What costs do I need to estimate for my studies?

We are convinced that the tuition fees really should not be considered as costs, but rather as an investment into your future. We will be happy to help you find a good way to finance your studies.

The monthly tuition fees currently amount to € 790. In addition, all students pay an amount of currently € 67.70 per semester (as of 2022) to the Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe, the student union, (arranged by Karlshochschule) to be able to fulfill social and cultural tasks for the benefit of the students.

With your contribution, several services of the Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe are open to you, like the dormitories of the Studierendenwerk and accommodation service, cultural & sports facilities, and free use of the KVV (public transportation) after 6 p.m. and on weekends.

Accordingly, if you graduate within the regular study period, the total costs of your studies amount to:

  • B.A. programs:               € 28,846.20
  • M.A. programs:              € 19,320.80.

In addition, you should estimate about € 700 - 800 per month for your cost of living and accommodation.

Questions about financing?

Make an appointment for a study counseling

Factsheets on financing for EU/EEA citizens:

The Reverse Generation Contract (UGV) - CHANCEN eG

We would like to make it easier for qualified young people to study at the Karlshochschule by enabling them to study regardless of their personal financial background. In cooperation with CHANCEN eG, we also offer the Reverse Generation Contract (UGV).

With the option, CHANCEN eG takes over the contributions during the studies so that our students can concentrate on their studies. In return, the students commit to enabling the next generation to do the same: once they are in employment, they pay back a percentage of their income to finance subsequent study places.

 

More about financing via CHANCEN eG

Public funding opportunities

1. Federal Education Assistance Act (BAföG)

Thanks to public funding, students at Karlshochschule are generally entitled to the Federal Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, BAföG for short), which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF). All necessary forms can be found at www.bafög.de. Here you can also find the digital application.

If you are a citizen of a member state of the EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Norway, you are eligible for BAföG if you meet one of the following requirements:

You have lived legally in Germany for at least five years, worked in Germany before or at least one parent lives permanently in Germany and works there as well.

The Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe is responsible for you:
Amt für Ausbildungsförderung Karlsruhe, Adenauerring 7, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Phone:  +49 721 6909 177, Email: bafoeg(at)sw-ka.de

 

2. Public Loans

There are also public loans that may be accessible to international students under certain circumstances (similar to the BAföG requirements). Together with the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and the Federal Office of Administration, the BMBF (Federal Ministry for Research and Education) grants the Education Loan. Another possibility for financing your studies is the StudentLoan granted by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). Both loans are granted independently of BaföG and income. Find more information here: https://www.kfw.de/inlandsfoerderung/Private-customers/Education-and-Training/

For U.S. Veterans

Karlshochschule supports US GI Bill beneficiaries.  A GI Bill beneficiary must have a Certificate of Eligibility for an approved program. Contact the Admissions Service for further information.
For beneficiaries of the GI Bill funding, special regulations apply in the event of premature termination or non-commencement of their studies. Details can be found here.

 

Scholarships

As a small, non-profit foundation university, Karlshochschule has only very limited opportunities to support students through scholarships. However, the study programs at Karlshochschule meet all requirements of numerous scholarship providers. Thus, we want to make it possible for students to study at Karlshochschule regardless of their financial background.

In addition to the overarching scholarships, Karlshochschule, together with partner organizations, announces full and partial scholarships for studies at Karlshochschule. For the application you have to submit scholarship-specific documents in addition to the general application documents.

Here you can find an overview of possible scholarships:

1. Cooperation with voluntary services and youth organizations in the form of scholarships

2. Scholarships from external organizations and institutions

Furthermore, some public and private scholarships are available. These include scholarships through the federally funded Begabtenförderungswerke. However, most of these foundations have the same citizenship and residency requirements as BAföG. However, special programs are available for different target groups (internationals, refugees, etc.). The application processes, deadlines and requirements are very different.

The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) is the largest German support organization in the field of international academic co-operation and, at the same time, the world’s largest funding organisation for the international exchange of students and researchers. The DAAD Website gives a good summary of the specifications. The DAAD's scholarship database contains numerous scholarship offers for study, teaching visits and research projects in Germany. For Karls international students, the scholarships may be relevant for the Master programs, exchange semesters or for temporary short-term grants throughout their undergraduate program. The DAAD database also integrates scholarship possibilities offered by other institutions.

We have also our own document of available external scholarship possibilities, which you are welcome to request during a consultation appointment with Admissions.

Further information on external scholarships:

 

3. Partial scholarships for semester abroad.

The Erasmus scholarship and other scholarships are awarded for the semester abroad by our International Office: During the semester abroad, Karl's students studying at European partner universities are supported 100 % by Erasmus scholarships!

Detailed information on financing an exchange semester at Karlshochschule is available on the page of our International Office.

 

        Please also inform yourself about possible scholarships and further sponsorship possibilities in your home country!