All international students who have enrolled at a higher education institution in Baden-Württemberg since the fall semester 2017/18 are subject to tuition fees. The tuition fees amount to EUR 1,500 per semester.
Students who were already enrolled at a higher education institution in Baden-Württemberg before the fall semester 2017/18 do not have to pay tuition fees. They can complete their studies under the conditions that applied at the time of their enrollment. However, if they start a new program of study at a higher education institution in Baden-Württemberg, they will also have to pay tuition fees.
Students from the EU and the EEA, or international students who obtained their Abitur or equivalent in Germany, are not required to pay tuition fees.
Students who are not required to pay tuition fees
The law contains a few cases in which international students are not required to pay tuition fees. If one of these exceptions applies to you and you provide the respective proofs in due time before enrollment or re-registration, you do not have to pay tuition fees.
Residence permit for Germany for family related reasons
Residence permit for Germany because you had to flee from your home country Other exceptions
Spouse, registered life partner or child of an EU/
EEA citizen with freedom of movement according to section 3 subsections 1 and 4 of the Freedom of Movement Act/ EU Residence on humanitarian grounds
(section 25 subsection 2 Residence Act (AufenthG))
A total of five years of residence in Germany and legally employed for five years
Spouse, registered life partner or child of a foreigner with a settlement permit
(sections 30 or 32 to 34 Residence Act (AufenthG))Residence on humanitarian grounds (section 22, section 23 subsection 1, 2 or 4, section 23a, section 24, section 25 subsection 1 or 2, sections 25a, 25b, 28, 37, section 38 subsection 1 sentence 1(2) or section 104a Residence Act (AufenthG)) Bachelor’s AND master’s degree/
state examination degree or Diplom or Magister degree in Germany Spouse, registered life partner or child of a foreigner with a settlement permit with previous periods of residence
(sections 30 or 32 to 34 and 36a Residence Act (AufenthG))Residence on humanitarian grounds
(section 25 subsection 3 or 4(2) or section 5 or section 31 Residence Act (AufenthG))
National of the United Kingdom who exercised their right to reside in a Member State in accordance with Union law before the end of the transition period (until 31 December 2020) and continues to reside there thereafter
Spouse, registered life partner or child of a German citizen
Certificate or passport entry certifying the status as a stateless person Temporary suspension of deportation Admitted students can find more information on exceptions on the Information Form for International Students included in the admission documents. Your request for exemption can only be taken into account if the forms and documents are submitted as required in due time. If you do not submit the necessary forms and documents which prove that the criteria for an exception from the obligation to pay tuition fees are fulfilled according to section 5 or section 20 subsection 2(2) of the Landeshochschulgebührengesetz (LHGebG), i.e. the state law governing fees to be paid at higher education institutions in Baden-Württemberg, by the deadline stated on the form, we will assume that you are obliged to pay the tuition fees for international students.
Downloads
If you have resided in Germany for the past five years and were legally employed or if you have at least one parent who has resided in Germany for a total duration of at least three years during the past six years and was legally employed, please print and complete one of the following forms and submit it together with the necessary proofs and the Information Form for International Students:
Exemption from the payment of tuition fees
Reasons for exemption
- Academic leave of absence
- Permission to remain pending the asylum decision according to section 55 subsection 1 of the Asylum Act (Asylgesetz, AsylG) and national of a country with a recognition rate of at least 50%
- Disability as defined in section 2 of Volume IX of the Social Code (Neuntes Sozialgesetzbuch, SGB IX) which causes considerable difficulties during studies
If one of the reasons for exemption applies to you, print out, complete, and submit the form together with the necessary proofs. Requests for exemption from tuition fees must be submitted before the beginning of the lecture period.
Reimbursement of paid tuition fees
Under certain circumstances and upon request, we can reimburse your paid tuition fees, provided you meet certain deadlines. In order to do so, please use the relevant form.
