Have you wondered why many international students have chosen to pursue their studies in Germany? With more than 450,000 students coming from abroad to study in Germany, several reasons contribute to the rising numbers every year. The main reason behind this is the cost of living for Germany students is affordable along with tuition fees that are free in certain terms offered by public universities for international students and private universities with a nominal fees structure. High-quality education offered at a reasonable cost is what made international students pick Germany over other countries in recent years.
How expensive is it to live and study in Germany? Upcoming is a well-researched guide for students who have chosen Germany to continue their higher studies in 2024-25.
Cost of Studying For Students In Germany
Germany has witnessed a huge influx in numbers of international students choosing their country to pursue higher studies in the past few years. Germany tuition fees for 2024 includes paying an administrative fee, which is quite affordable when compared to public universities of other countries. This is the key attraction for international students to pick universities in Germany over others.
Public universities in Germany follow a low-cost tuition model, often requiring only an affordable semester fee ranging between €150 to €300 per semester, making them a popular choice for students. On the other hand, private universities offer specialised programmes at varying costs, providing additional flexibility for those seeking niche fields of study. It is important to note that while public universities charge minimal semester fees, students must also demonstrate financial proof of approximately €11,208 annually, which covers living expenses during their stay in Germany.
Every student seeking to pursue their studies must make a quick comparison between public vs private universities in Germany in terms of semester fees to find the one that matches their financial situation.
Every private university has a fee structure, and the cost of the programs differs from one university to another. To give a rough guide, a student looking forward to pursuing a master’s degree in Applied Science in a private university is entitled to pay a tuition fee starting from €9,840 to €10,938 every year of their course program.
Germany is one of the few European countries that provide affordable access to everyone in terms of higher education. The major reason behind this is to have a widespread view toward education and to yield valuable economic growth.
Transportation Costs For Students In Germany
Germany has the best and most efficient public transport system, providing various schemes and discounts for international students. The monthly pass is one valid way to limit transportation costs. By purchasing monthly passes, students can access and travel public transport unlimitedly, starting from €49 a month.
Single tickets for trams, buses, or subways cost between €1 to €2, based on the distance and location to travel in the first place. Students planning to study in Germany at budget price rates must opt for public transportation to minimize travel expenses.
Utilities Cost For Students In Germany
Electricity, water, and internet come under the living costs for students planning to continue their studies in Germany. An upcoming breakdown of the monthly costs of average utilities will give a general idea.
Total Utilities
Students are expected to pay between €150 and €250 every month for combined utilities, which include water, electricity, and garbage collection. This price rate applies to a moderately sized apartment and differs based on various parameters, such as location and size.
Electricity
Electricity costs highly depend upon usage and average between €50 to €80 per month.
Water and Garbage
In most living areas in Germany, water usage and garbage collection are bundled together, and the cost can range between €30 and €50 per month.
Heating
Heating costs vary based on the climate and the overall efficiency of the heating system installed in the building premises. During winter months, heating contributes the major part to the utility bill, potentially costing around €50 to €100 per month. One valid budgeting tip in Germany for students related to electricity bills is finding a place with minimal heating system use during the winter season.
Internet Costs
Internet plans in Germany typically range between €20 to €40 a month, based on the service provider and the internet speed opted in the first instance. Some landlords do include internet bills in the rent as well.
Possible Tips to Save On Utilities Bill
Get to know the insulation methods installed in the apartment to avoid facing high utility bills.
Be mindful of your electricity consumption, and remember to switch off electronics and lights when not in use.
Adjust the heating thermostat during the warm summer months.
Collect and compare internet services and plans offered by different providers to avoid spending more on internet bills.
Other Expenses
While considering the cost of living in Germany for students, other expenses like insurance, entertainment, and mobile phone plans must also be considered.
Health Insurance
Every student about to continue their higher studies in Germany must have health insurance. Health insurance costs around €80 to €100 a month. Such insurance comes in handy in case of medical emergencies.
Mobile Internet
Mobile internet plans are typically around €30 a month. To save on mobile internet plans, search for a service provider offering a convenient and affordable plan. Given the availability of an internet connection in a rented apartment space, opt for mobile internet plans that cover the usage beyond it. This way, overuse and paying extra for internet bills can be reduced to some extent.
Entertainment
Germany has different sorts of entertainment to explore. A night out at the bars or clubs can add to the monthly expenses based on the entertainment preferences. One valid budgeting tip in Germany for students is to limit entertainment by picking movie or concert tickets that range between or can be limited by choosing movie or concert tickets that range between €8 to €12 a ticket.
Accommodation Options For Students in Germany
Most universities provide student housing added to their list of Germany tuition fees for 2024. Student housing has its price and is certainly not free, yet a valuable discount is provided for students compared to seeking an accommodative place in the city. Although no standard rate is applied for student housing, the costs vary and depend on the university and the city premises.
Students explore different housing options, considering the price categories and the type of flat they would like to live in. For example, there are shared flat options under student housing that can reduce living expenses to a major extent. Student accommodation ranges between 250 - 350€ based on the location you have chosen to stay in the first place. University housing is highly in demand, so apply for a spot once you receive your student acceptance letter.
If you opt to stay out of the university student housing, you can go with a single flat, shared flat, or even a furnished room based on your study in Germany at budget price rates. The German word for a shared flat is “Wohnungsgemeinschaft,” and it means ‘group housing’ or ‘group living.’
The room prices for group housing are crafted based on the city, location, and house type. For example, group housing in Berlin shall range between 350 - 600€, while in smaller cities like Bremen, it ranges between 300 - 400€. The country’s richest city, Munich, has an average of 500 - 700€ group housing options.
Food Options To Explore For International Students
When it comes to calculating the living expenses for students, food and groceries do play a key role in determining the overall budget. Germany has affordable groceries and food items available all around the country. The grocery stores in every corner of the country offer vegetables, foods, and even basic grocery items at affordable prices. The prices at restaurants and bars vary and remain expensive compared to shopping for food items at grocery stores. There are plenty of places to shop for groceries, like open-air markets and supermarkets, to stock up on groceries wisely.
Most university campuses host cafes, cafeterias, and bars for student usage. The cafes and cafeterias offer valid discounts for students under their campus services. One budgeting tip for international students is to look for happy hour specials outside the campus arena by the bars, restaurants, and cafeterias, as they are mostly less expensive and affordable. The lunch menu in some restaurants is cheap in terms of price rate, given its availability.
What Makes International Students Pick Germany To Pursue Their Higher Studies?
Various factors keep pulling in international students to choose Germany for study purposes, and the two valid points mentioned below answer them.
High-quality Education
Regarding providing high-quality education, there is certainly a healthy competition between public vs private universities in Germany. Having a global reputation for offering an exceptional education system, the country has universities ranking under the top 100 best universities in the world. Global employers highly value every student educated out of German institutions.
Such high standards of education and opportunities is what made international students lock Germany as their primary resource to pursue higher studies. With affordable tuition fees and living expenses for students, everyone can continue pursuing their ambitions in the right way.
Employment Opportunities
Students get to work while and after completing their studies in Germany. This appeals to many international students, as they can look for employment opportunities that can add up to their educational value and later on be used wisely while completing their degree programme as well. The country’s global reputation is improved by international students completing their studies at German universities and being placed in various industries, given their academic excellence.
EU students can seek employment in and around Germany upon graduation without obtaining a work permit. International students worldwide must extend their pre-existing residence permit for another eighteen months post-graduation. During this time frame, the international students living in Germany can apply for full-time employment in their respective fields.
To Conclude
Studying in Germany will always be an enriching experience for all international students. Starting from the free to affordable tuition fees at the public universities, students have various education options to explore. Germany has budget-friendly living options and the best food that one can live and taste in one's entire life. Considering a student's personal habits, city choice, and living preferences, the overall costs can be rightly determined.
