Expense Breakdown Sheet

Expense Breakdown Sheet
Germany is not so expensive in European terms. The cost of food,

accommodation, clothing, and cultural activities is just slightly above the EU
average. Our examples show you what studying in Germany might cost.
The main costs of studying abroad are living costs, university tuition fees,
semester fees, and health insurance.
Scholarships can enable you to finance your study abroad.
934 euros a month is, on average, what you will need to cover your living costs
as a student in Germany. You can expect to pay the following:
• A Semester Fee
• living costs (rent, food, clothing, books, telephone, etc)
• Health Insurance
• and – depending on the German state in which you are located – tuition
fees
https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/plan-your-studies/preparation/funding/
You can significantly reduce the monthly costs of studying depending on where
you go to university and how thriftily you live – if you use a bicycle instead of
public transport, for instance, eat in the university canteen to cut food bills, or
move into shared accommodation. Other costs, on the other hand, are fixed and
cannot be reduced. Rent will make up the biggest proportion of your monthly
costs. That, however, varies according to location. Students generally pay
between 290 and 560 euros for accommodation. Rents are above average in
some cities like Cologne, Munich, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, and Frankfurt.
A MONTH IN GERMANY
German students have approximately 934 euros at their disposal (source: an
updated calculation based on a 2022 survey carried out by the Deutsche
Studentenwerk, the body that provides support services to students). Monthly
costs:
rent 370,- euros

food 200,- euros
clothing 48,- euros
transport costs (car/public transport) 116,- euros
health 96,- euros
telephone/internet/TV-radio license fees/postage 32,- euros
study materials or equipment (books etc) 24,- euros
leisure, culture, and sport 48,- euros
––––––––––––––––––
total 934,- Euro
The sum of 934 euros is just intended to give you a ballpark figure – you could
get by with less, or you might need more in some cities. Most students live
in student halls or a flat share. By contrast, renting your own apartment is quite
expensive. And you have to pay a deposit upfront for an apartment or rented
room. The amount differs considerably. Sometimes a deposit of several hundred
euros is required.
In 2019, a new law was introduced that stipulated that you must prove that you
have sufficient financial resources before coming to Germany (when you apply
for a visa). This ensures that you can cover the costs of your studies.
Since 1 January 2022, the sum has been set at 934 euros per month or 11,208
euros per annum and you have to prove that you have these funds when you
apply for a visa. This can be done, for example, by supplying proof of your
parent’s income, a deposit made to a blocked bank account.
Ask the German embassy or consulate in your country about the terms and
conditions.
SEMESTER FEE
All students at a higher education institution are required to pay the semester
contribution. It includes contributions to the body providing student support
services (Studentenwerk) and the student representative body (AStA). The
amount varies depending on the higher education institution and can range from
100 to 350 euros. You have to pay the charge when you register to study and
before the start of each new semester. Whether you will have to pay for study
materials, like books and photocopies, will depend on your particular study
program.
At many higher education institutions, the semester contribution also includes

the cost of a “Semester ticket”: This is a travel pass that allows you to use public
transport in the area without paying a fare. These tickets can range in price from
25 euros to 200 euros depending on the area and their range. At some higher
education institutions, however, you have to pay for the semester ticket on top of
the semester fee. In this case, you can usually decide whether you want to buy
this ticket. If you live close to a higher education institution, for example, you
might not need it.
Example: University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2022/23
Semester ticket for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia 201.40 euros

social contribution to the Studentenwerk 90.00 euros
student representative body (AStA) 10.00 euros
student sport 1.75 euros
faculty-student councils (Fachschaften) 2.50 euros
fees for administration and hardship funds 3.50 euros
––––––––––––––––––––
Total: 309.15 Euros
TUITION FEES
As a rule, state higher education institutions do not charge tuition fees for
Bachelor’s or many Master’s degree courses. In a few German states, you are
charged fees for a second-degree course, or if you do not complete your study
program within a certain period.
Exception: The state of Baden-Württemberg introduced tuition fees of 1,500

euros per semester (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Diploma, Staatsexamen) for non-EU
citizens in the winter semester of 2017/18. The fees do not apply to doctoral
students. Students who were already enrolled before the charges were
introduced can also complete their degree programs without incurring tuition
fees.
Certain Master’s programs and online degree programs do charge tuition fees –
and they can be high. In some exceptional cases, you might have to pay more
than 10,000 euros per semester. Private higher education institutions mostly
charge very high tuition fees.
In Germany, the amount of tuition fees does not reflect the quality of the
education provided. Degree programs that are free of charge are also of very
high quality.
HEALTH INSURANCE
If you want to enrol at a German higher education institution, you will need
health insurance – that also applies to students from other EU countries. EU
citizens, however, must only prove that they have public health insurance in
their home countries. If the health insurance in your country is not valid in
Germany, then you will have to take out insurance here. Public health insurance
in Germany costs approximately 110 euros per month, if you are 30 years of age
or under, or you have not yet exceeded 14 semesters of study. Insurance
contributions rise to at least 166 euros per month after that.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES FOR STUDENTS

There are many ways of funding your studies in Germany. The DAAD offers
scholarship programs for German and foreign undergraduates, postgraduate
students, as well as researchers.
International students can also apply for scholarships from political or business-
linked foundations or religious organizations.
Please note that it is rarely possible to get funding from the DAAD and most
other institutions for your entire program of study — from your first to your last
semester. Generally, scholarships are not awarded to students who are just
starting out. The selection criteria are very exact. You have no general
entitlement to a scholarship.
You can find details of DAAD scholarships in our scholarship database, but it
also lists other grant-making organizations. Ask, too, in your own country
whether you are able to apply for scholarships or other funding possibilities
there. To scholarship database
ERASMUS+
There are special exchange programs for students from each one of the 27 EU
states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, and Macedonia. The
Erasmus+ scheme is one example.
The project supports people who want to study or do an internship abroad.

While internships can last from two months to a year, study placements last
from three to 12 months. Under Erasmus+ you can also apply for a total of 12
months’ funding for each academic stage (Bachelor’s, Master’s, doctorate). You
will receive a grant on a monthly basis. Your home university will determine
how much you will receive, according to European Commission guidelines.
Erasmus+ students are also exempt from paying tuition fees at the higher
education institution that they are visiting abroad.
You can receive information and advice about the various options, application
processes, and application deadlines at the international office of your university
and here.
CONCLUSION
WHEN CHOOSING YOUR PLACE OF STUDY IN GERMANY, IT IS
WORTH INFORMING YOURSELF ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING
THERE. THOSE COSTS VARY FROM CITY TO CITY.
THERE ARE VARIOUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

THAT MIGHT HELP YOU TO FUND YOUR STUDIES IN GERMANY.

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Expense Breakdown Sheet

Germany is not so expensive in European terms. The cost of food,

rent 370,- euros

At many higher education institutions, the semester contribution also includes

Example: University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2022/23

Semester ticket for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia 201.40 euros

Exception: The state of Baden-Württemberg introduced tuition fees of 1,500

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES FOR STUDENTS

The project supports people who want to study or do an internship abroad.

THERE ARE VARIOUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

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