Costs of studying in Berlin

Blocked account, semester fee, residence permit fees, health insurance.

Proof of funding

• Blocked account (Sperrkonto): €11,904 for one year, of which at most €992 a month can be withdrawn (Embassy study leaflet; amount set in the Federal Gazette). Open it before you apply for the visa.
• Alternatives: a declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone in Germany, or a scholarship that covers the amount.
• Providers: the Federal Foreign Office names no provider and recommends none. We do not either – check the provider yourself before you transfer anything.
• The amount is set every year. Check the mission's page before you apply.

Getting the money to Germany

The blocked account is paid in euros. We did not check Turkish banking rules or bank charges for transfers abroad; ask your bank which documents it wants (for example the admission letter and the blocked-account contract). Do not use informal money transfer services for this sum.

Fees

• No tuition at Berlin public universities such as FU, HU, TU and BHT, except for continuing-education programmes. Private universities do charge, sometimes a lot – and they often recruit through agencies.
• Semester fee: FU Berlin €376.80 (including the Deutschlandsemesterticket for public transport at €226.80), BHT €376.30. You pay this every semester.
• Visa €75; iDATA service fees where iDATA is involved; language exam, notary, apostille and translations on top.
• Residence permit at LEA Berlin: the general fee for a permit as a sticker in the passport is €56 (renewal €49); €100 (renewal €93) for the electronic card.

Health insurance

Compulsory, for both the visa and enrolment. Statutory student insurance starts with enrolment; before that you need private cover. The statutory student rate is about €120 to €130 a month for students under 30. This figure may be outdated for 2026 – ask the insurer.

Living in Berlin

The €992 a month is what the law considers a minimum, not a comfortable budget. Rent is the hard part: finding a room in Berlin usually takes longer than new arrivals expect. Plan for a temporary room first and do not pay a deposit for a flat you have not seen.