Studying in North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia has 74 universities in our catalogue, including HSRW, RWTH Aachen University, Uni-Bonn. Public universities charge international students no tuition fee — only the semester contribution. The Semesterbeitrag is €222–385 per semester. There are 9 Studienkollegs in the land.
What the land sets
The land sets the money: the tuition fee and the framework for semester contributions. Application deadlines, language requirements and admission rules are not up to the land — each university sets them, so check them on the programme page.
| Tuition fee for international students | not chargedpublic universities, including international students |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €222–385 per semesterall students; what it includes is set by the university |
| Studienkollegs | 2 state, 7 private: Paderborn, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Mettingen |
For comparison: Baden-Württemberg charges international students €1,500 per semester at public universities.
Tuition fee: public universities, international students; EU and EEA citizens pay like Germans. Source
Cities of the land
All 48 cities of North Rhine-Westphalia →The land's rules are the same in every city: tuition fee and Semesterbeitrag framework don't change. Cities differ in their universities and in everyday life.
Universities of the land
All 74 universities →
Studienkollegs of the land
A Studienkolleg prepares for the Feststellungsprüfung if your school certificate does not give direct access to a German university. Entrance exams and courses differ from college to college.
Questions about studying in North Rhine-Westphalia
Is studying in North Rhine-Westphalia free for international students?
Where can I study in North Rhine-Westphalia?
Does the land affect admission?
Are there Studienkollegs in North Rhine-Westphalia?
The land affects money, not admission
Admission rules are set by the university and the faculty. We'll look at your case as a whole: where you can get in, what to do about the language and where it is cheaper.