Semester fee, rent, the cost of books – your studies need to be financed.
Here you can see what costs you may expect and what financing opportunities are available.
From the semester fee to employment contracts to Federal Training Assistance Act (BAFöG) applications, there are a lot of questions to be answered.
We will provide you with the most important answers.

Keep in mind that you have to pay the semester fee every semester. Additional expenses may include tuition fees and the costs of books or other materials.

In order to re-register by the set deadline, the fee must have been received in the university’s bank account by the date mentioned above (July 15/January 15). Therefore, please make the payment in a timely manner. Even online transfers can take a while to be processed by your bank.

Every student at JGU must pay a semester fee. You must pay this fee every semester that you study at JGU.

The 2025 summer semester fee for students studying in Mainz is €303.40. The fee comprises:

  • Share for the semester ticket: €176.40
  • Share for the Studierendenwerk: €104
  • Share for the tasks of the student body representative committee: €17.10
  • Share for the student athletics committee: €1.60
  • Share for the AStA student aid fund: €2.75
  • Share for financial support for the Mental Health Services for Students (MHS): €1.55

The 2024/25 winter semester fee for students studying in Mainz is €305.55. The fee comprises:

  • Share for the semester ticket: €182.55
  • Share for the Studierendenwerk: €104
  • Share for the tasks of the student body representative committee: €13.10
  • Share for the student athletics committee: €1.60
  • Share for the AStA student aid fund: €2.75
  • Share for financial support for the Mental Health Services for Students (MHS): €1.55


Aside from the semester fee, further study-related costs may apply. These can include:

  • Materials (books, art supplies, etc.)
  • Excursions and events
  • Technology (hardware, software etc.)
  • Study abroad


These costs vary according to degree program. Please contact the responsible academic advisory office if you have any questions.

You only have to pay tuition fees if you have reached the age of 60 and start or continue a degree course. The tuition fee is €700 per semester and degree program. This is to be paid  in addition to the semester fee. You will be informed of your obligation to pay the fee by means of a notification.

You can request a reimbursement of your semester fee or tuition fees for various reasons, for instance:

  • You were exmatriculated at the end of the semester but already paid the semester fee for the coming semester.
  • You are exmatriculating with immediate effect by and including April 30 (summer semester) or October 31 (winter semester).
  • You were not enrolled or re-registered despite having paid the fees.
  • You transferred the fees twice or transferred too much.
  • You are obligated to pay the tuition fee but were granted an academic leave of absence. In this case, you can only be reimbursed for the tuition fee.
  • You waive your spot at the university after you have already been enrolled but before the beginning of the lecture period.

If you are entitled to reimbursement, we will automatically transfer the reimbursed sum back to the account from which it was received. Reimbursements are generally carried out within eight weeks. If your bank account information has changed, please send an email with the updated information to studsek@uni-mainz.de.

Studying comes with costs for everyday life, especially if you move to a new city for your studies. Before you start your studies, you should therefore think about the costs you will incur and how you will cover them.

The German Studierendenwerk and the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) have recently published data on everyday costs for students over the past several years, collected as a part of the nationwide student survey. The current German report and an English summary can be found on the DZHW website, along with preceding versions.

Accommodation
If you would like a nice room that is not too far away from the university, you can expect your monthly rent to be between €300 and €450. When looking at previous years, the demand for a room, particularly at the beginning of the winter semester, is especially high. It is therefore recommended that you organize your accommodation as early as possible.

Meals on campus
There are many places where you can buy food and drinks on campus. You can buy a warm lunch for just a few euros each day.

Leisure activities
All JGU students can take part in University Sports courses. The program is partially funded by the student social fees (included in the semester fee). All of the courses can be found in a comprehensive brochure (“Sports Program”) and are advertised on flyers and posters. It is possible that certain courses charge a fee.

Participation in the collegium musicum choir or orchestra is open to all students from any department who have an interest and experience in singing or playing an instrument.

For JGU students, it is free of charge to visit the Mainz State Theater, provided that tickets are still available three days before the desired performance.

Information on other leisure activities on campus can be found in the STUZ (a student publication), via flyers and handouts in the cafeteria, or at Campus Mainz e.V., a non-profit association that provides information on everything related to campus life.

Be sure to look into student discounts. Some stores, museums, movie theaters, and clubs offer reduced rates for students studying in Mainz.

Keep in mind that health insurance can also come with costs. You must be insured for the entirety of your degree program. We require an electronic notification from your statutory health insurance provider regarding your insurance status by the time of enrollment at the latest.

In order to finance your living expenses, you can work alongside your studies. If, however, you would like to fully focus on your studies, there are various financial support options available to you. You can find an overview at the financial aid information fair organized by the General Students’ Committee (AStA) each semester.

The Deutsches Studierendenwerk’s website contains additional information on financial support options for international students.

Under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG), you can receive state support as a student under certain conditions. All the important information can be found on the Federal Ministry of Education and Research website.

Alongside BAföG and part-time jobs, student loans are a further option for financing your studies. Many credit institutions offer such loans. The Center for Higher Education (CHE), in cooperation with the Financial Times, offers a student loan test (in German) that can help provide an overview.
At JGU, you can apply for a student loan (Studienkredit) from the Reconstruction Loan Corporation (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW)) via the Studierendenwerk.
If you are further along in your studies, a training loan (Bildungskredit) could also be an option for you. The application and all important information can be found on the website of the Federal Office of Administration.

If you find yourself in financial hardship through no fault of your own, the Studierendenwerk Mainz or AStA can assist you.

The Studierendenwerk offers:

  • Emergency fund for international students
  • Graduation loans
  • Loan office of the Notgemeinschaft Studienbank foundation at the Studierendenwerk Mainz
  • Loan office of the Studierendenwerk Mainz

The AStA offers:

  • Subsidy for the semester ticket
  • Interest-free loans
  • Free meals and (material) financial assistance

Scholarship for gifted students
A scholarship for gifted students could be an option if you have a particularly good university entrance qualification (Abitur) and your performance in your studies is above average. More information on the support available for gifted students and the foundations that award scholarships can be found on the stipendium plus website.

Scholarships for specific target groups
Scholarships are also awarded to specific groups of people.

Scholarships for specific purposes
You can also receive scholarships to help finance your stay abroad. You can find out which foundations offer grants on the study abroad website. The Gutenberg Council for Young Researchers has put together grants for doctoral degrees.

Finding a scholarship on your own
There are a vast number of scholarships available – which is great news, but it can also be overwhelming! In addition to those listed here, we also recommend that you conduct your own research to look for a scholarship program that suits you. The talent guide (Begabungslotse) lists several search engines for finding scholarships in Germany.

If you want to work alongside your studies, there are various income limits that you need to look out for.

Important information regarding employment relationships can be found on the website of the German Federal Employment Agency. This information may be relevant if you are working as a student assistant, a working student, or in the context of mini jobs.

Job advertisements can be found on the Career Service’s job portal and on the JGU career page.

As an international student, please clarify the regulations that apply to you with the responsible Foreigners’ Registration Office.

Please contact the Student Service Center with any questions.

Do you have questions about a specific degree program? If you do, feel free to contact the responsible academic advisory office.

The academic advisory offices are the best points of contact for the following topics:

  • Structure and content of the program of study
  • Planning your course schedule
  • Recognition of credits and examinations when changing subject or university
  • Examination procedures

The International Office would be happy to provide you with more information on scholarships for stays abroad.

Here you will find the contact details for the Family Services Center.

Here you will find the contact details for the Studierendenwerk.