Studying in Germany is an exciting opportunity for Indian students as it gives them access to the highest quality of education and exposes them to the vibrant German culture. On top of that, higher education in Germany is among the cheapest options in the world as public universities don’t charge tuition fees (even for international students), and private universities are also quite affordable.
However, besides the cost of tuition, you’ll need a significant amount of money for other expenditures, so it’s important to know how to save on the costs. In this guide, we’ll help you stretch your budget without sacrificing the quality of life.
Choose Your City Strategically
The city you live in while pursuing your bachelor’s in Germany can make or break your budget. Rent, food, and daily expenses vary greatly depending on the region you are staying in. Big cities like Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg are quite expensive, and the monthly living costs can exceed €1,500.
On the other hand, cities like Leipzig and Magdeburg are much more affordable, and the living costs can even go under €900 per month. If you aren’t tied to a particular university, find one that’s based in a pocket-friendly city or has a campus outside the major cities.
Find Budget-Friendly Student Housing
Rent will likely be your biggest expense while studying in Germany, so it’s important to find affordable accommodation. Choosing a smaller city will do you a favor here, but even in big cities, you can still look for more affordable options and neighborhoods.
The biggest saver for students is living in student dormitories (Studentenwohnheime). These are run by a government-backed organization and offer furnished rooms with shared amenities at around €200–€400 a month. Check for availability on the Studentenwerk website for your region and ensure you apply early.
Apart from that, shared apartments (Wohngemeinschaften, or WGs) are the next best choice. They’ll allow you to split the rent and utilities with roommates, significantly bringing down the cost. They range between €300–€600 per month, depending on the location, and you can find listings on websites like WG-Gesucht.de.
Get the Semester Ticket
Public transport in Germany is excellent, but the daily tickets and monthly passes can quickly eat into your budget. Instead of risking this, it’s much cheaper to get the Semester Ticket. It’s a special student pass for public transport that’s heavily discounted and allows you unlimited access to public transport within your university’s region.
Typically, it costs around €150 and €300 per semester, or €25–€50 a month, which is much cheaper than regular passes. Depending on the university, it may be included in the fee, but ensure you get it if it’s listed as an add-on.
If the Semester Ticket isn’t available at the university, you can get the BahnCard for student discounts. Bike-sharing and e-scooters can also come in handy in various cities.
Take Advantage of Student Discounts
One of the biggest advantages of studying in Germany is that you’ll get discounts for almost everything. Besides public transport, you can use your student ID to save money on tech devices and software, university canteens (mensa), gym access, and tickets to museums, movies, and events.
While many businesses won’t advertise student discounts, they still offer them in most cases. Always carry your student ID, and if you think you might get a discount, confirm before paying. These small savings will add up to hundreds of euros over time.
Apply for Scholarships and Grants
It’s easy for international students to overlook scholarships and grants, but there are programs meant to help them reduce the costs of studying in Germany. Unlike loans, these don’t even need to be repaid.
One of the options you can look at is the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), one of the largest scholarship providers in the world. It covers full tuition, monthly living expenses (around €850 for master’s students), health insurance, and travel costs.
There are also university-specific scholarships like the Deutschlandstipendium, which are based on scholarships based on academic excellence, financial need, or research projects.
Besides these, you can look for religious or organization-based scholarships from various institutions. They’ll help make studying in Germany much more affordable and give you the financial freedom to immerse yourself in the new culture.