Cost of Studying in Germany for International Students

Here is a break-up of all the costs involved in studying in Germany.

The two most common ways to apply to a university in Germany are to apply via Uni-assist or to apply directly to the university.

• Applying directly is free.
• With Uni-assist, the first university you apply to is €75 and every university after that is €30. You can check the Uni-assist website for more information

While most universities in Germany do not charge tuition, there are exceptions.

• All public universities are free but those in the state of Baden-Württemberg require Non-EU students to pay €1500 per semester. These universities are in the cities of Mannheim, Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, and Heidelberg, among others.
• Studying at private universities will cost around the same as those in the UK and Ireland

All German universities will charge administration fees. These fees vary depending on the university but generally cost between €100-350. This fee usually includes other fees such as the student union fee or social service fee. Additional fees for textbooks and other course materials may be charged depending on each program.

Living in Germany is considered to be reasonable as the cost of living matches the EU average. Costs will vary depending on whether your university is in a city or a town.

Accommodation will usually account for a large part of your monthly expenditure. While renting and sharing apartments is a popular option for students, student residence halls are a good option as well, and are much cheaper. They can cost anywhere between €159-550 per month.

Students in Germany are also provided with concessions and discounts on producing their student ID at various venues such as museums, theatres, cinema halls, opera houses and public swimming pools. Here is a generalized list of the cost of various items to give you an idea of the expenses you will incur while studying in Germany.

Note: The following costs are in Euros.

• Rent per month (1BR – City Center) - 500.00-1256.54
• Rent per month (1 BR – outside CC) - 400.00-900.00
• Rent per month (3BR – City Center) - 950.00-2500.00
• Rent per month (3BR – outside CC) - 750.00-1800.00
• Taxi (min. fare) - 3.00
• Local transport (1-way ticket) - 2.34-3.30
• Local transport (monthly pass) - 55.40-96.90
• Gasoline (1L) - 1.25-1.60
• Utilities (electricity, heating, water and garbage disposal) - 132.22-401.39
• Prepaid Mobile Tariff (1 min) - 0.09-0.12
• Internet (10 Mbps, unlimited data) - 25.00-49.00
• Meal at restaurant - 6.50-80.00
• Cappuccino - 1.79-4.00
• Beer - 2.50-4.50
• Wine - 3.50-8.00
• Coke/Pepsi - 1.50-3.20
• Bottle of Water (1.5 L) - 0.19-1.00
• Milk (1 L) - 0.55-1.00
• White bread (loaf) - 0.59-3.00
• Rice (1 Kg) - 1.00-3.00
• Eggs (a dozen) - 1.25-3.40
• Cheese (1 Kg) - 5.00-20.00
• Chicken (1 Kg) - 4.00-10.00
• Beef/ other red meat (1 Kg) - 7.00-19.62
• Apples (1 Kg) - 1.00-3.00
• Bananas (1 Kg) - 1.00-3.00
• Oranges (1 Kg) - 1.25-3.50
• Tomatoes (1 Kg) - 1.20-3.50
• Potatoes (1 Kg) - 0.60-2.20
• Onions (1 Kg) - 0.89-2.00
• Lettuce (1 head) - 0.49-1.50
• Jeans (1 pair) - 40.00-100.00
• Summer Dress - 20.00-60.00
• Sneakers (1 pair) 50.00-120.00
• Leather shoes (1 pair) - 60.00-150.00
• Fitness Club (monthly fee) - 19.95-60.00

As an international student, you will be required to acquire health insurance from any statutory health insurer in Germany. The monthly fee for this insurance costs between €103.94 – €111.75.

A student visa for Germany typically costs €60.