Abolition of Tuition Fees in Germany
Wouldn't it be wonderful to live in a world where education was free?
Where you could train in any subject for virtually nothing? Well, Germany hasn't reached that stage yet, but in the grand scheme of things, it comes pretty close.
Are there tuition fees in Germany?
Since 2014, Germany has been experimenting with a bold academic policy. In that year, the state abolished all fees at public universities. This removed the annual fees that students used to pay for their education.
This law only applies to public universities. Germany also hosts numerous private universities and colleges, which are free to charge whatever fees they desire. This can rise to as much as €20,000 per year.
Are universities in Germany free for international students?
As usual in Germany, the fees law avoided discriminating against international students. All fees were eliminated, for locally born and foreign students alike. However, since 2016 fees for non-EU students have begun to return.
The state of Baden-Württemberg now charges €1,500 per semester for first degrees. And this could be extended across Germany in the near future.
Are Masters degrees free in Germany?
The 2014 law only applied to undergraduate fees. Anything above that level was excluded, including Masters degrees.
So, most Masters degrees are not currently free for any students. However, cost of studying some courses are free or very cheap. In other cases, administration fees of €500 - €1,000 per semester may apply, and this varies from course to course.