Country funding 8 min read
🇩🇪Funding your studies in Germany (2026 guide)
Germany's public universities charge almost no tuition — even for internationals. Here's how to fund the rest: DAAD, Deutschlandstipendium, foundations, and BAföG.
Why Germany is Europe's best-value destination
Public universities in most German states charge only a semester fee of ~€150–€350 (which usually includes a regional transport pass). Only Baden-Württemberg charges €1,500/semester for non-EU students. Your real cost is living expenses: ~€11,904/yr blocked-account requirement, ~€850–€1,100/month actual spend in most cities.
DAAD — the German government's scholarship engine
- DAAD Study Scholarships — €934/month + travel + insurance for Masters students in any field, from most countries.
- DAAD Research Grants — €1,300/month for PhD candidates (up to €1,365 for postdocs), plus family and rent supplements.
- DAAD EPOS — development-related Masters, targeted at students from developing countries.
- Deadlines vary by country and program — most fall between August and November for the following academic year.
Deutschlandstipendium & foundations
- Deutschlandstipendium — €300/month (half federal, half private sponsors), open to any nationality. Apply directly through your university, not centrally.
- The 13 Begabtenförderungswerke (Konrad-Adenauer, Friedrich-Ebert, Heinrich-Böll, Rosa-Luxemburg, Studienstiftung and 8 others) — full stipends of €934+/month for outstanding students, often including internationals. Application usually goes through the foundation directly.
- Erasmus+ — for students already enrolled elsewhere in the EU coming to Germany on exchange.
BAföG and loans
- BAföG — half grant, half interest-free loan (repayment capped at €10,010 total). Eligible for German citizens, EU citizens after 5 years, and some refugees.
- KfW Studienkredit — low-interest state-backed loan available to internationals with 4+ semesters completed in Germany.
- Blocked account (Sperrkonto): you show €11,904 for the visa, then withdraw ~€992/month during your studies.
Work rules that actually help pay the bills
- Non-EU students: 140 full days or 280 half days per year. HiWi (student assistant) jobs at your university don't count against this limit.
- Typical HiWi pay: €12–€15/hour. Working students in industry often earn €15–€22/hour.
- 18-month job-seeker residence permit after graduation to find a graduate role.
Put it into action