The short answer
At the English-taught universities you can apply to through Craydel, first-year tuition is around €12,000 (median €12,193 for a bachelor's), with cheaper programmes from about €6,500 — far below Australia or the UK. Public universities are largely tuition-free but teach in German. On top of tuition, the visa requires a blocked account holding €11,904 for living costs.
Germany is one of the most affordable places in the world to earn an international degree — but “how much it costs” depends heavily on which route you take. This guide sets out the real numbers for the English-taught universities you can apply to through Craydel, plus the money you must prove for your visa, in euros and with indicative shilling and naira figures.
How much does it cost to study in Germany?
Plan for two numbers: tuition and living costs. At the English-taught universities you can apply to through Craydel, first-year tuition runs around €12,000 (median €12,193 for a bachelor’s, €12,818 for a master’s), with the cheapest programmes from about €6,500. That is a fraction of Australia, the UK or the US. Germany’s public universities are largely tuition-free, but they teach mostly in German and you apply to them directly — see the honest comparison in our is it free to study in Germany? guide.
Tuition by level
Fees are set per course; these are the medians across the English-taught programmes in our data.
| Level | Median first-year fee | ≈ at today’s rate |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | €12,193 | ≈ KES 1.8m / NGN 19.1m |
| Master’s degree | €12,818 | ≈ KES 1.9m / NGN 20.1m |
| Foundation programme | €12,050 | ≈ KES 1.8m / NGN 18.9m |
| Cheapest programmes from | €6,500 | ≈ KES 970k / NGN 10.2m |
Median first-year fees net of discounts across Craydel’s English-taught German universities. Local-currency figures indicative (≈ KES 149 / NGN 1,571 per €); rates move — check the day you pay. Grade-based scholarships can cut tuition by up to 50% — see below.
Living costs by city
Living costs vary widely by city. Smaller cities and even Munich are far cheaper than Berlin in our data.
Estimated off-campus annual living cost by city (accommodation, food, transport). See our accommodation guide for detail.
Want a course and city that fit your budget?
A Craydel counsellor will match you to English-taught German courses you’ll get an offer for, and flag the scholarships you qualify for — at no cost to you.
What you must prove for the visa
Separate from tuition, the German student visa requires you to prove you can support yourself. The standard route is a blocked account (Sperrkonto) holding €11,904 for your first year — released to you at about €992 a month once you arrive. This is a government figure, not a fee, and it is money you keep and spend.
- Blocked account (Sperrkonto)Proof of living funds for 12 months; released ~€992/month after you arrive.€11,904
- Health insuranceMandatory for enrolment and the visa; budget for student health cover.Required
- Visa application feeNational (type D) student visa — confirm the current fee with the German mission.~€75
Blocked-account figure and visa requirements set by the German Federal Foreign Office; verify current amounts on official sources. See our German student visa guide.
How to bring the cost down
Up to 50% off tuition
Several universities award automatic, grade-based scholarships — see our scholarships guide.
Study outside Berlin
Living in Munich, Cologne or Leipzig can cost roughly half of Berlin.
140 days a year
You can work up to 140 full days (about 20 hours a week in term) to help with living costs.
Lower-fee programmes
MBA and some IT/creative programmes sit below the median — see our cost-by-field guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to study in Germany?
At the English-taught universities you can apply to through Craydel, first-year tuition is around €12,000 (median €12,193 for a bachelor’s), with cheaper programmes from about €6,500 — far below Australia or the UK. Public universities are largely tuition-free but teach in German and require direct application. On top of tuition you must prove €11,904 in a blocked account for the visa.
What is a blocked account (Sperrkonto)?
It’s a special account where you deposit €11,904 to prove you can cover a year of living costs for your student visa. After you arrive, the money is released to you at about €992 a month. It’s money you keep and spend, not a fee.
How much are living costs in Germany?
Estimated off-campus living costs run from about €4,932 a year in Leipzig to €12,696 in Berlin, with Munich and Cologne in between. The €11,904 blocked-account figure reflects the government’s estimate of a year’s living costs.
Can I reduce the cost?
Yes — grade-based scholarships can cut tuition by up to 50%, a cheaper city can roughly halve living costs, and you can work up to 140 full days a year. Choosing a lower-fee field (like an MBA or some IT programmes) also helps.
Is tuition really cheaper than Australia?
Yes. A first year at Craydel’s English-taught German universities is around €12,000, versus roughly €37,000-equivalent at an Australian university — before Germany’s scholarships. Public German universities are cheaper still (tuition-free) but require German and direct application.
Sources
- Craydel course, campus and admissions data (2026) — first-year fees by level, living costs by city, scholarships.
- Exchange rates for USD→EUR/KES/NGN conversion (2026); indicative only, rates move daily.
- Federal Foreign Office / Make-it-in-Germany — blocked account (€11,904), student visa and health insurance. make-it-in-germany.com
- DAAD — costs of education and living in Germany. daad.de
Want this built around your grades and budget?
A Craydel counsellor will shortlist Germany universities that fit what you can actually afford — free.