Study in Freiburg, Germany

About Freiburg

Freiburg im Breisgau is a university city in the far south-west of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, on the edge of the Black Forest and close to the borders with France and Switzerland. It is a compact city where students make up a large part of daily life, and many people get around by bike, tram and on foot.

Students choose Freiburg for its historic university, for its focus on environmental and sustainability subjects, and for learning German in a smaller, manageable city. Its position in the border region also makes it easy to reach Basel, Strasbourg and the Alsace.

Studying in Freiburg

SpainExchange lists three schools in Freiburg: one university and two language schools. The Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (University of Freiburg) was founded in 1457. Today it has around 24,500 students, eleven faculties and around 240 degree programmes. Its Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources works on a wide range of sustainability issues, and the university belongs to Eucor – The European Campus, a cross-border alliance of universities in the Upper Rhine region.

For German, the Sprachschule zum Ehrstein, part of Kolping Bildungswerk at Bertoldstraße 55, has specialised in language teaching for more than 25 years. It offers intensive and evening German courses (evening courses run in blocks of eight weeks), exam preparation, telc exams and private rooms for course participants. The iOR Sprachakademie teaches German in Freiburg, in nearby Lörrach and online.

Cost of living for students

Baden-Württemberg is one of the few German states that charges tuition at state universities to students from outside the EU: €1,500 per semester for bachelor's, consecutive master's and state examination programmes, according to the University of Freiburg and the DAAD. This fee is paid on top of the regular semester fee; doctoral candidates and Erasmus students are among those exempt. In Germany the semester contribution ranges from €70 to €430.

The DAAD estimates student living costs at €900 to €1,200 a month, depending on the city, with rent averaging €410 a month across Germany. The Studierendenwerk Freiburg (SWFR) offers about 6,000 places in student residences in Freiburg and other towns in the region; applications must be made within the application period.

Students from outside the EU who need a visa must prove funds of €992 a month (DAAD figure as of 1 January 2025). German-taught degree programmes usually require level B2, while English-taught international programmes are exempt. Students whose school-leaving certificate does not give direct access to German universities often need to complete two or three semesters at home or a Studienkolleg first. A prospective student visa is valid for up to nine months and also covers a language course; a Schengen visa covers language courses of up to three months only and cannot be extended.

Getting around and daily life

Freiburg's trams and buses are run by the VAG. A single ticket costs from €2.70, and the Deutschland-Ticket costs €63 a month. In Baden-Württemberg, people up to the age of 27 can buy the Deutschland-Ticket JugendBW for €45 a month, valid on local transport across Germany; where a university offers the Deutschlandsemesterticket, the price is 60% of the regular ticket. The nearest airport is the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, which describes itself as the world's only binational airport.

Frequently asked questions

Do international students pay tuition in Freiburg?

Students from outside the EU and EEA pay €1,500 per semester at the University of Freiburg for most bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes, plus the semester fee. EU citizens, doctoral candidates and Erasmus students do not pay this fee.

Is Freiburg a good place to learn German?

Freiburg has several language schools. The Sprachschule zum Ehrstein offers intensive and evening courses and telc exams, and the iOR Sprachakademie teaches in Freiburg, Lörrach and online.

Is there a cheaper transport ticket for students in Freiburg?

Yes. People up to 27 can buy the Deutschland-Ticket JugendBW for €45 a month, valid on local transport throughout Germany, instead of the regular €63 ticket.

Where can I live as a student in Freiburg?

The Studierendenwerk Freiburg offers about 6,000 residence places in Freiburg and the region. Most other students rent rooms in shared flats; language schools such as the Sprachschule zum Ehrstein also arrange private rooms.