The comprehensive fee is 15,000 Euros for one academic year (subject to change every year). The fee covers the following items:

• Tuition
• Housing (all students can stay on campus between terms during the academic year, BA students all year round)
• Board (during academic terms for all students)
• Health insurance for all students who do not yet have German/EU-wide insurance coverage
• Use of course materials during the academic year
• Study-trips (including entrance fees to sites and museums)
• A choice of transportation tickets at a reduced fare
• Access to a sports and fitness centre
• Computer and internet access
• Orientation activities
• Student support services
• Official transcripts
• ECLA trips during the academic year 
• Berlin public library (Staatsbibliothek) passes for PY and fourth year BA students

The comprehensive fee does NOT cover:

• Liability Insurance

  We recommend you to make sure that you have a valid liability insurance in Germany (Haftpflichtversicherung, app. 80 Euros/year).

• Visa fees
  All students from non-EU countries except for the countries listed below need a student visa in order to study in Germany and establish a place of residence in Berlin. Please inquire with the German consulate responsible for your area about the cost of the visa. This fee is not covered by the ECLA comprehensive fee. Students from the following countries do not require a visa to study in Germany: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Andorra, Australia, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea and USA.

• Residence Permit
  Depending on your citizenship, you will need a permit to establish a place of residence in Berlin. This permit typically costs between 50 and 60 Euros and is not covered by the comprehensive fee.

• Security Deposit
  ECLA requires a 50 Euro security deposit for keys, electronic chips, books and other items issued to students at the start of the academic year. This deposit is returned to the student, if and when all borrowed items have been returned in appropriate condition. Should an item be lost, damaged or destroyed, the student is responsible for covering the full cost, including any cost in excess of the 50 Euros of the security deposit.

• Bike Deposit (Optional)
  If you are planning to use one of 19 ECLA bikes, please be prepared to bring an additional 50 Euro security deposit.

• Personal expenses (e.g. phone charges, personal care items, entertainment)
  Expenses in this category range widely depending on the individual student lifestyle. Students should budget for at least 10 Euros per week. With 30 term weeks in an academic year, the minimal annual cost thus amounts to 300 Euros. This budget will support a modest student lifestyle and may be covered or increased through part-time jobs on campus. Some examples of prices for expenses in this category are:

• Transportation to/from Berlin
  This expense depends not only on the place of residence, but also on good information and a timely booking. Flight rates on www.easyjet.com, www.germanwings.de, www.gexx.de, www.airberlin.de, www.flydba.com, www.tuifly.com/en/index.html  can often compete with train or bus rates. It is advisable to reserve early, especially for the trips around Christmas and Easter (Winter- and Spring Breaks at ECLA).

• Expenses for on-campus stays between terms
  Stays on campus during the winter and spring breaks (approximately three weeks each) are permitted. The BA students can stay on campus during the summer break as well. The cafeteria will be closed and no meals will be served during the breaks. ECLA does not charge an extra living fee for the students who stay on campus, but the cost of food and other items will typically amount to no less than 40 Euros per week. Some examples of prices are:

Payment of Comprehensive Fee

Late Payment

Refund Policy

All financial aid at ECLA is need-based. The awards vary widely and aim to cover the full amount of demonstrated need toward the ECLA comprehensive fee.

Financial aid is awarded to students for one year as their financial needs may change from year to year. Therefore, students enrolled in the BA programme must reapply every year to receive financial aid. To reapply, returning students must complete and submit the Financial Aid Renewal Application with the supporting documentation to the Financial Aid Officer by Friday of week 5 in the spring term. Failure to meet this deadline may result in cancellation of your financial aid.

Students may ask for a re-evaluation of their current financial aid package if a drastic unexpected change in their financial situation occurs. A request form supported by relevant documentation needs to be submitted to the Financial Aid Office. The financial aid will be reviewed and the student will be informed about the decision. Forms can be obtained from the Financial Aid Officer.

Each year ECLA offers a limited number of merit scholarships not dependent on financial need to BA students with exceptionally promising applications. This Endeavor Scholarship, named after the Endeavor Foundation in New York, covers the full comprehensive fee for one academic year. The comprehensive fee covers tuition, accommodation in student housing, all meals during the academic terms, books on loan, and medical insurance. In addition, Endeavour Scholars receive a free copy of all major core course books used in the relevant year.

The Endeavor Scholarship is renewable on an annual basis and may, on the basis of excellent academic performance, be awarded for up to four consecutive years, i.e. for the duration of the BA programme.

Students cannot apply for this scholarship. Every student applying to or already in the BA programme is automatically considered.

ECLA students, who have been invited to give a conference paper outside Berlin, or Germany, may apply for conference support to cover the relevant expenses (travelling, accommodation and conference fees). ECLA will be able to support up to 3 students each term with up to 200 Euros. Support will be granted according to the following criteria:

• The conference paper must have been selected in a serious review process.
• The student must apply for funding from the conference organizers themselves, if such funding is available.
• Only students in good academic standing will be considered.
• Participation in the conference should not undermine the student's studies at ECLA.

A student can only receive conference support once a year. Those interested should download and fill out the application form on the ECLA website and submit it with the supporting documentation to the Financial Aid Officer.

ECLA offers student employment as part of its commitment to building a community on campus. Student employment is a valuable means of gaining practical experience and earning a supplementary income.

Although ECLA strives to offer student jobs wherever possible, students should be aware that ECLA may not be in a position to offer enough jobs to meet the full interest of students. There is therefore no guarantee of student employment at ECLA.

Student employment tasks are not meant to compete or to interfere with creative student participation in ECLA life. Student projects and activities such as the yearbook or literary magazine, films or music, enrich the life of the entire community.

While ECLA's financial aid programme is designed in such a way as to avoid student reliance on employment as a necessity for tuition or room and board expenses, a student's spending money may depend, to a considerable extent, on part-time earnings through student jobs. 

Student employment may not exceed 6 hours per week during the academic term. This limit applies both to on-campus and off-campus jobs. Exceptions require approval from the student's academic supervisor and the Financial Aid Office. Students may work longer hours when classes are not in session, provided that the student's employment supervisor can offer such additional hours.

All student jobs are on-campus jobs and are paid at the rate of 7 Euros per hour for a maximum of 6 hours per week.

Apply for a Student Job

Supervision

Time Sheets and Payment