Tuition fees apply to all international students who have enrolled at a higher education institution in Baden-Württemberg since the fall semester 2017/
Students from the EU and the EEA, or international students who obtained their Abitur or equivalent in Germany, are also not required to pay tuition fees.
Students who are not required to pay tuition fees
The law provides for a few exceptions in which international students are not required to pay tuition fees:
Exception in accordance with section 5 subsection 1 of the act on fees in higher education of the Land of Baden-Württemberg (LHGebG)
Exceptions on the basis of a German residence title (Aufenthaltstitel):
- section 5 subsection 1 number 1 LHGebG: third-country nationals who are family members of a EU citizen with the right of freedom of movement in Germany who have the right of freedom of movement in accordance with section 3 of the Freedom of Movement Act/
EU - section 5 subsection 1 number 2 LHGebG: settlement permit and permanent EU residence permit
- section 5 subsection 1 number 3 LHGebG: refugees in accordance with the Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees who are recognized abroad and live in Germany
- section 5 subsection 1 number 4 LHGebG: stateless persons
- section 5 subsection 1 number 5 LHGebG: residence permit under international law or on humanitarian, political, family or other grounds – without previous stays (Voraufenthaltszeiten)
- residence permit in accordance with section 22, section 23 subsection 1, 2 or 4, section 23a, 24, 25 subsection 1 or 2, sections 25a, 25b, 28, 37, 38 subsection 1 sentence 1 number 2 or section 104a of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG)
- residence permit in accordance with sections 30 or 32 to 34 of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG) (spouse, registered life partner, or child of a foreigner with a settlement permit)
- section 5 subsection 1 number 6 LHGebG: settlement permit with previous stays (Voraufenthaltszeiten)
- residence permit in accordance with section 25 subsection 3 or 4 sentence 2 or subsection 5 or section 31 Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG)
- residence permit in accordance with sections 30 or 32 to 34 and 36a Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG) (spouse, registered life partner, or child of a foreigner with a residence permit, blue permit)
- section 5 subsection 1 number 7 LHGebG: suspension of deportation in accordance with section 60a Residence Act
Employment in Germany:
- section 5 subsection 1 number 8 LHGebG: If you have lived in Germany for a total of five years and have worked during this time, please submit the information form (which you have received upon admission), the printed employment form “Berufstätigkeit” as well as the proofs required that are mentioned in these forms.
- section 5 subsection 1 number 9 LHGebG: If one of your parents has lived in Germany for a total of three years during the past six years and has worked during this time, please submit the information form (which you will receive upon admission), the printed form regarding the parents’ employment (“Berufstätigkeit Eltern”) as well as the proofs required that are mentioned in these forms.
Degrees obtained in Germany:
- section 5 subsection 1 number 10 LHGebG: bachelor’s AND master’s degree/
state examination degree or Diplom or Magister degree obtained in Germany
- Swiss citizens employees as well as self-employed persons in Germany and their family members in accordance with the freedom of movement treaty between the European Union and Switzerland
- Children of Turkish citizens: children of Turkish citizens who live in a member state of the Union with their parents who are or have been legally employed there
- Citizens of the United Kingdom: right to reside in a member state of the European Union was exercised before the transition period (until 31 December 2020) expired and residence continues there thereafter
For more detailed information on the exemptions from the obligation to pay tuition fees and the documents to be submitted, please contact the bursar’s office.
The exemption must be proven in due time before the enrollment or the re-registration, unless the exemption could not be proven at this point in time or the reason for the exemption occurred within one month after the beginning of the lecture period.
Please submit the information form (Auskunftsformular) including the relevant proofs by mail to the bursar's office. You have received the information form upon your admission. Read more about the exemptions. If you do not submit the necessary forms and documents which prove that the criteria for an exception are fulfilled in accordance with section 5 of the LHGebG by the enrollment or re-registration deadline, we will assume that you are obliged to pay the tuition fees for international students.- section 5 subsection 1 number 1 LHGebG: third-country nationals who are family members of a EU citizen with the right of freedom of movement in Germany who have the right of freedom of movement in accordance with section 3 of the Freedom of Movement Act/
Exemption from tuition fees
Reasons for exemption:
- academic leave of absence
- a placement semester as defined in section 29 subsection 3 sentence 2 of the act on the higher education institutions in the Land of Baden-Württemberg (Landeshochschulgesetz, LHG)
- permission to remain pending the asylum decision in accordance with section 55 subsection 1 of the Asylum Act (Asylgesetz, AsylG) and national of a country with a recognition rate of at least 50 percent
- disability as defined in section 2 of the Ninth Social Code (Neuntes Sozialgesetzbuch, SGB IX) which causes considerable difficulties during studies
Please apply for the exemptions due to an academic leave of absence in the comments sections of the requests for an academic leave of absence in Portal2. On the website of the School of Humanities for the degree program Master of Education (M.E.) in Teacher Education, you will find the exemption request for the placement semester. If other reasons for exemption apply 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
- Reimbursement due to disenrollment
- Under certain circumstances and upon request, we can reimburse your paid tuition fees, provided you meet certain deadlines. Please use the form Request for Reimbursement of Tuition Fees for International Students Disenrollment to request the reimbursement of tuition fees you have already paid.
- Reimbursement due to other reasons
- A reimbursement of the tuition fee is also possible due to other reasons. Please use the form Request for Reimbursement of Tuition Fees for International Students to request the reimbursement of tuition fees you have already paid.
- Reimbursement due to disenrollment
Tuition fee waiver and deferral of payment
In individual, exceptional cases and after extensive review, it is possible to defer the payment of the tuition fee or to be granted a tuition fee waiver. The requirement for submitting a request is that you are in severe financial difficulties that occurred through no fault of your own after you have started your studies. For example, this is the case if the financing of your studies suddenly and unexpectedly falls through. In order to be granted a waiver or a deferral of payment of your tuition fees, specific requirements need to be met. You need to submit suitable documents to prove that you are in need of and eligible for a tuition fee waiver. In addition, you need to submit proof that other financing options are not available. Applications for scholarships may be relevant here, for example.
The tuition fee waiver or the deferral of payment only refers to the tuition fee. The semester fee still has to be paid. If you have already paid the tuition fee, you are no longer eligible to submit a request for a tuition fee waiver or deferral of payment.
If you fulfill these requirements and intend to apply for a tuition fee waiver or a deferral of payment, please contact the bursar's office before the re-registration deadline ends (in the fall semester between 15 October and 1 December, in the spring semester between 1 May and 15 June) and explain your situation in sufficient detail. The deadline for submitting a request is two weeks after the re-registration deadline.
