Fees & Insurances
Administrative fees
A university enrolment is mandatory for all doctoral candidates. There are no tution fees at German universities, however, a enrolment fee of currently 288 € has to be paid to Saarland University for each term (summer: April-September; winter: October-March). The fee includes a public transport travel pass for students („Semesterticket“) covering the use of the public transport in the entire county for 6 months. Enrolled PhD students benefit from further privileges such as reduced fees for the food provided by the refectory.
Health insurance
Health insurance is compulsory for students in Germany. Proof of health insurance will be needed before students can enrol at the University.
- Students form an EU member state (other than Germany) who are insured under a statutory health insurance scheme should ask their home insurance fund to issue them with an EHIC chip card or a substitute certificate. Students from countries with which Germany has a social security agreement are required to bring the appropriate form from their home health insurance fund. If the form or the EHIC from the home country is presented at a German statutory health insurance scheme the student will be issued with a certificate of valid insurance that can be presented to the University for enrolment.
- Students from countries outside the EU need to purchase student health insurance cover from a health insurance fund in Germany. Information on health insurance providers can be found on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) or the website of the German student unions.
Living expenses
Each accepted PhD candidate is awarded with a scholarship of 1,200€ per month. In contrast to other countries, students at German universities do not receive accommodation on enrolment. Overseas students have the opportunity to either rent a room in a student residence or find a private accommodation (single apartment or shared flats). Student accommodation provides either fully furnished rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchens or single/shared apartments with a bathroom and a small kitchen. More details about accommodation including the application forms are available on the University website. Please note that the University only provides a limited amount of student residences which are usually very popular. Therefore, applications for a room/ apartment have to be completed and sent back to the University until 15th of July to be considered for the following winter term. Prices for student rooms range between 170 and 265€/month. Private accommodation can be found online.
Useful information about general living expenses in Germany can be found on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Furthermore, a guide for international students is available from the International Office at Saarland University.
Opportunity to attend German language courses (for non-German speaking applicants)
In addition to the mandatory English language skills, it is recommended to attend a German language course before the start of the doctoral program (or during its initial stage in Saarbrücken). Saarland University offers intensive German language courses every March and October (between semesters) as well as in-seasonal courses during each semester. For more information please visit the website of the International Office.
Research in Germany Webinar
Prof. Meyer attended a Webinar on How to write a successful proposal? organised by the German Academic Exchange Service on the 5th of June 2018. A recording of the webinar is now available on the Research in Germany website. The webinar is open for everyone without a registration.