Financing your studies (2024)

You must prove that you can finance your studies in Germany when applying for your visa in your home country. To do so, you must have a sum of€11,208 at your disposal. This amount is sufficient to finance your studies in Germany for one year. Detailed information on the proof of financial resources can be obtained from the German embassy or consulate in your home country.

Please take this matter seriously and calculate realistically. The legal working conditions for international students are strict and failing to comply with them may subject you to expulsion from the country. Please also consider that student jobs are hard to find for foreign students in Germany. Financing your studies in Braunschweig fully or even partially through student jobs is not possible.

Each time you extend your residence permit, you will need to provide this proof of financial resources again. The immigration authorities will decide whether you need to open a blocked account for the amount.

By German standards, Braunschweig is not an expensive place to study. Nevertheless, you need a minimum of about 975 euros per month to be able to study here successfully. Please note that the amounts are estimated. Depending on your lifestyle, the monthly costs may be higher.

Semester fee

In addition to these costs, all students must pay a semester fee at the beginning of each semester. International students who are aiming for a degree at TU Braunschweig pay a semester fee of approximately 380 euros. Exchange students have to pay a semester fee of approximately 310 euros.

Do you want to improve your income with a part-time job or gain work experience? Yes, but plan realistically: Your studies are time-consuming, and you cannot and must not finance your studies with part-time jobs alone! Make sure you do not exceed the maximum number of working days stated in your residence permit!

Labour law regulations

If you would like to work in Germany as a student, you must observe the labour law regulations for international students:

• Students from non-EU countries are not allowed to work more than 140full days or 280 half days per year in Germany.
• If you earn more than 520 euros per month, you must pay social security contributions to the pension fund. These contributions are transferable within the EU; students from non-EU countries can apply for a refund.
• The conditions of your residence permit must not contradict taking up work.

Violations of these conditions may lead to expulsion.

Necessary documents:

As a rule, you will need a wage tax card and a social security card for your work activity.

• You can apply for the wage tax card at the tax office,
• You apply for the social security card at the German Pension Insurance

Job offers at TU Braunschweig

TU Braunschweig offers various jobs for student assistants. You can find an overview of the job offers here:

To the job market

Other job markets

Besides TU Braunschweig's job market you can also look for jobs here:

• Short-term and temporary jobs for students at the TU Braunschweig

• Job market of the Studentenwerk OstNiedersachsen

• Federal agency for work (Bundesagentur für Arbeit)

Avicenna-Studienwerk e.V.

This organisation awards scholarships to foreign students who fulfil the following criteria, among others:

• Citizenship of an EU member state or the status of a "Bildungsinländer*in" within the meaning of § 8 BAföG
• Enrolment at a state or state-approved German university
• At the beginning of the funding period, at least 4 semesters of the standard study period have to be completed. There must be at least one semester between the application and the start of the Master's degree programme (it is not possible to apply after the start of the Master's degree programme).

To the website

Financial aid from the AStA at TU Braunschweig

Students at TU Braunschweig are eligible for funding if they are in financial need due to circumstances beyond their control and are not entitled to BAföG or degree funding.

To the website (German only)

Braunschweiger Bürgerpreis (Citizen award of Braunschweig)

The Braunschweiger Bürgerpreis (Citizen award of Braunschweig) is awarded for outstanding student achievements and special commitment at the Technical University of Braunschweig. One-time financial aid is given in special emergencies.

To the website

Carolo-Wilhelmina-Scholarship

The Carolo-Wilhemina Foundation annually awards the Carolo-Wilhelmina-Scholarships to support students at TU Braunschweig whose study plans are threatened by uncertain funding or who are about to drop out of university due to financial problems.

To the website

Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship)

Students at TU Braunschweig with very good academic achievements are eligible for funding.However, the selection process not only assesses the student's achievements, but also their aptitude for the subject. Particular attention is paid to criteria such as independence, originality or problem-solving skills.

To the website

Katholischer Akademischer Ausländer-Dienst (KAAD) (Catholic Academic Service for Foreigners)

The KAAD supports foreign students from developing countries who are already studying in Germany.

To the website

Landesstipendium Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony Scholarship)

The scholarships are awarded on a performance-oriented basis. Students who fulfil the following requirements are eligible:

• Students from non-academic families
• Refugees who have a particularly difficult beginning and condition to study
• Students who are eligible for a scholarship for social reasons (e.g. outstanding voluntary work)

To the website

Otto Benecke Foundation

Immigrants (including ethnic German repatriates, recognised refugees etc.) are funded.

Further information on the scholarship and the criteria for eligibility can be found here:

To the website

Student loan

Foreign students who meet the requirements of § 8 BAföG are eligible to apply.

To the website

Short-term, interest-free loans offered by the AStA of TU Braunschweig

Anyone who has run into a financial shortage through no fault of their own can apply for a short-term loan from the AStA from the 2nd semester on. This is an interest-free loan with a maximum amount of € 450, which must be paid back after three months the latest.

To the website

Call for applications for „DAAD-Abschlussbeihilfe“ (Grants for the final period of your studies)

The Technische Universität Braunschweig will award DAAD funding for international undergraduate and graduate students to support the final period of their studies.

The students who are eligible for this programme are international students who have earned their school leaving certificate and university degrees outside Germany. They must be enrolled as degree seeking students in undergraduate or graduate degree programmes at TU Braunschweig. Students who are holding a German Abitur or a degree of a German university and exchange students are not eligible.

Only applicants with good grades who are expected to finish their studies successfully within the next six months can be funded. Furthermore, the funding should help students who have run into financial problems to concentrate on completing their degree successfully. Extracurricular activities and a social commitment will raise the chances to be selected for the funding.

The grants are awarded twice a year: Please hand in your application for the summer semester from 15 January to 31 January and for the winter semester from 15 July to 31 July (deadline).

Please use our application portal:

To the application portal

When applying please hand in the following documents:

• Enrollment certificate
• Transcript
• Curriculum vitae
• Bank statement of the last three months before applying for all accounts (i.e. credit cards etc.)
• Certificate regarding the expected graduation signed by the faculty.

Please note that we cannot proceed incomplete applications.

We highly recommend that you come to the International Student Support for advisory service at least four weeks before applying.

Please contact:

Anja Cziommer
+49 531 391 14374
a.cziommer(at)tu-braunschweig.de

Social counselling of the AStA of TU Braunschweig

The International Student Support is happy to help foreign students with challenges and problems. However, if you are in a difficult personal or financial situation that endangers your studies and prefer to be advised by students you can also contact the social counselling of the AStA of TU Braunschweig.

To the website

Scholarship database of the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst)

The database provides information on the DAAD funding opportunities for foreign students, graduates, doctoral candidates and university lecturers as well as offers from other selected funding organisations.

To the website