What does it cost to study?
Studying costs money. Your first own apartment, textbooks, clothing, food and leisure activities - you will incur some costs during your studies. In contrast to vocational training or, for example, dual studies, you do not have an income and need financial means to cover your living expenses. Expenses during your studies are mainly the semester fee and learning materials (books, computers, copying or stationery). The semester fee at TU Dortmund University is around 300 euros, is paid per semester - i.e. twice a year - and includes the Germany Semester Ticket and, among other things, a theater flat for the Dortmund theaters. Other monthly costs depend heavily on your personal living situation (living with your parents or in your own apartment, insurance via parents or self-insured) or the course of study you have chosen (learning and working materials). If you are an international student planning to study at TU Dortmund University, you have to get student health insurance in Germany. The average monthly cost of student health insurance is between 125 and 150 euros.
To get a more precise idea of potential costs, you can take a look at the so-called Social Survey of the Deutsches Studierendenwerk (German Student Services, in German), which regularly surveys students about their financial situation. This is what students spent money on average in 2021:
| Monthly expenses for... | Euro |
|---|---|
| Rent including utilities | 380 |
| Food | 198 |
| Clothing | 46 |
| Learning materials | 31 |
| Transportation costs | 89 |
| Health expenses | 100 |
| Telephone, internet, radio and television fees | 31 |
| Leisure, culture and sports | 65 |
| Total | 940 |
Source: The economic and social situation of students in Germany 2021, 22st Social Survey of the German Student Services, Moses Mendelssohn Institute
How can I finance my studies?
How can I finance my studies? Do I need a part-time job? What options are there for students to cover the costs of studying?
Before you start your studies, you should think about how you will finance your studies. Most students are supported by their parents (86%), work part-time (61%) and/or receive BAföG (25%) to finance their studies.
- BAföG for students at TU Dortmund University: Studierendenwerk Dortmund
You should also consider scholarships when planning your studies. Top grades are not always required for a successful application. Often, for example, honorary commitment, political interest or special musical or artistic abilities carry more weight.
For a first overview on the topic, have a look at the scholarship website of the TU Dortmund or the website Stipendienkultur.
TU Dortmund University not only provides information and advice on scholarships, but is also committed to making a large number of German scholarships available to you. Information on this can be found on the Deutschlandstipendium website.
In addition, there is the possibility of financing your studies through an educational loan.
- Educational loan: Center for Higher Education Development