Tuition & Financing

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Tuition Fee and Living Expenses

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for the four semesters (two academic years) can be paid either as a whole prior to the start of the program or before each semester starts. 

The MPP tuition fee is:

  • EUR 1,900 per semester for the academic year 2025/26 and
  • EUR 2,000 per semester for the academic year 2026/27.

Fee regulations valid from October 1, 2023 on (in German language)

Semester Service Contribution ("Semesterbeitrag")

A student semester contribution, which currently totals EUR 280 (plus 20 € for the student ID card to be paid before the first semester) must be paid to the university each semester. The student semester contribution includes your student-ID card, entitlement to free public transportation within and around the city of Erfurt and general administration services provided by the university. This amount is subject to change from semester to semester.


Living expenses

With an estimated average cost of living of EUR 992 per month, studying in Erfurt is affordable. It is one of the least expensive university towns in all of Germany.


Further expenses

Please consult our FAQ section for estimates of additional costs such as health insurance, the cost of study materials, and travel to and from Erfurt.

See the 'Financing your Studies' section below for information on which financing options are availble for MPP candidates. For detailed information on scholarships, see our Scholarships page.

Our budget overview (PDF)gives you a detailed overview of the basic costs of the MPP and living in Erfurt.

Financing your Studies

There are several ways for prospective students to obtain financial support in order to help them finance both the tuition fees and the cost of living in Germany.

Since expenses at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy require a substantial financial commitment from both the student and the Brandt School, MPP candidates are encouraged to start their financial planning several months in advance of applying to the program. This includes a thorough assessment of your costs and a search for possible sources of financial assistance.

International students who need to apply for a student visa must prove that they have sufficient funds before coming to Germany. Further information may be found in the FAQ section under Preparing for Life in Germany.

Scholarships

Scholarships are one way for highly qualified candidates to finance their studies. Our scholarship page offers an overview of different scholarship opportunities for MPP candidates, including scholarships from our partners, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Deutschlandstipendium .

The German national scholarship is the Deutschlandstipendium ('Germany scholarship'). The scholarship is open to German nationals, as well as to foreign applicants who are going to start their studies in Germany and already have a final admission for a German university. The Deutschlandstipendium provides financial and non-material support to high-achieving and committed students from all over the world. Modelled after the principle of public-private partnership, businesses, foundations or private individuals sponsor young talent with a pledge of 150 euros per month. The Federal Government matches this amount with another 150 euros.

The Willy Brandt School of Public Policy is a partner in the DAAD's Helmut-Schmidt-Programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance). The Helmut-Schmidt Programme offers a limited number of scholarships to highly qualified applicants from Africa, Latin America, most Asian countries and a number of European countries to acquire a Master’s degree in practice-oriented programmes of particular relevance for the social, political and economic development. Helmut-Schmidt Scholarships  include stipends for cost of living and a tuition waiver from the Brandt School. 

More information about the scholarships and how to apply can be found under Scholarships.

Part-time jobs

Part-time jobs are another possibility to finance your studies. Subject to certain legal regulations and limitations, and depending on your own flexibility, you should be able to find work in Erfurt. German language proficiency can be a major asset in terms of employability.

  • A number of Brandt School students have worked as part-time English teachers in Erfurt
  • A different native language may be an asset in terms of language teaching as well
  • There may be opportunities to work as a research or teaching assistant at the University of Erfurt or at the Brandt School itself

You can find detailed information about working in Germany on our FAQ page.