The cost of studying in Germany depends mainly on where you live, not on tuition. Public universities charge no general tuition fees, so the main expenses are living costs at your place of study and the semester fee. As a guide, the BAföG maximum rate of €992 per month for students under 30 with their own flat and their own health insurance is useful. Over eight semesters, the typical total length of a bachelor’s degree, that comes to around €47,600. If you live with your parents or are covered by family insurance, the total is considerably lower.
The key points in brief
- No state now charges general tuition fees. Fees can apply for long-term study, a second degree, non-EU nationality in Baden-Württemberg and at private universities.
- The semester fee differs from university to university. It covers the student body and the student services organisation, often including the semester ticket.
- The Germany semester ticket costs about €37.80 per month in 2026 (€226.80 per semester), where it is offered.
- A shared flat costs €510 per month on average across Germany, which is more than the BAföG housing allowance of €380.
- With a monthly budget of €992 over 48 months, a bachelor’s degree of eight semesters comes to €47,616.
What is the total cost of studying?
The total cost of studying is made up of a few items. The largest is rent, followed by food, health insurance, mobility and the semester fee. The table shows the figures that can be reliably quantified.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees at public universities | No general tuition fees |
| Semester fee | Varies by university, shown on your university’s re-enrolment page |
| Germany semester ticket (2026) | €37.80 per month, €226.80 per semester |
| Shared flat (national average) | €510 per month |
| Student health insurance including long-term care | Around €143 to €148 per month |
| Broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) | €18.36 per month and household |
| BAföG maximum rate as a budget anchor | €992 per month |
The BAföG maximum rate combines basic needs, housing and insurance, and serves here as an anchor, even though it is not a cost statistic. How the money is spread across everyday life is covered in the article on how much money students need per month (in German).
Do you have to pay tuition fees to study in Germany?
At public universities there are no general tuition fees for a first degree. For nationals of EU and EEA states, they have been abolished everywhere since the winter semester 2014/15. Some exceptions affect specific groups.
- Students without EU or EEA nationality in Baden-Württemberg: according to the German Student Services Organisation (Deutsches Studierendenwerk), €1,500 per semester.
- Long-term study: some states charge fees, usually after the standard period of study plus about four semesters, with hardship exceptions. Bremen and Rhineland-Palatinate run study accounts, where fees only apply once the credit has been used up.
- Second degree: fees can also apply here. Ask your university which state charges what.
The Studierendenwerke compile the rules on fees for studying (in German) on their website. The binding information for your course comes from your university.
How high is the semester fee?
You pay the semester fee when you enrol and re-enrol for each semester, and it differs at every university. You will find the exact amount on your university’s website under re-enrolment or the fee regulations.
It consists of three parts: the contribution to the student body, the contribution to the student services organisation and, where applicable, the semester ticket. Some states also charge additional enrolment, administration or re-enrolment fees of about €50 per semester.
The Germany semester ticket costs €37.80 per month in 2026, which is €226.80 per semester and 60% of the price of the Deutschlandticket (€63). For 2027, a price of €40.08 per month has been agreed, which is €240.48 per semester. The Studierendenwerke explain the make-up on their page on the costs of studying (in German).
What does studying cost per semester?
Based on €992 per month, a six-month semester comes to €5,952. Add the semester fee, unless you pay it from your monthly budget. If you live in a student hall of residence or with your parents, you will spend less. If you study in Munich, you will spend more.
Housing shows the widest differences. A shared flat costs €510 per month on average, €850 in Munich, €650 in Berlin and Hamburg, and €640 in Cologne. In 76 of the 90 university cities studied, the average rent is above the BAföG housing allowance of €380.
What does studying at a private university cost?
Private universities charge tuition fees, and these should be the first thing you compare. Each university sets its own amount. Calculate the total for the full length of the course and do not just look at the monthly instalment.
Before you apply, check the following points:
- The total over the full length of the course, including all additional fees.
- The conditions if you drop out, change subject or extend your studies.
- State recognition of the university and the course.
- Financing models, scholarships or discounts offered by the provider.
State recognition also matters for health insurance. Student health insurance requires enrolment at a state or state-recognised university. Dual and part-time degree courses do not qualify. Clarify the status with your health insurer before you enrol.
What does distance learning cost?
The cost of distance learning depends on the provider. Compare the total up to graduation, not just the monthly fee. To enrol, for example at FernUniversität Hagen, you need a digital confirmation from a statutory health insurer of your insurance status. This also applies to privately insured students and those exempt from insurance. You can request it no earlier than 1 June (winter semester) or 1 December (summer semester).
What does health insurance cost while studying?
Until your 25th birthday, you can be covered as a family member if your total income does not exceed €565 per month. For a pure mini-job, the limit is €603. BAföG, maintenance and child benefit do not count as income.
After that, or if your income exceeds the limit, student health insurance applies, until the end of the semester in which you turn 30. In 2026, the contribution including long-term care insurance is €118.16 per month (under 23 or with a child) or €123.29 (childless from 23), plus the additional contribution of your fund. With the average additional contribution of 2.9%, this comes to around €143 or €148.
Alternatively, an exemption from compulsory insurance with a switch to private health insurance (PKV) may be an option. You must apply within three months of the start of your studies. The exemption generally applies for the whole degree and is irrevocable. Returning to statutory health insurance (GKV) is only possible in narrow cases, and PKV contributions can rise. What you need to know is covered in the article on PKV costs for students (in German).
Worked example: total cost of a bachelor’s degree
Example: Jonas, 22, bachelor’s degree at a public university, eight semesters, own flat, own health insurance. We use the BAföG maximum rate of €992 as the monthly budget. This is an assumption, and your figure depends on your city and lifestyle.
| Item | Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Living costs including housing and insurance | 48 months × €992 | €47,616 |
| Tuition fees | Public university | €0 |
| Semester fee | 8 semesters × amount charged by your university | Additional, if not included in the budget |
Jonas therefore needs about €47,600 for the entire degree, before the semester fee is added. Part of this can be covered by BAföG, a part-time job or support from his parents. For comparison, the Düsseldorf Table sets a maintenance need of €990 per month for students living away from home (guideline value 2025, including up to €440 warm rent, but excluding health and long-term care insurance).
How can you finance your studies?
Funding usually rests on several pillars. BAföG is half grant and half interest-free loan, and you repay at most €10,010. What you are entitled to is covered in the article on entitlement, amount and repayment of BAföG (in German). Your own income of up to €603 gross per month does not change the funding.
The Deutschlandstipendium pays €300 per month regardless of income, and the university selects the recipients. If that is not enough, loans are an option. The Bildungskredit from the Federal Office of Administration (in German) pays €100, €200 or €300 per month for at most 24 months, and the KfW student loan pays €100 to €650 per month. How the KfW student loan and private providers (in German) differ is shown in the comparison. The Studierendenwerke advise against financing an entire degree with a loan.
Frequently asked questions
What does studying cost per semester?
At a public university you pay no tuition fees, but you do pay the semester fee, the amount of which each university sets itself. Add your living costs. Using the BAföG maximum rate of €992 as an anchor, that comes to €5,952 per semester. Private universities also charge their own tuition fees.
What does a degree cost in Germany overall?
For a bachelor’s degree of eight semesters, a monthly budget of €992 comes to €47,616. If you live more cheaply, you will pay less. In expensive cities such as Munich, with an average of €850 for a shared flat, the total is higher. Private universities add their tuition fees on top.
What is included in the semester fee?
The semester fee consists of the contribution to the student body, the contribution to the student services organisation and, where applicable, the semester ticket. Some states also charge additional enrolment, administration or re-enrolment fees of about €50 per semester. Your university will tell you the total.
Do I have to pay for health insurance as a student?
Yes, you need health insurance cover. Up to age 25, you are usually covered as a family member if your income is low. After that, student health insurance costs around €143 to €148 per month in 2026. An exemption in favour of PKV generally applies for the whole degree and is hard to reverse.
What to do now
- Set your monthly budget and multiply it by the number of months until graduation.
- Look up the semester fee on your university’s website and check whether the semester ticket is included.
- Submit a BAföG application early, even if you are unsure whether you are entitled.
- Check with your health insurer whether you can stay on family insurance or need student insurance.
- For a private university, check the total cost over the full length of the course before you sign.
Related articles
- BAföG 2026: entitlement, amount and repayment explained (in German)
- How much money do students need per month? (in German)
- Student loan comparison: providers, interest rates and alternatives (in German)
- Bildungskredit 2026: requirements, application and interest (in German)
- Health insurance for students by age (in German)
- Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
