Is a Master's in Germany really free in 2026? The honest breakdown
“Free” is the word every agent uses about a Master's in Germany. It's mostly true — but the details are where students get surprised. Here's the honest version.
Tuition: free in 15 of 16 states
Public universities charge no tuition for non-EU Master's students in 15 of Germany's 16 states, regardless of nationality. The single exception is Baden-Württemberg, which charges €1,500 per semester for non-EU students. If your dream program is in Stuttgart, Heidelberg or Karlsruhe, budget for it.
The costs that always apply
- Semester contribution: €150–350 every semester, everywhere — usually includes a public-transport ticket.
- Blocked account (Sperrkonto): €992/month, or €11,904 for the year at the 2026 rate. This stays your money and is released to you monthly after you arrive.
- APS certificate: ₹18,000, mandatory for Indian applicants since Nov 2022.
What changed for 2026
From WS 2026/27, Indian applicants need a minimum 70% in Class XII for APS, and select Engineering, Commerce and Business Master's now require a Digital Master Test (dMAT) ahead of the Summer 2027 intake. We check which rules apply to your exact target program before you apply.
So: genuinely close to free on tuition, but plan for the semester contribution, the blocked account and APS. That's the real number.