Before your arrival
Visa requirement for international students
Whether you need a visa to study in Germany depends on your country of origin and the duration of your stay. In most cases, international students need a visa to study in Germany.
No visa required? This applies to you if …
… you come from an EU country, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. In this case, a valid identity card or comparable identification document is sufficient for entry.
As soon as you have found accommodation, you must register with the residents’ registration office in your city. There you will receive a residence permit for study purposes.
Do you need a visa? Then please note:
- If you come from another country, you must apply for a visa before entering Germany – so make sure you apply in good time from your home country.
- Allow enough time: Processing can take 6 to 8 weeks!
- Important: Do not enter the country on a tourist visa – not even to bridge the time until you receive your student visa.
- You are not allowed to study at Coburg University of Applied Sciences with a tourist visa.
Furthermore, it cannot be converted into a student visa and you would have to pick it up in person in your home country.
What you need for the visa application:
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the letter of acceptance issued by the Coburg University of Applied Sciences
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proof of funding, e.g. a blocked account that covers your living costs in Germany
Contact the German embassy or consulate in your home country in good time.
Further information can be found on the website of the DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service.
Health insurance for your studies in Germany
If you want to study in Germany, you need health insurance – without it you cannot enrol at a German university.
Can you use your health insurance from your home country?
In many cases: yes.
Germany has concluded so-called social security agreements with various countries, including all EU and EEA member states. If you have statutory health insurance in your home country, you can register this cover with a statutory health insurance fund in Germany.
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As a rule, you will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
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Your health insurance provider in your home country can explain exactly how this works.
What about private health insurance?
- Private insurance policies from abroad are sometimes recognized in Germany. Please clarify this directly with your insurer. If your insurance is accepted, you will need a certificate for enrollment at the university.
- Important: If you start your studies in Germany with private insurance, you can no longer switch to statutory health insurance for the entire duration of your studies.
You don’t have valid insurance from your home country?
Then you must take out statutory health insurance in Germany.
The health insurance companies are obliged to offer you as a student a discounted student tariff up to the age of 30 or until the end of the 14th semester.
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You are free to choose which statutory health insurance company you would like to insure yourself with.
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The monthly contribution is currently around 90 euros (including long-term care insurance).
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You will receive an insurance certificate, which you must present when you enrol.
Special regulations
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If you are older than 30 or have already studied in Germany for more than 14 semesters, you can remain in the statutory health insurance scheme – albeit at a higher contribution rate.
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If you are older than 29 at the start of your studies, you can only take out private insurance.
Education and cost of living
Secure funding is very important for the success of your studies. International students who complete all (or part of) their studies in Germany have to take various costs into account. To get a better overview, you can differentiate between education costs and living costs.
Cost of living
Expenditure on education
These include tuition fees and semester fees:
- Tuition fees
Tuition fees vary from course to course. You can find more information on the website of your chosen degree program. - Semester fees
The semester fee is generally payable at all universities and for all students in Germany. It has nothing to do with tuition fees. The semester fee at Coburg University of Applied Sciences is made up of the student union fee and the fees for the semester ticket for local public transport. The semester fee must be paid each semester before enrolment or re-registration. Here you can find information on the current semester fees.
Cost of living
The cost of living in Germany is slightly above the European average. Although they are lower than in countries such as Denmark, Luxembourg or Switzerland, they are relatively high compared to many regions in Asia, Africa or Latin America.
According to the 22nd Social Survey on the situation of students in Germany, students spend an average of around 842 euros per month. This amount is made up as follows:
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around 370 euros for rent including ancillary costs
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about 200 euros for food
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approx. 110 euros for health insurance and medical care
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An additional 50 euros for study materials such as books and learning aids
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and around 112 euros for personal expenses, for example for clothing, mobility or leisure time
These values serve as a guide and can vary significantly depending on the city, type of housing and individual lifestyle.
Examples of typical expenditure in Germany (2025)
- 1 loaf of bread: approx. 1.50 – 3.50 EUR
- 1 kilo of apples: approx. 3.00 – 3.50 EUR
- 1 kilo of potatoes: approx. 1.50 – 2.00 EUR
- 1 liter of milk: 1.00 – 1.50 EUR
- 1 bottle of mineral water (0.75 l): 0.50 – 1.00 EUR
- 1 cup of coffee (in the café): EUR 3.00 – 4.00
- 1 beer (in the pub): 3.50 – 5.00 EUR
- 1 pizza in the restaurant: 9.00 – 13.00 EUR
- 1 pair of shoes: 40 – 120 EUR
- 1 T-shirt: 15 – 60 EUR
- 1 pair of pants: 40 – 120 EUR
- 1 movie ticket (student discount): 7 – 10 EUR
- 1 theater ticket (student discount): 12 – 35 EUR
- 1 admission ticket for a museum (student discount): 3 – 10 EUR
Please note:
Students may have other expenses in addition to their regular monthly budget that are not included here. These include, for example, medical costs that are not covered by insurance, excursions or the purchase of a laptop and corresponding software.
In addition, international students must set up a blocked account to provide proof of sufficient financial resources for their stay in Germany.
From 2025, the amount required for this will be around EUR 934 per month (or EUR 11,208 per year).
Financial support for your studies - scholarships
Coburg University of Applied Sciences sends out information about scholarships to its international students. Please note that applications for these opportunities are only possible from the second semester onwards at Coburg University of Applied Sciences.
Search for accommodation
The International Office supports students in their search for accommodation. Some students are offered an apartment in our student residences, which have over 500 individual apartments with kitchen, bathroom/WC and modern facilities. The apartments must be rented for at least six months (September-February and March-August). The rent is from EUR 240 per month for the halls of residence.
Dormitory
How do students live in Coburg?
Desmond Ahia from Ghana has been studying at Coburg University of Applied Sciences for almost two years. How did he find an apartment as an international student?
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