Studying in Göttingen costs 484.18 € per semester at the Georg-August-Universität in the winter semester 2026/27, and 478.63 € at the HAWK. Both fees include a semester ticket. Rent, food and health insurance come on top, and health insurance is calculated nationwide in the same way for all students.
Göttingen in figures: the essentials at a glance
| Item | Value for Göttingen | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Students at the university | 27,229 (23,149 excluding medicine) | WS 2025/26 |
| Semester fee university | 484.18 € | WS 2026/27 |
| Semester fee HAWK | 478.63 € | WS 2026/27 |
| Contribution to the Studierendenwerk | 157.00 € (from SoSe 2027: 167.00 €) | applies from SoSe 2026 |
| Waiting time for a residence place | 3 to 48 months depending on the residence | overview list of the Studierendenwerk, undated |
| Second home tax | 10% of the net cold rent | according to the city’s FAQ |
The number of students is published by the University of Göttingen itself, and the amounts come from the fee pages of the universities. If you are choosing between cities, the overview of all 30 university cities (in German) shows the same key figures side by side. The neighbouring cities Kassel, Braunschweig and Hannover each have their own guides (all in German).
Which universities are there in Göttingen?
The largest university is the Georg-August-Universität, with 27,229 students in the winter semester 2025/26. Excluding medicine, 23,149 remain. There is also the Göttingen site of the HAWK Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst, a university of applied sciences with several sites. Both universities charge their own semester fee, so the amount you pay depends on where you enrol.
How high is the semester fee in Göttingen?
At the University of Göttingen the semester fee for the winter semester 2026/27 is 484.18 € in total, charged both on enrolment and on re-enrolment. It consists of the administration fee, the student body contribution (which includes the semester ticket) and the contribution to the Studierendenwerk. The fee schedule of the university lists the items.
According to the fee regulations dated 26 June 2025, the contribution to the Studierendenwerk has been 157.00 € since the summer semester 2026 and rises to 167.00 € in the summer semester 2027. If you have used up your period of study entitlement, you also pay 500 € in long-term tuition fees, which brings the total for the winter semester 2026/27 to 984.18 €.
At the HAWK Göttingen the fee for the winter semester 2026/27 is 478.63 €. According to the fee regulations, the semester ticket share there is 226.80 €, and at the Göttingen site a culture ticket is added. The breakdown by site is on the page of the HAWK enrolment office.
What does one month of studying in Göttingen cost?
Part of your fixed costs can be calculated from verified figures. The rent you have to insert yourself, depending on your type of accommodation. As a guide, the BAföG housing allowance of 380 € serves here, but it is not a Göttingen average rent.
| Item (example: 24 years old, childless, university) | Amount per month |
|---|---|
| Semester fee 484.18 € divided by 6 months | around 81 € |
| Health and long-term care insurance with an average additional contribution of 2.9% | around 148 € |
| Subtotal | around 229 € |
| Rent as a placeholder (BAföG housing allowance) | 380 € |
| Total without food, mobile phone and leisure | around 609 € |
How health insurance is calculated is explained further down. For a complete budget, the articles How much money do you really need each month and budget planning during your studies (both in German) help.
Residence or shared flat: how do you live in Göttingen?
The Studierendenwerk Göttingen rents single rooms, single apartments, group flats for two to six people, double apartments and flats for student families. The warm rents include internet fees. The overview list of the Studierendenwerk gives waiting times of between 3 and 48 months depending on the residence, with no date given. Register early and ask the Studierendenwerk directly for the current position.
If you do not get a residence place, you search on the open market. What a shared flat room costs varies with location and furnishing, so compare several listings. Our articles help you decide whether a residence or a shared flat suits you better (in German), with the shared flat search and the rental agreement for students (both in German). If you have little income, check whether housing benefit for students is an option (in German).
How does the semester ticket work in Göttingen?
The university’s semester ticket is part of the student body contribution and is therefore included in the semester fee. At the HAWK the semester ticket contribution is 226.80 €. You therefore do not need a separate ticket for journeys within the valid area. More on the differences between the semester ticket and the Deutschlandticket is in cheap travel as a student: semester ticket and Deutschlandticket (in German).
Where do you register in Göttingen, and what about the second home tax?
The Bürgerbüro of the City of Göttingen is responsible. Registration must take place within two weeks of moving in, and a late registration can result in a fine. You need your landlord’s confirmation of residence (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung), a rental agreement alone is not enough. Registration is free of charge, and the details are given by the City of Göttingen.
According to the city’s FAQ, Göttingen levies a second home tax of 10% of the net cold rent, which is the basic rent without service and heating costs. Ask before you register whether the bylaws still apply unchanged. According to the city, students who keep their main residence with their parents, for example in their childhood bedroom, must pay. If you register your main residence in Göttingen, you are typically not covered by the bylaws. The details are in the city’s FAQ on the second home tax. How re-registration and the tax affect you is also explained in moving and re-registering when you start studying (in German).
Where do you apply for BAföG in Göttingen?
The Studienfinanzierung department of the Studierendenwerk Göttingen is responsible, and as the office for training grants it also accepts digital applications. The university’s page refers to the application routes.
Nationwide the rule is: the basic need is 475 €, and the housing allowance for students who do not live with their parents is 380 €. With the supplements for health and long-term care insurance (102 € and 35 €), the maximum rate comes to 992 € a month. How to check your entitlement is explained in applying for BAföG and BAföG entitlement and amount (both in German).
How do you find a part-time job in Göttingen?
First ask at the university about positions as a student assistant, and look at the tips in finding a part-time job as a student (in German). Since 1 January 2026 the minimum wage has been 13.90 € gross per hour, and the mini-job limit is 603 € a month. That equals around 43 hours a month. More ideas are in earning money alongside your studies (in German).
How are you insured in Göttingen?
Whether in Göttingen or elsewhere, enrolled students are generally compulsorily insured in the statutory health insurance, unless they are covered as family members or exempt. The calculation is based on 855 € at 10.22%. With long-term care insurance this comes to 118.16 € (under 23 or with a child) or 123.29 € (childless from 23), plus your insurer’s additional contribution. At the average rate of 2.9%, that means around 143 € or 148 € a month. Student insurance generally ends at the end of the semester in which you turn 30.
For enrolment the university requires a digital confirmation from a statutory insurer. It can be retrieved for the winter semester from 1 June and for the summer semester from 1 December. Everything about this is in proof of health insurance for enrolment (in German), the costs by age in costs of health insurance by age, and the differences between the insurers in additional contributions of health insurers (both in German). Private insurance affects the entire course of study, and the exemption is irrevocable. The trade-off is covered in PKV or GKV during your studies (in German). The Academycon homepage leads you to advice if you want to discuss your cover personally. The basics are summarised in health insurance for students: what you need to know (in German).
Frequently asked questions
How much is the semester fee at the University of Göttingen?
In the winter semester 2026/27 it is 484.18 € for enrolment and re-enrolment. It includes the semester ticket and the contribution to the Studierendenwerk, among other items. If you have used up your period of study entitlement, you also pay 500 € in long-term tuition fees, making 984.18 € in total.
Do I have to pay a second home tax in Göttingen?
That depends on where your main residence is. According to the city, students who keep their main residence with their parents must pay. If you register your main residence in Göttingen, you are typically not covered by the bylaws. The rate according to the city’s FAQ is 10% of the net cold rent. If in doubt, ask the city.
How long do you wait for a residence place in Göttingen?
The undated overview list of the Studierendenwerk gives waiting times of 3 to 48 months depending on the residence. Apply early and ask the Studierendenwerk directly for the current position.
Where do I submit my BAföG application in Göttingen?
The Studienfinanzierung department of the Studierendenwerk Göttingen accepts applications, including digital ones. Submit them as early as possible and have the documents the office requires ready.
How to prepare for your first weeks
- Choose your health insurer and retrieve the confirmation for enrolment.
- Apply for a residence place with the Studierendenwerk Göttingen and look for a shared flat at the same time.
- After moving in, register at the Bürgerbüro within two weeks and bring the landlord’s confirmation.
- Pay the semester fee of 484.18 € (university) or 478.63 € (HAWK) on time.
- Apply for BAföG at the Studienfinanzierung department, if an entitlement is possible.
A detailed list is provided by the checklist for the start of your studies (in German), and orientation in the first week comes from the first-semester tips (in German).
Related articles
- All 30 university cities compared (in German)
- Studying in Kassel (in German)
- Studying in Hannover (in German)
- Studying in Braunschweig (in German)
- Benefits with student status (in German)
- Semester fees by university: data page for 30 university cities (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
