Studying in Kassel costs 409.27 € per semester at the University of Kassel, according to the fee overview of the university. The largest item is the Deutschland semester ticket at 226.80 €. Rent, food and health insurance come on top: the compulsory student health insurance costs a uniform 87.38 € basic contribution per month nationwide, plus your insurer’s additional contribution and the long-term care insurance.
Kassel at a glance
| Topic | Value for Kassel |
|---|---|
| University | University of Kassel, 21,131 students in the winter semester 2025/26 |
| Semester fee | 409.27 € per semester (Management School UNIKIMS: 175.20 €) |
| Deutschland semester ticket | 226.80 €, included in the semester fee |
| Residence places | around 1,100 in 26 residence halls of the Studierendenwerk (annual report 2024) |
| Second home tax | 8% of the annual net cold rent according to the city’s product page |
| Registering your residence | within two weeks of moving in, citizens’ office in the town hall |
| BAföG | training grants office at the Studierendenwerk Kassel |
How many students does the University of Kassel have?
According to its press release of 2 December 2025, the University of Kassel had exactly 21,131 students in the winter semester 2025/26. The university is therefore the central place of study in the city. Whether Kassel is the right choice depends first and foremost on the degree programme. If you are still weighing up a big city against a smaller one, the article big city or small town (in German) offers some pointers.
What does studying in Kassel cost per semester?
The semester fee is made up of several items that you pay at enrolment and at every re-enrolment. The University of Kassel breaks it down as follows. The amount on your enrolment or re-enrolment notice is the binding figure:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Studierendenwerk | 106.00 € |
| Administration fee | 50.00 € |
| Student body (AStA) | 17.15 € |
| Deutschland semester ticket | 226.80 € |
| Hardship fund | 1.30 € |
| Emergency fund | 0.75 € |
| Nextbike bicycle rental system | 2.70 € |
| Culture ticket | 4.02 € |
| allerleih e.V. | 0.55 € |
| Total | 409.27 € |
The culture ticket (4.02 €) and the nextbike contribution (2.70 €) are part of this total. Spread over six months, that is around 68 € a month, of which about 38 € goes on the ticket.
How much money do you need per month in Kassel?
Two items are almost always fixed: the semester fee spread over the months and health insurance. The example assumes a childless student aged 23 or over in compulsory student health insurance. The additional contribution is left out, because it depends on the insurer. Nationwide, a freely available shared flat room costs 510 € a month on average, and rent and food come on top of the figures below. To plan your whole budget, read how much money you really need as a student each month (in German).
| Example per month | Amount |
|---|---|
| Semester fee (409.27 € divided by 6) | 68.21 € |
| Health insurance, basic contribution | 87.38 € |
| Long-term care insurance (childless from age 23) | 35.91 € |
| Subtotal without additional contribution | 191.50 € |
Residence hall, shared flat or your own flat: how do you find a room in Kassel?
The Studierendenwerk Kassel offers around 1,100 residence places in 26 residence halls. The Studierendenwerk publishes current rents and waiting times on its website, so it is best to apply early. For private rooms, our tips on the shared flat search (in German) are a good starting point, and the trade-off between the two forms of housing is explained in residence hall or shared flat (in German). Before you sign a tenancy agreement, the overview understanding your tenancy agreement as a student (in German) helps. Once you have a flat, the questions of insurance arise. Two articles cover the basics: liability insurance in a shared flat and your own flat and contents insurance in a residence hall and a shared flat (both in German).
What applies to the semester ticket and mobility?
The Deutschland semester ticket is part of the semester fee and costs 226.80 €. According to the university, there are contracts with four transport associations. If you want to travel further, you can book an upgrade via abo.kvg.de or abo.nvv.de, according to the university. Price, period and validity are listed on the semester ticket page of the university. Further ways to save are described in cheap travel as a student: semester ticket and Deutschlandticket (in German).
Do you have to pay second home tax in Kassel and register?
Yes, the city of Kassel levies second home tax. Its product page states 8% of the annual net cold rent. The underlying bylaws date from 1997, so check the current rate with the city before you sign. If you move to Kassel with your main residence, the question does not arise.
Register your residence within two weeks of moving in at the citizens’ office of the city administration in the town hall (Obere Königsstraße 8). Otherwise a fine may be imposed. You need the landlord’s confirmation of residence (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung), and the tenancy agreement alone is not enough. Registering costs nothing and works by appointment or online via wohnsitzanmeldung.de, which currently only applies to your main residence and requires an eID. A checklist for the move is available in moving and re-registering when you start studying (in German).
Where do you apply for BAföG and get advice?
The BAföG office of the Studierendenwerk Kassel is responsible. The training grants advice service on campus helps with the application, and the university’s notes on this are on its study financing page. Nationwide, the basic need is 475 € plus a 380 € housing allowance for everyone who does not live with their parents. If you have your own health and long-term care insurance, you can receive up to 992 € a month. Everything else is explained in applying for BAföG and BAföG entitlement and amount (both in German). Housing benefit is a different route, explained in housing benefit for students (in German).
The Studierendenwerk Kassel also runs a social advice service, a legal advice service and a psychological counselling service. All offers are listed on the counselling page of the Studierendenwerk.
Where can you find a part-time job in Kassel?
Positions for student assistants are advertised on the AStA job portal of the University of Kassel. The statutory minimum wage is 13.90 € per hour in 2026, and the mini-job limit is 603 € a month. If you are covered by family insurance, you may earn at most 565 € a month, and for a pure mini-job the limit is 603 €. More on job searching is in working as a student assistant and finding a part-time job during your studies (both in German). The effects on insurance are shown in working student and health insurance (in German).
Which canteens (Mensen) are there in Kassel?
The larger canteens of the Studierendenwerk are the Zentralmensa, Mensa 71 and the canteen in Heinrich-Plett-Straße. In 2024, the Studierendenwerk sold 867,000 meals according to its annual report. Figures and background are on the organisation and figures page of the Studierendenwerk. For an overview and alternatives, see canteen in your studies: more than lunch (in German).
How are you insured when you start studying in Kassel?
Universities require the digital confirmation of a statutory health insurer before enrolment. This also applies if you are privately insured. You can retrieve the confirmation from 1 June at the earliest for the winter semester and from 1 December for the summer semester. The article proof of health insurance for enrolment (in German) matches this.
Compulsory student insurance ends in the semester in which you turn 30. As an alternative, you can stay in family insurance until age 25, as long as your monthly income does not exceed 565 €. Family insurance under 25 (in German) describes this. Student health insurance costs by age (in German) gives the figures, and changing health insurer as a student (in German) explains how to switch. You can compare additional contributions in additional contributions of health insurers (in German). The basic article health insurance for students: what you need to know (in German) sums everything up. For a personal conversation about your insurance, the Academycon homepage leads you to advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the semester fee at the University of Kassel cost?
The fee overview of the university states 409.27 € per semester. Students of the Management School (UNIKIMS) pay 175.20 €. The Deutschland semester ticket of 226.80 € is included, as is the Studierendenwerk contribution of 106.00 €. You pay the amount at enrolment and at every re-enrolment.
How many residence places are there in Kassel?
The Studierendenwerk Kassel manages around 1,100 residence places in 26 residence halls, according to its 2024 annual report. Apply early to the Studierendenwerk and look for a shared flat at the same time.
Do students in Kassel have to pay second home tax?
Yes. The city states that a second residence registered for study is subject to tax, at 8% of the annual net cold rent. The city does not name an exception for students.
Where do I submit the BAföG application in Kassel?
At the BAföG office of the Studierendenwerk Kassel. The training grants advice service on campus can help with the application. You can submit the application digitally across Germany via BAföG Digital, and the competent office at your place of study processes it.
Do I need an extra ticket for local transport in Kassel?
The Deutschland semester ticket is included in the semester fee. According to the university, it is valid through contracts with four transport associations. The university says an upgrade is possible via abo.kvg.de or abo.nvv.de. Price and period are on the university’s semester ticket page.
What to do in your first weeks
- Get the digital confirmation from your statutory health insurer before you enrol.
- Pay the semester fee of 409.27 € and watch the university’s deadline.
- Register your residence within two weeks of moving in at the citizens’ office and have the landlord’s confirmation ready.
- Check with the BAföG office of the Studierendenwerk whether you are entitled, and submit the application early.
- Ask the Studierendenwerk about a residence place and look for a shared flat at the same time.
Related articles
- Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared (in German)
- Studying in Göttingen (in German)
- Studying in Marburg (in German)
- Studying in Fulda (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
