Tuition fees at Germany’s top 10 universities

According to the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, the highest-ranking German institution is the Technical University of Munich, placed 26th globally, up four spots from last year. It is followed by Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (38th) and Heidelberg University (47th).

The remaining universities in the top 10 are Humboldt University of Berlin, the University of Bonn, RWTH Aachen University, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the University of Tübingen, the Free University of Berlin, and the University of Göttingen.

International students make up 14–39% of the student populations at these institutions, according to THE. While most universities waive tuition fees, they still require students to cover administrative charges and living expenses.

Among the four universities charging tuition, Göttingen has the highest fee at 7,800 euros per semester, while Heidelberg and Tübingen have the lowest at €1,500 per semester.

Germany reached a new record in the winter semester of 2023–2024, with nearly 380,000 international students enrolled, marking a 3% increase compared to the previous year.

A campus of Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. Photo courtesy of the university

A survey by Study in Germany, a portal on studying in Germany, identified three main reasons why the country appeals to foreign students.

First, public universities do not charge tuition fees; students only pay an administrative fee of 150-250 euros (US$160-268) per year. German higher education is also highly rated, with over 500 bachelor’s and master’s programs taught in English. In total, 49 German universities feature in the Times Higher Education global rankings.

Second, the average cost of living for international students in Germany is around 930 euros (US$1,000) per month, which is significantly lower than in the U.K. (US$1,500) or the U.S. (US$1,250).

Finally, after graduation, students have the opportunity to stay and work for up to 18 months with an extended residence permit. Survey results also show that nearly 70% of international students wish to stay in Germany to find employment after graduation.