How to cover expenses

The costs to be covered by each student are:

• at least 650 €/month for living (including rent, food, books etc.)
  • Rent: approximately 250 € - 350€
  • Food: varies depending on individual lifestyle
  • Books: approximately 50 € - 100 €
  • Social: varies depending on individual lifestyle

• ~ 90 € health insurance/month
• ~ 300 € semester fees/semester (may vary over time)

The complete expenses of the program (including accommodation, study fees, food, health insurance, public transport etc.) for three semesters amount to about 12,990.00 EURO at least. Clearly, the exact sum depends on the individual way of living, price levels etc.

It is important that you are able to cover these expenses. German foreign authorities do not grant student visa without proof of sufficient financial means (cf. FAQs for "working and studying"). The proof may be provided by ONE of the following:

• disclosure of parents income and assets OR
• a binding declaration of the parents to the German consular representative or the corresponding office that they will pay the expenses of the student OR
• the placement of a deposit in a frozen bank account in Germany OR
• a proof of a scholarship (apply e.g. at the DAAD) OR
• the annually renewed placement of a bank letter of guarantee with a bank in Germany.

Furthermore, you must show evidence that you have a health insurance to cover corresponding expenses in Germany.

FUSE studies are very intensive, we strongly advise you NOT to take any jobs during the program. There is, however, a way to earn money, namely by finding a job as a so-called studying assistant in a lab where you typically work in a field related to projects within the FUSE program. In principle, it is also possible to find work outside the university. With student visa you are permitted to work 120 full days or 240 half-days per year.