Most public universities charge no tuition fee, but there is a semester contribution
According to DAAD, public universities usually charge no tuition fee for bachelor's programs and most master's programs. But you pay a contribution (Semesterbeitrag) every semester. This contribution often includes a public transport ticket for the semester.
- Universität Hamburg, 2026/27 winter semester: €402, of which €226.80 is the ticket.
- Universität Münster, 2026/27 winter semester: €369.50, of which €226.80 is the ticket.
States and universities that charge tuition
In some places, students from outside the EU pay tuition:
- Baden-Württemberg: According to Universität Stuttgart, students from outside the EU pay €1,500 per semester at all public universities in the state.
- TUM (Munich): It has charged students from outside the EU tuition since the 2024/25 winter semester. Today it is €2,000 or €3,000 per semester for a bachelor's and €4,000 or €6,000 for a master's. For students who start from the 2027/28 winter semester, these amounts will be €2,300 or €3,400 for a bachelor's and €4,600 or €6,800 for a master's.
So studying with no tuition fee does not apply to every university. When you put together your program list, we suggest checking each university's fee page.
Application: uni-assist or the university's portal
You apply through uni-assist or through the university's own portal, depending on the university. For each semester, uni-assist charges a processing fee of €75 for your first program choice and €30 for each choice after that. If you apply again in a new semester, you pay the fee again. Documents that are not in German or English are usually translated into one of these two languages.
Application periods differ by university. For example, at Universität Hamburg, applications for the summer semester of 2027 run from 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027. At TUM, the 2027/28 winter semester starts on 1 October 2027.
Programs taught in German require enough German. For English-taught programs, we suggest checking each program's own page to see which exam and score are accepted.
Calendar and first steps after you arrive
The academic year is split into two semesters. The winter semester runs from mid-October to the end of February, and the summer semester from mid-April to the end of July. DAAD recommends starting to look for housing and applying for a dorm about three months before classes begin.
- You report your new address to the municipal registration office within two weeks.
- You apply for the residence permit while your visa is valid and within 90 days after you enter the country.
- Health insurance is compulsory for everyone in Germany, and the university asks for an insurance certificate at enrolment. Students under 30 can use the student rate in public insurance. Because public insurance starts after enrolment, you need private insurance until that date.
Money for the visa, working while you study and after graduation
For the visa, you show at least €992 a month, which is €11,904 a year. This amount stayed the same in 2025 and 2026. The money is usually shown with a blocked account (Sperrkonto). Your real costs can be higher than this: RWTH Aachen recommends a budget of at least €1,100 a month for 2026.
- Students from outside the EU can work 140 full days or 280 half days a year. Compulsory internships in the program do not count toward this limit.
- A graduate from outside the EU can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a qualified job.
For details, see our Germany page.
Related pages
Last checked: 23 October 2026. Rules and fees may change; we check the current situation together before you apply.
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