Guide · Germany · 2027 intake

Funded master’s in Germany (2027 intake)

Updated 19 October 2026 · For applicants worldwide · Always confirm details on the official listing

Germany is one of the few countries where a master’s at a public university is usually tuition-free, even for international students. “Funded” here usually means two things together: little or no tuition, plus a scholarship or other money that covers living costs. This guide covers what you will actually pay, the main scholarships (DAAD and the Deutschlandstipendium), how much the blocked account needs to hold, typical deadlines for a winter 2027 start, uni-assist, where to find programmes, and the mistakes that cost applicants a year.

Tuition at public (state) universities

According to the DAAD’s costs page, most state universities charge no tuition for bachelor’s courses or for most master’s courses. There are three exceptions to check before you apply:

• Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU/EEA students €1,500 per semester for bachelor’s and master’s programmes. Doctoral students don’t pay it, and some groups are exempt (see the state ministry’s page).
• Bavaria lets its universities decide whether to charge non-EU/EEA students tuition, and how much. For example, TUM says its master’s fees for these students are usually €4,000 or €6,000 per semester. Other Bavarian universities set their own rules.
• Continuing-education master’s programmes and private universities can charge tuition. Private fees are often much higher.

Rules can change between intakes. Check the fee page of the exact programme and university for the 2027/28 year.

The semester fee (Semesterbeitrag)

Even where there is no tuition, every student pays a semester fee when they enrol and again before each new semester. It pays for student services and the student union, and at many universities it also includes a public-transport ticket. The DAAD puts it at roughly €70 to €430 per semester, depending on the university. Find the exact amount on your university’s enrolment page; it changes from year to year.

DAAD scholarships for master’s students

The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) runs the largest scholarship programmes for international master’s students. For rates, eligibility and country deadlines in one place, see our DAAD scholarship guide. Use the DAAD scholarship database to filter by your country, status (graduate) and subject. Which programme you can apply for depends on your country, so start there. Three programmes to know:

Study Scholarships – Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines

This scholarship is only open to applicants from the countries listed as eligible in the call. If your country doesn’t appear when you select it in the official DAAD call, you can’t apply, and you should look at EPOS or the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme below instead. See our DAAD scholarship guide for example deadlines by country.

According to the call, this programme funds a full master’s (or one year of study) at a state or state-recognised German university. It pays €992 per month plus help with insurance, a travel allowance and a study allowance of €460 a year. It lasts 10 to 24 months, depending on the programme. Tuition is not covered. For the current round, funding usually starts on 1 October 2027. You can’t use it for a master’s you have already started in Germany. Deadlines depend on your country, and for 2027 funding they fall between October and December 2026 (for example, 30 October 2026 for the United States and 1 December 2026 for the United Kingdom). Select your country in the database for your exact date.

EPOS – Development-Related Postgraduate Courses

EPOS funds graduates from eligible developing and newly industrialised countries on a fixed list of development-related postgraduate courses. You need at least two years of relevant work experience after your bachelor’s. You apply directly to the course, not to the DAAD, and you can apply to up to three courses ranked by priority. Each course sets its own deadline: see the DAAD’s 2027/28 course list (PDF) and each course’s website.

Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Public Policy and Good Governance)

The Helmut-Schmidt-Programme funds English-taught master’s courses in public policy, governance and related fields for graduates from eligible developing and emerging countries with relevant practical experience. It pays €992 per month, scholarship holders are exempt from tuition fees, and a German course in Germany of up to four months comes first. Applications for 2027/28 ran from 1 June to 31 July 2026, so the next chance is the following round.

The DAAD’s information for scholarship applicants warns that the monthly payment may not cover all living costs in cities with high rents.

Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship)

The Deutschlandstipendium pays €300 per month. Private sponsors pay €150 and the federal government pays the other €150. It doesn’t depend on your income or nationality, and you never pay it back. It usually runs for at least two semesters. You apply to your own university, usually once you are enrolled or admitted, and each university sets its own application window. At €300 a month it won’t cover living costs alone, so treat it as a top-up. If you already get another merit-based scholarship of €30 a month or more, you usually can’t hold it as well.

Living costs and the blocked account

If you need a student visa, you have to prove you can pay your living costs. The Federal Foreign Office’s Consular Services Portal currently asks students to show at least €992 per month, which is €11,904 for a year. A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is the usual way to show it: you pay in the whole year’s amount and can take out only the monthly amount. A recognised scholarship or a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a sponsor can count instead. If your programme charges tuition, you may also need to show you can pay it.

The amount follows the maximum BAföG rate and can change. Check it on your German mission’s website before you open the account. See also the Foreign Office’s blocked-account guidance and Make it in Germany’s visa-for-studying page. The DAAD estimates real living costs at €900–€1,200 per month, depending on the city. Rent makes the biggest difference.

Typical deadlines for winter semester 2027

Most master’s programmes start in the winter semester (October 2027). The DAAD’s application-process page says that at most universities the winter application window opens in early May and closes on 15 July. Many international and English-taught master’s programmes close earlier. For 2027 entry, expect deadlines anywhere from about January to July 2027, and earlier dates are often for applicants who need a visa. Every programme sets its own date, so check each one.

Scholarship deadlines come much earlier than admission deadlines. DAAD Study Scholarships for October 2027 close in autumn 2026, and many EPOS courses close in late 2026. If you want a DAAD scholarship, plan your 2027 master’s around those dates.

Then work back from the deadline. You need time for certified copies, a language test result, uni-assist processing (see below), visa appointments and opening a blocked account.

uni-assist

Many universities ask international applicants to apply through uni-assist. It checks your foreign certificates, converts your grades to the German system and forwards your application. Whether you go through uni-assist, the university’s own portal or another route depends on the university, the programme and your qualifications. The programme page tells you which one.

According to uni-assist’s handling-fee page, the fee is €75 for the first programme you choose in a semester and €30 for each additional programme that semester. You pay per programme, not per university, and you don’t get it back if you are turned down. Some universities pay the fee for their applicants. uni-assist needs time to process your documents, so submit well before the university’s deadline.

How to find programmes

• DAAD International Programmes database: www2.daad.de/…/international-programmes. Filter by master’s, subject, language and tuition. Each entry shows deadlines and requirements.
• DAAD scholarship database: check which scholarships you are eligible for before you shortlist.
• EPOS course list: if you have two or more years of relevant work experience and come from an eligible country.
• Programme and university pages: these are the final word on deadlines, fees and the application route.
• FridayScout free list: this-week.html, with currently open funded calls checked against the original posting.

Common mistakes

• Thinking “tuition-free” means free. You still pay the semester fee and living costs, and in Baden-Württemberg and some Bavarian universities, tuition too.
• Missing the scholarship deadline. DAAD deadlines for an October 2027 start fall in autumn 2026, months before admission deadlines.
• Leaving uni-assist until the last week. Processing takes time, and incomplete documents cause delays.
• Not having certified copies. Applications often need officially certified copies and translations, which can take weeks.
• Getting the language requirement wrong. Use the exact test and minimum score named on the programme page. Not every test or “medium of instruction” letter is accepted.
• Taking a blocked-account figure from a blog. Use the figure from your German mission or the Consular Services Portal.
• Missing a prerequisite. Many programmes require a minimum number of credits in particular subjects. Check the module list against your transcript.
• Sending the same motivation letter everywhere. See our motivation letter guide; the same principles apply to master’s applications.

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FAQ

Is a master’s in Germany really tuition-free?

At most state universities, yes: the DAAD notes there are generally no fees for most master’s programmes. Exceptions: Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU/EEA students €1,500 per semester, Bavarian universities may charge non-EU/EEA students (TUM’s master’s fees are usually €4,000 or €6,000 per semester), and continuing-education and private programmes can charge tuition. Everyone pays a semester contribution.

How much is the semester fee?

It varies by university. The DAAD gives a range of roughly €70 to €430 per semester, often including a public-transport ticket. Check your university’s enrolment page for the exact amount.

How much do DAAD master’s scholarships pay?

The DAAD Study Scholarship for master’s studies pays €992 per month plus insurance contributions, a travel allowance and an annual study allowance of €460. It does not cover tuition, and it is only open to applicants from the countries listed as eligible in the call. Deadlines for funding from October 2027 fall in autumn 2026 and depend on your country. If your country is not eligible, check EPOS or the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme, which also pay €992 per month.

How much money must be in a German blocked account?

For a student visa, the Federal Foreign Office currently requires proof of at least €992 per month, which is €11,904 for one year. The amount is linked to the maximum BAföG rate and can change, so confirm it with your German mission before opening the account.

When are master’s deadlines for winter semester 2027?

Deadlines vary by programme. Many universities close winter-semester applications on 15 July, but international and English-taught master’s programmes often close earlier, roughly between January and July 2027. Check each programme’s official page.

What does uni-assist cost?

uni-assist charges €75 for the first programme you choose in a semester and €30 for each additional programme in the same semester. Some universities pay the fee for their applicants.

Sources

• DAAD — Costs of education and living
• DAAD — Study Scholarships – Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines
• DAAD — Helmut-Schmidt-Programme announcement 2027 (PDF)
• DAAD — EPOS and 2027/28 course list (PDF)
• DAAD — Application process
• DAAD — International Programmes database
• BMFTR — Deutschlandstipendium FAQ (German)
• Federal Foreign Office — Consular Services Portal: studies and blocked account
• Make it in Germany — Visa for studying
• uni-assist — Handling fees
• Ministry of Science, Baden-Württemberg — Tuition fees for international students
• TUM — Tuition fees for students from non-EU countries