Studying in Germany costs less than in many popular study destinations because most public universities charge no tuition, but it’s not free. International students pay a semester contribution every six months, must show €11,904 in living costs for their first year, and pay rent, health insurance, and day-to-day costs that vary sharply from city to city.
This guide breaks down the cost of studying in Germany as of October 2026: tuition and semester fees, costs you cover before you leave home, monthly living costs, health insurance, charges after you arrive, and the rule changes already announced for 2027. For the visa itself, see our German student visa guide; for every other route, see our overview of the types of Germany visa.
Key Takeaways
- Most public universities charge no tuition, but Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 a semester and TUM charges €2,000 to €6,000.
- Every student pays a semester contribution, now usually around €400 where it includes the €226.80 Deutschlandsemesterticket.
- The student visa requires proof of €992 a month, or €11,904 for a year, usually held in a blocked account.
- A room in a shared flat averages €510 a month across 90 university towns, rising to €850 in Munich.
- Statutory student health insurance costs about €141 to €146 a month until age 30.
- The cost to study in Germany rises in 2027: higher non-EU tuition at FAU and TUM, a dearer Deutschlandticket and a higher minimum wage for working students.
Table of Contents
Cost to study in Germany at a glance
The table below brings together the main items in the cost to study in Germany for a student from outside the EU. One-off costs are paid once; recurring costs come round every month or every semester.
| Cost | Amount (2026) | When you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa fee | €75 (adults), €37.50 (minors) | Once, when you apply |
| Proof of funds (blocked account) | €11,904 for a year (€992 a month) | Before the visa; released monthly after arrival |
| Tuition at most public universities | €0 | — |
| Tuition for non-EU students in Baden-Württemberg | €1,500 per semester | Every semester |
| Tuition for non-EU students at TUM | €2,000 to €6,000 per semester | Every semester |
| Semester contribution (with semester ticket) | Around €400 per semester | Every semester |
| Residence permit | €100 | Once, after arrival |
| Student health insurance (under 30) | About €141 to €146 a month | Monthly |
| Room in a shared flat | €510 a month on average | Monthly |
| Broadcasting licence fee | €18.36 a month per flat | Monthly or quarterly |
| Figures as published by the German missions, universities, insurers and the Moses Mendelssohn Institute; checked October 2026. TUM fees depend on the programme. | ||
The €11,904 in the blocked account is not a fee. It is your own money, released to you in monthly instalments of €992 after you arrive, so it pays for rent and food rather than adding to them.
Tuition and semester fees: the cost to study in Germany at university
Public universities: no tuition in most states
In 14 of Germany’s 16 states, public universities charge no general tuition for a first bachelor’s degree or a consecutive master’s degree, whatever the student’s nationality. Doctoral study is also generally free. That is why the cost of studying in Germany compares well with destinations where international students pay full tuition.
Some programmes do charge fees even at public universities, mainly non-consecutive or executive master’s courses aimed at people already in work. The programme page always states whether a fee applies, so check it before you add up the cost to study in Germany for a particular course.
States and universities that charge non-EU students tuition
Two states are the exception. Baden-Württemberg has charged students from outside the EU and EEA €1,500 per semester since winter semester 2017/18. In Bavaria the law lets each university decide, and both the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have introduced fees for new non-EU students.
Table 2 – Tuition for non-EU students at public universities
| State or university | Bachelor’s (per semester) | Master’s (per semester) | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg (all public universities) | €1,500 | €1,500 | Non-EU students since winter semester 2017/18 |
| Technical University of Munich (TUM) | €2,000 or €3,000 | €4,000 or €6,000 | New non-EU students since winter semester 2024/25 |
| TUM from winter semester 2027/28 | €2,300 or €3,400 | €4,600 or €6,800 | New non-EU students from October 2027 |
| FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg from summer semester 2027 | €1,000, €2,000 or €3,000 | €2,000, €4,000 or €6,000 | New non-EU students and subject changers from April 2027 |
| Other 14 states | No general fee | No general fee | All students (some special programmes charge fees) |
| Sources: TUM and FAU tuition pages, Baden-Württemberg fee rules; checked October 2026. Students already enrolled keep the rate in force when they started. | |||
Fees at TUM and FAU vary by programme, so the exact figure for a given degree is on its programme page. Students who enrolled before a fee was introduced or raised keep the rate in force when they started, as long as they stay in the same programme.
The semester contribution
Every student, German or international, pays a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag), a recurring part of the cost to study in Germany, when enrolling and again before each new semester. It funds the local student services organisation (Studierendenwerk), the student union and university administration, and at most universities it also buys the Deutschlandsemesterticket, a pass for local and regional public transport across Germany.
From winter semester 2026/27 the semester ticket costs €226.80 for six months, or €37.80 a month, which is 60% of the €63 Deutschlandticket. Contributions that include it now commonly come to around €400: the University of Marburg charges €424.80 for winter semester 2026/27 and Saarland University €412.30. Contributions are lower where the semester ticket is not part of the package.
Private universities
Private universities set their own tuition, which is usually much higher than anything charged in the public sector, so a private programme can multiply the cost to study in Germany. If you are comparing one, check exactly what the fee covers and whether the degree is state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt).
Costs before you arrive in Germany
Part of the cost to study in Germany falls due before you travel, and some of it is money you hold rather than spend.
Applications and certificates
Many universities process international applications through uni-assist, which charges a handling fee for each application; check the current amount on its website before you apply. Applicants from China, India and Vietnam also need an APS certificate confirming their academic records, and language test fees depend on the test and the country where you take it.
Student visa fee and blocked account
A German student visa costs €75 for adults and €37.50 for minors, and holders of publicly funded scholarships are exempt. To qualify, you must show that you can cover your living costs. In 2026 that means €992 a month, or €11,904 for a year, usually deposited in a blocked account (Sperrkonto) in your name. A formal declaration of commitment from someone living in Germany, or a recognised scholarship, can replace it. Blocked account providers charge their own set-up and monthly fees, which vary.
You also need health or travel insurance that covers you from the day the visa starts until you join German health insurance; German missions ask for cover of at least €30,000, including repatriation. The official Make it in Germany guide to studying sets out the full visa requirements.
Travel to Germany
The fare to Germany depends entirely on where you start and when you book, so it is not included in the cost to study in Germany figures here. If you plan to visit home in the semester breaks, budget for at least one return trip a year.
Cost of living in Germany for students
Living costs make up most of the cost to study in Germany. The government’s own benchmark is the €992 a month that a student visa applicant must show. It is tied to the maximum student grant (BAföG) and is a reasonable floor for a modest budget outside the most expensive cities.
Rent
Rent is the largest single item in the cost to study in Germany. A room in a shared flat (WG) cost an average of €510 a month across 90 university towns in winter semester 2026/27, according to the Moses Mendelssohn Institute and WG-Gesucht. Munich is in a class of its own.
Table 3 – Average rent for a room
| City | Room in a shared flat (per month) |
|---|---|
| Munich | €850 |
| Berlin | €650 |
| Hamburg | €650 |
| Cologne | €640 |
| Frankfurt am Main | €630 |
| Average of 90 university towns | €510 |
| Source: Moses Mendelssohn Institute and WG-Gesucht, winter semester 2026/27. City figures are medians of advertised rents. | |
Rooms in student halls run by the Studierendenwerk are usually cheaper than the private market but have long waiting lists, so apply as soon as you have an admission letter. Landlords commonly ask for a deposit (Kaution) of up to three months’ basic rent, which is paid back when you move out.
A sample monthly budget
The budget below fits the main fixed costs into the €992 benchmark. Every line except the last item of spending is a published 2026 rate; that line is what is left for everything else.
Table 4 – Sample monthly student budget at the €992 benchmark
| Item | Per month |
|---|---|
| Room in a shared flat (national average) | €510.00 |
| Health insurance (student rate, aged 23+, no children) | €146.29 |
| Deutschlandsemesterticket (€226.80 per semester) | €37.80 |
| Broadcasting licence fee (€18.36 per flat, shared by two) | €9.18 |
| Food, phone, books, clothing and leisure | About €288.73 |
| Total | €992.00 |
| Every line except food and other spending is a published 2026 rate; that line is what remains of the €992 proof-of-funds benchmark. The rest of the semester contribution is extra. | |
Just under €290 a month for food, phone, books and leisure is tight but workable for a student who cooks and shares a flat. In Munich, where a room alone averages €850, the €992 benchmark does not stretch to cover the cost to study in Germany, and most students there draw on extra savings or part-time work.
Health insurance costs for students
Health insurance is a fixed part of the cost to study in Germany, because you cannot enrol without it. Students under 30 at a public or state-recognised university can join a statutory health insurer at a fixed student rate. In 2026 that rate is €141.16 a month for students under 23 and €146.29 for childless students aged 23 or over at Techniker Krankenkasse; other statutory insurers differ only in their small top-up rate.
Student-rate cover ends at the end of the semester in which you turn 30. After that, staying in statutory insurance as a voluntary member costs considerably more, typically over €250 a month. Students on language courses or preparatory courses (Studienkolleg) cannot use the student rate and usually buy private insurance. Students from countries with a social security agreement with Germany may be able to rely on their home cover instead.
Costs after you arrive
The cost to study in Germany does not stop once you land. The residence permit for study costs €100, a flat rate set in the Residence Ordinance whatever the permit’s length. Registering your address (Anmeldung) is free. Every household also pays the broadcasting licence fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) of €18.36 a month. It is charged per flat, not per person, so flatmates usually split it.
Expect setting-up costs in the first month as well: the rental deposit, basic furnishings if the room is unfurnished, a German phone contract and, for students from warmer climates, winter clothing.
How students cover the cost to study in Germany
Working while you study
International students may work 140 full days or 280 half days a year, or up to 20 hours a week during the lecture period. In 2026 the minimum wage is €13.90 an hour, and a mini-job lets you earn up to €603 a month without paying tax or most social contributions. Most student earnings stay below the income tax threshold, and our guide to tax filing in Germany for international students explains how to reclaim any tax that is deducted.
Earnings help with day-to-day costs but cannot replace the blocked account: the visa is assessed on the funds you hold before you arrive, not on income you expect to earn.
Scholarships
Scholarships can cut the cost to study in Germany considerably. The DAAD scholarship database lists funding programmes for international students that can be filtered by country of origin and subject. Many universities also award merit scholarships, including the Deutschlandstipendium, which is open to international students.
After graduation
Graduates can stay in Germany for up to 18 months to look for work related to their degree. Our German work visa guide explains the permits that follow.
What changes in 2027
Several parts of the cost to study in Germany are already scheduled to rise in 2027:
- From 1 January 2027, the Deutschlandticket rises from €63 to €66.80 a month, and semester tickets for semesters starting from 1 June 2027 are repriced accordingly.
- From 1 January 2027, the minimum wage rises to €14.60 an hour and the mini-job limit to €633 a month.
- From the summer semester 2027, FAU charges new non-EU students €1,000 to €3,000 per semester for bachelor’s degrees and €2,000 to €6,000 for master’s degrees.
- From the winter semester 2027/28, TUM fees for new non-EU students rise to €2,300 or €3,400 for bachelor’s degrees and €4,600 or €6,800 for master’s degrees.
The proposed increases to the blocked account amount and the broadcasting fee have not been adopted. This guide will be updated when they are confirmed.
Cost to study in Germany: FAQs
How much does it cost to study in Germany per year?
For a non-EU student at a public university that charges no tuition, the cost to study in Germany is about €12,700 a year: €11,904 for living costs at the visa benchmark plus two semester contributions of around €400. Add tuition in Baden-Württemberg or at TUM or FAU, and more for rent in Munich and other expensive cities.
Is it free to study in Germany for international students?
Tuition is free at most public universities, but the cost to study in Germany is not zero. Every student pays a semester contribution, needs proof of €11,904 for a year of living costs, and pays rent and health insurance. Baden-Württemberg, TUM and, from summer semester 2027, FAU charge non-EU students tuition.
How much money do I need in a blocked account for Germany?
The blocked account is the largest upfront item in the cost to study in Germany. In 2026, you need €11,904 for a year, or €992 for each month of your stay. The money is released to you in monthly instalments after you arrive.
How much is the semester contribution in Germany?
It varies by university and is a recurring part of the cost to study in Germany. Where it includes the €226.80 Deutschlandsemesterticket, it is typically around €400 a semester; Marburg charges €424.80 for the winter semester 2026/27.
How much does student health insurance cost in Germany?
About €141 to €146 a month at the statutory student rate in 2026, available until the end of the semester in which you turn 30. Older students pay considerably more.
Can I work to cover the cost of studying in Germany?
Yes, within limits: 140 full days or 280 half days a year. At the 2026 minimum wage of €13.90 an hour, part-time work can cover a useful share of living costs, but it does not replace the proof of funds needed for the visa.
Is Munich more expensive than other German cities for students?
Yes. A room in a shared flat in Munich averaged €850 a month in the winter semester 2026/27, against a national average of €510. Berlin and Hamburg follow at €650.