Which German states charge tuition fees for non-EU students?

As of 2026, tuition fees (Studiengebühren) in Germany are only applied to non-EU students in the state of Baden-Württemberg.

#Baden-Württemberg Tuition Fees

• Non-EU students: 1,500 € per semester (total 3,000 € per year)
• Students pursuing a second degree: 650 € per semester
• EU students: No fees
• Refugee status in Germany: No fees
• High school graduates from Baden-Württemberg: No fees for their first degree

#Universities Covered

• Universität Stuttgart, Heidelberg, Tübingen, Freiburg, Karlsruhe (KIT), Konstanz, Hohenheim, Mannheim, Ulm
• Pforzheim, Reutlingen, Esslingen, Aalen, Furtwangen, Albstadt-Sigmaringen + other Hochschule (universities of applied sciences)

#Exemptions

• Holders of DAAD scholarships (often a fee waiver paid by Baden-Württemberg)
• Those with refugee/asylum status
• Dual citizens (if you have an EU second passport)
• Some stipendium (scholarship) recipients (depending on the institution)

#Other States

✅ NO tuition fees:

• Berlin, Brandenburg, Bayern, Hessen, Niedersachsen, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thüringen, NRW, Rheinland-Pfalz, Hamburg, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saarland

⚠️ All states have a Semesterbeitrag (semester contribution): 150-450 € per semester

• This covers your student ID, public transport (Semesterticket or D-Ticket), and social services.
• This is not a fee, but a mandatory contribution for services.

#Master/PhD

• Master's programs are generally tuition-free (even in Baden-Württemberg, though some specific master's programs may have fees — always check!)
• "Weiterbildender Master" (continuing education master's) can be fee-based: 3,000-25,000 € (private/MBA)
• PhDs are generally tuition-free, but some graduate schools may have an annual contribution of 500-2,000 €.

#Strategy

• If your budget is tight, prioritize states outside of Baden-Württemberg.
• Alternatively, pursue a DAAD or KAAD scholarship in Baden-Württemberg to get a tuition fee waiver.
• For master's programs in Baden-Württemberg, the fees are generally the same as for bachelor's — but checking is essential.

Related: How to get a DAAD scholarship.