If you are studying in Bonn, you pay a semester fee of €363.07 at the University of Bonn in the winter semester 2026/27. At Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences it is €367.00. Both fees include the Germany semester ticket (Deutschlandsemesterticket) for €226.80. On top of that comes the student health insurance, with a basic contribution of €87.38 per month, plus the additional contribution of your insurer and long-term care insurance.
Bonn at a glance
| Topic | Figure for Bonn |
|---|---|
| University of Bonn | 31,318 students (reference date not stated on the university’s page) |
| Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences | around 9,000 students in the academic year 2025/26, sites in Sankt Augustin, Rheinbach and Hennef |
| Semester fee winter semester 2026/27 | €363.07 (university), €367.00 (Bonn-Rhein-Sieg) |
| Germany semester ticket | €226.80, included in the semester fee |
| Shared flat room | median €565 in the winter semester 2026/27 |
| Residence halls of the student services organisation | 29 residence halls with more than 3,700 places |
| Second-home tax | 15% of the annual net basic rent |
| BAföG office | Office for Training Support (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) of the Studierendenwerk Bonn |
Which universities can you study at in Bonn?
The Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn is the largest institution in the city with 31,318 students, including around 5,285 from abroad. Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences has its sites in the surrounding area: Sankt Augustin, Rheinbach and Hennef. Before you look for a flat, check at which site your courses take place, because Sankt Augustin, Rheinbach and Hennef lie outside Bonn.
If you are still weighing up several places to study, the guide Big city or small town (in German) can help. For a direct comparison with other cities, the overview Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared (in German) is useful.
What is the semester fee for studying in Bonn?
The student services contribution for the Studierendenwerk is €115.00 at both institutions. The amounts for the winter semester 2026/27 break down as follows:
| Component | University of Bonn | Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences |
|---|---|---|
| Studierendenwerk | €115.00 | €115.00 |
| Germany semester ticket | €226.80 | €226.80 |
| Student self-government | €14.00 | €13.50 |
| Subject groups (Fachschaften) | €2.25 | €6.50 |
| Student sport | €1.50 | €3.50 |
| Culture ticket | €3.00 | not itemised |
| Nextbike | not itemised | €1.50 |
| Student social facilities | €0.50 | not itemised |
| Emergency fund | €0.01 | €0.20 |
| Special account for the mobility contribution | €0.01 | not itemised |
| Total | €363.07 | €367.00 |
More than half of the fee at the university goes to the semester ticket. The University of Bonn does not list a separate administrative fee.
How much money do you need per month in Bonn?
The example assumes a childless female student aged 23 or over at the University of Bonn, who is insured under compulsory student health insurance. Rent and food come on top, and the calculation deliberately leaves open the additional contribution of the insurer. A guide figure for the overall budget is given in How much money do you really need per month as a student (in German).
| Example: fixed costs per month | Amount |
|---|---|
| Semester fee (€363.07 divided by 6) | €60.51 |
| Health insurance, basic contribution | €87.38 |
| Long-term care insurance (childless from 23) | €35.91 |
| Subtotal without additional contribution and rent | €183.80 |
| Plus a shared flat room at the median of €565 | €748.80 |
For comparison, the maximum BAföG rate for students under 30 with their own flat and their own health insurance is €992 per month. After deducting the €748.80 from the example, around €243 remains for food, mobile phone, clothing and everything else. If you plan to study in Bonn with BAföG, you should therefore calculate housing costs against the funding rate early on. A hall place or additional income can narrow the gap.
Hall, flat share or your own flat: where do you live in Bonn?
The Studierendenwerk Bonn (in German) runs 29 residence halls with more than 3,700 places in and around Bonn. According to the hall list, rents range from €215.00 to €816.00, depending on the residence. Whether a rent is inclusive or exclusive of utilities is shown in the description of each residence. A hall place can significantly reduce your fixed costs, so apply early.
On the private market, the median for a shared flat room in the winter semester 2026/27 is €565. The Moses Mendelssohn Institut (in German) places Bonn in the upper price segment of university locations. Tips for the search are in Finding a flat share (in German), and the decision guide Student hall or flat share (in German) helps you choose. Before you sign, have a look at Rental contracts for students (in German).
Your flat also needs the right insurance cover. How contents are protected in a hall and in a flat share is explained in Contents insurance in halls and flat shares (in German).
What applies to the semester ticket in Bonn?
The Germany semester ticket is included in the semester fee at both institutions and costs €226.80 per semester. That works out to €37.80 per month. Your institution will tell you where the ticket is valid. General information on semester tickets and the Germany ticket is in Semester ticket and Germany ticket (in German).
How do you register in Bonn, and what about the second-home tax?
Register your residence after you move in at the citizens’ registration office (Bürgerbüro) of the City of Bonn. Registration is in person by appointment (in German), which you book online with the city. Bring valid identity documents. The moving checklist in Moving and registering when you start studying (in German) helps with the other steps.
Bonn levies a second-home tax (in German) of 15% of the annual net basic rent. Clarify directly with the city how the statute treats students before you decide between a main and a secondary residence. At a net basic rent of €400 per month, the rate would come to €720 per year.
Where do you apply for BAföG in Bonn, and where can you get advice?
The application goes to the Office for Training Support (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) of the Studierendenwerk Bonn. You submit the application online via BAföG Digital, and the link is on the homepage of the Studierendenwerk. As of 2026, the basic need is €475 and the housing allowance is €380 for students who do not live with their parents. How the entitlement is calculated is explained in BAföG eligibility and amount (in German), and Applying for BAföG (in German) helps with the application itself.
The Studierendenwerk Bonn offers social counselling, psychological counselling and writing advice under “Advice and social services” (Beratung & Soziales). Child benefit and housing benefit may also play a role, see Child benefit while studying and Housing benefit for students (both in German).
How do you find a part-time job in Bonn?
A first point of contact is the job exchange of the Studierendenwerk Bonn (in German). Mind the limits: the statutory minimum wage is €13.90 per hour, and the mini-job limit is €603 per month. For BAföG, your own income up to €603 gross per month has no effect on the funding. More ideas are in Finding a part-time job as a student and Student assistant (both in German).
How are you insured as a student in Bonn?
If you are enrolled at a state or state-recognised university, you are in compulsory student insurance under statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV), unless a primary insurance applies. This is the same in Bonn as everywhere else. The contribution rate of 10.22% is calculated on €855, which gives a basic contribution of €87.38. To this come your insurer’s additional contribution and long-term care insurance, which is €35.91 for childless people from 23.
Before enrolment, the university requires a digital confirmation from your insurer. The details are in Proof of health insurance for enrolment (in German). Up to age 25, beitragsfreie family insurance through your parents can be an alternative, see Family insurance until 25 (in German). An overview is also given in Health insurance for students: what you need to know (in German). If you would like to discuss your choice of insurance in person, the Academycon homepage leads to our advice service.
Frequently asked questions
What is the semester fee in Bonn?
At the University of Bonn, it is €363.07 for the winter semester 2026/27, and at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences it is €367.00. Both amounts include the Germany semester ticket for €226.80 and the student services contribution of €115.00. The institutions can adjust the amounts in later semesters, so check the current figure on their fee pages.
What does a shared flat room cost in Bonn?
For the winter semester 2026/27, the Moses Mendelssohn Institut gives a median of €565 per month. This places Bonn in the upper price segment of university locations. In the Studierendenwerk’s residence halls, rents range from €215.00 to €816.00, depending on the residence.
Is there a second-home tax for students in Bonn?
The city levies a second-home tax of 15% of the annual net basic rent. Ask the city directly how it treats students before you register.
Where do I apply for BAföG in Bonn?
At the Office for Training Support of the Studierendenwerk Bonn. The application is made online via BAföG Digital. Submit it early, ideally before the semester starts, because processing takes time and requires documents such as your certificate of enrolment.
How to prepare for the first weeks
- Get the confirmation from your statutory health insurer for enrolment.
- Pay the semester fee of €363.07 (University of Bonn) or €367.00 (Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences) on time.
- Apply to the Studierendenwerk Bonn for a hall place and look for a shared flat room in parallel.
- After moving in, book an appointment at the citizens’ registration office and register your residence.
- Submit the BAföG application via BAföG Digital as soon as you have your documents together.
You might also like
- Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared (in German)
- Studying in Cologne (in German)
- Studying in Aachen (in German)
- Checklist for the start of studies (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
