27/04/2020
If education in Germany is free and good, then why doesn't everybody go there to study?
Terence Kumpf, Ph.D. Transatlantic American Studies & Hip Hop Music, Technical University of Dortmund (2019)
Answered April 8, 2018
At the University of Dortmund, where I’m completing my doctorate, semester tuition costs 255€. Of that, 181€ goes to the so-called semester ticket, which allows you to use all public transportation (buses, subways, trams, regional trains) throughout the entire state of North-Rhine Westphalia. Given how many cities there are in the Ruhr region, that’s significant: Dortmund, Bochum, Essen, Duisburg, Cologne, and Düsseldorf, and many other smaller towns. You can travel to, and within, all of the cities as much as you like during the semester. You can even bring a friend with you and travel with your bike if you have one.
INCOME
If you’re a foreign student and want to work, you’re limited to a yearly income of no more than 7500€.
HOUSING
The cost to stay in a student dorm in Dortmund ranges from 200–335€ per month, utilities included. However, you can also get into a WG (shared flat) with other students if you like. That’s a great way to improve your German and cut costs. I stayed with two roommates and I paid 160€/mo. including all utilities (heat, electricity, internet, TV, radio, and the dreaded radio tax, which we split three ways).
HEALTH INSURANCE
I paid 58€/mo. for basic traveler’s health insurance that lasted three years. It wasn’t awesome insurance, BUT I did have surgery once (full anesthetic) with a one-week hospital stay that amounted to just over 3000€, which the insurer paid, no questions asked. Try that in the United States!
FOOD
The cost of food, especially fresh food (fruit, veg, meat) in Germany is very affordable. I typically spent 200€/mo. on groceries, and you can eat quite well for that.
So here’s the financial breakdown for one year:
7500€ (legally allowed income)
-2400€ (low rent, including utilities)
———
5100€
-696€ (health insurance)
——-
4404€
-2400€ (groceries)
———
2004€
-510€ (yearly tuition)
——-
1494€ (remainder)
With 1494€ left after covering all your costs, that comes out to spending money of about 125€/mo. You’re not gonna live high off the hog with that kind of money, but if you can cut corners on food and live frugally, you can stretch it.
Is higher education “free” in Germany? Of course not; it is subsidized through taxes — you know, the way a civilized society should be run. Bottom line, the education and cost of living in Germany is affordable and the education is quite good. If you can do it, I highly recommend it. P.S. I also did a Master’s in Berlin.
