The Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm, the Ohm, is a university with strong regional roots that understands its role in a globally networked living, economic, and research community. The Ohm is developing courses and modules, but also new degree programmes, that are offered in English to be able to welcome more people from around the world.

Tuition fees allow us to ensure a better learning environment for students from abroad - primarily by developing language courses, various programmes and courses that are taught in English, and counseling and support services. Our goal is to offer the best environment we can for all students at the Ohm so they can study successfully and graduate.

Students from third countries pay tuition (countries that are not EU members) to support their access to and to participation in the German education system. Students who are from Germany and other EU countries contribute to the education system’s financing through national and international mechanisms and agreements

The Ohm charges tuition based on the “Satzung zur Erhebung von Gebühren und Entgelten an der Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (OhmGebEntS)” [the Ohm’s Regulations on the collection of fees and charges] and the “Gebühren-, Auslagen- und Entgeltverzeichnis der Technischen Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (OhmGEVz)” [the Ohm’s Schedule of fees, expenses, and charges]. The current versions of the respective documents are available on our website (in German).

Students who are citizens of countries not in the EU or the EEA, who enrol in one of the following three programmes in or after winter semester 2024/2025:

• B-IBT: International Business and Technology (B.Eng.)
• B-MEC: Mechanical Engineering (B.Eng.), international
• M-DDF: Design for Digital Futures (M.A.)

The following groups of people do not have to pay tuition:

Group 1: Students already enrolled at the Ohm prior to WiSe 2024/25 and students who have a German university entrance qualification

• All students, who enrolled at the Ohm before winter semester 2024/25 They can complete the programme they are currently enrolled in without paying tuition fees.
• Students who have a German university entrance qualification or who have completed a university degree programme with a standard duration of at least 6 semesters at a German university. The final examination at a “Studienkolleg” does not count as a German university entrance qualification.
• Students in programmes that are concluded with a state examination or students in first-of-their-type module programmes or additional or part-time programmes.

Group 2: Students with disabilities that have negative consequences for their studies

Group 3: Students in specific exchange programmes or programmes based on cooperation agreements at the Ohm

Exemptions from tuition fees may be possible, if a programme is based on regulations that permit it.

Group 4: Students with citizenship of the following countries or regions

• Germany
• All member states of the EEA (= EU member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway)
• All countries with corresponding agreements

Group 5: Persons with an established domestic connection (regardless of their citizenship)

An established domestic connection means long-term residency, i.e.,

• students who have lived in Germany for at least 5 years before enrolling and were regularly employed in Germany or
• at least one parent of the student was in Germany for at least 3 years during the last 6 years and was regularly employed in Germany.

Group 6: Students entitled to asylum and recognised refugees under the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention

Asylum applicants are not automatically exempt from tuition fees based on this status.

Please note: other regulations apply to continuing education programmes. More information is available on the respective website for the continuing education programme.

Due to further regulations, agreements, or intergovernmental agreements, the following special regulations apply to students who are citizens of Switzerland, Turkey, or the United Kingdom.

These provisions always apply in addition to the other reasons for exemptions and waivers.

Students from Switzerland

Students with Swiss citizenship are generally required to pay tuition.

An exemption may be possible, if they have a “sonstige Aufenthaltsrecht”. For example, if they are regularly employed or self-employed in Germany. The exemption may also apply in individual cases for family members.

Students from Turkey

Students with Turkish citizenship are generally required to pay tuition.

An exemption may be possible, if they can document an established domestic connection:

• At least one parent is residing in Germany at the time the student applies for admission and
• the parent residing in Germany is or has been continuously and lawfully employed in Germany for at least one year or in the past for at least one year and
• the applicant is residing (main or secondary residence) with the parent who meets the above criteria at the time the student applies for admission.

Otherwise, the three degree programmes at the Ohm listed above are subject to tuition fees for people with Turkish citizenship.

Students from the United Kingdom

Students with UK citizenship are generally required to pay tuition.

Students with citizenship from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are exempt from the tuition fees for international students, if they were already resident in Germany before 31 December 2020 (“Brexit”). Under certain circumstances, this may also apply for other family members.

Otherwise, the three degree programmes at the Ohm listed above are subject to tuition fees for people with UK citizenship.

Ukrainian students are generally required to pay tuition.

However, if they can document that they were resident in Ukraine on 24 February 2022 or later and declare that they left the country due to the war, they can submit a hardship petition. The university will review each case individually to determine if tuition can be deferred, reduced, or waived (see Consideration of special circumstances or hardships (hardship petition)).

During a leave of absence pursuant to § 24, 25 of the “Satzung über das Verfahren der Hochschulzulassung, Immatrikulation, Rückmeldung, Beurlaubung und der Exmatrikulation an der Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (HZIS)” (the regulations covering admission, enrolment, semester registration, leaves of absence, and removal from the student register at the Ohm), students do not have to pay tuition during their leave. The current version of the regulation is available on our website (in German).

Tuition is 500.00 euros per semester for the following degree programmes:

• B-IBT: International Business and Technology (B.Eng.)
• B-MEC: Mechanical Engineering (B.Eng.), international
• M-DDF: Design for Digital Futures (M.A.)

Please note that each semester, in addition to tuition, there is also a “Studierendenwerkbeitrag” (Student Services fee) that must be paid. The “Studierendenwerkbeitrag” amount is defined each semester. More information is available on the website linked above.

Students in all other programmes that are not subject to tuition, must pay the “Studierendenwerkbeitrag” (Student Services fee) each semester. The “Studierendenwerkbeitrag” amount is defined each semester. More information is available on the website linked above.

Tuition will be charged for international students who enrol in or after winter semester 2024/25 into the following degree programmes at the Ohm:

• B-IBT: International Business and Technology (B.Eng.)
• B-MEC: Mechanical Engineering (B.Eng.), international
• M-DDF: Design for Digital Futures (M.A.)

All students enrolled prior to winter semester 2024/25 in a regular degree programme at the Ohm will be able to continue their studies in that programme according to the conditions under which they were admitted (not subject to tuition).

Students in all other regular degree programmes at the Ohm are not required to pay tuition.

Tuition fees enable us to further improve the student experience and general conditions for international students in the areas of curriculum and student services.

Besides developing academic programmes, we are focused on extending and improving counseling and support for students before enrolment, during their time as a student at the Ohm, and during the transition after graduation.

The Ohm student body is involved closely through student representatives in the decision-taking about how tuition income is used. This ensures the funds are used pursuant to the defined goals.

More information about financial aid is available on our website under Student funding information.

The Ohm is and aims to be an international and diverse environment. So it is important to us that we implement tuition in a socially responsible way. Therefore the regulations governing tuition include provisions that allow us to consider individual cases thoroughly. Students have the opportunity to present possible reasons that could justify a tuition reduction or waiver on an individual case basis.

Consideration of special circumstances and hardship (“Härtefälleantrag”)

Implementing tuition in a socially acceptable way always requires appropriate consideration of each individual case to avoid undue hardship. Therefore, individuals who must pay tuition can always present possible reasons that they believe can be considered hardships that justify a tuition reduction or waiver. The university will review each petition individually and decide based on the information provided what accommodations can be offered, for example, to defer, reduce, or waive tuition.

The Ohm reviews such exceptions only upon request. The person submitting the petition must present all circumstances that they consider reasons that could justify an exception to the tuition requirement independently. Any supporting materials or documents must be submitted together with the hardship petition. The Ohm may request originals or official copies for their review.