Studying in Kiel costs €403 per semester at Christian-Albrechts-Universität (CAU) in the winter semester 2026/27. The Germany semester ticket at €226.80 is included, so you do not need a separate local transport ticket. In the winter semester 2025/26, 24,416 students were enrolled at the CAU.
The key points at a glance
- The CAU semester fee is €403, of which €226.80 is for the Germany semester ticket.
- The Studierendenwerk Schleswig-Holstein runs 10 dormitories in Kiel with places for 1,964 students.
- Kiel levies a second-home tax, and the city’s information sheet (as of March 2023) names no exemption for students.
- You apply for BAföG digitally, and the BAföG office belongs to the Studierendenwerk.
- With the Kulturticket you get a free ticket for every performance at Theater Kiel.
How many students does Kiel University have, and which universities are there?
The CAU is the city’s university and reports 24,416 students in total for the winter semester 2025/26. Alongside it there is the HAW Kiel, formerly known as Fachhochschule Kiel, and the Muthesius Kunsthochschule. Students at all three universities are entitled to the Kulturticket.
Kiel at a glance
| Topic | Value in Kiel |
|---|---|
| Students CAU | 24,416 (winter semester 2025/26) |
| Semester fee CAU | €403 (winter semester 2026/27) |
| Germany semester ticket | €226.80, included in the semester fee |
| Dormitories of the Studierendenwerk | 10 with 1,964 places |
| Canteens | 5 in Kiel |
| Kulturticket | €1.90, included in the semester fee |
How is the semester fee of the CAU made up?
The AStA of the university breaks down the €403 into six items.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Studierendenwerk | €89.00 |
| Student body (AStA) | €22.10 |
| Reimbursement costs | €3.20 |
| Kulturticket | €1.90 |
| Semester ticket | €226.80 |
| Administration fee | €60.00 |
| Total | €403.00 |
If you are enrolled at the HAW Kiel or the Muthesius, ask your university for the amounts that apply to you. For the HAW Kiel, the fee page is available.
What does the Germany semester ticket cover in Kiel?
It is valid for second-class local transport wherever the Deutschlandticket applies, that is on buses, regional trains, trains, U-Bahn and S-Bahn, and trams. It also covers the Kiel fjord ferries, the F1 Fördelinie at weekends and the Priwall ferry in Lübeck for students from Kiel and Flensburg. It is not valid on long-distance buses or on ferries to the North Sea islands. For a comparison with other tickets, see semester ticket and Deutschlandticket (in German).
How do you live in Kiel as a student?
The Studierendenwerk Schleswig-Holstein runs 10 dormitories in Kiel for a total of 1,964 students. Ask the Studierendenwerk about rents and waiting times. For the search for a shared flat, and for deciding which housing form suits you, the articles dormitory or shared flat and finding a shared flat (both in German) help.
If you have a dispute with your landlord, the AStA of the CAU offers legal advice from a lawyer, for example on tenancy law. It is available by appointment only. In addition, the Studierendenwerk advises under the title “Studentisches Leben” on flat hunting, jobs, insurance and financing. If you want to check the contract beforehand, read tenancy agreements for students (in German). Protecting your belongings is also part of setting up home, see contents insurance in a dormitory and a shared flat (in German).
Do you have to pay second-home tax in Kiel?
Yes, if Kiel is your secondary residence. The information sheet of the City of Kiel (as of March 2023) names no exemption for students. According to it, people who are registered at their parents’ home with their main residence are also liable. Only married couples who do not live permanently apart, whose second home in Kiel is for work reasons and which they mainly use, are exempt. You can ask the current rate at the city’s Amt für Finanzwirtschaft ([email protected]). Practical information on main residence and re-registration is in moving and registration for your studies (in German).
Where do you register in Kiel?
The responsible office is the city office in the town hall, residents’ affairs section. You can book an appointment for registration matters online through the city’s appointment booking.
What does living in Kiel cost per month?
Rent varies greatly depending on the housing form, so the calculation shows only the fixed costs. Assumptions: you are 24 and childless, you study at the CAU, and you are insured with a health insurer that charges the average additional contribution of 2.9%. Rent, food and leisure come on top.
| Item | Amount per month |
|---|---|
| Semester fee (€403 divided by 6) | €67.17 |
| Health insurance (€87.38 basic contribution plus €24.80 additional contribution) | €112.18 |
| Long-term care insurance (childless from age 23) | €35.91 |
| Total of fixed costs | €215.26 |
For students under 30 with their own flat and their own health and long-term care insurance, BAföG provides at most €992, of which €380 is the housing allowance. An overview of typical expenses is provided by How much money do you need per month (in German). You eat in one of the five canteens, namely Mensa I, Mensa II, Mensa Kesselhaus, Schwentine Mensa and Mensa Dockside. Current prices are on the page canteens in Kiel, and general notes are in the canteen during your studies (in German).
Where do you apply for BAföG in Kiel?
The responsible office is the BAföG office (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) of the Studierendenwerk Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel site. You submit the application via BAföG Digital, and you do not need a signed paper version. Contact details are on the BAföG office of the Studierendenwerk. The process is explained in applying for BAföG (in German), and the amount is covered in BAföG eligibility and amount (in German).
Which part-time jobs and advice services are there?
For students, the minimum wage of €13.90 gross per hour and the mini-job limit of €603 per month apply in 2026. The “Beratung Studentisches Leben” of the Studierendenwerk helps with the job search, and the article finding a part-time job as a student (in German) fits well with it. If you want to work at the university itself, you will find information under student assistant jobs (in German). If studies place you under strain, the Studierendenwerk offers psychological counselling.
What does the Kulturticket offer?
Students of the CAU, the HAW Kiel and the Muthesius receive a free ticket for every performance at Theater Kiel. Tickets are available from three days before the performance. You register once and show your student ID at the entrance. The offer is financed through €1.90 in the semester fee. More discounts are collected in benefits with student status (in German).
Which health insurance do you need in Kiel?
The rules are the same across Germany. For enrolment, you present proof of statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV), and proof of health insurance at enrolment (in German) explains how this works. If you are under 25, family insurance under 25 (in German) may be an option. Contributions are classified in health insurance costs for students by age (in German), and the basics are in health insurance for students (in German). For a personal conversation about your insurance, use the Academycon homepage as your starting point for advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the semester fee at Kiel University?
In the winter semester 2026/27 it is €403 at the CAU. It includes the Germany semester ticket at €226.80 and the administration fee of €60.
Does the semester ticket in Kiel also cover long-distance travel?
No, it covers second-class local transport. It is not valid on long-distance buses or on ferries to the North Sea islands.
How many dormitory places are there in Kiel?
The Studierendenwerk Schleswig-Holstein lists 10 dormitories in Kiel with places for 1,964 students.
Is there second-home tax for students in Kiel?
The city levies it and names no exemption for students in its information sheet (as of March 2023). People registered at their parents’ home with their main residence can also be liable.
How to prepare for your first weeks
- Ask the Studierendenwerk for a dormitory place and look for a shared flat at the same time.
- Book an appointment online at the city office to register.
- Obtain the confirmation for enrolment from your health insurer.
- Pay the semester fee so that the semester ticket and Kulturticket are valid.
- Submit the BAföG application via BAföG Digital.
Related guides
- Studying in Hamburg (in German)
- Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared (in German)
- Checklist for the start of your studies (in German)
- First-semester tips (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
