Cost of Studying in Germany: Fees, Living Costs, Visa Cost & More
The ULTIMATE resume glow-up: 15% OFF any online course!
TAP HERE!
TAP HERE!
| Program | Qualification | Language | Format | Duration | Fees (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering (Maschinenbau, Elektrotechnik, etc.) | BSc / MSc | German (B2+) | Full-time / Dual | 7 / 4 semesters | €3,000–€5,000/year |
| Business Administration (BWL) | BSc / MBA | German (B2+) | Full-time / Dual | 7 / 4 semesters | €3,000–€5,000/year |
| Media Management (Medienmanagement) | BSc / MSc | German (B2+) | Full-time / Dual | 7 / 4 semesters | €3,000–€4,500/year |
| Health Sciences (Gesundheitsökonomie) | BSc / MSc | German (B2+) | Full-time | 7 / 4 semesters | €3,500–€5,000/year |
| Design (Kommunikationsdesign) | BSc | German (B2+) | Full-time | 7 semesters | €3,000–€4,500/year |
| Fee Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual tuition | €3,000–€5,000/year | Varies by program. Verify at rfh-koeln.de. |
| Total BSc program cost | €9,000–€15,000 | Over 3 years |
| Total MSc program cost | €6,000–€10,000 | Over 2 years |
| Blocked account (visa) | €11,208 one-time | German student visa requirement |
| Health insurance | ~€110/month | Mandatory |
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| German proficiency | B2 minimum. All programs German-taught. Goethe B2 or equivalent required. |
| Academic qualification | Abitur equivalent or higher. Bachelor's for MSc programs. |
| APS Certificate | Mandatory for Indian students on student visa. Apply at aps-india.de - 6–8 weeks. |
| Application | Direct enrollment via rfh-koeln.de. Rolling admissions - open admission for qualifying applicants. |
| Work experience (Dual Study) | Employment contract with a partner company required for dual study format. |
Official transcripts of all past studiesA valid passportA Personal Resume or PortfolioValid scores in Aptitude tests (for some courses)A VPD from Uni-AssistUS Student VisaLetter of Motivation and Essay
Female Students
Student Faculty Ratio
Acceptance Rate
Post Study Work Visa| Expense | Monthly Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (dorm / WG) | €350–€620 | Studierendenwerk Köln dorms: €350–€450. Private WG: €450–€620. More expensive than Bonn but cheaper than Munich. |
| Food | €180–€240 | Mensa meals €2.80–€4.50. Cologne has excellent affordable food options across all cuisines. |
| Health insurance | ~€110 | Mandatory. TK and AOK recommended. |
| Transport | €0 | NRW Semester Ticket included in semester contribution - unlimited NRW transport. |
| Books / SIM / personal | €70–€110 | Most materials digitally available. |
| Misc / social | €90–€150 | Cologne nightlife, Rhine riverfront, day trips to Bonn (30 min), Düsseldorf (30 min), Aachen (60 min). |
| TOTAL | €790–€1,230/month | vs Munich: €1,100–€1,470 - saves ~₹3–4 Lakh/year |
| Field | Salary Range | Employers |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | €44,000–€58,000 | Cologne engineering companies, Ford suppliers, SMEs |
| Business Administration | €40,000–€56,000 | REWE, Cologne SMEs, retail sector |
| Media Management | €38,000–€52,000 | RTL, WDR, media agencies, advertising companies |
| Health Sciences | €38,000–€52,000 | Healthcare companies, hospital administration, health insurance |
| Aspect | Status |
|---|---|
| QS / THE | Not globally ranked |
| German state accreditation | Fully state-accredited private Fachhochschule - degrees legally recognised in Germany and EU |
| Blue Card eligibility | RFH degree qualifies for German Blue Card (state-accredited Hochschulabschluss) |
| DAAD partner | Not a DAAD partner institution |
No. RFH is a private institution - tuition fees of €3,000–€5,000/year apply. Unlike TH Köln and University of Cologne which are tuition-free NRW public institutions.
All programs are taught in German. B2 minimum required. No English-taught programs.
Yes. RFH is a fully state-accredited private Fachhochschule. Degrees are legally recognised across Germany and EU and qualify for the EU Blue Card.
TH Köln (Technische Hochschule Köln) is a public university offering the same applied sciences programs at zero tuition with stronger employer recognition and 26,000 students. Unless RFH has a specific program or dual-study format advantage, TH Köln is typically the stronger choice for Indian students.
Yes. Mandatory for Indian students obtaining a German student visa. Apply at aps-india.de - 6–8 weeks.
Trusted by 2,60,000+ students for their education abroad
Australia +61
Canada +1
France +33
Germany +49
India +91
Ireland +353
UAE +971
United Kingdom +44
United States +1
By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Service and Data Processing Agreement
Enter the security code we sent to
By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Service and Data Processing Agreement
