The Düsseldorf table, which actually deals with maintenance claims for separated children, provides a good indication of what a degree can cost.
She considers 860 euros a month for a reasonable maintenance requirement for a student.
That would be 10,320 euros per year, and if the youngsters follow the six semesters of bachelor's degree with four more semesters of master's, this results in a claim of 51,600 euros for five years.
Daniel Mohr
Editor in the economy of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.
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The bill assumes that the child lives outside of the parental home during the course of study. 375 euros are calculated for a monthly warm rent. This is the biggest cost factor in studying. So if you want to estimate what education costs your own children produce, you should talk to them about their residential intentions. The parents cannot force anything. According to Section 1610 of the German Civil Code (BGB), you are obliged to finance your child's initial education, and the child is free to choose where they live and where they specialize.
Obliging the child to work is not allowed, as this could endanger the success of the studies. But the youngsters are encouraged to try to get student loans. It does not take long to test in a computer whether there is a claim. Relevant are personal income and assets, parents' income, and care for siblings. Student loans and scholarships can help. Ideally, prior to studying, it is mutually agreed what parents are able to pay and what the child may be able to contribute.
Depending on the choice of study location, rental costs can be much higher.
360 euros is the average in Germany, rooms in shared flats and student dormitories are cheaper.
Groceries, cars and cell phones are also making an impact.
After all, there are no tuition fees in Germany.
Only those who like it really expensive send their child to a private university.
Do you have any questions about money? Please contact Daniel Mohr at fragdenmohr@faz.de