While affordability is by no means the sole factor attracting international students to Germany, low or non-existent tuition fees undoubtedly add to the overall appeal. At public universities, there are no tuition fees for undergraduate programs or for the majority of postgraduate degrees. Fees are charged at private universities, and for some master’s programs at public universities.

PhD study is free for at least the first six semesters (ie. three years). At public universities, the majority of students simply pay a small ‘semester fee’. This is typically no more than €300 (US$330) per semester, covering contributions to the student union, administration and the cost of a Semester Ticket – a six-month pass for public transport. Living costs vary depending on the location; according to Mercer’s Cost of Living Survey, Munich is currently Germany’s most expensive city, followed by Frankfurt am Main and Berlin. In general, it is recommended to budget around €700 (US$770) per month to cover accommodation, food and other living expenses. Those applying for a student visa will be required to show they have access to at least €720 per month (€8,640 for the full year) to cover living costs.

Once in Germany, it’s also possible to supplement your income through part-time work. There are no restrictions on this for EU/EEA students, and other international students are permitted to work 120 full days or 240 half days per year (more if a work permit is obtained), excluding research assistant work. A 2014 government survey found that two thirds of surveyed international students were employed in paid part-time work.
  

A final ‘pull’ factor attracting growing numbers of students to Germany is the prospect of staying on to work after graduation. Europe’s largest economy and most industrialized nation, Germany rebounded quickly and convincingly from the global financial crisis of 2008- 9, and today offers one of the world’s most resilient job markets. Strong GDP growth and low unemployment levels are forecast up to 2019, and – in part due to the nation’s ageing population – there’s high demand for skilled immigrants to fill gaps in the labor force. As in many countries, demand for graduates is especially high in the STEM sectors (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Graduates from EU/EEA countries can stay on to seek work without any restrictions or permits. International students from elsewhere can extend their residence permits by 18 months in order to seek work, commencing from the date on which final exam results are issued in writing. After two years of employment in Germany, it’s possible to apply for permanent residency status. Fluency in German is a definite asset when seeking work. However, some roles are available without this requirement, particularly in international corporations and scientific research institutes.