Studying in Germany – The Complete Guide for International Students

Germany is globally renowned for its high-quality universities, excellent study conditions, and comparatively low tuition fees. Over 350,000 international students are already living and studying here. This guide provides all relevant information—clear, thorough, and up-to-date.

---

Why Study in Germany?

Germany offers:

• ✅ Excellent teaching – especially in engineering, natural sciences, and business
• ✅ Almost no tuition fees at public universities – exceptions apply in some states and universities
• ✅ Internationally recognized degrees under the Bologna system
• ✅ Over 2,000 programs taught in English, mostly at the Master’s level
• ✅ Attractive job prospects – particularly for STEM graduates

---

Types of Higher Education Institutions

Institution Type	Focus
Universities	Research, wide range of subjects, theoretical orientation
Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW/FH)	Practice-oriented, close ties with industry
Art / Music Colleges	Creative fields like media, design, music

---

Tuition Fees in Germany

🔹 General Overview

• Most public universities offer Bachelor and consecutive Master programs tuition-free
• A semester fee of approx. €150–350 per semester covers administration, student services, and often a public transport ticket¹

🔹 Exceptions

Baden-Württemberg

• Since WS 2017/18, international students from non-EU countries pay €1,500 per semester²

Bavaria – Technical University of Munich (TUM)

• The Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act (BayHIG) allows tuition fees for non-EU students since January 1, 2023; TUM has implemented this option³

• From WS 2024/25:

  • Bachelor: approx. €2,000–3,000 per semester
  • Master: approx. €4,000–6,000 per semester
  • Up to €12,000 per year total⁴

• Exceptions: students enrolled before WS 2024/25, German high school graduates, those with five years residence in Germany, asylum seekers, and persons with disabilities are exempt⁵

• Other Bavarian universities (e.g., FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, OTH Regensburg) currently do not charge general tuition fees, but sometimes small service fees (~€500 per semester for some English programs)⁶

---

Application, Language & Visa

• Degree recognition via anabin or the DAAD admissions database
• Language requirements:
  • German: B1/B2 (TestDaF, DSH, Goethe certificate)
  • English: TOEFL iBT (80–100), IELTS (6.0–7.0)
• Visa (for non-EU students):
  • Admission letter or applicant visa
  • Proof of approx. €11,208–11,904 per year in blocked account⁷
  • Health insurance, motivation letter, possibly APS certificate
  • Processing time typically 6–12 weeks

---

Tuition & Living Costs

• Tuition fees: none except Baden-Württemberg and TUM
• Semester fee: €150–350 per semester[¹]
• Living costs: approx. €850–1,200 per month
  • Rent: €250–500
  • Health insurance: approx. €110 per month
  • Food, leisure, transport, internet: €300–500

---

Finding Accommodation

• Student dormitories via Studentenwerk (apply early!)
• Shared flats (WG): wg-gesucht.de, studenten-wg.de
• Private apartments: immobilienscout24.de, local Facebook groups

---

Working While Studying

• Non-EU students: max. 120 full or 240 half days/year; max. 20 hours/week during semester; full-time in holidays
• Popular jobs: research assistant, working student, mini-jobs up to €556/month tax-free
• Career centers and job portals support students

---

Scholarships & Financial Support

Program	Amount	Target Group
DAAD Scholarships	Variable	Bachelor, Master, PhD
Deutschlandstipendium	€300/month	High-achieving students
Foundation scholarships	up to €1,200/month	e.g., Heinrich Böll, Konrad Adenauer

→ Many scholarships require early application before studies begin!

---

Working After Graduation

• 18 months residence permit for job search after graduation
• Then residence permit for skilled employment or EU Blue Card
• After 2 years: possibility of permanent residency
• Especially in demand: IT, engineering, healthcare, research, medicine

---

Conclusion

Studying in Germany offers excellent opportunities: high quality, international recognition, and mostly low costs. Note: non-EU students pay tuition fees in Baden-Württemberg and at the TUM in Bavaria. With good preparation (choice of study, financing, language, visa), these challenges can be overcome and a globally recognized degree achieved.

---

References

[¹] Semester fee in Germany (€150–350 per semester including admin, student services, public transport ticket): Wikipedia, various university sites (reddit.com, hindustantimes.com, en.wikipedia.org) ↩ Back to text

[²] Tuition fees in Baden-Württemberg since WS 2017/18 (€1,500 per semester for non-EU students): Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Württemberg (mwk.baden-wuerttemberg.de) ↩ Back to text

[³] BayHIG allows tuition fees; TUM implementation from WS 2024/25: Official TUM website (tum.de) ↩ Back to text

[⁴] Bachelor €2,000–3,000/semester, Master €4,000–6,000/semester, up to €12,000/year total: Hindustan Times, Wikipedia (de.wikipedia.org) ↩ Back to text

[⁵] Exemptions for students enrolled before WS 2024/25, German high school graduates, residence, asylum seekers, disabled persons: MS in Germany Guide, TUM Website (msingermany.co.in) ↩ Back to text

[⁶] Other Bavarian universities currently no general tuition fees; possible service fees ~€500 for some English programs: Wikipedia, Study.eu (study.eu) ↩ Back to text

[⁷] Proof of finance (€11,208–11,904/year) per official sources: (erudera.com) ↩ Back to text