How much does it cost for a foreigner to study in Germany?

Germany is a study destination that offers students high rewards and certificates of international renown. When talking about study in Germany, international students completing their entire (or part of their) courses in Germany need to consider how much this will cost.

High quality is one of the main characteristics of undergraduate programs in Germany, whether it is a bachelor’s or a postgraduate degree.

You can choose between learning inEnglish or German language. However, there are high opportunities to study inGermany at the lowest costs, or even without paying tuition fees in Germany.

The cost of study at a public university in Germany

Public universities in Germany do not charge fees for bachelor’s and master’s programs (unless you are planning to obtain a master’s degree that focuses on a different subject than that you studied as a bachelor student). The free education system is available to all international students, regardless of their country of origin.

Most German universities are public, you will only have to pay an administrative fee. This cost is usually around 150 to 250 euros per semester. This fee covers your student organizing and registration services. Moreover, you will have to re-register for each semester and pay these fees.

On the other hand, there are exceptions to this rule. If you do not finish your university course on time, and you are studying in: Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, or Thuringia, you may have to pay tuition fees.

​​Other essential study cost in Germany include learning materials and books that amounts around €20-30 per month.

Tuition fees at private universities in Germany

As a matter of fact, private universities in Germany are funded from tuition fees. This way, international students have to pay between 3,000 and 25,000 euros a year.

Additionally, fees are based oneach university and field of study. This is due to the fact that the fees for somedegrees such as engineering or business are usually higher than tuition feescompared to degrees in areas such as education or social sciences, for instance.

Private universities in Germany with low tuition fees

Though private universities in Germany require students to pay for their studies, the country has a few institutions that offer either a lower tuition fee or financial support to cover this fee. Among the more affordable private universities in German, there are: 

Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

This is a medium-sized coeducational institution in Germany, and one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. The university offers programs from bachelor’s to PhD’s degree. Tuition fees at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin may be not as low as in other private universities in Germany, however, the university provide some funding opportunities to support students and researchers in their studies. 

ESMT Berlin (European School of Management and Technology)

ESMT is the highest-rank business school in Germany and the seventh-best in Europe. It offers a wide range of programs, enjoying a prestigious international recognition from the 3 best business schools. ESMT Berlin also offers scholarships to students based on their academic excellence and personal and professional achievement. 

FOM University of Applied Science for Economics and Management

This university applies tuition fees of about 15,000 euros per year for a bachelor’s. This cost decreases to 10,000 euros per year for a master’s, and that’s among the cheapest private university fees in Germany. The institution also stands out by the fact that they allow students to work full-time during their studies. In fact, students attend class in the evenings, on weekends or just 2 days a week. Undergraduate study cost in Germany

Undergraduate study costs in Germany

Although you can study for free at public German universities, there is a fee per semester for enrollment, confirmation, and administration. Usually, it does not exceed 250 euros (about US $242) per semester and varies by university.

On the other hand, there may be an additional charge for purchasing “Semesterticket”. This covers public transportation costs for a period of six months (the price varies depending on the Semesterticket option you choose).

However, if you exceed the standard study period by more than four semesters, you may also face long-term fees. And this may cost you up to 500 euros (about $485) per semester.

Master’s and postgraduate costs in Germany

Master’s degrees at German universities are usually free if they are classified as “consecutive”. That is, immediately after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Germany. Likewise, there is a small fee for semester enrollment, confirmation, and management, in addition to a semester ticket.

The tuition fees for a “non-consecutive” master’s degree, for those who have obtained a bachelor’s degree outside Germany, maybe around 20,000 euros (about 19,380 USD) annually in public institutions. Meanwhile, it reaches to 30,000 euros (29,000 USD) at private German universities.

For example, the highly-rated Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg in Germany imposes non-consecutive master’s fees with amount to 2,500 euros ($2,400) per semester for Master of Arts in American Studies. And it charges up to 5,000 euros ($4,800) per semester for a master’s degree in Medical Education (MME).

At the doctoral level, tuition fees became free again at all universities in Germany (for the first six semesters at least). Furthermore, PhD students in Germany are required to pay for a semester contribution of no more than 250 euros or a little more for administration and other costs.

Costs of living

While many students can study in Germany for free, the cost of living in Germany is unavoidable. However, the cost of living in Germany is higher in some regions than in others.

Compared to the average annual cost of living in Germany of about 10,200 euros ($9,900), Munich is, for example, the most expensive German city. Basically, the cost of living in Munich is about 12,000 euros ($13,500) annually.

The rent in Germany will be your biggest monthly expense. However, it costs less if you live in a shared apartment (the average rent is 280 EUR / 227 USD), or a student residence hall (234 EUR / 270 USD).

Finds more about the Best Universities in Germany.