Tuition Fees
The majority of higher education institutions in Germany are financed by the state. There are generally no fees for Bachelor's courses or most Master's courses at state higher education institutions.
Tuition fees may have to be paid for certain continuing education Master's programmes, but they are not particularly high compared to other countries. Private higher education institutions may demand fees for their degree programmes.
Semester Contribution
In Germany, all students at all higher education institutions must pay a semester contribution. This payment has nothing to do with tuition fees; rather, it covers your contributions to student services and the student government (AStA). At many higher education institutions, it also includes a semester ticket that allows you to use public transport in the region. The semester contribution varies between higher education institutions and comes to between 100 and 350€. It has to be paid when you enroll and before the start of every new semester.
Living Expenses
867€ a month is, on average, what you will need to cover your living costs as a student in Germany.
Average Everyday Prices
| ITEM | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 loaf of bread (approx. 500g) | €2 |
| 1 Kg me of potatoes | €0.99 |
| 1 L of milk | €0.90 |
| 1 bottle of mineral water (0.75L) | €0.80 |
| 1 cup of coffee (in a café) | €2.50 |
| 1 glass of beer (in a pub) | €3 |
| 1 pizza (in a restaurant) | €7 |
| 1 lunch (in the cafeteria) | €2.50 |
| 1 T-shirt | €10-50 |
| 1 pair of trousers | €30-100 |
| 1 cinema ticket (with student discount) | €6 |
| 1 theatre ticket (with student discount) | €6-30 |
| 1 museum ticket (with student discount) | €2-8 |