depending upon whichSemesterticket optionyou choose. If you exceed the standard period of study by more than four semesters, you may also face a long-term fee charge, which could be as much as €500 (~US$540) per semester.

Most universities in Germany are public. Private institutions are usually dependent on tuition fees for their funding (though some also receive support from foundations), and set their own fees, which can be anything up to and beyond €20,000 a year (~US$24,400).

TheFederal Student Financial Aid Program(BAföG: Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz) can be used by both German nationals and EU students, as well as some foreigners underselect conditions. Generally, this aid is for those under 30 years old (under 35 if you’re studying for a master’s degree), but exceptions can be made depending on circ*mstance. The BAföG is usually split in two, with 50% taking the form of a state grant and the other half being an interest-free loan that must be paid back in instalments when the maximum period of assistance expires.

Master’s and postgraduate costs to study in Germany

Master’s degreesat German universitiesare usually free if they are classed as “consecutive” – i.e. following directly on from a related bachelor’s degree gained in Germany. Again, there is a small charge per semester for enrolment, confirmation and administration, plus a Semesterticket. Tuition fees for “non-consecutive” master’s degrees, for those who have gained their bachelor’s degree elsewhere in the world, vary between universities and may be around €20,000 (~US$24,400) per year at public institutions and up to €30,000 (~US$36,600) at private German universities.

For example, Germany’s top-ranked institution, theRuprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, lists fees for non-consecutive master’s degrees ranging from €2,500 (US$3,050) per semester for aMaster of Arts in American Studiesup to €5,000 (US$6,100) per semester for a Master of Medical Education (MME).

At PhD level,tuition is once again freeat all universities in Germany – for the first six semesters at least. As at all levels of study, PhD students are also required to make a semester contribution of no more than €250 or so for administration and other costs. You can find out more about studying a PhD in Germanyhere.

Scholarships to study in Germany

The GermanAcademic Exchange Service, otherwise known as the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst), provides support for German and international students to gain funding to live and study in Germany for free or at a more affordable cost.

DAADscholarships to study in Germanyare offered to German and international students of all levels, as well as academics and researchers. To find relevant scholarships to study in Germany, you cansearchbased on keywords, study level, country of origin and subject.

Another useful resource is theFederal Ministry of Education and Researchor BMBF (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung), which hosts asitededicated toproviding information on scholarships to study in Germany.

You can also check out our own listing ofScholarships to Study in Germany, which is updated regularly.

Figures contained in this article are averages. The amount you pay will fluctuate depending on the length of your program, your level of study, the German state (Länder) you live in and whether your university is private or public.

This article was originally published in December 2013. It was most recently updated in April 2018.

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