Germany 2023/24 - student fees and grants

National student fee

Public higher education in Germany is tuition-free in the first and second cycle in every Land; there are no short-cycle programmes and no official part-time status. What you may pay are smaller fees set by each Land. In eight Länder all students pay administrative fees of EUR 50 to 75, Sachsen allows examination fees of EUR 25 to 150, and in three Länder institutions may charge administrative fees or fees for learning materials and facilities, while some Länder charge nothing. According to Eurydice data, in 2023/24 the most common amount was EUR 100 a year, at most EUR 150.

Studying too long can cost more: four Länder charge EUR 500 per semester once you exceed the regular study period (in Saarland at most EUR 400), and Rheinland-Pfalz charges EUR 700 per semester for a second degree. Distance and continuing study programmes may also charge fees.

Students from outside the EU/EEA pay EUR 1,500 per semester in Baden-Württemberg. In Bayern their fees follow the Bavarian Higher Education Act, in force since 1 January 2023; some universities may not apply it, others will from winter semester 2024/25. In all other Länder they pay the same as home students.

Student grants

The main need-based support is BAföG, for full-time home students in the first and second cycle and for some international students, such as third-country nationals with a long-term residence permit. Half of BAföG is a grant and half an interest-free loan. According to Eurydice data, in 2023/24 need-based support ranged from EUR 120 to EUR 11,208 a year, most commonly EUR 7,956.

Merit-based scholarships include the Deutschlandstipendium (home and international students), the Begabtenförderungswerke, the Aufstiegsstipendium for people with work experience and the Weiterbildungsstipendium for young professionals after vocational training (up to age 25). In 2023/24 merit-based grants were EUR 3,600 to EUR 18,300 a year, most commonly EUR 14,700. DAAD scholarships support stays abroad and students coming to Germany. Grants are paid monthly over 12 months; the age limit is mostly 45, with exceptions.

Loans

Apart from the loan half of BAföG, students in an advanced stage of their studies or facing extraordinary expenses can take a Bildungskredit (education loan) of EUR 1,000 to EUR 7,200. You choose monthly payments of EUR 100, EUR 200 or EUR 300, or a single payment of EUR 3,600, and the federal government guarantees repayment and interest.

Repayment of EUR 120 a month starts four years after the loan begins. Third-country nationals qualify only with a long-term residence permit and permanent residence in Germany.

Tax benefit for student's parents

Instead of the family allowance, parents can opt for a tax relief of EUR 3,012 a year per child and per parent, until the student turns 25. Students with their own income benefit from the basic tax-free allowance, which was raised from EUR 9,984 to EUR 10,347 retroactively from the start of 2022.

Family allowances

Parents receive EUR 250 for every child until the student turns 25 (or choose the tax relief instead).