Germany remains one of the most attractive destinations for international students due to very low tuition (often none), quality education, many English-taught programmes, and clear visa pathways.
Public University in Germany
In 2025, most public universities in Germany charge no tuition for degree-seeking students — instead, you pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) of roughly €100–€400 per semester.
Some states (notably Baden-Württemberg) and some universities/programmes charge tuition for non-EU (third-country) students; where applicable, I state those amounts below.
Non-EU students must normally prove €992 / month (≈ €11,904 / year) in a blocked account or equivalent when applying for a national student visa (see visa section).
Top 10 Low-Tuition Universities in Germany
Below are 10 public universities that offer low or no tuition for many programmes (especially for EU students; some exceptions for non-EU in specific states), along with detailed info.
Then, below, a full overview of Visa Requirements and Requirements for Dependents (family reunion).
1) Technical University of Munich (TUM)
City located: Munich, Bavaria.
Tuition range:
- Most programmes (EU/EEA): No tuition — only semester contribution (basic student union fee). For the winter semester 2025/26, the basic fee listed is €85 (note: semester-ticket changes vary by campus).
- Non-EU / third-country students: Since winter 2024/25, TUM introduced tuition for certain programmes: typically €2,000–€3,000/semester (BSc) and €4,000–€6,000/semester (MSc) for programmes where this applies; check the program-specific list on TUM’s fees page for exact amounts and exemptions.
Courses taught in English: Many Master’s (Data Science, Computer Science, Management & Technology, various engineering MScs).
Language proficiency test requirement: English-taught: typical proofs accepted are TOEFL / IELTS (score minima vary by programme). German-taught: TestDaF / DSH or equivalent.
School page link: Technical University of Munich website.
School intake(s) annually (school range annually): Main intake = Winter Semester (Oct); some Master programmes have Summer intake
VISA REQUIREMENT (documents) (what you will need to apply for a German student visa): standard documents include passport, completed visa form, recent biometric photos, TUM admission letter, proof of funds (blocked account/scholarship), proof of health insurance, certified degree certificates/transcripts and translations where necessary, CV, and proof of accommodation if requested.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS (spouse & children): Dependents apply for Family Reunion visas. The sponsor (student) must show sufficient funds to support dependents, adequate living space (rental contract showing enough rooms), health insurance for dependents, and the dependents’ passports, biometric photos, marriage/birth certificates (legalised/translated). There is no formal numeric cap stated by law (practical limits apply based on accommodation/finances). Spouses may need basic German (A1)
2) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich (LMU)
City located: Munich, Bavaria.
Tuition range:
- General: LMU does not charge tuition for degree programmes for most students; students pay semester fees (Munich Student Union fees; basic fee noted as €85 for Summer 2025 with some temporary semester-ticket suspensions). Non-EU tuition is more limited at LMU than at some other institutions — verify on the programme page if you’re non-EU.
Courses taught in English: Numerous Master’s programmes in sciences, economics, social sciences and some interdisciplinary degrees.
Language proficiency test requirement: English: TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent; German: TestDaF / DSH, where applicable.
School page link: LMU fees & study guide pages.
School intake(s): Winter main intake; some Master’s offer Summer.
VISA REQUIREMENT (documents): Admission letter, passport, visa application, proof of funds (blocked account or scholarship), health insurance, degree certificates, photos, and any program-specific documents.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS: Standard family reunion rules: marriage/birth certificates (legalised & translated), proof of sufficient funds and accommodation, health insurance, visa application forms for each dependent. No strict statutory cap on number; suitability depends on sponsor’s finances and housing.
3) Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin)
City located: Berlin.
Tuition range:
- FU Berlin charges no tuition for most degree programmes; the semester contribution for 2025/26 is listed in the range of €326.40 – €358.80 depending on circumstances (covers administration, student services, and the Deutschlandsemesterticket where applicable).
Courses taught in English: Many Master’s in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and area studies.
Language proficiency test requirement: English programmes: TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent; German programmes: TestDaF/DSH.
School page link: FU Berlin — Fees & Contributions.
School intake(s): Winter main intake; select Masters may have Summer.
VISA REQUIREMENT (documents): Standard student visa documents (admission letter, passport, photos, blocked account/proof of funds, health insurance, certificates). FU’s international office provides arrival & visa guidance.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS: Family reunion via German missions: marriage/birth certificates (legalised, translated), proof of sponsor’s finances and adequate housing, health insurance.
4) Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Humboldt University)
City located: Berlin.
Tuition range:
- Most degree programmes: no tuition for regular students; students pay semester contributions (≈€320–€355 per semester, depending on semester and services). Special programmes (LL.M., continuing ed) may have additional fees.
Courses taught in English: Several English-taught Master’s in humanities and sciences — check the Humboldt programme list.
Language proficiency test requirement: English programmes: TOEFL/IELTS; German programmes: TestDaF/DSH. Specific score requirements on each programme page.
School page link: Humboldt University – Program costs & fees.
School intake(s): Winter main intake; some Masters accept summer applicants.
VISA REQUIREMENT (documents): Admission letter, passport, visa application, proof of funds (blocked account or equivalent), health insurance, degree certificates and translations.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS: Family reunion rules apply; sponsor must demonstrate finances, accommodation and insurance for dependents (marriage/birth certificates required).
5) RWTH Aachen University
City located: Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia.
Tuition range:
- RWTH does not charge tuition for degree students; instead, a semester contribution is charged. For 2025, the semester contribution is €338.05 (social contribution + mobility contribution + student body).
Courses taught in English: A wide range of English-taught Master’s, mainly in engineering, applied sciences and computer science.
Language proficiency test requirement: English programmes: TOEFL/IELTS (program minima differ); German programmes: TestDaF/DSH.
School page link: RWTH International — Costs & Fees.
School intake(s): Winter main intake; selected Master’s programmes offer Summer intake.
VISA REQUIREMENT (documents): Admission letter, passport, visa application form, blocked account/proof of funds, health insurance, official transcripts and (translated) certificates.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS: Family reunion — marriage/birth certificates (legalised & translated), proof of financial means (higher blocked account balance or additional proof), adequate housing, and health insurance for dependents.
6) University of Freiburg (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg)
City located: Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg.
Tuition range:
- EU/EEA students: No tuition; just semester contribution.
- Non-EU (third-country) students: Because Freiburg is in Baden-Württemberg, non-EU students are typically required to pay €1,500 per semester (state rule for many public unis in BW from 2022 onwards) in addition to the semester contribution — verify on the programme page for up-to-date exemptions. This is the key state exception to “no tuition” and materially affects the total cost for non-EU applicants.
Courses taught in English: Several Master’s programmes. Click here to see all courses
Language proficiency test requirement: English programmes: TOEFL/IELTS accepted; German: TestDaF/DSH.
School page link: University of Freiburg – Costs & International Office.
School intake(s): Winter main intake; some Masters have a summer intake.
VISA REQUIREMENT (documents): Admission letter, passport, proof of funds (blocked account or scholarship; note higher tuition for non-EU if applicable), health insurance, and certified academic transcripts.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS: Family reunion rules: marriage/birth certificates (legalised/trans), proof of funds (account must cover dependents), proof of accommodation (enough rooms), and health insurance. Spouses may be requested to show A1 German in certain permit types.
7) University of Göttingen (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen)
City located: Göttingen, Lower Saxony.
Tuition range:
- No tuition for degree programmes; students pay a semester contribution (Göttingen publishes category-based fees; typical total around €300–€450 depending on semester and ticket). Check Göttingen’s fees page for your category.
Courses taught in English: Several Master’s (Life Sciences, Humanities and international programmes). Program pages list English-taught offerings.
Language proficiency test requirement: English programme: TOEFL/IELTS; German programmes: TestDaF/DSH. Confirm per Programme.
School page link: University of Göttingen — International students/fees.
School intake(s): Winter main intake; some Master’s have a Summer intake.
VISA REQUIREMENT (documents): Admission letter, passport, visa application form, proof of funds (blocked account/scholarship), health insurance, and degree certificates.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS: Same family reunion rules; dependents must submit passports, marriage/birth certificates (legalised & translated), proof of sponsor’s finances & accommodation, and health insurance.
8) University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn)
City located: Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia.
Tuition range:
- The University of Bonn does not charge tuition for degree programmes; semester contributions are published (examples for 2025: €312.67 – €345.07 per semester, depending on the semester).
Courses taught in English: Many Master’s programmes in economics, natural sciences and policy/social sciences list English-taught options.
Language proficiency test requirement: English programmes: TOEFL/IELTS; German programmes: TestDaF/DSH. Check programme pages.
School page link: University of Bonn.
School intake(s): Winter main intake; select Master’s allow Summer intake.
VISA REQUIREMENT (documents): Standard student visa set (admission, passport, proof of funds, health insurance, degree transcripts);
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS: Family reunion: marriage/birth certificates legalised/trans., proof of housing & finances (sponsor must show ability to support dependents), health insurance. See Federal Foreign Office and local embassy pages for details.
9) University of Cologne (Universität zu Köln)
City located: Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia.
Tuition range:
- No tuition for most degree programmes; semester fee for 2025 examples ~€335.65 (varies by semester and services).
Courses taught in English: Several Master’s programmes taught wholly in English (Business, Economics, certain sciences).
Language proficiency test requirement: Programme dependent; English: TOEFL/IELTS, German: TestDaF/DSH.
School page link: University of Cologne.
School intake(s): Winter main intake; some Master’s have a Summer intake.
VISA REQUIREMENT (documents): Admission letter, passport, blocked account/proof of funds, health insurance, degree documents, and photos.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS: Family reunion list (marriage/birth certificates, proof of finances & housing, health insurance) — apply at German embassy/consulate abroad
10) University of Hamburg (Universität Hamburg)
City located: Hamburg.
Tuition range:
- No tuition for degree students; the semester contribution for Winter 2025/26 is €384 (includes student services and regional transport where applicable). Note: Hamburg’s cost of living is relatively high compared to smaller cities.
Courses taught in English: Several English-taught Master’s (economics, social sciences, natural sciences and interdisciplinary fields).
Language proficiency test requirement: English programmes: TOEFL/IELTS, etc.; German programmes: TestDaF/DSH.
School page link: University of Hamburg
School intake(s): Winter main intake; some Master’s programmes offer Summer intake
VISA REQUIREMENT (documents): Admission letter, passport, visa application, proof of funds (blocked account/scholarship), health insurance, and degree transcripts. University International Office details visa & arrival steps.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS: Family reunification documents: marriage/birth certificates (legalised/translated), proof of sufficient funds and housing, and health insurance. Apply at German missions abroad for dependent visas.
Full Visa Checklist (2025) — what you must prepare before applying
These are the most common documents required for a German national student visa (long-stay) in 2025. Always verify on your local German mission’s website.
- Completed national visa application form(VIDEX or embassy form).
- Valid passport (with at least 2 blank pages).
- 2 biometric passport photos.
- University admission letter / unconditional offer.
- Proof of finances — blocked account with €11,904 (12 × €992) or equivalent proof (scholarship letter, sponsor affidavit consistent with embassy rules). This amount is the standard required from 1 Jan 2025.
- Health insurance (travel health for entry, then statutory/private insurance once resident).
- Academic certificates and transcripts (certified copies & translations if required).
- Language proof (TOEFL/IELTS for English programmes; TestDaF/DSH for German programmes) if requested by the university and/or visa authority.
- Proof of accommodation or intent (rental contract, student housing confirmation) when requested.
- Visa fee payment receipt (varies by mission).
Processing note: visa processing times vary by embassy and season (typical: a few weeks to several months). Start early.
Bringing Dependents (Family Reunion) — Practical checklist & limits
- Who: spouse/registered partner and minor, unmarried children. Parents or other relatives typically do not qualify except in exceptional cases.
- What the sponsor must show: proof of sufficient funds to support dependents, adequate living space (rental agreement showing enough rooms), and valid health insurance for dependents.
- Typical documents for dependents: passport, visa application form, biometric photos, marriage certificate/birth certificates (legalised & translated), sponsor’s residence permit or admission proof, proof of accommodation, sponsor’s bank statements or blocked-account evidence, health insurance for dependents, and sometimes proof of German A1 for spouse, depending on the sponsor’s status.
- Number of dependents: there is no simple numeric legal limit, but the ability to bring dependents is judged case-by-case based on the sponsor’s finances and living space. Practically, visa offices expect a living space appropriate to the family size and proof of funds to support each dependent.
FAQ
Do all international students need to pay tuition?
No — most public universities do not charge tuition for EU/EEA students and often not for many non-EU students either; states like Baden-Württemberg and some university programmes do charge non-EU tuition (e.g., €1,500/semester in BW, TUM programme fees for some non-EU programmes). Always check the specific programme page.
How much money should I show for the visa?
€992 / month = €11,904 / year (blocked account or equivalent) is the standard from Jan 2025.
Can I bring my spouse and child(ren) while I study?
Usually yes — via family reunion visas — but you must show extra funds, adequate housing and health insurance; spouses may need an A1 German in some scenarios.
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