Costs and funding for your studies

Start your degree well prepared: here’s an overview of financial matters, funding opportunities and useful places to turn to for help.

How much does it cost to study in Cologne?

The amount of your monthly expenses whilst studying depends primarily on your personal living situation and lifestyle. As well as rent, you should factor in expenditure on food, health insurance, study materials, telephone and internet, as well as leisure activities and personal needs.

Accommodation is a major cost factor. Depending on whether you choose a student hall of residence, a shared flat or your own flat, your monthly expenses can vary significantly. In Cologne in particular, it is worth starting your search for suitable accommodation well in advance.

On top of this comes the semester fee, which must be paid each semester. The current amount and breakdown can be found on the re-registration page.

To plan realistically, it is advisable to compare your expected income and expenditure before you start your studies and to set aside a financial buffer for unexpected costs.

Scholarships

German National Academic Foundation

The German National Academic Foundation is the oldest and largest organisation for the promotion of gifted students in Germany. It supports particularly high-achieving and committed students, regardless of their field of study or university, and currently supports around 13,300 undergraduates and 1,200 PhD students.

There are two ways to apply: in your first or second academic semester, you can apply yourself by taking a selection test; the application period usually begins in January each year. From the third academic semester onwards, you also have the option of being nominated by professors at Spoho if you are among the top 10 per cent of your year group. Nominations can be made at any time of the year.

Further information on self-application and the nomination process can be found via the relevant links.

Further funding options

Organisations for the promotion of gifted students provide financial and non-material support to students with outstanding academic achievements throughout their studies. In Germany, there are 13 such organisations that award scholarships to undergraduates and PhD students. Above-average academic performance is just as important in the application process as social or community involvement.  

The Hildegardis-Verein e.V., based in Bonn, has been providing financial support to women pursuing higher education and other skills-development projects for 115 years, whilst also offering encouragement through a large network of women. ‘Education gives you wings’ is the association’s motto. The provision of interest-free loans is one of the many areas of work undertaken by the Hildegardis-Verein e.V., which runs innovative mentoring and tandem programmes in the fields of inclusion, leadership and the Church. The Hildegardis-Verein is currently awarding interest-free loans to women who have fled Ukraine and are continuing their studies in Germany

 

Through KfW Bank, students can receive a monthly payment of up to 650 euros from their first semester onwards, for up to 14 semesters. Students decide for themselves on the amount of the monthly payment. Applications can be submitted to KfW-Förderbank via the Cologne Student Services Organisation, which acts as a distribution partner for the KfW student loan. The Cologne Student Services Organisation offers in-depth personal advice and carries out the legally required identity checks.

The Student Support Fund at the University of Cologne aims to improve the social circumstances of students at the University of Cologne, the Cologne University of Music and Dance, and the German Sport University Cologne. The fund’s resources are used, on the one hand, to support students as they prepare for their final examinations or dissertations in the final stage of their studies. On the other hand, they are used to fund projects that improve the social infrastructure for students or promote healthcare. For example, funds are channelled into initiatives for students with disabilities or for students with children.