Cost of Studying in Germany for International Students

Germany is one of the most popular destinations for international students. German universities- both private and public, offer quality education to the teeming number of foreign students that troop into the country for numerous Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes taught in English.

Germany is among the top destinations to study abroad, with finest universities and top quality of life. Almost all of the programmes are tuition free in the public universities for all foreign students. International students pay tuition and other fees at in the private universities in Germany.

If you’re planning to study and live as an international student in Germany, it’s good to know and have accurate expectations about the cost of living in Germany. egscholars  bring you all the details you need to know.

Tuition Fees in Germany

Public universities in Germany offer tuition-free education to all their international students. This is applicable to both European and non-European students, including Africans! This offer is for all three levels: bachelors, masters and PhD. There are almost 300 public universities in Germany, and well over 1,000 study programmes in total for you to choose from!

Interestingly, German Universities are among the top ranking universities in the world, just in case you think that they are not good enough because of the tuition-free benefits.

Tuition Fees at Private Universities in Germany

As noted earlier, free tuition is only applicable to the 300 public universities in Germany. However, the 100 private universities in Germany still charge tuition fees (of course, these are private businesses!). Tuition costs can reach 26,000 EUR/year for a Bachelor’s degree and 40,000 EUR/year for a Master’s. Programmes in Engineering and Business & Management are the most expensive.

Consecutive versus non-consecutive Master’s Programmes

German universities distinguish between “consecutive” and “non-consecutive” Master’s programmes. Consecutive programmes are those that you can enroll in immediately after you finish your Bachelor’s degree. Consecutive master’s programmes are tuition free in the public universities in Germany . Non-consecutive programmes usually require that students have post-Bachelor work experience. Such non-consecutive study programmes usually cost tuition fees, even at public universities.

Other Costs applicable

Undergraduate students will be expected to pay nominal costs per semesters. This cost will cover the administration fee, students support services and other miscellaneous costs and should be no more than €250 (US$315) per semeter. As all levels of study, masters and PhD students are also required to make a semester contribution of between €150 (US$170) and €250 (US$315) for administration and other costs, according DAAD.

Cost of living in Germany

Germany is also a pretty affordable country. The average costs of living for students range between 700 – 1,000 EUR/month, including accommodation. Based on official figures from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)

• Larger cities: Berlin, Frankfurt or Dusseldorf – total living costs of 900 – 1,500 EUR/month
• Smaller cities: Freiburg, Leipzig or Hannover – you will need 750 – 1,100 EUR/month

The prices for food, accommodation, bills, clothes, and entertainment are basically in line with the EU average. Your monthly rent is your largest expense in Germany.

It is important to note that this amount may fluctuate depending on the length of your program, your level of study, the German state you live in and whether your university is private or public.

Accommodation costs in Germany

While tuition fee is free in Germany, accommodation is not! Housing is the highest monthly expense you will have to plan for. There are many accommodation options for international students. Cheaper options are residence halls or sharing a privately rented apartment. You can also rent a one-room apartment (also called a studio). Below you will find the average accommodation costs for a student in Germany:

• Living alone in a studio: 390 EUR/month
• Sharing a privately rented flat: 365 EUR/month
• Living in a student residence: 250 EUR/month

Rooms in student residence halls are one of the most popular housing options. According to the DAAD, over 40% of international students live in a student residence. The second most popular option is sharing a flat, with 30% of students choosing this type of accommodation.

Some tuition-free universities in Germany

• Technical University of Munich
• Ludwig Maximilians University
• Heidelberg University
• Karlsruher Institute of Technology
• Humboldt University of Berlin
• Free University of Berlin
• RWTH University
• Technical University of Berlin
• University of Tubingen
• Albert Ludwig University
• Georg-Augusta University of Göttingen
• University of Hamburg
• University of Bonn

Some private universities in Germany

• Friedensau Adventist University
• The FOM University of Applied Science for Economics and Management
• SRH Hochschule Berlin