Cost of studying and living in Germany

Due to the importance of living expenses and tuition fees in Germany, it should be noted that international students can study in most of the fields of study for free. The German free tuition system is available for all foreign students, regardless of their country of origin. To study in Germany, you will only have to pay an administration fee at public universities, which usually costs between € 100 to € 350 per semester, which covers the student organization services and your enrolment. There are exceptions to this tuition-free rule. For example, if a student is unable to complete his / her studies on time and he/she is studying in Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia, he/she may have to pay tuition fees. There are tuition fees for studying at private German universities, which can be around 26,000 euros per year for a bachelor’s degree and 40,000 euros per year for a master’s degree. It is worth mentioning that programs in Engineering and Business & Management are the most expensive.

Here you can see the top 10 German universities for international students

Fortunately, there are many high-ranking universities in Germany where international students can apply from all over the world. Here are some of the top German universities with high world rankings:

Nowadays, Germany has become a popular destination for international students due to its lower cost compared to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. In addition to that, there are a significant number of scholarships that allows eligible students with excellent academic records to study in Germany for free. Of course, it should be noted that since you can study at most of the prestigious universities in this country for free, scholarships for bachelor’s and master’s degrees are rarely and hardly awarded in Germany, and most scholarships are awarded to international students for doctoral studies are.

Here are some of the scholarships available in Germany:

The German National Scholarship Program Deutschlandstipendium:

This scholarship is awarded without consideration of parent income. It is awarded to eligible students who have excellent grades and also students who participate in research work. It offers about 300 euros per month.

This scholarship is only awarded to international students and is awarded directly by DAAD to outstanding students. Therefore, only eligible students can refer to this organization if they need financial aid.

The amount of income received workers plays an important role when it comes to the cost of studying and living in Germany. It is possible for students to work while studying in Germany and this will help them to reduce their living expenses in this country. Studying for a PhD degree in Germany can be considered as a job, because PhD students also earn money as a student. Students who are studying for a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Germany are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week unless the amount of salary they receive is less than € 400, which in this case students are allowed to work for more hours. The minimum wage for workers in Germany is 8 euros per hour and about 30,000 euros per year. For engineers this amount is least 40 thousand euros per year.

Many franchises, such as McDonald’s or subway, welcome students to work, and are a good place for student to work and earn money. In the table below, you can see the amount of salary received in some jobs and professions.

One of the other thing that is very important for students is the housing prices. One of the concerns of students is finding a suitable place to live in Germany. The largest expense you will have in Germany is rent costs. You can find a roommate to lower your housing costs. Some larger German cities, such as Munich, Hamburg, Cologne and Frankfurt, have higher housing costs than other German cities, such as Leipzig or Karlsruhe. Rent costs will vary depending on the location and conditions. A one-bedroom apartment will cost about 700 euros per month, the same one-bedroom apartment will cost 500 euros per month if its located outside of the city.

 If you want an apartment that is furnished and equipped, you have to spend about 1000 to 1500 Euros per month. The table below shows the average monthly cost of rent at some German cities in City Centre:

The cost of living and studying in Germany is quite reasonable compared to other European countries, and the cost of accommodation, clothing and cultural activities is higher than the EU average. As a student you will need around 861 euros a month to cover your living expenses in Germany, note that most of this amount is for renting a place. Note that this figure is mentioned on average and the cost of living varies in different cities and according to the lifestyle of each person. To study in Germany, the cost of student insurance varies for students of different ages. For example, public health insurance costs around 80 euros per month if students are not older than 30 years old and for students over 30 years old, it will cost 160 euros per month.

In this part of the article, we will talk about cost of living in different German cities separately so that you can get acquainted with the living conditions and living expenses in Germany.

The cost of living in Berlin

Despite being the capital of Germany, Berlin is one of Germany’s cheapest cities. Rental prices vary according to the location in this city. Generally, the west remains much more expensive than the east. You can rent a one-bed flat in Berlin for €600 upwards.

Cost of living in Munich

Munich has a much higher cost of living than Berlin. Due to the fact that this city has a very strong economy, the cost of living in it is very high. For example, finding a one-bed apartment for less than €1,000 in Munich is a very difficult thing to do. However, many applicants apply to migrate to this city, so it is better for students to determine their place of residence before moving to this city and as far in advance as possible.

Cost of living in Cologne

Cologne is not as expensive as Frankfurt or Munich, but it is more expensive compared to Berlin, with one-bed flats starting at around €800. Many students live in Cologne, and like Berlin, there are many world-food restaurants, which means that although rents are high, food costs are cheap.

Cost of living in Hamburg

Hamburg is like Cologne and is more expensive than Berlin. A one-bed flat will typically cost around €900 per month. Hamburg is a popular city for students and young professionals, and the demand for flats and housing is high, like in Berlin.

Cost of living in Frankfurt

Frankfurt is certainly one of the most expensive cities to live in Germany, coming second only to Munich. A one-bed flat in Frankfurt will cost more than 900 euros per month.

Another important thing for immigrants who want to study and live in Germany is to know the amount of salary resaved by people in different jobs. Because they intend to stay and work in Germany after their graduation therefore they want to plan for their future. According to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, in 2019 the average gross annual salary was 3.880 euros to 46.560 euros per month. Individuals’ rights can vary, depending on age, industry, work experience, working hours and geographical location. In the table below you can see the average income of different jobs in Germany.