M.S from Humboldt University Of Berlin [HU-BERLIN], Berlin - Fees & Admission Details 2026

Humboldt University of Berlin fees for Indian students total €710 (INR 66,740) per year across all UG and PG programmes, because tuition is fully waived at this public university and only a fixed semester contribution of €355 (INR 33,370) applies. This waiver covers BSc Computer Science, MS Psychology, MS Economics, MS Computer Science, MS Chemistry, and every other programme identically. The result is one of the lowest-cost QS Top 150 destinations globally for Indian applicants.

Your realistic entry is Winter Semester 2027/28, starting October 2027. Allow 8-12 weeks for the German student visa and 4-8 weeks for the mandatory APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle, the credentials-verification certificate required for every Indian applicant since November 2022).

• Semester contribution (all programmes): €355 (INR 33,370) per semester
• Annual fees, two semesters (estimated): €710 (INR 66,740)
• Full 2-year Masters total fees: €1,420 (INR 1.33 Lakhs)
• Full 3-year Bachelors total fees: €2,130 (INR 2.00 Lakhs)
• Application via uni-assist (Germany’s central application platform): €75 (INR 7,050) for first application, €30 (INR 2,820) per additional

A full 2-year MSc costs approximately INR 24-26 Lakhs including living expenses, versus INR 55-70 Lakhs at UK peer universities. A 3-year BSc totals around INR 36-40 Lakhs. Exchange rate: 1 EUR = INR 94.00 (July 2026).

Read the full Humboldt University of Berlin admissions guide for Indian students

Humboldt University of Berlin Tuition Fees by Programme

Humboldt University of Berlin charges zero tuition for international students. Every programme, from BSc to PhD, requires only a fixed semester contribution of €355 (INR 33,370), identical for German, EU, and Indian applicants. This is a direct consequence of Berlin state law, which prohibits tuition at public universities.

Undergraduate Fees for Indian Students at Humboldt University of Berlin

Bachelor programmes at Humboldt run for 6 semesters (3 years) and cost €2,130 (INR 2.00 Lakhs) in total contribution fees for the full degree. Popular options for Indian students include the BSc in Computer Science and the BSc in Economics.

Also read: Humboldt Univresity of Berlin Overview: Admission Requirements, Scholarships, Rankings 2026-27 

Postgraduate Fees for Indian Students at Humboldt University of Berlin

Master programmes at Humboldt run for 4 semesters (2 years) and cost €1,420 (INR 1.33 Lakhs) in total contribution fees. The most-applied Masters for Indian students are MS Psychology, MS Economics, MS Computer Science, and MS Chemistry.

Source: Humboldt University semester contribution page, www.hu-berlin.de/en/studies/counselling/administration/semester-fees. All PG programmes charge the identical €355 (INR 33,370) semester contribution.

Cost of Living in Berlin for Indian Students at Humboldt University of Berlin

Berlin costs an Indian student €992 (INR 93,248) per month, or €11,904 (INR 11.19 Lakhs) per year, based on Humboldt’s own cost-of-living guidance for international students. This is 30 to 40 percent cheaper than Munich or Frankfurt and roughly half of London or Toronto living costs.

Source: Humboldt University cost-of-living guidance for international students, www.hu-berlin.de/en/studies/counselling/international. The €11,904 annual figure matches the mandatory blocked account minimum set by the German Federal Foreign Office for 2026.

Total Cost of Studying at Humboldt University of Berlin for Indian Students

A 2-year Masters at Humboldt costs Indian students INR 24 to 26 Lakhs total, including semester fees, living, insurance, and one-off visa costs. A 3-year Bachelors runs INR 36 to 40 Lakhs. Both totals are less than a single year at a UK Russell Group university.

Humboldt University of Berlin Scholarships for Indian Students

Because tuition is already zero, Humboldt scholarships focus on covering living costs. Indian students most frequently receive the Deutschlandstipendium at €300 (INR 28,200) per month and DAAD Study Scholarships at €992 (INR 93,248) per month plus travel and health insurance.

Also read: Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in Germany 

Humboldt University of Berlin Semester Fee Payment Options for Indian Students

There is no admission deposit at Humboldt. The €355 (INR 33,370) semester contribution is the only payment before enrolment and it unlocks your CampusCard (student ID), university email, and enrolment certificate needed for the residence permit appointment. The fee is transferred to Humboldt’s bank account roughly 4 to 6 weeks before the semester starts.

Methods to Pay the Humboldt University of Berlin Semester Fee from India

• SEPA bank transfer from a German bank account, once your Sperrkonto is opened. This is the standard route and the only method Humboldt guarantees on turnaround time.
• International SWIFT wire transfer from India via SBI, HDFC, ICICI, or Axis forex. 
• Wise (formerly TransferWise) or Revolut international transfer. Mid-market rates, €5 to €8 (INR 470 to 752) flat fee, and delivery in 1 to 2 working days. Saves 2 to 3 percent versus traditional bank wires.
• Direct debit (SEPA Lastschrift) from a German current account, available from your second semester. Easiest and free, but requires an active German current account.

Steps to Pay the Semester Fee for International Students at Humboldt University of Berlin

1. Accept the admission offer through the uni-assist portal or the Humboldt application system.
2. Open your Sperrkonto (blocked account) with Fintiba, Expatrio, or Coracle and deposit €11,904 (INR 11.19 Lakhs).
3. Apply for the German student visa at VFS Global India, submitting the admission letter, Sperrkonto certificate, and APS certificate.
4. On arrival in Berlin, complete Anmeldung (residence registration at the Bürgeramt) within 14 days.
5. Transfer the €355 (INR 33,370) semester fee to Humboldt’s bank account using the reference code from your admission letter.
6. Complete Immatrikulation (enrolment) in person at Humboldt’s Compass Service Centre to receive your CampusCard.
7. Save every payment receipt and enrolment certificate for the residence permit appointment at the Ausländerbehörde.

Source: Humboldt University enrolment and payment instructions, www.hu-berlin.de/en/studies/counselling/administration.

Also read: Humboldt University of Berlin Rankings 2026-27

Hidden Costs of Studying at Humboldt University of Berlin

The most-missed cost for the Winter Semester 2027/28 intake is the APS certificate, mandatory for every Indian applicant since November 2022. Budget for it by August 2026, well before your DAAD application, because it takes 4 to 8 weeks to issue.

• APS certificate: USD 250 (INR 21,000), takes 4 to 8 weeks; without it your Humboldt application is not processed. Apply at the German Embassy in New Delhi.
• Sperrkonto setup fee: €50 to €100 (INR 4,700 to 9,400) one-time with Fintiba or Expatrio; €200 to €400 (INR 18,800 to 37,600) with Deutsche Bank or Sparkasse.
• Public health insurance (mandatory for enrolment): €120 (INR 11,280) per month until age 30; €1,440 (INR 1.35 Lakhs) annually.
• German student visa fee: €75 (INR 7,050) at VFS Global, plus €600 to €800 (INR 56,400 to 75,200) in return flight tickets.
• Residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel): €100 (INR 9,400) at the Berlin Ausländerbehörde within 90 days of arrival.
• Document translations and apostilles: €200 to €400 (INR 18,800 to 37,600) for degree, transcripts, and IELTS or TOEFL certification for uni-assist and APS.
• WG or dorm security deposit: €900 to €1,800 (INR 84,600 to 1.69 Lakhs), typically 2 to 3 months rent, refundable on move-out.

Budget approximately INR 3.5 to 4.5 Lakhs for first-year hidden costs on top of your semester fee and living expenses.

Fee Saving Strategies for Indian Students at Humboldt University of Berlin

The most urgent saving lever for the Winter Semester 2027/28 intake is securing a Studentenwerk Berlin dorm bed. Applications open 12 months before your intake, and beds are allocated first come, first served, so file by October 2026.

• Book a Studentenwerk dorm before October 2026: Dorms cost €280 to €380 (INR 26,320 to 35,720) per month versus €500 to €700 (INR 47,000 to 65,800) for private WGs. Over the 2-year MSc this saves INR 4 to 6 Lakhs. Apply at www.stw.berlin.
• Take a HiWi (student assistant) role at Humboldt chairs: Pays €13 to €15 (INR 1,222 to 1,410) per hour, capped at 20 hours per week in semester and 40 hours per week during breaks. Annual earnings reach €8,000 to €10,000 (INR 7.52 to 9.40 Lakhs), enough to cover full living costs.
• Claim Section 80E tax deduction: Interest on your Indian education loan (if taken) is fully deductible under Section 80E of the Income Tax Act for 8 years after your first EMI, saving INR 1 to 2 Lakhs across the loan tenure depending on tax bracket.
• Use the Deutschlandsemesterticket for weekend inter-city travel: Your €355 (INR 33,370) semester fee includes unlimited public transport across all 16 German states, replacing the €300 to €500 (INR 28,200 to 47,000) you would otherwise spend on inter-city ICE trains per semester.
• Target the EU Blue Card after graduation: Humboldt Masters graduates in STEM, economics, or IT qualify for the EU Blue Card at a lower salary threshold of €41,041 (INR 38.58 Lakhs) per year at the 2026 rate. Permanent residency is available after 21 months on the Blue Card if you demonstrate B1 German, offsetting your degree cost within 3 to 4 years of employment.

Is Humboldt University of Berlin Worth the Cost for Indian Students

Yes. At INR 24 to 26 Lakhs for a full 2-year MSc including living, Humboldt delivers QS World Top #140 and Times Higher Education Top 100 research access at roughly 30 percent the cost of a UK Russell Group peer. 

• Germany’s post-study visa (18 months to find graduate-level employment) and subsequent EU Blue Card route make Humboldt structurally different from Anglo-Saxon degrees.
• The 21-month permanent residency pathway via Blue Card plus B1 German makes Berlin a viable settlement destination, not merely a study destination.
• If you funded the entire programme through an INR 25 Lakhs education loan at 10.5 percent for 10 years, the EMI is approximately INR 33,700 per month. A
• gainst a starting salary of €4,000 (INR 3.76 Lakhs) per month, this consumes under 9 percent of gross monthly income, well below the 40 percent stress threshold banks use for loan approval.