Study in Germany for free? The real costs in 2026

Yes, you can study most programmes at Germany's public universities without paying tuition, even as an international student. But free tuition doesn't mean a free degree. You'll still pay a semester contribution of usually €100–€350, show €11,904 in a blocked account for your visa and cover your own living costs. Baden-Württemberg and TUM are the big exceptions: both charge non-EU students tuition.

Is studying in Germany really free?

Tuition is free for most programmes at public universities, and that includes international students from outside the EU. It's one of the main reasons students from South Asia shortlist Germany, and it's real: at most public universities you won't get a tuition bill.

What free tuition doesn't cover is everything else. Every student pays a semester contribution. You need a year of living costs in a blocked account before you get a visa. And there are one-time costs before you even arrive. Private universities are a separate market and charge tuition, so check each one's fees if you're looking there.

What is the semester contribution?

The semester contribution is a fee every student pays when enrolling and again before each new semester. It isn't tuition. It usually comes to €100–€350 and funds student services and the student union, and it often includes a transport ticket for your city or region. DAAD's cost overview explains what it pays for.

The exact amount depends on the university, so check the figure on its enrolment page. If a transport ticket is included, it can save you a real monthly cost, which is worth weighing when you compare cities.

Where do international students pay tuition in Germany?

Two exceptions matter for most students from outside the EU:

• Baden-Württemberg: public universities in this state charge non-EU students €1,500 a semester. That covers cities such as Stuttgart, Heidelberg, Freiburg, Karlsruhe and Mannheim.
• TUM (Technical University of Munich): non-EU students who enrolled from winter semester 2024/25 pay roughly €2,000–€3,000 a semester for a Bachelor's and €4,000–€6,000 a semester for a Master's. Some Master's programmes are still free, so check the programme page.

Fee rules can change, and individual programmes can have their own charges. Before you apply anywhere, read the fee page for your exact programme rather than relying on a general list, including this one.

How much do you need for living costs?

For the visa, you prove you can cover your living costs for a year. Most students do this with a blocked account holding €11,904, which is released at €992 a month after you arrive. Some visa types need about 10% more, so confirm the figure with your German mission.

The blocked account isn't a fee. It's your own money, paid back to you month by month for rent, food, health insurance and transport. The hard part is that you need the whole year's amount up front, and for many families that's the real barrier, not tuition. In expensive cities, €992 a month may not stretch far once rent is paid, so check local prices.

Which one-time costs should you budget for?

These land before or just after you arrive. We don't quote fees that change often, so check each one at its source:

• APS certificate: required before you apply or get a visa if you're from Pakistan (since 2022), India, China or Vietnam. Check the current fee with the APS office for your country, and see how the APS interview works.
• uni-assist: many universities have international applications checked by uni-assist, which charges a handling fee per application. Check the current fee on its site.
• Visa fee: check the current amount on the German mission's website for your country.
• Flights, plus certified copies and translations of your documents.
• Blocked account provider fees, and health insurance from the start of your stay.
• A rent deposit and your first weeks of living costs before the first blocked-account payout arrives.

APS isn't currently on the list for Bangladesh, Nepal or Sri Lanka, but rules change, so check the German embassy's website for your country before you plan around it.

How can you keep the cost down?

If cost is your top priority, shortlist programmes outside the fee-charging exceptions, then compare cities on rent rather than on reputation alone. The same degree can cost very different amounts to live through depending on where it is.

Apply for scholarships early, since some cover living costs and can replace part of the blocked account; check with your embassy how yours would count. Part-time work helps too. You can work 140 full days or 280 half days a year while you study, but don't plan your first year around wages you haven't earned yet.

Next steps

Add your semester contribution, blocked account and one-time costs to the study abroad cost calculator to see what free tuition really costs you. The Germany study guide covers admissions and visas, and our cost of studying in Germany breakdown goes line by line through a typical budget.

FAQ

Are German universities free for international students?

Most public university programmes are tuition-free for international students. The main exceptions for non-EU students are Baden-Württemberg, at €1,500 a semester, and TUM for students enrolled from winter 2024/25.

Do I pay the semester contribution every semester?

Yes. You pay it when you enrol and again before each new semester, and it's usually €100–€350.

Is TUM free for international students?

Not for most non-EU students who enrolled from winter semester 2024/25. Expect roughly €2,000–€3,000 a semester for a Bachelor's and €4,000–€6,000 for a Master's, though some Master's programmes are still free.

Can I study in Germany for free without a blocked account?

Tuition can be free, but you still have to prove you can cover living costs for the visa. A blocked account is the usual route; a scholarship or other proof can sometimes replace it, so check with your embassy.