Germany: Tuition-free public universities, APS, and English-taught master's

Germany has been the gravitational centre of European international student recruitment for over a decade. The core attraction is simple: most of the country’s public universities charge zero tuition, even for students from outside the European Union. This is not a temporary policy — it reflects a structural commitment by sixteen federal states to treat higher education as a public good.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) lists more than 1,800 English-taught master’s programmes across German public universities as of 2026. These programmes span engineering, computer science, business, economics, social sciences, life sciences, and the humanities. They do not require German language proficiency, though learning some German before arrival is strongly advisable for daily life and internship access.

Tuition: what zero euros actually means

Fifteen of Germany’s sixteen states charge no tuition at public universities for bachelor’s and consecutive master’s programmes. The sole exception is Baden-Württemberg, which charges €1,500 per semester for non-EU students. A handful of states — including Bavaria and Saxony — have recently introduced modest fees for non-consecutive or executive master’s programmes, typically in the range of €2,000–€6,000 per semester.

What all students pay, regardless of origin, is the Semesterbeitrag (semester contribution). This is not tuition; it is a mandatory fee that funds student services, public transport tickets, and administrative costs. It ranges from €150 to €350 per semester depending on the university and city. The Deutschlandticket component of this fee typically covers unlimited regional public transport.

Private universities in Germany charge tuition, but they account for a small fraction of total enrolment. For most international students, the public university route is the default.

The blocked account: proof of funds

To obtain a German student visa, non-EU applicants must demonstrate financial resources. The standard mechanism is the blocked account (Sperrkonto), a special bank account into which the required sum is deposited and from which a maximum of €934 per month can be withdrawn.

For 2026, the blocked account requirement is €11,208 for one year. This figure is adjusted annually and is designed to cover basic living expenses. In high-cost cities — Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Stuttgart — students may need more than this minimum, especially for rent. In lower-cost cities — Leipzig, Halle, Göttingen, Chemnitz — the figure is generally adequate.

The blocked account must be opened before the visa appointment. Providers include Deutsche Bank, Fintiba, Expatrio, and Coracle. Processing typically takes one to two weeks.