Technical University of Munich Increases Fees for Non-EU Students

From the winter semester of 2024/25 onwards, international students from third countries must pay more to study at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

Under the Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act, the university will international charge students pursuing Bachelor’s degrees between €2,000 and €3,000 per semester while those in Master’s programs between €4,000 or €6,000, Erudera.com reports.

“At the Technical University of Munich (TUM), tuition fees are charged for international students from third countries who newly enroll in a degree program starting in the winter semester of 2024/25,” the school says.

According to the university, the increased tuition fees will be used to improve study conditions, further develop teaching, expand support services, and improve student infrastructure.

Differently, students from Germany and the European Economic Area (EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) will be able to study free of charge. The increase will neither apply to students with a higher education entrance qualification nor those who have completed an undergraduate degree in a German institution.

Moreover, studying at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is free of tuition for the following groups of students:

• Students who have been attending the university before the winter semester 2024/25 and continue to pursue their degree there.
• PhD and guest students.
• Those pursuing degree programs that lead to state examination.
• Those enrolled as part of their participation in the Studienkolleg.

Studying at higher education institutions in Germany is generally free of charge because most universities are funded by the state. Students in Bachelor's or most of the Master’s programs are not required to pay tuition. However, students at all universities should pay a semester contribution to student government and student services.

At some universities, non-EU students may have to pay a semester ticket for transportation between €100 and €350.

Recently, German authorities announced a new minimum financial requirement for non-EU students, increasing it from €11,208 to €11,904 annually, or €992 per month.

“Applications on and after September 1, 2024 will most likely have to show proof of at least €11,904 for the first year, with a maximum withdrawal amount of €992 per month,” German Missions in India said.

In the 2022/2023 winter semester, Germany became the third most popular study destination in the world and the first among non-English-speaking countries, hosting 367,578 students.

Overall, figures show Germany had 458,210 international students in the 2022/2023 academic year, the majority from India (42,578), China (39,137), Syria (15,563) and Austria (14,762).