Money cost saving or money reserve for goal and success in school, higher level education concept : US dollar coins / cash, a black graduation cap or hat, a certificate / diploma on white background.

Financing

Administrative costs and student union fees, rent, food, books and other study materials; mobile phones, sports and going out sometimes - studying costs money, no question. When considering a course of study, the question therefore also arises as to how the associated costs can be managed.

Depending on whether you have your own car or use public transport, whether you live in a hall of residence or have found a room privately, the total monthly costs vary between about 650 and 820 euros, with rent usually being the largest single item. You want to find out more information here. In the case of Karlsruhe, you should calculate to have a monthly 700 to 800 Euros at your disposal.

All students at universities in Karlsruhe have to pay the student union fee of currently 108,70 € per semester as well as an administrative fee of 70 € per semester and a contribution to the "Verfasste Studierendenschaft" (AStA) of 16 € per semester. These costs are to be paid in due time upon enrollment or re-registration. Below you'll find information about further possible costs and financing options.

Second degree studies, leave of absence semester, internship semester

Students in Baden-Württemberg pay tuition fees of € 650 per semester if they wish to take up a second degree program or re-register for this program. A higher education study program is considered a second degree program if the first degree was obtained in Germany. A consecutive Master's degree directly following a Bachelor's degree is generally not considered a second degree.

Students on a leave of absence semester or an internship semester are exempt from paying fees.

dice with the letters of the word "BAFOEG" on them lying on some banknotes

Financing options

Scholarships

In order to be eligible for a scholarship, you should not only have good to very good grades, but also be politically or socially active. This can also be the case in university committees, such as the student council or the AStA. Of course, you don't always have to have an A in front of the decimal point or study at a university: For some time now, foundations have been setting up new support programmes for students at universities of applied sciences. Often, foundations support students not only financially, but also ideally by teaching key qualifications or building valuable contacts. Find out about your options at the University Scholarship Advisory Service or browse the DAAD Scholarship Database. The Studierendenwerk Karlruhe also offers an emergency financial aid and study loans - you can apply here.

STIBET Scholarships for International Students
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) funds with financial means from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (AA) the combined scholarship and support program STIBET which serves for improved assistance and support for international students as well as for hospitable and performance-lifting surrounding conditions for international students at German universities. The STIBET scholarships are a part of this program. If you study in a Bachelor or Master degree at HKA and if you comply with the requirements mentioned below you can apply.

There are 2 types of scholarships:
+ Graduation scholarships for the achievement of a successful degree within max. 2 semesters as well as concentration on studies and graduation (also for students who are in need through no fault of their own)
+ Engagement scholarships (e.g. for beeing a Buddy)
There is no legal claim to a STIBET scholarship.

The application deadline for the graduation scholarship is at the end of January, March, May, July, September and October and depends on the availability of funds. Please send the application documents as one PDF document by e-mail to anna.tillhonspam prevention@h-ka.de.

Application Form
Proof of Enrollment from HKA
Current transcript + grade sheet (passed and failed courses)
Proof about start and end of the thesis (issued by professor/faculty)
Only for applicants with financial need: please provide proof (bank statements of last three months and an explanation).
Optional: Cover letter

Solidarity Fund

The Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe has a solidarity fund ready. In this fund, an amount of 10,000 EUR is available annually to support international students who are temporarily in need. Students who are enrolled at a university in Karlsruhe or Pforzheim, who are temporarily in need through no fault of their own and who do not have access to funds from other support programmes can receive this aid. More information and the application form can be found here. You can contact lea.scholzspam prevention@h-ka.de for further questions.

Loans

When other financing options are no longer sufficient or viable, interest-bearing loans can be a solution for students. However, they are usually not suitable for fully financing a course of study, as there is an excessive risk of debt. Before applying for a loan, the following points should be considered:

First draw up a budget and determine your monthly financing needs.
Compare the offers, e.g. via the annual CHE student loan test
Check whether the offer has a debt ceiling
Go well prepared for the bank counselling interview necessary to close the loan. Loan conditions are often negotiable with private providers.
Look for flexibility so that you do not have to cope without funding in the event of a semester abroad, but also in the event of a change of subject and/or place of study.
For interest calculation, contracts with fixed interest rates are more attractive than those with variable interest rates. The amounts paid out should also be fixed and the interest can be deferred so that you do not have to get by with less money at the end of your studies than at the beginning.
The question of the grace period is particularly important: how long after the end of the funding do you have until you have to start repaying?
The effective interest rate is decisive for the repayment, not the nominal interest rate, which is often published and somewhat lower

BAföG

The Federal Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz), better known as "BAföG", is a state education support programme that benefits students in particular, in addition to pupils and persons in continuing vocational education. BAföG is granted half as an interest-free loan and half as a grant. Support is granted to German students and students of equal status studying for a Bachelor's degree. The subsequent Master's degree programme can also be funded, but usually not postgraduate or supplementary studies. Further requirements for BAföG entitlement are

the income of the parents,
the age (application is usually possible up to the age of 30 for a Bachelor's degree or 35 for a Master's degree),
the suitability of the applicant for BAföG.
the suitability through proof of previously completed academic achievements after the fourth semester

For non German- and non-EU students the conditions are different. You can find some information here.
or you can consult the BAföG-Amt Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe.

Part-time job

Studies at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences are full-time. Nevertheless, for many students a part-time job is a common way to finance their studies. In order to be considered a student under social security law, you may not work more than 20 hours a week during the semester. Income above 520 € per month is subject to social security contributions and also counts towards BAföG, which is reduced as a result. Compulsory internships provided for in the study and examination regulations are exempt.

A typical job is that of a student assistant (HiWi). The Online-Career-Center provides an overview of job offers in and outside the university. The Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe also offers a job exchange. A good overview of regulations concerning jobs as a student is provided by the German Student Union

Housing allowance

A student who has no BAföG entitlement or has lost it, or who only receives a loan under BAföG, is generally entitled to housing benefit. This also applies if students have children and live with them in the same household. However, the children may not then receive any other social assistance from the state, child benefit is excluded from this.

The chances of receiving housing benefit in these cases are not bad. The application is made to the authority that is responsible for the place where you live. For example, if you live in the city of Karlsruhe, the Liegenschaftsamt is responsible; if you live in the district of Karlsruhe, the Landratsamt is your contact.

hand cutting the word "cost" in two with scissors

Benefits and special assistance

Pregnancy and child-rearing

During pregnancy and child-rearing periods, special assistance is available for students on low incomes. A general overview and also advice is offered, for example, by pro familia. The Studierendenwerk provides information specifically for students in Karlsruhe, also with regard to childcare options.

BAföG recipients can apply for a monthly allowance for the care of one or more children under the age of 10, which does not have to be repaid. An extension of the maximum subsidy period is also possible.

Benefits

Fortunately, students can also claim financial benefits:

Whoever moves their first residence to Karlsruhe gets a one-time semester ticket for free, shopping vouchers worth 50 euros, a voucher for a bicycle subscription and also has the opportunity to take part in the raffle for a "Studi-Bike".
On presentation of the student ID card, the Campus Card, one receives reduced admission to museums, theatres, cinemas or swimming pools.
Subscriptions to newspapers or specialist magazines are often significantly reduced.
BAföG recipients are exempt from the statutory broadcasting fee (GEZ) upon application.
PC software is often available at reduced student prices, e.g. an offer from the computer centre of the university.
The Semester Ticket offers the opportunity to use the entire KVV network for half a year at a low price. It is also possible to purchase a connecting ticket for the neighbouring transport associations. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and all day on weekends and public holidays students can travel free of charge even without a semester ticket.
The KVV JugendticketBW is an annual ticket that allows all students under the age of 27 to travel on public transport throughout Baden-Württemberg.
The International Student Card can be applied for online and entitles you to discounts on flights, accommodation and entrance fees in over 130 countries.

view of a desktop with pocket calculator, stacks of coins, and calendar

Costs for students from countries outside the EU

The state universities in Baden-Württemberg charge students from non-EU countries a tuition fee of 1,500 € per semester when they first enroll in a bachelor's or master's degree program.

The fee does not have to be paid:

if you are already enrolled in a degree program at a higher education institution (grandfathering), whereas students transferring to another higher education institution or changing their degree program become subject to paying the tuition fee,
if you have acquired your higher education entrance qualification in Germany (so-called Bildungsinländer),
if you are a recognized refugee, have a permanent residence permit, or can prove that you have been permitted or tolerated to stay in the country,
if you are a participant in state or university exchange programs,
if you are the spouse or child of an EU citizen,
if you have resided in Germany for five years and have been gainfully employed during this time,
if at least one parent has resided in Germany for a total of three years during the last six years before the start of the studies and was legally employed,
if you completed a bachelor's and a master's degree program or a state examination or “Diplom” degree program in Germany. In this case, however, a Second Degree tuition fee to the amount of 650 € is due.

There are also no tuition fees during a leave of absence semester and during an internship semester. If you have received an invoice for fees with your notification of admission you can still apply for an exemption until the end of the enrollment period.

Students from Ukraine can find up-to-date information here or please contact the International Office.

The call for applications for tuition fee waivers for international students in the winter semester 2025/2026 can be found here. Please read the call for applications carefully to make sure that you are, in fact, eligible for a tuition fee waiver for international students.

Please send the filled-in application form and the required documents by e-mail to the International Office iospam prevention@h-ka.de by June 1^st, 2025 at the latest.

Via the following link, you can find the statutes concerning the tuition fee waiver for international students .