How to Study in Germany for Free as an International Student

If paying for a college is a major worry for you, you’re not alone. Higher education costs in the US often leave students with a substantial amount of debt and are even causing some to forego college altogether. There is a solution, though, if a degree or study abroad is a top priority for you!

Germany is one of the few countries in the world to offer free tuition to international students. Sound too good to be true? It’s not!

Read on to learn about how to study in Germany for free, whether for short-term study abroad or a full bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD.

Most public universities in Germany charge no tuition. This applies not only to German and EU citizens but also to international students from around the world. This is possible because public universities are government-funded and supported by taxes.

Although tuition is free, you will pay anywhere from $100-$400 USD in fees per semester. At some universities, this fee covers an unlimited transit pass for the local area.

An exception to this rule is the state of Baden-Württemberg. Here, universities charge a tuition fee of €1,500 ($1,657 USD) per semester. Some individual universities outside of Baden-Württemberg, like Technical University of Munich (TUM), have also elected to charge tuition fees.

Even so, these costs are still comparatively cheaper than a semester at a US university!

Although free tuition seriously lessens the financial burden, there are other costs to keep in mind. As an international student in Germany, you’ll need to have enough money to cover living expenses.

Here is an idea of an average monthly budget for a student in Germany:

• Housing: $250-$550 USD for room in a shared apartment
• Groceries: $200-$300 USD
• Healthcare: $120 USD
• Personal expenses: $75-$100 USD
• Fun money: $50-$200 USD
• Estimated monthly total: $700-$1,300 USD

How much you’ll spend every month is personal and will depend on your habits, lifestyle, and interests. Some cities like Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt have higher living costs which will affect your overall budget.

Read more: How Much Does it Cost to Study Abroad in Germany?

Everyone can study abroad in Germany tuition-free. Study abroad students can enroll directly for a semester or year then transfer credits to their home university. It’s also possible to do a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in Germany at no cost.

Degrees fully in English are rarer at the bachelor’s level than at the postgraduate level. However, it is possible to find undergraduate degrees taught entirely in English in Germany.

In order to take advantage of free tuition costs in Germany, you will need to enroll directly at the university on your own. Third-party providers aren’t free because their fees are usually all-inclusive and include housing, insurance, support, assistance transferring credits, excursions and activities, and more.

Germany is home to some of the world’s top universities and many of them are completely tuition-free! These universities offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees taught in English, so whether you want to study abroad temporarily or complete an entire degree, there are options available to get free education in Germany. And of course, if you have a high level of German, the possibilities are endless!

According to QS world ranking, here are some of the best tuition-free universities in Germany for international students offering classes in English:

• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München - 59th
• Freie Universitaet Berlin - 97th
• RWTH Aachen University - 99th
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - 126th
• Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) - 147th
• Universität Hamburg - 191st

For more information and inspiration, check out our article on the top German universities for international students!

Once you decide how long you want to study abroad (short-term or to earn a full degree), you’ll need to narrow down your program options. If you don’t have a solid German language proficiency (minimum of upper-intermediate B2), you’ll need to focus on universities that offer classes in English.

DAAD has a handy program finder that allows you to search by language, degree level, subject, and more. This will help you familiarize yourself with the universities that could be a good fit. If you're not sure what you want to study and need a little more guidance, try their personalized site My GUIDE to explore your interests.

Read more: How to Study Abroad in Germany in English

Once you’ve identified universities of interest, you’ll need to make sure you meet the entrance requirements. These will vary by university but generally, you should meet the following conditions:

• High school diploma for undergraduate
• Bachelor’s degree for graduate
• 3.0 GPA minimum
• C1 or C2 level of German (if studying in German)

Uni-assist, the official application portal, has a university admission checker that can help you determine which qualifications you’ll need based on your country of origin.

The exact documents you’ll need will be unique to your program and university but some core materials typically requested include:

• Copy of passport photo page
• Passport photo
• Certified copies of diplomas
• Certified copies of degree transcripts
• Translations of all documents (some universities may accept documents in English)
• Proof of German proficiency (if studying in German)
• Motivation letter

This tends to be the part of the process that takes the longest so make sure you give yourself more than enough time to meet university deadlines.

Short-term study abroad students will need to work with their university's study abroad office to arrange direct enrollment and make sure credits earned in German will transfer back. You may need to do some research on your own for this, especially if the coordinator isn't familiar with direct enrollment in Germany.

International students not from the EU intending to study a full degree in Germany will need to apply one of two ways, depending on their university. A wide range of universities work with uni-assist, an online portal where you can upload the required documents and submit your application. The website is user-friendly and in English which makes the process a lot easier! Not every university works with uni-assist though so be sure to check with your program to see if you need to apply directly to the university.

The good news is, US citizens don't need an entry visa. Upon arrival to Germany, you should apply right away for your residence permit. This requires you to visit your local Ausländerbehörde (Immigration Office) within 90 days of your arrival in Germany and present the relevant documents, including proof of financial means for the duration of your stay. As of 2024, this is about $1,100 USD (992€) per month.

You should always go to the US-German Embassy and Consulate page to verify requirements and what documents you need to submit.

Just when you thought free tuition was as good as it could get, it gets better!

DAAD offers a range of scholarships and grants to eligible students to help students cover living expenses, research costs, travel, and more. Some featured opportunities include:

• Gilman-DAAD Germany Scholarships: 40 scholarships a year totaling $5,000 each are awarded to US undergraduate students who are Pell Grant recipients.
• RISE internships: 3-month internships conducted in English are available to students in engineering and science fields. Stipends are provided to cover living costs.
• Study Scholarships: Fully-funded master's scholarships awarded to students in any field that also cover living and visa costs. Scholarships can be used for programs entirely in English as well as those in German!
• University Summer Courses: Grant for undergraduate and graduate students with at least an A1 of German who want to improve their language skills through intensive classes in Germany.

Read more: How to Apply for DAAD Scholarships to Study Abroad in Germany

Yes! German undergraduate and graduate degrees are recognized and respected in the US.

As with any qualification earned outside of the US, many employers and universities require that transcripts be submitted to an organization that performs credential evaluation, like World Education Services (WES), to demonstrate that the degree is equivalent to a US qualification.

Degrees that lead to licensure, like those in healthcare, will generally require additional evaluations by the specific field’s credentialing board in the US.

While a major perk, studying in Germany as an international student is more than just free tuition. It’s an opportunity to attend a respected university, make new friends and connections from across the world, and immerse yourself in a new country and culture. Those things are truly priceless!

Read more about studying abroad in Germany:

• Top 11 Universities in Germany for International Students
• 8 Ways Studying Abroad in Germany can Benefit your Career
• 8 Things to Do Before Studying Abroad in Germany