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Finances

Your financial resources are an important aspect of your study plans!

Important for international students: Before you leave your home country, you must secure sufficient funds to finance your stay in Freiburg.

Expenses

Be prepared to pay for the following expenses during your stay/studies in Freiburg:

1) Semester contribution

All university students are required to pay the so-called semester contribution.

The semester contribution is currently 180 Euro per semester and has to be paid in advance for each upcoming semester. For the deadlines and further information see the Student Service Center website.

The amount comprises 103 € student services fee for the Studierendenwerk (incl. the initial contribution for the semester ticket), 70 € administrative fee, 7 €  to the constituted student body.

2) Tuition fees for international students

International students (non-EU/non-EEA nationals) are required to pay tuition fees in addition to the semester contribution.

The tuition fees are currently 1,500€ per semester and have to be paid together with the semester contribution in advance for each upcoming semester.. For the deadlines and further information see the Student Service Center website.

3) Basic living expenses

Compared to other European countries, Germany is not overly expensive. The price of food, accommodation, clothing, leisure and cultural activities, etc. is equivalent to the EU average. It is difficult to say exactly how much money a student in Germany needs per month. The amount of money you will need greatly depends on how economically you live.

Students are eligible for numerous price concessions. With a student ID, you can receive concessions on tickets and entrance fees to theatres, cinemas, museums and other cultural venues.

The regular program duration is four semesters; however, you should take into consideration that you might need five semesters to complete the program.

Considering all these points, students should expect expenses in a range of 690-930 € per month. See the Studierendenwerk website for further information.

The Studierendenwerk also offers service packages for international students which include accommodation, a health insurance policy and other benefits.

4) Health insurance coverage

Health insurance coverage is mandatory for all students in Germany. Without proof of coverage, neither the University of Freiburg nor any other university will accept you.

With an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you are also insured in Germany. In some circumstances, health insurance from private providers in other countries may also be recognised in Germany.

If your insurance policy in your home country is insufficient, you will have to take out a policy in Germany. Generally, you have the option between a public or a private health insurance coverage. However, you have to think very carefully about whether you want to be privately insured as a student. The German health care system is quite complex and the monthly contribution should not be the crucial criteria!

Before you decide, check out the information about health insurance on the websites of the Deutsches Studierendenwerk and the Freiburg Studierendenwerk.

The Studierendenwerk also offers service packages for international students which include accommodation, a health insurance policy and other benefits.

Funding and Financing

You now have an idea of the costs you can expect. however, you may not have to pay for everything yourself. There are a few scholarships and funding and financing possibilities that can help students pay for their studies In Freiburg.

A lot of internationals must provide what is called a Finanzierungsnachweis or proof of financial resources. In most cases you are required to include this document with your visa application. At the latest, you will need it when you apply for a residence permit. Proof of finacial resources can be provided in various ways. There is no standard regulation stipulating what suffices as proof. Be sure to enquire at the German embassy in your country as to which form of financial proof is required.

Scholarships

Compared to other countries, German universities rarely award scholarships. So, there is no particular scholarship for our study programs in Sustainable Systems Engineering.

Check out the following links to sites of the Faculty of Engineering and the Student Service Center for further information about your options.

Generally, (international) students can apply to numerous organisations for a scholarships. In Germany, there are 13 large organizations for the promotion of gifted students (Begabtenförderungswerke). These organizations are carried by different societal agencies (political parties, churches etc.). Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research

International students can also find numerous offers in the DAAD scholarship database. International students should also look into scholarships or other funding opportunities available in your home country.

Student jobs/"Hiwi" jobs 

Students have a special status in Germany and enjoy many financial privileges. Therefore, student work next to studying is regulated by law in Germany and depends on your nationality, too. International students are only allowed to work in Germany under certain conditions. If you are from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland, you can work as much as you want up to the limit of 20 hours per week or 85 hours per month during a semester. If you work more than that, you will lose your status as a student, and you will need to make social security contributions. If you are a citizen of another than the above mentioned countries you can only work for 120 full days or 240 half days per year. If you want to work more, you need to receive permission from the Federal Employment Agency and the Immigration Office of the City of Freiburg (see Contact Information). As a rule, international students are not allowed to start their own business or work as freelancers.

Student jobs in research or teaching offered by the different departments or department chairs at the university are called Hiwi jobs.

You can look for student jobs online and on the various black boards on campus.

 

Job offers are regularly sent out via the e-mail list markt@tf.uni-freiburg.de. You need to sign up for this list. 

The job openings at the Freiburg-based Fraunhofer research institutes can be found on the job portal of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. 

 

Other (non-academic) jobs in and around Freiburg can be found here:

  • http://jobs.badische-zeitung.de/Jobs/Freiburg
  • http://zypresse.com/kleinanzeigen/stellenmarkt/