Studying in Frankfurt am Main costs 408.28 € per semester at Goethe University or 406.78 € at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (Frankfurt UAS) in the winter semester 2026/27. The median rent for a shared flat room is 630 € a month. Both semester fees include the Deutschlandsemesterticket, a regional transport ticket, for 226.80 €.
Frankfurt at a glance
| Topic | Frankfurt am Main |
|---|---|
| Goethe University | 40,684 students in the winter semester 2025/26 |
| Semester fee Goethe University | 408.28 € in the winter semester 2026/27 |
| Semester fee Frankfurt UAS | 406.78 € on re-enrolment, 416.78 € for new students |
| Deutschlandsemesterticket | 226.80 €, included in the semester fee |
| Shared flat room, median | 630 € in the winter semester 2026/27 |
| Registration | Bürgeramt of the City of Frankfurt |
| BAföG | BAföG office of the Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main |
Which universities are there in Frankfurt?
The largest university is Goethe University, with 40,684 students according to the official statistics of 1 December 2025. There is also the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, a university of applied sciences. For both, the Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main is the contact for housing, food and advice.
Frankfurt is close to other university locations. If you want to compare, see Studying in Darmstadt, Studying in Mainz and Studying in Gießen (all in German). A general orientation is offered by the best cities for students (in German).
What is included in the Frankfurt semester fee?
Both universities publish their fee components. At Goethe University, according to the student services, the winter semester 2026/27 breaks down as follows:
| Component (Goethe University) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Deutschland-Semester-Ticket | 226.80 € |
| Studierendenwerk | 106.50 € |
| Administration fee | 50.00 € |
| Student body | 17.10 € |
| Campus bike | 2.98 € |
| Social and cultural ticket | 2.20 € |
| AStA hardship fund | 1.60 € |
| Palmengarten AStA semester ticket | 1.10 € |
| Total | 408.28 € |
Frankfurt UAS calculates in a similar way, according to its overview of fees. Alongside the Deutschlandticket at 226.80 €, the items are 106.50 € for the Studierendenwerk, 50.00 € administration costs, 17.00 € for the student body, 2.98 € for the Call a Bike bike-sharing system, 2.00 € for legal protection insurance and 1.50 € for the cultural ticket. This makes 406.78 €, and 416.78 € for new students.
What does living in Frankfurt cost per month?
The Moses Mendelssohn Institut gives a median of 630 € for a shared flat room in Frankfurt for the winter semester 2026/27. The BAföG housing allowance, by contrast, is 380 €. The example below combines the median with the fixed costs for a 22-year-old student at Goethe University who is childless and compulsorily insured without an additional contribution from the health insurer. Long-term care insurance is lower under 23, so 30.78 € applies here.
| Example per month | Amount |
|---|---|
| Shared flat room (median) | 630.00 € |
| Semester fee (408.28 € divided by 6) | 68.05 € |
| Basic contribution, health insurance | 87.38 € |
| Long-term care insurance, under 23 | 30.78 € |
| Total without food, mobile phone and leisure | 816.21 € |
More ideas for your monthly budget can be found in How much money do you really need as a student each month and everyday saving tips for students (both in German).
Student residence, shared flat or own flat?
The Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main lists its residences on its website. With a median of 630 € for a shared flat room, it is worth looking at a residence place early. Helpful articles are residence or shared flat, finding a shared flat and finding an affordable flat during your studies (all in German).
Before you sign anything, take a look at the rental agreement for students (in German). If the money is still not enough, check housing benefit for students (in German). Liability and contents insurance for your first flat are explained in liability insurance in a shared flat and your own flat and contents insurance in a residence and shared flat (both in German).
How do you get to university in Frankfurt?
The Deutschlandsemesterticket at 226.80 € is part of the semester fee at both universities and appears as a separate item in both overviews. Check the area it covers with your university before you first use it. Which routes the ticket covers and what a bicycle adds is described in cheap travel as a student: semester ticket and Deutschlandticket (in German).
Second home tax and registration in Frankfurt
Frankfurt levies a second home tax. Ask the city for the rate and the rules for students before you register a second residence.
You register your flat at the Bürgeramt of the City of Frankfurt, which offers online services for this. Everything else about moving in is covered in moving and re-registering when you start studying (in German).
BAföG and advice on site
The BAföG office of the Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main is responsible. The page on office hours and contact persons lists the contacts. Nationwide, the basic need is 475 €, the housing allowance 380 €, and the maximum rate with your own health and long-term care insurance is 992 € a month. The application process and entitlement are explained in applying for BAföG and BAföG entitlement and amount (both in German).
Personal support is available from the advice service of the Studierendenwerk and the psychosocial counselling.
Canteens and part-time jobs in Frankfurt
Among other things, the Studierendenwerk runs the canteen and a casino at the Westend campus, and the menus are published on its website. More about eating during your studies is in the university canteen: more than just lunch (in German). Jobs can be found on the student job board of the Studierendenwerk at stellenmarkt.swffm.de.
The minimum wage in 2026 is 13.90 € per hour, and a mini-job ends at 603 € a month. If you want to stay covered by your family’s insurance, your total earnings may not exceed 565 € a month, and for a pure mini-job the limit is 603 €. Background information is provided in earning money alongside your studies, working as a student assistant and working student and health insurance (all in German).
Health insurance when you start studying in Frankfurt
For enrolment, every university requires the digital confirmation of a statutory health insurer. It can be retrieved from 1 June for the winter semester and from 1 December for the summer semester, including for privately insured students. Proof of health insurance for enrolment (in German) shows how this works.
Compulsory insurance for students ends with the semester in which you turn 30. Under 25, under certain conditions, family insurance under 25 (in German) is an alternative. If you are considering a change, changing health insurer as a student and additional contributions of the health insurers (both in German) can help. For advice on your situation, you can reach us via the Academycon homepage. The overview is provided by health insurance for students: what you need to know (in German).
Frequently asked questions
How high is the semester fee in Frankfurt?
At Goethe University it is exactly 408.28 € in the winter semester 2026/27. At Frankfurt UAS it is 406.78 € on re-enrolment and 416.78 € for new students. The Deutschlandticket at 226.80 € is included in each case.
What does a shared flat room cost in Frankfurt?
The Moses Mendelssohn Institut gives a median of 630 € a month for the winter semester 2026/27. The median divides the offers into a cheaper and a more expensive half. It is therefore not necessarily the same as the average.
Where do I register in Frankfurt?
At the Bürgeramt of the City of Frankfurt am Main, which offers online services. You can check whether your second residence is taxed on the city’s page about the second home tax.
Where can I apply for BAföG in Frankfurt?
At the BAföG office of the Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main. Office hours and contact persons are on the website of the Studierendenwerk.
Where can I find a student job in Frankfurt?
On the student job board of the Studierendenwerk Frankfurt at stellenmarkt.swffm.de. Keep in mind the limit of 603 € a month for mini-jobs.
Your plan for the first weeks
- From 1 June, request the proof of health insurance from your health insurer for the winter semester.
- Pay the semester fee on time. At Goethe University in the winter semester 2026/27 it was 408.28 €.
- Look early at the residence list of the Studierendenwerk Frankfurt and also search for a shared flat.
- Register your flat at the Bürgeramt.
- Submit your BAföG application to the Studierendenwerk as soon as you have the documents together.
Related articles
- Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared (in German)
- Studying in Darmstadt (in German)
- Studying in Mainz (in German)
- Studying in Gießen (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
