Tuition fees
Currently there is no state in Germany with general tuition fees for bachelor's and consecutive master's degree programs at state universities. Students pay only a small enrolment or confirmation fee. Once they have enrolled students receive their student ID. This provides a wide range of concessions: for bank accounts, sometimes telephone companies, but also for cinema and theatre tickets.
Undergraduate studies
Up until completion of your initial degree qualifying you for a profession, you will pay a moderate fee to the Student Organisation and, in some states, an additional administration fee. Currently you must reckon with 100 Euro per term for the enrolment or confirmation fee plus the administration fee .
Semester contribution / enrolment or confirmation fee around 50 Euro per term
You will have to pay a semester contribution at enrolment (Einschreibung) and each semester at confirmation (Rückmeldung). The semester contribution is made up of a contribution to the Studentische Selbstverwaltung (AStA) (student parliament of the university) and a contribution to the Studentenwerk. This helps to support the refectories and student accommodation as well as the advisory services offered by the Studentenwerke.
The enrolment or confirmation fee usually comes to around 50 Euro. Contributions may be higher, however (about 150 Euro), if the Student Organisation fee includes a "Semesterticket". With this ticket students can use public transport (busses and trains) for six months.
Long-term fees / student accounts
Students who study longer than the designated number of terms must reckon with increased costs. This is because most federal states charge fees for long-term studies. Whoever notably exceeds the standard period of study has to pay an additional 500 Euro per term! The fees usually become payable after 5 years or the 10th term of study.
Dining
Duesseldorf Student Services offer various meals in the dining halls at prices ranging from about € 1,20 to € 5.
You can get a canteen card (Mensa-Card) from Bistro-Café Uno (Building 21.11) if you present your student ID card. You can then top it up at the machine in the dining hall foyer (Building 21.11) by inserting cash money.
You can then use your canteen card to pay for food in the dining halls and cafeterias of Student Services and use the washing machines in the halls of residence.
Costs of living
The cost of living depends on your lifestyle. However, you cannot influence the average rents or the cost of food and health insurance! So, just being thrifty is not going to help!
The largest monthly expense for students is the rent - mostly a third of their total cost of living.
Yet there are sometimes big differences in the cost of living within Germany. In the big cities such as Munich, Hamburg or Cologne the rents are the highest. Students pay on average 356 Euro per month there. In Chemnitz, Dresden and Erfurt the average rents, at 235 Euro, are the cheapest. On the other hand, it is easier to find a job in the bigger cities.
On average German students have about 864 Euro at their disposal :
Monthly expenses
Rent (incl. additional charges) : 298,- Euro
Food: 165,- Euro
Clothing: 52,- Euro
Transport (car/public transport) : 82,- Euro
Health insurance: 66,- Euro
Telephone/internet/radio & TV licence: 33,- Euro
Work/study materials: 30,- Euro
Leisure activities : 68,- Euro
Total : 794,- Euro
Not included here are term fees which have to be paid on receipt of confirmation of admission. So, especially at the beginning of term you will have more expenses than usual.
Prices
1 loaf of bread : 2,- Euro
1 kg apples: 1,99 Euro
1 kg potatoes ; 0,99 Euro
1 litre milk ：0,90 Euro
1 bottle of mineral water (0,75 Liter)： 0,80 Euro
1 cup of coffee (at a café) : 2,50 Euro
1 glas of beer (at a bar) : 3,- Euro
1 pizza (at a restaurant) : 4,- to 6,- Euro
1 lunch (at student restaurant) : about 2,50 Euro
1 pair of shoes : 30,- to 100.- Euro
1 t-shirt : 10,- to 50,- Euro
1 pair of jeans : 30,- to 100,- Euro
1 ticket for the movies (reduced fare) : 6,- Euro
1 ticket for the theatre (reduced fare) : 6,- to 30,- Euro
1 entrance into a museum (reduced fare) : 2,- to 8,- Euro
