Fees
Except for some graduate or postgraduate programs, the Freie Universität Berlin does not charge tuition fees; students are merely responsible for paying certain fees and charges each semester.These fees and contributions are subject to change.
Fees and Contributions
Except in the case of continuing education courses and auditing, Freie Universität Berlin does not charge any tuition fees (Studiengebühren) for undergraduate programs. Instead, the university only charges “semester fees and contributions” (Semestergebühren and Semesterbeiträge).
For the summer semester 2016, the total required is € 304,29 broken down as follows:
· € 50,00 as the enrollment / re-registration fee (Immatrikulationsgebühr or Rückmeldegebühr, respectively),
· € 51,69 as the social contribution (Sozialbeitrag) to the student union (Studentenwerk),
· € 8,70 € 7,50 as a contribution to student government (Studierendenschaft) and € 1,20 for financing Semester Ticket Office
· € 193,90 for the semester ticket transportation pass (Semesterticket), Fee Zone ABC, including € 5,00 for the social fund (Sozialfond).
For more information, please consult the Student Records and Registration Office or the Semester Ticket Office of the AStA.
Your living costs mainly depend, of course, on your personal requirements and habits. You should count on spending a minimum of 600 to 700 Euro (rental fees, grocery, leisure time etc.). In order to obtain an entry visa or a residence permit for study purposes, you must prove that this monthly amount is at your disposal, independent of any job.
Degree program students with a residence permit for study purposes are allowed to work for a maximum of 90 days (or 180 half days) per year. Jobs as a student tutor at the university do not count.
Students receiving grants are not allowed to work.
Other fees
The university also charges fees for continuing education courses, for auditing students, and for late submissions (late submission fee currently € 19.94) as well as replacement / duplicates of a student ID, a page from a study book, or another type of study certificate issued by the Student Records and Registration Office.
The rent
Rents in Berlin normally start at 250 Euro, shared apartments tend to be less expensive. On signing the lease your landlord will probably expect a deposit of three months, reimbursed with interest at the end of tenancy as long as nothing has been damaged. Sometimes a commission or a compensation for furniture is requested; therefore, make sure that you bring enough money with you.
Short-term Accommodation
If you arrive in Berlin and have not yet found an apartment or a room you will need cheap short-term accommodation at either a youth hostel (in German) or a guest house (Jugendgästehaus).
