Germany is free” is a common claim in study abroad content. However, it is now outdated for two of the country’s most prestigious institutions. The real picture is more specific and more useful once you know it.
The Correction Most Guides Haven’t Caught Up With
Fourteen of Germany’s sixteen states still offer tuition-free study at public universities for domestic and international students. Instead of tuition, students pay a small semester contribution of roughly €100–400 for bachelor’s and consecutive master’s degrees. This covers major names like LMU Munich, Humboldt University Berlin, RWTH Aachen, and over two hundred other institutions.
Two exceptions exist, and one of them is recent enough that a lot of content hasn’t been updated for it.
Baden-Württemberg has charged non-EU students €1,500 a semester since 2017, despite periodic announcements about scrapping the fee. This state includes Heidelberg, KIT Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Freiburg, Mannheim, and Tübingen, several of Germany’s most recognizable university names, none of them free for non-EU students. A small 5% exemption quota exists under state law, but the criteria are strict enough that you shouldn’t plan around qualifying for it.
The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is the more significant recent change. Bavaria authorized its universities to charge non-EU tuition back in 2023, and TUM became the only one to actually use that authorization, introducing fees from Winter Semester 2024/25 onward. Current rates run roughly €2,000-3,000 a semester for bachelor’s programs and €4,000-6,000 a semester for master’s programs. TUM ranks 22nd globally on the QS World University Rankings, making it one of the most prestigious universities in the world to have recently moved away from free tuition, and a lot of scholarship content published before this change simply hasn’t caught up.
If you already hold an EU/EEA passport, a German Abitur, or have completed a prior German degree of at least six semesters, specific exemptions from TUM’s fees may apply. Confirm your exact status directly with TUM, since these carve-outs are narrow and condition-specific.
What This Means Practically
If free tuition is your priority and you’re not tied to a specific university, LMU Munich is a genuinely strong alternative in the same city as TUM, ranked 58th globally, founded in 1472, and still charging zero general tuition to international students. Humboldt Berlin, RWTH Aachen, and Freie Universität Berlin offer similarly strong rankings without Baden-Württemberg’s or TUM’s fees attached.
If TUM or Heidelberg specifically is your target, tuition fees remain far below UK or US equivalents. As highlighted on Scholarship100, even at TUM’s higher end of €4,000–12,000 a year, this cost is significantly lower than the £15,000–20,000 spent on living expenses alone at many UK universities.
Funding That Applies Regardless of Which State You Choose
Deutschlandstipendium is Germany’s national merit scholarship, open to both domestic and international students at participating universities, paying €300 a month for one semester based on academic performance and social engagement, funded jointly by government and private donors. Applications generally open after your first semester at the university, so it’s not something you apply for before you arrive.
DAAD scholarships, covered in more depth in our other Germany-adjacent guides, pay around €934 a month for eligible international students, alongside health insurance and travel support.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree programs with German partner universities pay around €1,400 a month, structured as EU-funded joint programs across multiple countries rather than a Germany-only award.
Fulbright, where your home country runs a bilateral program with Germany, supports graduate study and research specifically. US citizens apply through the German-American Fulbright Commission; applicants from other countries should check whether their own country has an equivalent bilateral agreement.
The Budget Reality Beyond Tuition
Even at a zero-tuition university, you need to show proof of funds for your visa through a blocked account (Sperrkonto) holding €11,904. Securing scholarships in Germany can offset this requirement, along with monthly health insurance (~€130) and annual living costs ranging from €11,000 to €16,000 depending on the city.
Comparing Options
| Most of Germany (14 states) | Baden-Württemberg | TUM specifically | |
| Tuition for non-EU students | Free, small semester fee only | €1,500/semester | €2,000-6,000/semester depending on level |
| Includes | LMU, Humboldt Berlin, RWTH Aachen, 200+ others | Heidelberg, KIT, Stuttgart, Freiburg, Mannheim, Tübingen | TUM only |
| Since when | Long-standing policy | 2017 | Winter 2024/25 |
| Exemptions available | N/A | Up to 5% quota, strict criteria | EU/EEA citizens, Abitur holders, certain prior-degree holders |
A Few Quick Questions
Is Germany still free for international students?
Mostly yes, in 14 of 16 states, but Baden-Württemberg (including Heidelberg) charges €1,500 a semester, and TUM introduced its own fees starting Winter 2024/25. Confirm your specific target university’s current fee status directly.
Why did TUM start charging tuition if Bavaria allowed it back in 2023?
TUM is currently the only Bavarian university to have used that authorization. Other Bavarian universities remain tuition-free for now, though this could change.
Does the Deutschlandstipendium cover international students?
Yes, it’s open to both domestic and international students at participating universities, based on merit and social engagement, though applications generally open only after your first semester is enrolled.
How much do I need to show for my visa even at a free university?
€11,904 for 2026 in a blocked account, released monthly, plus health insurance and standard living costs, regardless of whether your university charges tuition.
Is TUM still worth it despite the new fees?
For many applicants, yes. Even at the higher end of roughly €12,000 a year, TUM’s fees remain well below typical UK or US costs, and it’s ranked 22nd globally, so the decision usually comes down to program fit rather than cost alone.
