Education loan for studying in Germany
Germany inverts the usual problem. Public universities charge a semester contribution rather than tuition, so the loan is not mostly about fees — it is about the blocked account, a sum you must deposit and prove before the visa, regardless of how little the course costs.
The blocked account is the borrowing
- It is money held and released monthly, not money spent.
- It is required before the visa, so it sits early in the timeline.
- A tuition-free course does not remove it.
- Several lenders fund it — confirm explicitly, as with Canada's GIC.
For many German plans the loan is smaller than for the UK or US, which is worth knowing: a family that cannot fund a US master's may comfortably fund a German one.
What else to budget
- The semester contribution, which is modest but real.
- Health insurance, which is mandatory.
- Living costs in the city you will actually be in — Munich and Leipzig are not comparable.
- German language study, if your course or daily life needs it.
See /visa-guide/europe/financial-requirements for the current blocked-account position, and /scholarships/in-europe for funding that reduces it.
Lenders covering Germany
11 lenders from the twelve we list, with the rate each one publishes and how old it is on their own page.
For Germany — FAQs
2 questions
Often yes, for the blocked account and living costs. The tuition saving does not remove the cash requirement for the visa.
Several lenders will. Ask explicitly when applying.
Not sure which lender fits? A counsellor compares what you would actually be offered across all twelve — free, and with no application.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 1 October 2026.