Germany, known colloquially as Deutschland, is a country with a rich history, bustling cities, exquisite scenery, incredible culture, and a landscape filled with palaces and abbeys.
The country has had a turbulent history that has had a significant influence on worldwide politics and history.
The country is rich in incredibly memorable sites, which you can found in its magnificent cities and landscapes. If nothing else, its beauty might be a compelling incentive to study in Germany!
If you aspire to pursue your studies abroad, Germany is an excellent alternative! The vast number of international students in Germany demonstrates that the country is an ideal destination for higher education worldwide.
Studying in Germany is highly recommended for international students, owing to the diversity of options that arise as an upshot of pursuing education in the country.
Germany’s universities have significant linkages with the country’s massive industrial and business sphere, providing promising professional chances to its graduates.
So, if you’re curious how much it costs for tuition, accommodation, lifestyle, and financial aid options while studying in Germany, go no further.
The article lays down the costs of each facet of university life to ensure that you are well prepared.
Table of Contents
Cost of Studying
Because of the tuition-free education provided by its public universities, Germany has become a preferred study abroad destination for overseas students. And the nation is unquestionably less expensive than many of its European competitors.
The majority of your spending, however, would be accounted for by your housing rent.
One of the prominent aspects of German higher education is the low tuition costs.
Because the majority of institutions in Germany are public, they provide free or low-cost education.
Each year, just an administrative fee is paid.
Education in Germany is free for International students if they get into any of the public universities.
Every semester, students must pay a small semester fee (about 250-500 Euros).
Tuition Fees
German educational institutions have lower tuition fees in comparison to other countries.
The average cost of studying in Germany is €9,170 per year, according to the DAAD.
The value fluctuates based on the curriculum you pick and the type of university you attend (public or private).
Because the majority of German universities are independent and government-funded, they charge relatively low to free tuition fees.
Neither of the public-funded institutions in Germany’s 16 states charges tuition to domestic and international students, notably for undergraduate (bachelor’s) courses!
However, some colleges charge a semester fee (€ 50-250) at the start of each semester to cover administrative costs as well as the cost of your “semester ticket.”
However, free tuition is only available at public institutions; private colleges charge between 15,000 and 30,000 Euros for a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
Undergraduate tuition fees:
Undergraduate tuition expenses range from $0 to minimal (please cross-check further with the institution you apply at).
Regardless of tuition rates (which vary based on the institution), you must pay a cost of around €150–250 a semester for enrolling, confirmation, and administration.
A semester ticket will cost you about €100 and will cover your transportation expenditures for 6 months.
If your stay exceeds four semesters, you must pay a long-term fee of €800 every semester.
As previously stated, private colleges charge slightly more than public ones, however, there are a variety of government financing sources accessible for students.
To discover more about the requirements for studying in Germany, go to the DAAD website.
If you want to study in Germany, you should be aware of the BAföG, which stands for the ‘Federal Student Financial Aid Programme’ and is available to foreign citizens under specific conditions.
This assistance covers essential living and training expenses, as well as possibilities to get a low-interest loan.
Postgraduate tuition fees:
In Germany, there are two types of postgraduate degrees available:
Consecutive
The continuation of a bachelor’s degree at the same school; often, there are no or little tuition expenses for master’s degrees.
Non-consecutive
If you finished your bachelor’s degree abroad and apply for your master’s degree at another institute in Germany, you will be pursuing a non-consecutive master’s degree, for which you should expect to spend almost €10,000 at public German universities and over €30,000 at private German universities every year.
For Ph.D.:
A Ph.D., the highest degree of formal education, is increasingly reliant on scholarships and financing supplied to you for your study.
At German universities, the cost of pursuing a Ph.D. is nearly nil to modest, however, a semester contribution of €150–200 may be required.
Cost of Living
Your living expenditures, like tuition, will vary substantially depending on where you live.
Munich is regarded for being the most costly city to live in, with typical monthly rents for a one-bedroom student apartment in the city center ranging from $1,000 to $1,500.
Leipzig, on the other hand, is routinely ranked as the most economical city for students to live in, with students paying around half of what they would in Munich.
Food and public transportation costs don’t vary much around the nation since there are enormous grocery shops and loads of cheap street food in every city, as well as trains, buses, and subways that operate frequently.
You may opt to eat out every meal and spend hundreds of dollars each week just on food, or you may prepare and occasionally indulge in a $3 kebab.
Food and transportation will be slightly more expensive in the major cities of Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Düsseldorf, but not much enough that you need fear.
Keep in mind that some colleges and study abroad programs provide reasonable student accommodations, such as dorms, including transportation discounts, reimbursements for city buses or trains.
Just because one area’s cost of living is higher than another doesn’t imply you’ll end up paying more; you must consider all of the aspects.
A monthly public transit pass in Berlin can cost $50, but if you receive half off by enrolling in a university in Munich, you’ll spend less money even though the cost of living in Munich is high.
Accommodation
Your budget will be one of the most crucial elements to consider when studying abroad. The cost of housing in Germany will vary based on whether you opt to live at a university or in private lodgings.
In comparison to other European nations, the cost of living in Germany is fairly inexpensive.
As of 2021, you will need around €861 a month to pay your living expenditures in Germany.
When it comes to housing, students in Germany have a few alternatives, but the primary one is to choose between student housing and renting a private property.
Because German institutions do not automatically assign students housing, you will need to conduct your own study to discover a suitable location.
Overall, the overall cost of living in Germany is determined by factors such as where you live and the sort of lifestyle you lead.
Rent, food, and clothing are all more expensive in industrialized cities.
In contrast, you might expect lower costs for several items and services in less-populated locations.
Student Accommodation
Every university town has student residential halls owned and operated by Studentenwerk (Student Services Organization).
This is the cheapest form of lodging, with monthly rents ranging at €240. Because the 181,000 placements are in great demand, it is recommended that you apply for this accommodation as soon as possible.
This is done through the Studentenwerk administration’s website at your selected university.
Types of Student Accommodation
Studentenwerk offers a variety of accommodation options.
A room on a floor with a shared kitchen, bathroom, and living space would be the cheapest and most social alternative.
You might also choose between self-contained flats with two to seven bedrooms.
Single and double apartments are offered for a more private residence, although they are also a little more expensive.
The cost varies according to the extent of outfitting.
You can apply for an accommodation with basic furnishings, such as a bed, desk, wardrobe, and bookshelves, or for accommodation that is unfurnished for a lower fee.
Private Accommodation
There is also the option of renting through a private landlord or an estate agent.
Prices vary widely depending on the location and quality of the property, but the average monthly rent in Germany is between 210 and 360 EUR (although in major urban centers the price could be higher). Consider living in a flatshare with roommates to save money.
The German term for a living community, or WG, is especially popular among university students.
Transportation
If students in Germany have access to a “semester ticket” that allows them to travel on public transportation for free, ravel becomes more inexpensive.
Semester ticket:
If you have a “semester ticket,” you can travel for free on trams, buses, local trains, and suburban trains.
For example, a “semester ticket” issued by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) costs € 65 each semester and entitles you to free use of all underground/suburban trains, trams, and buses operating within Munich public transit network.
A “semester ticket” is not, however, accessible at all higher education institutions.
Health & Accident Insurance
As an international student planning to study at a higher education institution in Germany, you must have health insurance coverage.
In Germany, you have the option of choosing between private (PKV) and statutory public health insurance (GVK) carriers and firms.
You must be insured by a statutory health insurance provider until the age of 30 or until the 14th complete study semester.
Only in exceptional circumstances will you be permitted to obtain private insurance.
A public health insurance policy has affordable prices, and if you look about, you may find that some even provide large savings to students, and you may even be allowed to pick your own doctor.
A statutory health insurance policy presently costs 50 euros per month, and it covers your spouse and children as well.
If you are privately insured in your home country, you must determine whether or not the same insurance is valid in Germany.
Additional costs
While studying in Germany, several additional costs must be addressed.
According to the DAAD, the average cost of food in Germany is approximately €165 (unless you learn to cook), clothing is €52, transportation is €82, phone and Internet is €33, study materials (including books and other stationery goods) is €30, and recreation is €68.
It will cost you roughly €10 to dinner out once in a while in a restaurant (preferably an inexpensive one).
Visa costs
Germany is a member of the Schengen region, which means that most nationalities can enter the country without a visa for up to 90 days.
A degree program lasting fewer than three months is almost unheard of, therefore we’re assuming you’ll require a student visa!
The charge for all visas in Germany is €60, but keep in mind that student visas don’t last forever, and you may need to pay more for a residence permit while you’re in the country.
This is an expense you may avoid if you are an EU citizen or a citizen of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, or Liechtenstein since you have the right to study in Germany without a visa!
Scholarships
Scholarships are divided into two types: government-funded and non-government scholarships.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarships for overseas students and Erasmus+ are two examples of government-funded scholarships.
Non-government scholarships include overseas students’ Heinrich Böll scholarships, the Kurt Hansen Science Scholarships, Mawista scholarships, and so forth.
Government scholarships for smart students that are not based on your or your parents’ wealth, nationality, or gender.
Fellowships for scholars pursuing a Ph.D. in Germany.
If you are from another nation, you should also evaluate the expense of returning home over the holidays.
Even if visiting your relatives is free, you should plan ahead of time.
In Conclusion
With tuition prices in Germany already being low or nonexistent, it’s the ideal spot to pursue a Master’s degree abroad (or a Ph.D. or Bachelor’s!) if you want to acquire a world-class education on a budget.
The total cost of college in Germany for international students is unbeatable, and with all of the extra perks of being in a region rich in culture, history, and world language supremacy, you really can’t go wrong. No parent has ever turned down the chance to save money on their child’s college education, so studying in Germany should be a no-brainer.
