Cost of Living in Germany: Budgeting Tips for International Students

Introduction:

Germany has been one of the most highly attractive destinations in the world when it comes to studying. Germany has been known around the globe for its high-quality standards and excellence in education and for providing a range of study options to international students. If you are one of the students eagerly planning to study and live in Germany, then this piece of information is for you. The cost of living in Germany for international students might differ from one place to the other or might also vary due to the variety of study programs, however, this blog will bring you the collective insights which will guide you towards your student journey of studying abroad in Germany.

Overview of Germany Study Visa Fees for Pakistani Student

German Study Visas for Pakistani Students:

There are 3 basic types of study visas which can be consumed by Pakistani students. The first and most common type of visa is the study visa, which is usually valid for 3 months up to 6 months. This type of visa can also be extended, as per the requirements of the situation (such as acceptance from an institution or enrollment in a program). In order to obtain this visa, Pakistani students are required to present an admission or invitation letter to acquire the student visa.

Another German visa that can be obtained by Pakistani students is the language course visa. This type of visa is provided for students who are interested in learning the German language. This language visa is valid for six to twelve months. Germany also offers another student visa to international students, which is the internship visa. There are a number of internships offered by the German education system to Pakistani students, which often increases the chances of students securing a permanent job. Students can get internship offers from universities, internship agencies or career expos.

Application Processing Fee

Application fee for study visas depends on the type of visa to be acquired by the students. According to the latest research, the student visa application fee ranges between €75 – €80. The application fee for a German language visa revolves around €60- €75. However, the visa processing fee for training/internship in Germany for Pakistani students is around €75.

Budgeting tips for students studying in Germany

To help Pakistani students make the most out of their planned budget, here are some fresh budgeting tips for students studying in Germany:

1. Students should go for shared-room living, as it will help you to minimise the rental cost. Living in a separate room or a separate apartment would cost much more than living in a shared room. Moreover, German universities also offer rooms for students built within the vicinity of the campus, so that transportation costs for the students can also be minimised.
2. You should keep a certain amount of money saved for emergencies or contingent situations, in this way it will be easier for you to spend money in uncertain situations without disturbing the whole budget distribution of the month.
3. Students can work up to 20 hours while having a study visa, which is a good option to make money for paying rent, accommodation or living expenses.
4. You can also be facilitated by the places where student discounts are offered, such as restaurants/cafes offering discounts on a student ID card.

Accommodation costs for students in Germany:

Once you are done with selecting the best suitable visa for you and processing its application, you must also consider the accommodation costs such as the food and transportation expenses in Germany for students.

• It has been known that living alone in an apartment is expensive in Germany as the expense had to be bear by the individual all alone, so the accommodation costs for students in Germany without food and transportation costs will go up to 390 euros per month.
• If a student lives with a roommate in a privately rented apartment, then the monthly expense expected can be up to 365 euros.
• If a student plans to live in the student residence, provided by the campus and located in the vicinity of the campus, then the rental cost can be up to 250 Euros per month max.
• The average food cost for international students in Germany has been noted at around 170 Euros per month.
• Students can buy food or drink items from the nearest local supermarkets to save the costs.
• According to the recent statistics provided by DAAD, it has been found that a student spends around 10% of the total budget on transportation, per month.
• The average fare of trains ranges between 20 to 70 Euros.
• The average bus fare in Germany depending on the route ranges between 25 to 200 Euros per month.
• However, the students can also opt for bicycling which is definitely a cost saver, as it will also save the fuel cost. The average rate of renting a bicycle in Germany is fifteen to twenty Euros per day.

Financial planning for international students in Germany

The average living expenses in Germany for foreigners (students) as per the statistical analysis of DAAD, has been around 876 euros per month. However, the annual cost of living in Germany for international students is around 10,368 euros. Therefore, it is extremely important for Pakistani students willing to study in Germany, to consider financial planning. Here is an overview of how you can plan for your financial budgeting in Germany:

1. Organising the bank statement is the first step of financial planning for international students in Germany, as providing a strong bank statement is one of the requirements to obtain a study visa for Germany. So students must be capable of providing a valid bank statement to the visa providers, in order to demonstrate financial assurance.
2. Financial sponsorship is another important step to consider. This step is for the students who are being sponsored by someone living in Germany and will be taking the financial responsibility of that student. For this purpose, students must show the financial sponsorship letter to the visa embassy, to show them strong financial support.
3. To overcome the financial burden, students can also acquire German Scholarships and financial aid for international students in Germany, offered by the German government.
4. Some of the common student scholarships offered to international students in Germany are The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Heinrich Böll Foundation German Scholarships, and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Germany Scholarships.
5. Students can also plan to work part-time, as the study visa allows students to work for 20 hours a day.

Conclusion:

Now that you have got a financial overview of what living in Germany as an international student feels like, and what is the cost of living in Germany as a foreign student, you can definitely plan for your bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, internship or language programs. For further assistance on how you can obtain a study visa for Germany, visit www.edvisehub.com.