Cost of Living
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Aachen amounts to ca. 861 EUR a month. Therefore, you should have at least 861 EUR a month, which is equivalent to 10332 EUR a year, available. Monthly costs comprise the following:
- Social contribution and health insurance (up to 30 years of age) ca. 110 EUR
- Study materials, books ca. 40 EUR
- Accommodation ca. 250-350 EUR (basic accommodation)
- Food, clothes and other essentials ca. 200 EUR
- Computer, TV and radio licence fee around 18 EUR
Before the semester starts, a mandatory social contribution (Sozialbeitrag) has to be paid. This contribution is not a tuition fee, but is used towards benefitting the Studierendenwerk Aachen (housing and social affairs) as well as the AStA (Student's Union Executive Committee), and includes the Semester Ticket (public transport) which is valid for a period of one semester and allows the use of public transport in North Rhine-Westfalia (NRW).
In order to cover your monthly living expenses, the amount mentioned above should be available under all circumstances. Financing your studies by way of a job is generally not possible for foreign students who do not come from one of the 15 "old" member states of the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
The information is available online (in German). Should you need any help, please contact the Registrar's Office or the Department of International Affairs personally.
Proof of Finance
Proof of Finance
When you apply for a visa at a German diplomatic mission (Embassy, Consulate), you need to prove that your finances allow you to live in Germany. Normally it is at least 659 EUR per month or 7,908 EUR for one year.
There are two possibilities regarding the proof of finance:
- The Letter of Commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung): Here a person (e.g. parents or relatives) commits to sponsoring your stay in Germany for a certain period of time or for the entire period of study. This form is available at the German embassy or consulate.
- The Blocked Account (Sperrkonto): This is a bank account with a bank in Germany or in your homeland where you have deposited money amounting to at least one year's living costs here. From this account you are not allowed to draw more than 585 EUR per month.
With certain financial institutions (e.g. the Deutsche Bank) you can open a blocked account in Germany from your homeland. In this case, you do not need to transfer your money at a later time to Germany therefore saving on bank charges.
Visa
Visa
You can get information regarding a visa for Germany at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Auswärtiges Amt). Here you will be informed whether you need a visa and how you should go about applying for it.
Information in
Attention! With a tourist visa you cannot study in Germany. You cannot convert a tourist visa into a student visa.
After your arrival in Germany you have to convert your visa into a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis).
Insurances
Insurances
Health Insurance
Students from EU member countries: Please ask your health insurance provider, if your travel to Germany and your stay here is going to be insured from day one. If it isn't, please read the next section.
Students from non-EU countries: Before commencing your travel, please get health insurance for your journey as well as for the first few weeks in Germany. After your arrival, you can take out a German health insurance. Most German diplomatic missions demand proof of health insurance when you apply for your visa.
Information in various languages on the topic can also be found on the website 1a-krankenversicherung.de
Luggage Insurance
If you bring along precious and expensive items from home (e.g. a notebook), you should get a special luggage insurance.