Studying in Stuttgart costs a different amount depending on the university. According to the student body stuvus, the University of Stuttgart charges a semester fee of €164, while the Hochschule für Technik asks for €191.50 in the winter semester 2026/27. Neither amount includes a semester ticket, and as of October 2025 the universities run by the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart had none. In addition, since 1 January 2026 the city has doubled the second-home tax (Zweitwohnungsteuer) from 10 to 20 % of the annual net cold rent.
Key facts in brief
- According to stuvus, the semester fee at the University of Stuttgart is €164, and at the Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart it is €191.50 for the winter semester 2026/27.
- The reduced DeutschlandTicket Studi had not been introduced at any of the 13 universities supported by the Studierendenwerk as of October 2025. Up to and including age 26, the DeutschlandTicket JugendBW is available instead.
- Since 2026 the second-home tax has been 20 % of the annual net cold rent.
- The Studierendenwerk Stuttgart runs the BAföG office itself.
Universities in Stuttgart
Stuttgart’s universities include the University of Stuttgart, the Hochschule der Medien (HdM), the Hochschule für Technik (HFT) and the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) Stuttgart. The Studierendenwerk Stuttgart supports 13 universities in total and runs student housing, canteens and cafeterias. Which costs apply to you depends on your university.
Stuttgart in figures
| Item | Figure | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Semester fee, University of Stuttgart | €164 per semester | according to the student body stuvus, without a semester breakdown |
| Semester fee, HFT Stuttgart | €191.50 per semester | winter semester 2026/27 |
| DeutschlandTicket JugendBW (up to and including age 26) | €39.42 per month | annual subscription, as of 2 October 2025 |
| Second-home tax | 20 % of the annual net cold rent | since 1 January 2026 |
What is the semester fee for studying in Stuttgart?
At the University of Stuttgart the fee has three parts, according to stuvus (in German): a contribution to the Studierendenwerk of €86.50, an administrative fee of €70.00 and a contribution of €7.50 to the student body, making €164 in total. International students and students in a second degree also pay a tuition fee.
The Hochschule für Technik (in German) charges €191.50 in total for the winter semester 2026/27: €96.50 contribution to the Studierendenwerk, €80.00 administrative costs and €15.00 contribution to the constituted student body (verfasste Studierendenschaft), which has been raised. The HdM and DHBW Stuttgart state their own contributions, and the HdM does so on its cost page (in German).
The student bodies also levy their own contribution. Neither amount includes a share for local public transport.
Which ticket applies to buses and trains in Stuttgart?
There is no semester ticket at the universities of the Studierendenwerk. According to the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart (in German), the reduced DeutschlandTicket Studi had not been introduced at any of the 13 supported universities as of 2 October 2025.
As an alternative, Baden-Württemberg offers the discounted DeutschlandTicket JugendBW to everyone up to and including age 26. As an annual subscription it costs €39.42 per month, which is €473.04 per year (12 × €39.42). The Stuttgart transport and tariff association (Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart, VVS) publishes the current conditions. The regular DeutschlandTicket costs €63 per month. Further comparisons are in Semester ticket and DeutschlandTicket (in German).
How do I find housing in Stuttgart as a student?
The Studierendenwerk Stuttgart manages student housing, and information on applications and rents is on the Studierendenwerk website (in German). If you are also searching on the open market, see Affordable flat as a student and Finding a flat share (both in German). Whether a hall or a flat share suits you better is covered in Student hall or flat share (in German). The BAföG housing allowance for students who do not live with their parents is €380 per month.
How high is the second-home tax in Stuttgart?
Since 1 January 2026 Stuttgart levies 20 % of the annual net cold rent (in German). Until 31 December 2025 the rate was 10 %. A room with a net cold rent of €500 per month (€6,000 per year) therefore costs €1,200 in tax per year, which is €100 per month. At the old rate it would have been €600.
There is an exemption for students, but it applies in only one case: second homes that students or trainees keep with their parents or one parent are exempt, provided the main residence is at the place of study or training. This covers students whose main residence is at their place of study and who keep only a flat with their parents in Stuttgart as a secondary residence. If you rent a second flat in Stuttgart yourself, you pay the tax. The exemption must be claimed in your tax return. There is no reduction for particular groups of people. Whether you register Stuttgart as your main or secondary residence depends on your situation. More is in Moving and registering when you start studying (in German).
How do I register in Stuttgart?
You register at the citizens’ registration offices (Bürgerbüros) of the state capital within two weeks of moving in, and usually in person. Where several citizens’ offices exist, the city allocates appointments online via stuttgart.konsentas.de, and on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons a visit is only possible with an appointment. The city’s page (in German) listed the citizens’ offices in Feuerbach, Nord and Möhringen as closed, so check which office is open before you go.
Where do I apply for BAföG in Stuttgart?
The Studierendenwerk Stuttgart runs the Office for Training Support (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) itself. The basic rate is €475, and the maximum rate for students under 30 with their own flat and their own health insurance is €992 (FAQ of the Studierendenwerke, in German). How to submit the application is explained in Applying for BAföG, and your entitlement is covered in BAföG eligibility and amount (both in German). The advice service of the Studierendenwerk helps with study financing and in difficult situations.
How much does studying in Stuttgart cost per month without rent?
Here is an example with clear assumptions: you are 24, childless and insured under statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) with an average additional contribution of 2.9 %. You study at the University of Stuttgart and use the DeutschlandTicket JugendBW as an annual subscription (prices as of October 2025).
| Item | Amount per month |
|---|---|
| Health insurance including long-term care (base rate €123.29, plus an additional contribution of about €24.80) | about €148 |
| DeutschlandTicket JugendBW | €39.42 |
| University semester fee (€164 divided by 6 months) | about €27 |
| Total without rent, food and study materials | about €215 |
Rent comes on top. How the overall budget comes together is described in How much money do you really need per month and Budget planning as a student (both in German). The Studierendenwerk runs canteens and cafeterias where students pay less with their student card. Tips are in Canteen as a student (in German).
Where can I find jobs alongside my studies in Stuttgart?
The University of Stuttgart runs a job portal, which you can find in the service section of its student pages (in German). The statutory minimum wage is €13.90 per hour, and the mini-job limit is €603 per month, which is just over 43 hours. Earnings of up to €603 gross have no effect on BAföG. The search is described in Finding a part-time job as a student (in German). If you work more than 20 hours per week during the lecture period, your student insurance is at risk, see Working student and health insurance (in German).
How am I insured in Stuttgart?
The same rules apply as in the rest of Germany. Student health insurance is calculated on €855 at 10.22 %, which comes to €87.38 plus your insurer’s additional contribution. Long-term care insurance costs €30.78 (under 23 or with a child) or €35.91 (childless from 23). Up to age 25 you may remain free of contributions through your parents if your income is no more than €565 per month, see Family insurance up to age 25 (in German).
For enrolment you need proof of your insurance, as described in Proof of health insurance for enrolment (in German). Contributions at different life stages are shown in Health insurance costs by age (in German). If you exempt yourself from statutory insurance, you are bound to it for the whole course of study, see Private or statutory insurance as a student (in German). If you want to discuss your cover, the Academycon homepage leads to advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the semester fee in Stuttgart?
At the University of Stuttgart it is €164 according to stuvus, and at the Hochschule für Technik it is €191.50 for the winter semester 2026/27. Both amounts consist of the Studierendenwerk contribution, the administrative fee and the student body contribution, and neither includes a semester ticket.
Is there a semester ticket in Stuttgart?
According to the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart, none of the universities had one as of October 2025. Up to and including age 26 you can use the DeutschlandTicket JugendBW in Baden-Württemberg, as an annual subscription for €39.42 per month (as of 2 October 2025).
How high is the second-home tax for students in Stuttgart?
Since 1 January 2026 it has been 20 % of the annual net cold rent. Only a second home kept with your parents is exempt, provided your main residence is at the place of study. You must claim the exemption in your tax return.
Where is the BAföG office in Stuttgart?
The Studierendenwerk Stuttgart runs the Office for Training Support itself. Your application goes through the Studierendenwerk.
What to do now
- Check the page of your university for the semester fee for your term.
- Decide whether Stuttgart will be your main or secondary residence, and book an appointment at the citizens’ registration office.
- Check whether the DeutschlandTicket JugendBW suits you.
- Obtain your proof of insurance for enrolment.
- Submit your BAföG application early at the Studierendenwerk.
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Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
