Germany is one of the few countries in Europe that offers tuition-free university education to non-German and even non-EU students.
This makes it an attractive destination for international students, but it doesn't mean student life in Germany comes without costs. Rent, food, textbooks and the Semesterbeitrag, or semester contribution, can add up quickly, leaving you wondering how to live affordably and finance your studies in Germany.
Here's your complete guide to putting a little extra money in your pocket as an international student in Germany.
Getting a job
Non-EU students living in Germany on student visas can work 120 full days or 240 half days per year without applying for a different residence permit.
There's a wide range of jobs available for students looking to make some extra money. Service jobs, like waiting tables or working as a cashier at a supermarket, are popular, as are tutoring gigs. Some students choose to work as delivery drivers for services like Wolt or Lieferando.
At their universities, students can also look for work as a HiWi (student assistant) or Werkstudent (working student). Working as a HiWi typically involves providing research support, tutorials or lab help, while a Werkstudent works part-time for an outside company.
Finding paid internships during or between semesters can also be a way to help finance your studies.
Jobs paying up to €556 per month are considered "minijobs," which are tax-free for students.
READ ALSO: How to finance your master's studies in Germany as an international student
Applying for BAföG
Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, or BAföG, offers students funding to help cover the cost of their education. The amount you receive depends on factors including your age, your living situation and your or your parents' income.
If you're under 25 and still live with your parents, you can receive up to €855 per month. If you're between 25 and 30, but you don't live with your parents anymore, you can receive €992 per month. If you're over 30, you can receive €1,088 per month. Part of the funding you receive is a stipend you don't have to pay back, and part is a loan that must be paid back once you've entered the workforce.
The eligibility rules are somewhat complicated for international students. You can receive BAföG as an international student if:
- You are an EU citizen, or from an EEA country, and you have lived in Germany for at least five years
- You are married to, or the child of, an EU citizen who has lived in Germany for at least five years
- You are an EU citizen who lives and works in Germany and whose intended course of study is connected to your current job
- You are not an EU citizen but have obtained permanent residency in Germany
- You have received refugee status
- You have lived in the country for at least 15 months as a ‘tolerated’ person (ie you applied for asylum and weren’t given full refugee status)
- At least one of your parents has lived and worked in Germany for three of the past six years
- You are married to a German national and have moved to Germany.
- You are the spouse or child of a foreign national who holds a permanent residency permit.
READ ALSO: Can foreigners apply for student finance in Germany?
Applying for scholarships
If you don't qualify for BAföG, you may want to look into scholarships to fund your studies. The Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) offers a wide range of scholarship programs for international students looking to study in Germany.
The Fulbright Program offers scholarships for American students who wish to complete a part or all of their graduate studies at a German university. These scholarships are competitive, but they're also prestigious and may help boost your C.V. If you want to apply for DAAD or Fulbright scholarships, you should be ready to submit your application about a year before you'd begin your studies in Germany.
READ ALSO: What international students should know about scholarships in Germany
International students can also eligible to apply for the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship. Students awarded this scholarship receive €300 per month, which is partially funded by the German government and partially by private companies and organizations. This scholarship is usually awarded for two semesters.
Making the most of your student status to save money
Most universities in Germany offer a Semesterticket, which is covered by the semester contribution, to their students. This gives you access to local and regional transportation in your region of Germany. Some universities have also begun offering the Deutschlandsemesterticket, which is valid for local and regional transport across the country.
As a university student, you also have access to your campus dining halls, or Mensas, where you can dine for as little as a few euros per meal.
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