Illustration of Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holstein

Between two seas: Baltic and North Sea, Lübeck and Flensburg

Germany's northernmost state sits between the Baltic and North Seas. Lübeck, home of marzipan and the Holstentor gate, is a UNESCO Hanseatic town an hour from Hamburg. Flensburg is on the Danish border. The coast, wind energy and maritime companies shape the economy.

Host universities
2
Host cities
2
Capital
Kiel
Rent level
Moderate

2 host universities

Study in Schleswig-Holstein

Each guide has campus videos, the GJU entry conditions, local prices and housing links.

Watch

Schleswig-Holstein on video

Travel guides, city walks and campus tours for every host city in Schleswig-Holstein.

Calendar

Festivals & events worth your weekend

Most are free to enter. With your semester ticket, getting there on regional trains costs nothing.

Late June

Kieler Woche

Kiel

The world's largest sailing event, with nine days of festival.

July

Travemünder Woche

Lübeck

A sailing regatta and beach festival.

Late Nov – Dec

Lübeck Christmas markets

Lübeck

Several markets in the old town.

Every city

Christmas markets

From late November, every town square in Germany fills with stalls, lights and roasted almonds. Look for halal crêpes and children's punch (non-alcoholic).

Explore

Things to do

UNESCO

Lübeck old town & Holstentor

The Queen of the Hanseatic League.

Beach

Travemünde

A Baltic beach 20 min from Lübeck by train.

Island

Sylt

North Sea dunes and beaches. Your semester ticket covers the regional train.

Day trip

Denmark

Cross the border from Flensburg.

Prices

What things cost in Schleswig-Holstein

Rent changes most from city to city; everyday prices follow it a little. Pick a city to adjust the whole table.

*Estimate*Estimated cost. Prices are subject to change. Everyday prices are estimated ranges; fixed official fees are shown at their exact 2026 rate.

*Estimate*Estimated cost. Prices are subject to change. Everyday prices are estimated ranges; fixed official fees are shown at their exact 2026 rate.

Fees & paperwork
Semester fee€280–420 / semesterSet by each university and includes the €226.80 Deutschlandsemesterticket. Hochschule Schmalkalden: €331.80 for winter 2026/27.
Blocked account payout€992 / monthOfficial 2026 amount for study visas: €11,904 for 12 months. Providers charge a one-off fee.
Public health insurance€141.16 / monthTK student rate for 2026, under 23. From 23 without children: €146.29. Other public insurers differ by a few euros.
Visa (national D visa)€75 oncePaid at the German embassy in Amman.
Residence permit€100 onceFirst permit at the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). Extending it by more than 3 months costs €93.
Broadcast fee (Rundfunkbeitrag)€18.36 / monthPer flat, split among flatmates: €6.12 each with three.
Biometric photos€9.50–14.50 oncePhoto booth or drugstore (dm, Rossmann).
Housing extras
Deposit (Kaution)€300–1,500 onceDorms usually a few hundred euros; private flats up to 3 months of cold rent.
Home internet€9.50–28.50 / monthDorm LAN is sometimes extra, or split a WG contract.
Furniture & kitchen basics€50–190 onceKleinanzeigen, IKEA, leftovers from outgoing students.
Bedding & towels€40–75 onceIKEA, Primark, TK Maxx.
Household liability insurance€2.80–5.50 / monthHaftpflicht: cheap and strongly recommended.
Food & groceries
Groceries€145–220 / monthCooking at home, shopping at Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Penny and Kaufland.
Mensa main meal€2.40–4.50 / mealStudent price with your student card.
Bread rolls (Brötchen)€0.40–0.80 / pieceSupermarket rolls are cheaper than bakery ones.
Halal chicken (1 kg)€6.50–10.50 / kgTurkish or Arabic supermarkets.
Rice (1 kg)€1.40–2.80 / kgBasmati costs more.
Hummus / tahini jar€1.90–4 / jarArabic shops and big supermarkets.
Milk (1 L)€1–1.20 / litre
Eggs (10)€2.40–3.50 / pack
Eating out & drinks
Döner / falafel€6.50–8.50 / mealThe student staple.
Pizza in a restaurant€8.50–13.50 / meal
Restaurant main course€12.50–21 / meal
Shawarma plate€9.50–14.50 / mealArabic restaurants in bigger cities.
Coffee / cappuccino€2.40–4.50 / cupCheaper in the Mensa café.
Soft drink / juice in a café€2.80–4.50 / glass
Water bottle (supermarket)€0.30–0.80 / bottlePlus a small deposit you get back. Tap water is safe to drink.
Ice cream scoop€1.70–2.40 / scoop
Transport
Regional trains & buses, all Germany€0 extraThe Deutschlandsemesterticket is part of the semester fee at almost every host university: €226.80 a semester (€37.80 a month) from winter 2026/27.
Deutschlandticket (no semester ticket)€63 / monthOnly if your university has no semester ticket. Monthly subscription, cancel any month.
My BahnCard 25 (under 27)€39.90 / year25% off ICE and IC tickets, 2nd class. Cancel at least 6 weeks before the year ends, or it renews.
ICE / IC long-distance train€18–80 / tripBook early for Sparpreis tickets.
FlixBus to big cities€10–35 / trip
Used bike€75–190 onceKleinanzeigen or university bike markets. Buy a good lock.
E-scooter ride€2.80–5.50 / rideLime, Tier and Voi in bigger cities.
Taxi (5 km)€14.50–21 / ride
Flight to Amman (return)€220–480 / returnFrom Frankfurt, Berlin or Munich. Book 2–3 months ahead.
Services & phone
Prepaid SIM with data€8–15 / monthAldi Talk, Lidl Connect, Congstar, Fraenk.
Bank account€0–6 / monthOnline banks (N26, DKB, C24) are usually free.
Haircut€14.50–24 / cutBarbers are often cheaper.
Laundry (dorm machine)€1.40–2.80 / wash
Printing (per page)€0.05–0.10 / pageUniversity printers with your student card.
Doctor visit€0 / visitCovered by public health insurance. Bring your card.
Prescription medicine€5–10 / itemCo-payment set by law: 10% of the price, at least €5 and at most €10 per item.
Gyms & sport
University sports courses€0–30 / semesterFootball, volleyball, climbing, fitness: often free or almost free.
Budget gym (McFit, FitX, clever fit)€19–35 / monthCheck the contract length and sign-up fee.
Public swimming pool€2.80–5.50 / entryStudent discount with ID.
Climbing / bouldering hall€9.50–14.50 / entry
Football boots / sports gear€28.50–75 onceDecathlon is the budget choice.
Fun & activities
Cinema€7.50–12.50 / ticketCheaper on discount days (often Tue or Wed).
Museum€4–9.50 / entryStudent prices with ID; many museums are free on certain days.
Castle / palace visit€5–14.50 / entry
Bundesliga football ticket€14.50–45 / ticketStanding tickets are cheapest. Book early.
Escape room / bowling€11.50–24 / person
Student party entry€2.80–9.50 / entry
Christmas market snack€2.80–5.50 / itemRoasted almonds, crêpes, children's punch.
Weekend trip (hostel + food)€55–145 / tripTravel is free on regional trains with your ticket.
Clothes & seasonal
Winter jacket€55–145 onceYou will need it from November to March.
Winter boots€40–95 onceWaterproof. Snow and slush are common.
Rain jacket / umbrella€14.50–55 once
Toiletries & drugstore€24–40 / monthdm and Rossmann.

Housing

Dorms and trusted housing sites

Student dorms run by the Studierendenwerk are the cheapest option and include bills. Apply the day applications open.

Quick dorm search for each host city

Avoid scams. Never send a deposit before you have seen the room in person or on a live video call. A "landlord abroad" who will post you the keys is always a scam. More housing advice

Internship semester

Internships in Schleswig-Holstein

Employers in Schleswig-Holstein that take interns in engineering, business and computer science. Click a company to search its current openings.
Internship hub

Career fairs

Cultural survival map

Halal food, mosques & airports

Find halal butchers, Turkish and Arab supermarkets and mosques in each host city, plus the budget airports nearby.
Open in Google Maps

Nearest budget airports

  • HAMHamburg FlightsRyanaireasyJetEurowingsAbout 1 h from Lübeck
  • BLLBillund (Denmark) FlightsRyanairOption from Flensburg
  • CPHCopenhagen (Denmark) FlightsRyanaireasyJetNorwegianLarge hub, about 3–4 h by train

Your Deutschlandsemesterticket covers the regional trains to most of these airports. What the ticket covers

Daily life

Living in Schleswig-Holstein

Getting around

NAH.SH regional trains. Lübeck to Hamburg takes about 45 min.

Weather

Windy and maritime, with mild winters and cool summers.

Halal food & community

Lübeck and Kiel have mosques and Arab shops; for more, Hamburg is close.

Local food to try

Lübeck marzipan (Niederegger) · Fischbrötchen · Rote Grütze (berry pudding)

Tip from past students

Sylt, Amrum and the Baltic beaches are reachable on regional trains, so plan summer weekends.

Next region

Thuringia