Tuition is only part of the cost. Plan for everything below before you apply, so a missing amount doesn’t stop you at the visa stage.
1. Costs before you leave home
- Application fees: some universities and programmes charge them; many scholarships don’t. Filter for no application fee.
- Language tests: IELTS, TOEFL or German exams. See how to avoid IELTS costs.
- Documents: passport, certified copies, translations, courier fees.
- Visa: visa fee, and possibly travel to an embassy in another country.
- Proof of funds: often the biggest hurdle. In Germany, students must show €11,904 for 2026, usually in a blocked account.
- Flight to your study country.
2. Tuition fees
Fees vary hugely by country and university. Public universities in some countries charge low or no tuition (often with a small semester fee), while others charge non-EU students much higher fees. Always check the fee for non-EU/non-EEA students on the university’s own website.
3. Monthly living costs
- Rent: usually the largest cost. Big cities cost far more than small university towns.
- Health insurance (required in most countries)
- Food, phone, local transport, books
- Winter clothing in your first year
A useful guide: the amount a government requires as proof of funds is roughly the minimum it thinks a student needs to live on. Germany’s 2026 figure works out to €992 per month.
4. Ways to reduce costs
- Target fully funded scholarships that cover tuition, flights and living costs.
- Choose smaller university towns with lower rent.
- Apply for student housing early; it is usually cheaper than private rooms.
- Check part-time work rules. In Germany, for example, students may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year, or up to 20 hours a week. Don’t count on this income for your visa, though.
Budget checklist
- ☐ Application and test fees
- ☐ Visa fee and embassy travel
- ☐ Proof of funds for year one
- ☐ Tuition (non-EU rate)
- ☐ Flight
- ☐ First month’s rent and deposit
- ☐ Health insurance
- ☐ Emergency fund
German figures from Make it in Germany, checked 9 October 2026. Costs vary by country and city; always check official university and government sources.
