Low tuition
At many public universities
Programme and regional exceptions apply.
DAAD · Costs and financingSTUDY ABROAD / DE
Aufbruch.Your next chapter.In Germany.
Aufbruch / Setting out. The start of something new.
Research at a Universität. Applied learning at a Fachhochschule. Explore Germany’s public-university options, the real costs and the preparation behind your next move.
Guide checked · Official sources
HEIDELBERG / IN FOCUSGERMANY
Dr. Avishai Teicher · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Display cropped
€11,904
Study-visa funding reference · 2026
Blocked-account option; not an extra fee.
Federal Government · Visa for studyingUniversität / HAW
Research and applied study
Choose the learning format that fits your goals.
DAAD · Universities of applied sciences01 / YOUR STARTING POINT
Where are you starting from?
Choose the closest match. Use it to plan your next checks, not as an admission decision.
Start with your entry route.
Your school qualification determines whether to explore direct entry or preparation before a bachelor’s degree.
APS India · Eligibility update- 01Check your qualification in the official admission tools.
- 02Compare subject prerequisites and the teaching language.
- 03Build your shortlist around the entry route you can demonstrate.
Keep in mind
For Indian Class XII applicants, read the 2026/27 APS update below before making a shortlist.
02 / THE REAL COST
“Free education” needs a closer look.
Low tuition can be a real advantage. It is one part of the decision.
Check the actual programme fee.
Many public bachelor’s and most public master’s programmes do not charge tuition. Private institutions and some programmes do. Baden-Württemberg generally charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester, with exemptions; some Bavarian institutions also charge.
DAAD · Costs and financingSeparate fees from living costs.
DAAD lists semester contributions of roughly €70–€430 and living costs of about €900–€1,200 a month. Your city, accommodation and circumstances can move the total.
DAAD · Costs and financingKeep the funding money in the right column.
The blocked-account reference for a study visa is €11,904 in 2026. This is money for your living expenses, not a government charge to add again to your annual budget.
Federal Government · Visa for studying03 / MAKE THE NUMBERS YOURS
What would your first year look like?
Change the example figures to match your shortlist. See the expenses and the cash you may need to set aside.
UNIVERSITY STUDY / 12 MONTHS / EUR
The €0 tuition starting point illustrates a programme without tuition fees. Replace it with your programme’s published fee. All other inputs are editable planning assumptions.
YOUR FIRST-YEAR PICTURE
Total cash to plan for€16,200.00
- Estimated expenses
- €15,000.00
- Refundable deposit
- €1,200.00
Living costs × 12 + tuition + other fees + arrival costs. The deposit is added separately as money to set aside.
Build from funds you can rely on.
No sign-up. Your figures stay in this page.This example deducts no unawarded scholarship or income from a job you have not secured.
04 / FUNDING THE MOVE
Find the right kind of support.
Start with an affordable study plan. Then explore funding that matches your background.
Begin with the fee structure.
Choose courses you can fund before building a plan around a scholarship. Check the current university fee schedule, including any exemptions.
Check tuition guidanceSearch for a relevant award.
Use the DAAD scholarship database to filter opportunities by background, study level and purpose. Each programme has its own conditions.
Explore DAAD fundingPlan for the first few months.
Check when your funds become accessible and keep enough for deposits, travel and settling in. Confirm the conditions of your chosen funding arrangement.
Check study funding requirementsSTUDY. WORK. UPSKILL.
Work during and after your studies.
Understand the study-related options, then prepare for the next stage.
While studying
The federal guide allows up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year, or up to 20 hours a week, under the study residence rules. Check the conditions for your situation.
Federal Government · Visa for studyingAfter graduation
Graduates of German higher education can apply for up to 18 months to seek skilled employment, subject to the permit conditions. It is time to search, not a job offer.
Federal Government · Visa for studyingSkills to build now
Put language practice, projects and relevant experience alongside your academic plan. Discuss the preparation that could strengthen your next step.
Discuss your preparation05 / FROM INTEREST TO ACTION
A route you can work through.
Start at the step that matches where you are. Course dates and your circumstances set the pace.
- 01
Define the route
Write down your qualification, intended subject and preferred learning format. Check the admission route before choosing universities.
Federal Government · Study requirements - 02
Make a small, documented shortlist
For each course, keep the curriculum, academic requirements, teaching language, fee page and exact application deadline.
- 03
Prepare the evidence
Collect academic records and language evidence. Applicants with Indian qualifications should check the applicable APS procedure.
APS India · Eligibility update - 04
Apply through the specified channel
Follow the university’s instructions. If it uses uni-assist, check whether the process is an application or a preliminary-documentation review.
uni-assist · How to apply - 05
Plan the move
Once your route is confirmed, check funding evidence, the appropriate visa process, insurance and accommodation. Keep arrival money accessible.
Federal Government · Visa for studying
06 / KEEP YOUR PLAN CURRENT
Worth knowing before you apply.
Reviewed guidance and official publishers to follow as your plan develops.
ADMISSIONS · WINTER 2026/27
An important check for Indian school leavers
Review the APS eligibility update before relying on older advice about undergraduate entry.
APS India · Eligibility updateReviewed 9 September 2026FUNDING · 2026
Match the amount to the visa route
The proof-of-funds requirement for study is different from some training and search routes.
Federal Government · Visa for studyingReviewed 9 September 2026From the official newsroom
Education and training headlines from DAAD India. This is a selected feed, not a complete list of opportunities.
Feeds are refreshed on request, with up to 30 minutes of caching. Publisher dates are shown above, with updated dates labelled; a headline may refer to a closed call. Always read the full notice.
THE QUESTIONS THAT MATTER
A little more clarity.
Useful answers to bring into your next conversation.
Use low tuition as one filter. Also compare the curriculum, academic fit, language preparation, housing and full-year funding. A cheaper course that does not fit your background is not a useful shortlist.
YOUR NEXT MOVE, WITH STAAR
Turn “what if” into a first step.
Tell us where you are today. We’ll help you explore what comes next.
SOURCE NOTES
Check the detail at its source.
Reviewed 9 September 2026. Course, funding and immigration rules can change. Use the current rules for your nationality, residence and intake.
DAAD · Universities of applied sciences
HAW/Fachhochschule format and practical orientation
Cambridge Dictionary · AufbruchGerman-language idea behind the banner
DAAD · Costs and financingTuition exceptions, semester contributions and living-cost guidance
Federal Government · Visa for studying2026 funding evidence, student work and graduate job-search residence
Federal Government · Vocational trainingTraining formats, language and funding conditions
APS India · Eligibility updateIndian undergraduate qualification criteria from winter 2026/27
Federal Government · Study requirementsAcademic and language preparation
DAAD · Scholarship databaseProgramme-specific scholarship search
uni-assist · How to applyApplication stages and university-specific instructions