The short answer
Among the English-taught universities you can apply to through Craydel, Arden University (Berlin) and Berlin School of Business & Innovation are cheapest (from about €6,450–7,400), well below the ~€12,000 median. Germany's public universities are tuition-free but teach in German and require direct application. Grade-based scholarships can cut private tuition by up to 50%.
Germany already offers some of the lowest tuition of any major English-taught destination, and the gap between universities is wide. This guide ranks the most affordable English-taught universities you can apply to through Craydel on real first-year fees, and shows the honest levers — including tuition-free public universities — that bring a German degree within reach.
Which are the cheapest universities in Germany?
Among the English-taught universities you can apply to through Craydel, the most affordable first-year tuition is at Arden University (Berlin campus) and Berlin School of Business & Innovation, from about €6,450–7,400, with Schiller International University and IU International University of Applied Sciences close behind. That is well below the roughly €12,000 median. Fees are set per course, so your figure depends on the programme.
| University | Median first-year fee | ≈ KES / NGN |
|---|---|---|
| Arden University (Berlin) | €6,450 | ≈ KES 961k / NGN 10.1m |
| Berlin School of Business & Innovation (BSBI) | €7,366 | ≈ KES 1.1m / NGN 11.6m |
| Schiller International University | €7,643 | ≈ KES 1.1m / NGN 12.0m |
| IU International University of Applied Sciences | €8,935 | ≈ KES 1.3m / NGN 14.0m |
| PFH Private University of Applied Sciences | €9,957 | ≈ KES 1.5m / NGN 15.6m |
| SRH University | €10,962 | ≈ KES 1.6m / NGN 17.2m |
Median first-year fee net of discounts across each university’s English-taught courses. Local-currency figures indicative (≈ KES 149 / NGN 1,571 per €); rates move. The cheapest single programmes start near €5,100.
Don’t forget tuition-free public universities. Germany’s public universities charge no tuition (only a semester fee of a few hundred euros). They are the genuinely cheapest option — but most teach in German (you’d need DSH/TestDaF), are competitive, and you apply to them directly rather than through an agent. The universities above are the English-taught, application-supported route. Our is it free to study in Germany? guide compares the two honestly.
Cheaper still: scholarships
Germany’s scholarship picture makes these fees cheaper again. Several of the universities above award automatic, grade-based scholarships worth up to 50% of tuition — for example the University of Europe for Applied Sciences and Gisma University up to 50%, Constructor University up to €7,000, and SRH University up to 20%. A strong result can roughly halve your tuition. See our scholarships guide for who qualifies.
Want the cheapest route that still fits your grades?
A Craydel counsellor will line up the lowest-fee English-taught German universities and the scholarships you qualify for — at no cost to you.
The cheapest city to live in
Tuition is only half the budget. Living costs range from about €4,932 a year in Leipzig to €12,696 in Berlin, with Munich (€5,660) and Cologne (€7,274) in between — so a lower-cost city can save more than a modest tuition difference.
Estimated off-campus annual living cost by city. Whatever the fee, you must still prove €11,904 in a blocked account for the visa.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the cheapest university in Germany?
Among the English-taught universities you can apply to through Craydel, Arden University (Berlin campus) and Berlin School of Business & Innovation have the lowest median first-year tuition, from about €6,450–7,400, with the cheapest single programmes near €5,100. Germany’s public universities are tuition-free but teach in German and require direct application.
Are public universities in Germany really free?
Yes — public universities charge no tuition, only a small semester fee. They are the cheapest option, but most teach in German (requiring DSH or TestDaF), are competitive, and you apply to them directly. Craydel places students into English-taught private universities that charge tuition but offer easier, supported entry.
Can scholarships make it cheaper?
Yes. Several universities award automatic, grade-based scholarships up to 50% of tuition (for example the University of Europe for Applied Sciences and Gisma), and Constructor University offers up to €7,000. A strong academic result can roughly halve your tuition.
What is the cheapest German city for students?
In our data, Leipzig is the most affordable at about €4,932 a year in living costs, with Munich (€5,660) and Cologne (€7,274) also well below Berlin (€12,696). Choosing a lower-cost city can save you thousands over a degree.
Sources
- Craydel course, campus and admissions data (2026) — median first-year fees by institution, scholarships, living costs by city.
- Exchange rates for USD→EUR/KES/NGN conversion (2026); indicative only.
- DAAD / Study-in-Germany — public university tuition and semester fees. study-in-germany.de
Want this built around your grades and budget?
A Craydel counsellor will shortlist Germany universities that fit what you can actually afford — free.