Everything that changes for international students in Germany in 2026

Germany is a hugely popular destination for higher education, with around 402,000 international students registered in the 2025/26 winter semester.

The latest figures are a six percent increase from the previous year, when 379,939 international students were at universities in Germany. 

With that in mind, we round up some of the important changes and other things that students coming to or already in Germany need to know about in 2026. 

Minimum wage goes up

For students who have a job on the side while completing their degree, there's some good news on the horizon: Germany's statutory minimum wage will go up at the start of the new year. 

It will rise to €13.90 per hour on January 1st, up by more than one euro from €12.82. It means that millions of workers in Germany will receive an automatic pay rise. 

Working students are generally entitled to the minimum wage, although there are some exceptions, such as for those completing compulsory internships, many dual-study programmes and for students under 18 who have not completed vocational training. 

Another increase is also planned for 2027, when the minimum wage is set to reach €14.60 per hour.

READ ALSO: Germany's minimum wage set for record increase

Mini-job and BAföG changes 

As the mini-job earnings threshold is linked to the minimum wage, it will also go up next year – to €603 per month. 

Students from non-EU countries are generally allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester, or 120 full days / 240 half days per year. EU students are treated like German students and can also work up to 20 hours per week during the semester without restriction.

Crucially for students, the BAföG income allowance, which determines how much students can earn without losing financial aid, will increase at the same time, ensuring that those earning up to the mini-job limit will not see their student grant reduced.

This means students who previously earned the maximum mini-job income can work more hours in 2026 without losing BAföG support.

READ ALSO: The planned changes to immigration and citizenship in Germany in 2026

Tuition fee changes in Ingolstadt

Starting in the summer semester of 2026, Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences (THI) will charge tuition fees of €800 per semester for Bachelor's students and €1,200 for Master's students from non-EU/EEA countries,

Students at THI who currently pay €500 per semester or who continue their studies without changing their programme in the 2026 summer semester are not affected by this change.

Though most states in Germany offer tuition-fee free study, Bavaria recently introduced its Higher Education Innovation Act, which allows universities to introduce fees.The Technical University of Munich (TUM) introduced fees for international students from the 2024/25 winter semester.

Meanwhile, all public universities in Baden-Württemberg charge fees to non-EU students. 

Child benefit goes up 

Students who still receive child benefit through their parents will benefit from an increase. 

From January 2026, child benefit (Kindergeld) will rise to €259 per month per child, amounting to €3,108 per year.

In Germany, Kindergeld is generally paid until the age of 25 if the child is enrolled in full-time education (including university studies or vocational training), and not in full-time employment.

There is no income limit for the student themselves. However, if a student works more than 20 hours per week on a regular basis, this can count as full-time employment and may end entitlement.

Child benefit is paid to the parents, not directly to the student, although it is often passed on. Once studies end, or the age limit is reached, the payments stop. 

READ ALSO: What changes for families in Germany in 2026

Parental maintenance: no increase for students

The new Düsseldorf Table, an official tool used in Germany to calculate child maintenance payments, for 2026 leaves the standard maintenance requirement for students living away from home unchanged at €990 per month.

This amount includes €440 for housing costs but excludes health insurance, long-term care contributions and tuition fees.

While higher amounts are possible in exceptional cases, many students are unlikely to see any increase, especially if they have younger siblings who also depend on parental support.

Blocked account requirement

In order to meet the requirements for a student visa, many internationals set up what's known as a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto), which only allows you to withdraw a certain amount of money per month. 

At the moment students still need to deposit €11,904 annually (amounting to €992 per month) to cover their living expenses – the same amount as 2025. 

READ ALSO: What is a blocked account and who needs one in Germany?

Health insurance to get pricier 

For most students, statutory health insurance will cost slightly more in 2026.

The average additional contribution (Zusatzbeitrag) will rise to 2.9 percent next year, up from 2.5 percent in 2025. While health insurers vary, many are increasing rates – including those that previously charged comparatively low surcharges.

And students aged 30 and over will be hit hardest. Once they lose access to the reduced student rate for statutory health insurance (which is usually age 30 or sometimes a couple of years later depending on the course), they have to pay the full standard contribution.

It's expected to be around €185 per month in 2026, plus any additional contributions and long-term care insurance.

READ ALSO: Germany public health insurers announce contribution hike

Military service law changes

Another change that specifically affects German citizens (not people from other countries) is that all 18-year-old German men and women will receive a questionnaire at the start of 2026 to assess their suitability and motivation for the German Armed Forces.

The questionnaire is mandatory for men and voluntary for women. In a second phase, from July 1st 2027, all 18-year-old German men will also be required to undergo a mandatory medical examination, even if they do not opt for voluntary military service.

The law has been passed by the Bundestag and Bundesrat. It has seen lots of protest from young students across Germany. 

READ ALSO: Who would be affected by Germany's new military service draft law?

Transport tickets set to become more expensive

The cost of transport tickets is going up in Germany. And students who are able to use a Deutschland-Semesterticket will also likely have to dig deeper into their pockets in future.  

The regular Deutschlandticket is going up to €63 per month from €58 in 2026 – so the discounted student version (usually priced at 60 percent of this cost) will probably go up to around €37.80 per month, or €226.80 per semester. The new price looks set to apply from the winter semester 2026/27.

Not all universities offer the discounted ticket for students. It depends on whether a university’s student body (usually via the AStA or student services) has negotiated a contract with the local transport authority, which then applies to all enrolled students. 

Some regions may reconsider participation as prices rise. Students who don't have access to the ticket typically rely on regular local and regional transport tickets.

Aside from transport tickets, some universities may also raise their general semester contributions in 2026, depending on local costs.

READ ALSO: Where in Germany bus and train fares are rising in 2026