All guides · Part of: Money questions
"Sir, is education in Germany really free?" Qaiser's answer is yes and no. The teaching is free at most public universities. Living in Germany is not, and that is the part people forget to budget.
Tuition is free at most public universities, with exceptions
German public universities generally charge no tuition for Bachelor's and most Master's programmes, also for international students. Two exceptions matter:
- Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester. Source: mwk.baden-wuerttemberg.de · checked 7 Nov 2026
- Bavaria lets its universities charge non-EU students; TU Munich has done so since winter 2024/25. Check the university's fees page before you apply.
The DAAD database lets you filter for programmes without tuition fees; here is how.
Everyone pays the semester contribution
Each term you pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) for student services and administration. According to the DAAD it ranges from 70 to 430 euros. At many universities it includes a semester ticket for local and regional buses, trams and trains, though not long-distance trains like the ICE. Source: daad.de · checked 7 Nov 2026
What a month costs: Qaiser's rough budget
These are his estimates from his own years in Germany, not official figures. He rounds, so the items do not add up exactly to his total. Your city changes everything.
| Item | Per month (his estimate) |
|---|---|
| Room (small city to Munich/Frankfurt/Hamburg) | €300 to €600 |
| Health insurance (public) | €130 to €150 |
| Food | €200 to €400 |
| Free time, shopping | about €100 |
| His total | about €500 to €1,000 |
For the visa, though, what counts is the official amount: €992 a month in 2026. Source: pakistan.diplo.de · checked 7 Nov 2026
Compared with higher education in the UK, Australia or the US, it is much cheaper.
How students cover it
Most combine savings in the blocked account with a part-time job. How much you may work and whether you pay tax on it are the next two questions. Scholarships help too: search the DAAD scholarship database.
Watch Qaiser explain it
This guide is written from these videos (Urdu/Hindi). Quotes are our translation.
- Is a Master's free in Germany? Reality check (Instagram)
- Real cost of studying in Germany (YouTube)
- Studies (Master studies) in Germany: complete guideline (YouTube)
Questions people ask
Is studying in Germany free for Pakistani students?
Tuition is free at most public universities, also for international students. Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester and some Bavarian universities such as TU Munich also charge non-EU students. Every university charges a semester contribution, and living costs are yours to pay.
What is the semester contribution?
A fee every student pays each term for student services and administration. At many universities it includes a public-transport ticket. The DAAD puts it between €70 and €430 per semester; your university publishes the exact amount.
How much does a student spend per month in Germany?
Qaiser's estimate from his own experience is about 500 to 1,000 euros a month. Rent varies most: small cities are much cheaper than Munich, Frankfurt or Hamburg.
Official sources
- Study in Germany (DAAD): costs of education
- Baden-Württemberg ministry: tuition for international students
- DAAD scholarship database
Read next
- Master's in Germany: requirements and documents
- Can you work on a student visa in Germany?
- Do students pay tax in Germany?
Questions about a video? Ask Qaiser in the comments on Instagram or YouTube.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change. Check the official source linked above; for your own case, the German mission decides.