Is higher education really free in Germany?

Question

I want to get into a ugrad or a grad school in Germany and wanted to know if I need to pay tuition.

Answer 1

I have heard the college education is free in almost all European nations...certainly those in Northern Europe. I believe it is free in Canada, as well, as long as you have good grades, etc. It is not like the USA. I had a 3.7 average, and had to drop out of college 4 times because of lack of money. Eventually, I got a degree. It took me 12 years to complete 5 years of college. Your problem is that you chose the wrong parents. At my college, I saw plenty of dull-witted rich kids with C averages, who got an all-expense-paid trip. In closing, I would guess that you have to be a German citizen to get these benefits.

Answer 2

University education in many European countries is free of tuition to some students. Normally, you have to be a resident of that country, and also often a citizen, but that varies by country. For example, if you are in Scotland, you can go to a Scottish university without having to pay tuition. However, you'd have to pay to attend one in England or France.

And normally, the number of seats in each university, and in each major, is limited. So if you live in Germany and plan to study economics, but economics is full but linguistics is open, you'll have to study linguistics instead.

Although tuition is free, there are other expenses. Sometimes there are fees, as there are in Ireland, and you always have to pay for books and etc.

Of course, if you're an international student - not a resident and/or citizen of a country, then in order to attend one of their universities you will have to pay tuition. But in general, the tuition and fees at a university in Europe, even for international students, are less than those for a comperable university in the US. In other words, Oxford would be cheaper than Harvard, if you're paying your own way.

That's also true of Canada. Although Canadians, unlike Europeans, do have to pay tuition, it's less than an American would pay for a comperable university in the US. And if an American attends university in Canada, tuition even as an international student is often less than it would cost to attend a comperable university in the States.

All this, of course, doesn't figure in the "financial aid" system that exists in the US.

And keep in mind - in the US, there seems to be a college for anyone who want to attend, and can find the cash. The community colleges and state schools, for example, are amazing bargains, and seats sometimes are left open for lack of students.

In Europe, that's not the case. Although attending is free in Europe, that's only if you can get in. And not everyone qualifies, and then there are only so many seats.

Lastly, it's pretty much a known fact that, overall, the universities in the US are among the finest in the world. You can find no other country that offers so may universities, of such high quality, as the US. After all, why would so many foreign students be so eager to study here if the quality and reputation was not so high?

Answer 3

yes- there's no tuition. However, there's fees for libraries, books, etc that you have to buy yourself- they are often not affiliated with the university. Also, you pay for housing, food and the like (again, does not go through the university)

Answer 4

Yes it is free ..but u need to hav gud grades thorughout your education. The quality of education is also pretty high compared to the other Eurpean countries.

Answer 5

Yes, but I think it may only be free for citizens.

Answer 6

I have NEVER heard of free college anywhere in the world, This is news to me, and probably to a lot of other people.

Answer 7

It's free...but not for long. Wait until capitalism takes it away!