The semester fee (Semesterbeitrag) at Goethe University Frankfurt is 408.28 euros in the winter term 2026/27, according to the university. More than half of it goes to the Deutschland-Semester-Ticket. This guide shows the breakdown, the comparison with last year and the re-enrolment deadline of 1 to 31 July 2026.
Short answer: According to Goethe University, the semester fee in the winter term 2026/27 is 408.28 euros. Of this, 226.80 euros go to the semester ticket, 106.50 euros to the Studierendenwerk, 50.00 euros to the administration fee set by law and 17.10 euros to the student body. According to the university’s semester dates, the re-enrolment deadline ran from 1 to 31 July 2026. Date of the page: 14 October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Total in the winter term 2026/27: 408.28 euros (Goethe University, page last changed on 14 October 2026).
- The semester ticket accounts for 226.80 euros, about 56 per cent of the fee.
- Compared with the winter term 2025/26 (381.28 euros according to Journal Frankfurt), the fee rises by 27.00 euros.
- The ticket share rose from 208.80 euros to 226.80 euros, an increase of 18.00 euros.
- Re-enrolment works through timely payment of the semester fee. According to the semester dates, the deadline ran from 1 to 31 July 2026.
What does the fee at Goethe University consist of?
On its page on continuing and ending your studies (in German), Goethe University lists the fee for the winter term 2026/27 with all individual items.
| Item | Amount in euros | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| Semester ticket (Deutschland-Semester-Ticket and environmentally friendly mobility) | 226.80 | about 55.5 per cent |
| Studierendenwerk (student services) | 106.50 | about 26.1 per cent |
| Administration fee (set by law) | 50.00 | about 12.2 per cent |
| Student body (set by the AStA) | 17.10 | about 4.2 per cent |
| Campus bike | 2.98 | about 0.7 per cent |
| Social/culture ticket | 2.20 | about 0.5 per cent |
| AStA hardship fund | 1.60 | about 0.4 per cent |
| Palmengarten AStA semester ticket | 1.10 | about 0.3 per cent |
| Total | 408.28 | 100 per cent |
The eight items add up to exactly 408.28 euros. The percentages are our calculation, rounded to one decimal place.
How has the fee changed compared with last year?
For the winter term 2025/26, the city magazine Journal Frankfurt reported a semester fee of 381.28 euros and a ticket share of 208.80 euros. This is a secondary source; we could not obtain a table from the university for that term. The university page links to a PDF overview of fees since 2009, which we were unable to read.
| Figure | Winter term 2025/26 | Winter term 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 381.28 (Journal Frankfurt) | 408.28 (university) | +27.00 |
| Semester ticket | 208.80 (Journal Frankfurt) | 226.80 (university) | +18.00 |
| All other items combined | 172.48 (calculation) | 181.48 (calculation) | +9.00 |
The increase of 9.00 euros in the other items cannot be verified item by item. Journal Frankfurt reported that the Studierendenwerk contribution was to rise by a further 10 euros from the summer term 2026. The sources do not show whether and how that matches the university figures.
What does the amount mean for your budget?
Assumption: a semester has six months. Then 408.28 euros equal about 68.05 euros per month, and the ticket alone 37.80 euros. Without the ticket share, 181.48 euros remain on paper (408.28 minus 226.80). This is a calculation for orientation, not an offer by the university without a ticket.
How the costs add up in the city is shown in our guide Studying in Frankfurt (in German). For the basics of semester tickets and the Deutschlandticket, see Affordable travel as a student (in German).
How does the amount compare?
A comparison depends mainly on whether a semester ticket is included. LMU Munich shows only 97.00 euros in the winter term 2026/27 because no ticket share is charged; see Semester fee at LMU Munich. The AStA table of the University of Cologne gives 355.65 euros, of which 226.80 euros is the ticket; see Semester fee University of Cologne. Take out the ticket price and Frankfurt comes to 181.48 euros and Cologne to 128.85 euros (355.65 minus 226.80). The difference of about 52.63 euros is largely explained by the 50 euro administration fee, which the Cologne table does not show. This is a calculation for orientation, not a ranking of universities.
Which deadline applies to re-enrolment?
The university describes re-enrolment as timely payment of the semester fee. The university’s semester dates give the re-enrolment deadline for the winter semester 2026/27 as 1 to 31 July 2026. The university page and the payment request in your student portal are authoritative. Our guide Re-enrolment and semester fee: deadlines and consequences (in German) summarises what typically happens if you miss a deadline.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the semester fee at Goethe University?
According to the university, 408.28 euros in the winter term 2026/27. It consists of eight items, the largest being the semester ticket at 226.80 euros.
What is the 50 euro administration fee for?
The university describes it as set by law. The page gives no details of the legal basis or of how it is used.
What is the social/culture ticket?
The university lists the item at 2.20 euros. The page does not explain what it covers in detail. Ask the university or the AStA.
Can I opt out of the semester ticket share?
The page names no rule on this. Exemptions are governed by the university’s rules. Clarify this before paying.
Where can I find earlier fees?
The university links to a PDF overview of semester fees from 2009 to 2026. We could not read it; use it for an exact comparison across several terms.
What you should do now
- Open the Goethe University page and read the items for your term.
- Compare them with the payment request in your student portal.
- Put the deadline of 1 to 31 July 2026 in your calendar with a buffer of a few working days.
- Pay on time and keep the payment confirmation.
Related guides
- Studying in Frankfurt am Main: semester fee, shared flats and registration (in German)
- Affordable travel as a student: semester ticket and Deutschlandticket (in German)
- Re-enrolment and semester fee: deadlines and consequences (in German)
- Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared
Sources: Goethe University Frankfurt, semester dates 2025 to 2031 (deadline, accessed October 2026); Goethe University Frankfurt, Studium weiterführen und beenden: semester fee winter term 2026/27 (page last changed on 14 October 2026); Journal Frankfurt, report ‘Wintersemester 2025/26: Studieren in Frankfurt wird teurer’ (city magazine, secondary source, status winter term 2025/26).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
