Tuition fees for international students and those seeking a second degree

Legal basis

Universities in Baden-Württemberg have levied tuition fees for international students and students taking a second degree since winter semester 2017-18.

The information below is intended to outline the relevant law and the related procedures. The sole legally binding document is Landeshochschulgebührengesetz of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. The relevant amendment to the state law governing tuition fees at institutions of higher education and other laws, 09.05.2017, is published in the Gesetzblatt für Baden-Württemberg, 16.05.2017.

Tuition fees for international students

International students (=students who are not citizens of an EU/EEA member state) will be charged a tuition fee of 1,500.00 euros per semester. This is valid for studies in a Bachelor’s degree program, consecutive Master’s and Staatsexamen programs, and for full Theology programs culminating in an academic or ecclesiastic qualification. This is in addition to the general semester fee of currently 166.80 euros per semester.

Tuition fees for a second degree

Students who, having already completed degree studies in the Federal Republic of Germany, commence a second or further first degree program or a second or further consecutive Master's program, will be charged a tuition fee of 650.00 euros per semester. This is in addition to the general semester fee of currently 166.80 euros per semester.

Transitional arrangements

International students and students taking a second degree – i.e. who have been enrolled at the University of Tübingen since the summer semester 2017 - may complete that degree program at the University of Tübingen without having to pay tuition fees (reliance on existing law). This is valid also if they were enrolled in two or more degree programs prior to the introduction of the new law.

In the case of multi-disciplinary programs, one change of one subject in the program remains free of tuition fees.

International applicants, who, in the academic year prior to the start of the winter semester 2017/2018 were enrolled at a Baden-Württemberg college of preparatory studies for the Feststellungsprüfungassessment test, will not be charged tuition fees for the first degree program which they commence directly after successfully completing the assessment test.

International applicants who, prior to this law going into effect, had been given written approval for a scholarship by a publicly-financed sponsor will not be charged tuition fees for a first degree program which they commence directly after receiving approval for the scholarship.

Cooperative degree programs

Students who, due to the provisions of exam regulations, study at more than one institution of higher education in Baden-Württemberg at the same time must pay their tuition fees at the institution which is home to the greater part of their syllabus.

The University of Tübingen will therefore not charge tuition fees to students enrolled in the Künstlerisches Lehramt in Stuttgart or Trossingen.

The University will charge tuition fees in the cooperative programs Medical Technology (with Stuttgart) and Science and Technology (NwT) (with Esslingen) and Care (with Esslingen). No tuition fees will be charged at the other locations.