Germany guide · verified 2026-07-04
Cost of Studying in Germany: Tuition, Living and Proof of Funds
Money & proof of funds
Germany's low tuition is real, but you must prove you can cover living costs up front. The government sets the required amount at the BAföG living rate and locks it in a blocked account you draw down monthly.
Blocked account (Sperrkonto)
Mandatory€11,904 for 2026
= €992/month for 12 months (the BAföG rate). This is the minimum accepted; you may deposit more, never less.
Monthly release
€992/month max after arrival
You cannot withdraw the whole sum at once, it releases monthly to fund living costs.
Tuition
€0 at most public unis (first degree)
Exceptions are growing: Baden-Württemberg €1,500/semester for non-EU, and TU Munich (Bavaria) since Winter 2024/25 (Bachelors €2,000 to 3,000, Masters €4,000 to 6,000 per semester). Check the specific university. Private unis charge full fees.
Semester contribution
Conditional≈ €100 to 350 per semester
Administrative fee, NOT tuition. At most universities it now includes (or lets you add) the Deutschland-Semesterticket for unlimited nationwide regional/local transport (~€208.80/semester, WS 2025/26), which is why the total varies so much. Set per university, confirm on the university's page.
Health insurance
Mandatory≈ €141 to 151/month (public student rate, 2026)
LEGALLY MANDATORY, you cannot enrol or get the residence permit without it (statutory: TK, AOK, Barmer…): base + nursing-care + insurer supplement. TK is ≈€141.16 (under 23) to €146.29 (23+); other insurers run slightly higher (e.g. Barmer up to ≈€151.42). Generally only available to students UNDER 30, older students usually need private insurance. Confirm with the insurer.
Choose a recognised blocked-account provider
MandatoryOpen a Sperrkonto with a provider the German missions accept (e.g. established fintech blocked-account services or a German bank). Transfer €11,904, receive the blocking confirmation (Sperrbestätigung), and submit it with the visa. After arrival and address registration, the monthly €992 begins releasing to your German current account.
Cost: €11,904 deposit + a small provider setup/monthly feeLayer in scholarships and reduce cash pressure
OptionalScholarships do not usually replace the blocked account unless they fully cover living costs and are recognised. Point strong students at DAAD scholarships and university/foundation awards early, deadlines are often a year ahead. Recognised full scholarships can substitute for the blocked account in the visa file.
A DAAD or EU/German public scholarship also exempts the student from APS.Budget realistically beyond the minimum
RecommendedThe €992/month is a floor. Big cities (Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg) run higher, especially rent. Counsel students to budget €992 to 1,200/month and to line up student accommodation (Studierendenwerk halls, WG shared flats) early because housing is the real bottleneck. Budget for a rent DEPOSIT (Kaution) too, legally capped at 3 months' cold rent (BGB §551), refundable when you leave, and know that private landlords often ask for a SCHUFA credit report, which new arrivals don't have yet; offer alternatives (a deposit-guarantee/Mietkautionsbürgschaft, or university halls that skip the SCHUFA check).
Housing shortages in university cities are severe, start the accommodation search months ahead.
The blocked-account minimum tracks the BAföG rate and is revised periodically (it was €11,208, then €11,904). Always confirm the current figure on the German mission's page before the student funds the account.
Where this fits
This is one step of the full Germany journey: admission, tests, application, visa, money, arrival and stay-back, every figure cited to an official source.
More on Germany
Bramica is independent and takes no commission from any university, recruiter or agency. This page is information, not immigration advice. Rules, fees and thresholds change; confirm the current requirement on the official source before acting on it.