Studying in Leipzig starts with the semester fee. If you enrol at Leipzig University in the winter semester 2026/27, you pay €332.30. Of this, €226.80 goes to the Germany semester ticket (university information). Anyone who studies in Leipzig also needs to plan for rent, food and health insurance. Compulsory student health insurance costs a basic contribution of €87.38 per month nationwide, plus the additional contribution of the health insurer and long-term care insurance.
Studying in Leipzig in figures
| Topic | Value for Leipzig |
|---|---|
| Leipzig University | around 30,000 students in winter semester 2025/26 |
| Further university | HTWK Leipzig (university of applied sciences) |
| Semester fee university | €332.30 in the winter semester 2026/27 |
| Germany semester ticket | €226.80, included in the semester fee |
| Dormitories | 15 sites of the Studentenwerk Leipzig |
| Second-home tax | 16% of the annual rental cost (according to the City of Leipzig) |
| BAföG office | Studentenwerk Leipzig, Goethestraße 6 |
| Canteens and cafeterias | 12 facilities of the Studentenwerk |
The university gives the number of students, rounded, in its announcement on first-year students 2025. Leipzig also has a second university, HTWK Leipzig. You will have to ask that university for its semester fee. Information on re-enrolment is available on the re-enrolment page of HTWK.
What does the semester fee of Leipzig University consist of?
The fee consists of four items, which fall due at re-enrolment:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student body | €11.50 |
| Studentenwerk | €90.00 |
| Germany semester ticket | €226.80 |
| Mobility fund | €4.00 |
| Total | €332.30 |
The ticket makes up a good two thirds of the total. It is a semester ticket for Germany covering local public transport, and the university names the exact area it covers. Exemption or refund is possible through the Studentenwerk, and the conditions are published on the university’s page. For a sensible way to use the semester ticket and the Deutschlandticket, see semester ticket and Deutschlandticket (in German).
How much money do you need per month in Leipzig?
The fixed costs are the pro-rata semester fee and health insurance. Example: a childless student aged 23 or over has compulsory student health insurance and studies at Leipzig University. The additional contribution of her health insurer comes on top.
| Example: fixed costs per month | Amount |
|---|---|
| Semester fee (€332.30 divided by 6) | €55.38 |
| Health insurance, basic contribution | €87.38 |
| Long-term care insurance (childless from age 23) | €35.91 |
| Subtotal excluding additional contribution | €178.67 |
For comparison: for students, BAföG assumes a basic need of €475 and a housing allowance of €380 per month. Nationwide, a vacant room in a shared flat costs €510 on average (Moses Mendelssohn Institut, 2026). There is no separate figure for Leipzig here. To check the local rental market, see finding an affordable flat while studying (in German). A complete monthly budget is built up in How much money do you need per month (in German).
Dormitory or shared flat: where do students live in Leipzig?
The Studentenwerk Leipzig operates 15 dormitory sites. It lists the addresses on its page “Our student dormitories”, and it provides information on rents and free places. Apply early, as soon as you have your admission. If you are looking for a private room, you will find tips in finding a shared flat (in German). Whether a dormitory or a shared flat suits you better is clarified in dormitory or shared flat (in German).
Before you sign a tenancy agreement, it is worth checking the deposit, fixed terms and subletting, as described in tenancy agreements for students (in German). For both dormitory and shared flat, private liability insurance and contents insurance should be settled. The basics are in liability insurance in a shared flat or your own flat (in German) and contents insurance in a dormitory and a shared flat (in German).
How do you register in Leipzig, and what about the second-home tax?
The City of Leipzig lets you apply for registering a flat online. In person, you go to the citizens’ offices, for example in the Wiedebach-Passage, the Gohlis-Center or the Paunsdorf-Center. Appointments are arranged through the city’s appointment service, and the citizens’ telephone line is 0341 115. The appointment requires the landlord’s confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) from your landlord.
If you register Leipzig as a secondary residence, the city levies a second-home tax of 16% of the annual rental cost. The city does not name a separate rule for students. Among other things, a room in the parents’ household without a contractual right of use and without rent is exempt. Worked example: with a rent of €400 per month, the annual cost would be €4,800 and the tax €768. With your main residence in Leipzig, no tax is due. A checklist for the move is provided by moving and registration for your studies (in German).
Where do you get BAföG and advice in Leipzig?
The responsible authority is the BAföG office (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) of the Studentenwerk Leipzig at Goethestraße 6. You submit the application digitally via BAföG Digital, for which a BundID account is sufficient. An overview of the case officers and the on-site consultation hours are on the Studentenwerk’s page. Check your eligibility beforehand with BAföG eligibility and amount (in German). The application process is described in applying for BAföG (in German).
In addition, the Studentenwerk offers social counselling, psychosocial counselling and legal advice. If money is tight, also check housing benefit for students (in German).
How do you find a part-time job in Leipzig?
The Studentenwerk Leipzig runs a job placement service with a job tool, in which you can search for positions for students after registering. The types of jobs and routes to student assistant positions at the university are explained in finding the right part-time job as a student (in German) and student assistant jobs (in German).
The limits are the same nationwide: in 2026 the minimum wage is €13.90 per hour, and a mini-job ends at €603 per month. Up to this amount, your income has no effect on BAföG. If you are covered as a family member, you may earn at most €565 per month in total. For a pure mini-job the limit is €603. Working alongside your studies is also covered in working students and health insurance (in German).
Where can you eat cheaply in Leipzig?
The Studentenwerk operates 12 canteens, cafeterias and bistros in Leipzig. The list of locations is on the Studentenwerk’s page. Why a visit to the canteen is worth it beyond lunch is described in the canteen during your studies (in German).
How are you insured when you start studying in Leipzig?
To enrol, the university requires proof that you are insured under statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) or exempt from it. You can request the digital confirmation of a statutory health insurer from 1 June for the winter semester and from 1 December for the summer semester. The process is shown in proof of health insurance at enrolment (in German). As a student, you remain compulsorily insured until the end of the semester in which you turn 30. Up to age 25, you can alternatively be covered under your parents’ family insurance, as long as your income stays below the limit.
The same rules apply in Leipzig as everywhere else. What insurance costs at different ages is set out in health insurance costs for students by age (in German), and the overall picture is given in health insurance for students (in German). For a personal conversation about your situation, the Academycon homepage leads to the advice service.
Frequently asked questions
What is the semester fee at Leipzig University?
In the winter semester 2026/27 it is €332.30. Of this, €226.80 goes to the Germany semester ticket, €90.00 to the Studentenwerk, €11.50 to the student body and €4.00 to the mobility fund.
Is there a second-home tax for students in Leipzig?
The city levies 16% of the annual rental cost and names no separate rule for students. Exemptions apply, for example for a room in the parents’ household without rent. If you register Leipzig as your main residence, you do not pay the tax.
Where do I apply for BAföG in Leipzig?
At the BAföG office of the Studentenwerk Leipzig. You apply online via BAföG Digital, for which a BundID account is sufficient. The office is located at Goethestraße 6.
How many dormitories does the Studentenwerk Leipzig have?
There are 15 dormitory sites. The Studentenwerk publishes addresses and current conditions.
Do I need an extra ticket for buses and trams in Leipzig?
Not for local public transport if you are enrolled at Leipzig University, because the semester ticket for Germany is included in the semester fee. For other universities, check the fee on their website.
How to prepare for your first weeks
- Before enrolment, request the confirmation from your statutory health insurer.
- Pay the semester fee of €332.30 at Leipzig University.
- Apply to the Studentenwerk for a dormitory place and look for a shared flat at the same time.
- Register your flat after moving in, either online or at a citizens’ office, and keep the landlord’s confirmation ready.
- Check your BAföG eligibility and submit the application via BAföG Digital.
Related guides
- Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared (in German)
- Studying in Dresden (in German)
- Studying in Jena (in German)
- Studying in Berlin (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
