Study in Offenburg

Welcome to Offenburg University of Applied Sciences – become part of a diverse and inspiring academic community with over 600 international students from more than 70 different countries.

Financing Studies

The question of financing plays an important role for many people in deciding on a course of study. We have gathered some important points on study financing under the following bullet points.

 

Students at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences must pay a semester fee for each semester. The semester fee is made up as follows:

  • State Administration Fee per semester, €70
    This fee does not need to be paid by exchange students from partner universities or special scholarship program students
  • Student Services Fee per semester, €65
    This fee contributes to the student canteen, student residences, counseling services, student book store and other services offered by the "Studentenwerk"
  • Student Representative Organization Fees per semester, €18.
    This fee does not need to be paid by non degree seeking exchange students from partner universities or special scholarship program students
  • Service Contribution per semester, €150 (only for students studying in one of the English master's degree programs of the Graduate School)
    This fee is charged each semester for ongoing services of the Graduate School, such as liability insurance, assistance in finding accommodation, buddies, events and excursions.
  • IBC-Program Tuition Fees: €10,400 (for students studying in the MBA-program International Business Consulting). Students of the MBA-program do not have to pay additional State Tuition Fees.
  • State Tuition Fee for Non-EU-citizens: €1,500. You are exempted from this tuition fee if 
    - You are a citizen of the EU and/or the EEA
    - Your spouse or one of your parent is a citizen of the EU and/or the EEA
    - You have received your qualification of university entrance from the state of Germany
    - You are officially recognized as a refugee in Germany
    - You are an exchange student from one of Offenburg University's partner universities, or
    - You were already enrolled at Offenburg University before the 2017/2018 winter semester
  • State Tuition Fee for a Second Degree: €650 (only for students who are not exempted from the State Tuition Fee for Non-EU-citizens and already obtained a master's degree from a Germany university.

 

This information is supplied without liability. The jurisdiction on the exemption from tuition lies with the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg. For more information please click here.

Payment deadlines will be sent along with the admission letter. Exchange students from partner universities or special scholarship program students need to pay upon arrival.

Depending on your preferred lifestyle, average living expenses amount to approximately € 934 per month. Here is a breakdown of monthly expenses:                 

 

Rent

420

Health insurance (obligatory)

120

Study materials

  40

Groceries

240

Clothing, Public Transport, other

114

Total monthly expenses

934

For more information about the cost of rent, see the accommodation page.

Please note, in the first few days there will be several expenses such as your first rent, deposit, health insurance, etc. Therefore, we recommend bringing with you enough cash to cover these initial expenses.

In order to receive a student visa, foreign students must be able to prove to German authorities that they have enough financial support during their studies. This means, you must prove that you are able to cover at least your first year of studies. Currently, that amounts to € 853,00 per month, or a total of € 10236,00 for a year of study.

There are several forms of proof of financial support, which you can find listed in the "Financial Information" section in "Before Arrival".

Students will be responsible for their living expenses in Germany in addition to their tuition and fees. Before departure, it is a good idea to bring cash for your initial expenses, because a transfer from your home country could take 3-4 weeks. For more information about your first few days, please visit "Upon Arrival”.

In order to receive a student visa, foreign students must be able to prove to German authorities that they have enough financial support during their studies. This means, you must prove that you are able to cover at least your first year of studies. Currently, that amounts to € 853,00 per month, or a total of € 10236,00 for a year of study.

There are several forms of proof of financial support, which you can find listed in the "Financial Information" section in "Before Arrival".

Students will be responsible for their living expenses in Germany in addition to their tuition and fees. Before departure, it is a good idea to bring cash for your initial expenses, because a transfer from your home country could take 3-4 weeks. For more information about your first few days, please visit "Upon Arrival”.

 

In Germany, scholarships are usually not granted by the universities themselves but by independent institutions and foundations. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers a comprehensive database of scholarships and grants, which must be applied for from your home country before your arrival. Information about funding possibilities are also provided by the European Funding Guide.

Detailed information is also available through the DAAD regional offices, the German Embassy, German Consulate or German Official Representations in your home country, as well as from the specific organizations granting the scholarships.

At Offenburg a very limited number of partial scholarships are also available; applications for these are only open to students enrolled who have shown high academic performance and social commitment outside of class.

In addition, there are a few scholarships for international students, through which they can be exempted from the 1500 EUR state tuition fees for one year. To be entitled to apply, students must be enrolled at Offenburg University for their second semester (or higher) of the respective degree program.

 

The European Union is keen to promote international cooperation in all areas of education. The aim of the program is, among other things, to strengthen international competencies, personal development and employability of students.

The Erasmus+ programme KA171 allows Offenburg University of Applied Sciences to support students from the following partner institutions in the regions “South-Mediterranean” and “Asia” during their stay in Offenburg (in alphabetical order):

  • German Jordanian University
  • Hong Kong Baptist University
  • Multimedia University
  • National Taipei University of Technology
  • Providence University
  • Universiti Tenaga Nasional

All students enrolled on a regular basis at one of our partner institutions are eligible to participate. In a study cycle, funding for up to 12 months can be provided. In order to participate, students must be nominated for an Erasmus+ exchange by the International Coordinator or the International Office of their home university.

Financial support

Erasmus+ students do not pay tuition fees at their host university. In addition, each student receives a grant to cover the additional costs incurred abroad and to cover the travel costs.

Type

Amount

Individual support for Germany

850€/month (max. 5 months)

Travel support for participants from Taiwan, Malaysia or Hong Kong

1500€

Travel support for participants from Jordan

360€

If applicable: Top-Up for students with fewer opportunities

250€/month (max. 5 months)

 

The funding is limited and therefore subject to availability. The total amount of the Erasmus+ scholarship and duration will be set in the Grant Agreement that you will receive after you have been selected and completed the application process.

Learning Agreement

Students must submit a signed Erasmus+ learning agreement with table A and table C completed.

Top-up for students with fewer opportunities

The following students with fewer opportunities may receive additional financial support of 250€/month:

  • Students with a disability.
  • Students with a chronic illness (physical/mental), if the illness results in additional financial needs abroad.
  • Students with child(ren): If at least one child is taken along during the entire stay abroad.
  • Working students: The criteria and exact requirements will be defined by Offenburg University in consultation with the partner university according to the conditions existing in the sending country. As a guideline, the current requirements for German students are: Students who are employed for at least six months continuously and subject to social insurance contributions from January to June (for semesters starting in August) or June - November (for semesters starting in January) with a monthly net income of more than 450 euros and less than 850 euros. The gainful employment may not be continued during the stay abroad. Students who are self-employed are unfortunately not eligible for a top-up.
  • First-time academics: Students from a non-academic home, i.e. both parents or caregivers do not have a degree from a university or university of applied sciences or a university of cooperative education leading to a comparable degree. This also applies to degrees obtained abroad.

Additional requirements

If you are selected to take part in the Erasmus+ program you will also have to fulfil certain requirements:

Online Language Support (OLS)

You will receive access to this online language course platform and are asked to complete a self-assessment in the language of instruction before your exchange semester at Offenburg University. You will then be able to participate in as many language courses as you wish.

Insurance Coverage

All German and foreign students who would like to study in Germany need health insurance. Without a proof of this you won’t be able to enrol in a German university and apply for a residence permit from the immigration office (“Ausländerbehörde”).

Please inform yourself if you will be able to use your health insurance from your home country (travel insurance won’t be recognized as valid health insurance) or register with a German health insurance provider.

Reporting

In order to receive the full amount of your scholarship you will be asked to hand in a detailed experience report and to complete a survey provided by the EU commission after your stay. Further information on the survey will be provided in due time.

 

Workflow

ERASMUS+ Links:

Students who are EU-citizens are able to work in Germany without a work permit. 

Non-EU students have two opportunities:

  • Off-campus: 120 days per year, according to visa regulations for foreign students
  • On-campus: a limited number of assistantships and tutoring jobs are available

A basic knowledge of German is required for most jobs.

Minimum wage leaflet: In cooperation between the Universities of Applied Sciences and industry and other employers against the background of the Minimum Wage Act - Information for Universities, published by haw-bw.de