Costs and Financial Support
Costs
Bonn is part of the state of North-Rhine Westphalia, the largest of the 16 federal states of Germany. In North-Rhine Westphalia, students do no longer have to pay a tuition fee. They only have to pay an administration fee which, at University of Bonn, amounts to approximately 240 Euro per semester. The fee includes free admission to all public transportation in the Bonn/Cologne area and beyond.
In addition to the administration fee, living in Bonn costs between 600 and 800 Euro per month, depending on your personal standard. Further info on the cost of living in Germany is published on this DAAD-Website.
Funding
An excellent way of funding your studies and at the same time gaining practical experience and meeting future employers is to get a student job at one of the many information technology companies in the Bonn / Cologne area. An online job fair is available from University of Bonn (in English) and Studentenwerk Bonn (in German).
General tips and info regarding student jobs in Germany is provided by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service): "Earning Money".
Alternatively, you can apply for one of the scholarships and grants below.
Scholarships and Grants
Various German institutions offer scholarships to motivated students. Most of these institutions attach great importance to a high academic as well as personal qualification. In many cases social and/or political commitment and the participation in internal seminars are required. International students: please note that, in most cases, it is inevitable to have some knowledge of the German language. For details concerning the respective institutions, please visit the websites listed below.
International students
DAAD For international students, the German Academic Exchange service (DAAD) offers a variety of grant schemes. For further information, please have a look at this DAAD website.
Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (EED) Offers postgraduate and doctorate grants for experienced young professionals from developing countries up to the age of 35. Rate: 850€/month, duration: 18-36 months, application deadline: January 1st/July 1st. >>Further Info
Katholischer Akademischer Ausländer-Dienst (KAAD) Master and PhD students belonging to a Christian denomination. Rate: scholarship covers study and living costs, duration: 1-3 years. Obligation to return to home country, application deadline not specified. >>Further info
German and international students
Cusanuswerk
Evangelisches Studentenwerk
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung
Hans-Böckler-Stiftung
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung
Stiftung der deutschen Wirtschaft
BAföG Depending on their own and their parent's income, German students can apply for BAföG support. See, among others:
