Living Expenses
It is important to see to it early on that you have sufficient funds at your disposal to finance your studies in Germany. In this way, you can devote yourself completely to your studies without having to worry about money.
You will need around 700 to 800 euros per month to study in Germany (for rent, utilities, groceries, books and other materials for your studies, free-time activities, and other expenses).
Students must pay a total of 145 euros in administrative and student activity fees as well as student government fees.
The only exceptions are students on exchange programs coordinated by the International Office and Erasmus students – they only have to pay 78 euros per semester. In return, you will receive an Unicard, your personal student identification card, which you can use to purchase inexpensive meals at the cafeterias, check out books from the library, and make copies. It also qualifies you to purchase the Semesterticket, a reduced-rate public transportation pass for local busses, trains, and trams.
Living
There are several possibilities for finding a room in Freiburg:
· The Office of Student Services runs dormitories. Since the rooms are attractive and inexpensive, they are very popular. You should thus apply for one as early as possible. Please note that there is a waiting list and it often takes some time to get a room.
· Several religious organizations also run dormitories with inexpensive rooms. In most cases, religious affiliation is not a criterion for receiving a room.
· A very popular form of student living in Germany is apartment sharing (“Wohngemeinschaften” or “WG’s”). In most shared apartments, the roommates themselves advertise free rooms, conduct interviews with candidates, and decide on who to give the room to. Advertisements for rooms in shared apartments may be found on the database of the International Office and in various local newspapers.
· Erasmus students and students from partner universities (please note: only university-wide partnerships, not faculty partnerships) can apply for a room at the International Office.
The rent for a single room in a dormitory varies widely. It is typically between 180 and 230 euros per month. Rent for rooms on the private market is often somewhat higher, and you might have to pay extra for heating, water, and electricity.
