Rent, food, cell phone, Internet, free time, books and other things for college - studying costs money. It's not easy to keep track of these costs, especially when you've moved out of home and are on your own two feet for the first time.
On average, you need about 1.000 euros a month for your studies. Whether you get by with less or need more money depends on you, of course.
If you study, you have to pay a semester fee. If you exceed your standard period of study by more than 6 semesters, you have to pay long-term tuition fees at universities in Lower Saxony.
Here you can find information about the semester fee and the long-term tuition fees.
Anyone who studies must pay a semester contribution.
The Studentenwerk receives about a quarter of the semester fee. With this money, all students jointly and in solidarity make our social services possible - such as free social counseling, affordable rents in our student residences, inexpensive canteen food and much more. Fair: If you study at a location where we cannot provide all services, you pay less.
The AStA of the respective university is your political representation. AStAs advocate for students to the university administration and provide services. Included in most AStA fees: theater flat rate and bicycle bonus for inexpensive bicycle repairs.
The largest part of the semester fee is for the semester ticket. In return, you can use all streetcars and buses in Hannover for half a year - and almost all local trains in Lower Saxony and Bremen! You can find out more from your AStA.
The amount marked with "Verw." goes to the universities as a contribution to administrative costs.
If you exceed your standard period of study by more than 6 semesters, you have to pay long-term tuition fees at universities in Lower Saxony. This can be quite expensive at 500 euros per semester, especially since the fees must be paid in addition to the semester contribution.
However, there are ways to get additional time credited to your studies. For example, if you are raising children or caring for close relatives, or for university political commitment in the committees.
Do you have questions about the exemption from long-term tuition fees? Get in touch with our social counseling service.
Student life often also means standing on your own two feet for the first time, moving out of home and managing your own finances. This is often not so easy, and although there are many ways for students to save, there are also many ways to get into debt. To help you avoid falling into the debt trap, here are five common ones:
You can get the latest smartphone for free, but the rate for it costs money every month - and usually for 24 months. So be careful with your mobile phone contract. Prepaid rates are not the worst way to keep track of costs. By topping up the card, you have full cost control and no nasty surprises at the end of the month due to automatically added data volumes or similar.
Running out of money in your checking account at the end of the month, but no problem with the overdraft facility? Not a good thought! After all, overdraft facilities are expensive - they usually incur particularly high interest rates. And once you're in overdraft, where will the money come from to cover the loan again? It's best to only spend what you have. Of course, this also applies to shopping with a credit card!
Loans are debts and debts are rarely a good option - apart from exceptions like BAföG and student loans! Students should be especially wary of private lenders. The "loan sharks" often operate on the edge of legality and cause lasting damage to borrowers.
A car is convenient, but it comes with high costs (gas, insurance, taxes, repairs, etc.), which are not good for the usually tight student budget. And there are so many inexpensive alternatives - especially in a city like Hanover with super developed public transport (which is already completely paid for via the semester ticket ) and short distances that can be easily covered by bike.
You are already in the middle of the debt trap? Then get advice and seek help from a debt counselor! You can find them at www.meine-schulden.de. Our social counseling service also knows where to find help. We are there for you!
