What's New in the University of Cologne?
May 26, 2025:
Semester fees at University of Cologne has slightly increased to €335.65 (~ INR 32,503) for 2026/27 from €304.75 (~ INR 29,511) in 2025.
May 23, 2025: University of Cologne is now offering scholarships, educational funds, and student loans for their Part-time Executive MBA program. Apply by June 30, 2025, to secure a fee reduction of 2,000 EURO. Apply Now!
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest public research universities in Germany, established in 1388. In the latest THE Rankings 2025, Cologne is ranked #157 internationally and #14 in Germany. In QS World University Ranking 2025, Uni Cologne is ranked at #285 globally.
Being a public university, the University of Cologne fees for international students is zero. International students do not have to pay any tuition fees, except a semester fee of 304.75 EUR (29,622 INR) per semester. However, you need to pay around 986 EUR (95,839 INR) per month for the annual living expenses. To get into this university, you must provide 10+2 school qualification for undergraduate programs. For graduate courses, you need 81-90% in bachelor's degree from a recognized Indian institute. Additionally, you need to have German and English language proficiency scores, such as, TestDaF Level 4 or equivalent, IELTS 5.5-7.0 or equivalent.
See More: University of Cologne Reviews and Ratings
University of Cologne Courses and Fees
The University of Cologne offers 369 courses through its 6 faculties: i) Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, ii) Faculty of Law, iii) Faculty of Medicine, iv) Faculty of Arts and Humanities, v) Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and vi) Faculty of Human Sciences. MS in International Management, Executive MBA, MS in Information Systems, and MS in Physics are among the flagship masters courses of this university.
Other popular University of Cologne masters courses are as follows.
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University of Cologne MBA
The University of Cologne offers the MBA degree as Master of Science in Business Administration. It is a full-time, 4 semester long postgraduate program, with Corporate Development, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain Management specializations in English. The Accounting & Taxation specialization is available in both German and English. University of Cologne MBA fees for international students is around 610 EUR (semester fees only).
Read More: University of Cologne MBA
University of Cologne Executive MBA
University of Cologne Germany also offers a part-time Executive MBA of 18 months. The program is taught in English and the tuition fee is 44,500 EUR (apply by April 30, 2025, and get a discount of 3,000 EUR).
Know More: EMBA from the University of Cologne
University of Cologne Admissions 2025
The University of Cologne acceptance rate for international students is around 20%, portraying a highly competitive admissions process. The university offers 2 intakes for international students: Winter and Summer semester intakes. The University of Cologne application deadline for international students are as follows:
| Intake Sessions | Application Opens | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Semester 2025 | Beginning of June | July 15, 2025 |
| Summer Semester 2026 | Beginning of January | January 15, 2026 |
| MBA | - | June 15, 2025 |
| Executive MBA | - | August 11, 2025 |
Must Read: Application Deadlines for German Universities in 2025
University of Cologne Admission Requirements for International Students
- Undergraduate Admissions for Technology and Natural Sciences Courses:
- University Entrance Qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung)
- 10+2 certificate with more than 50% marks
- Successful completion of Joint Entrance Examination (both parts, Main and Advanced)
- Apply Now: Klips 2.0
- University of Cologne Application Fee: Not required
Note: Refer to the official course page if you do not meet the above requirements.
- Postgraduate Admissions
- Request the VPD via the Uni-Assist online portal (processing time 4-6 weeks)
- School leaving certificate/proof of having passed a university entrance exam
- Degree certificate (if already available)
- Overview of subjects and grades (transcript of records)
- University grading system
- An officially certified translation if the original documents were not issued in German or English Language
- Applicants from India are required to also submit a current APS Certificate.
Note: While applying for VPD, select Hochschule Uni zu Köln - VPD as your university. Once you receive your VPD (Preliminary Review Documentation), you need to apply via the University of Cologne application portal- Klips 2.0.
Also Read: University of Cologne Admissions 2025
University of Cologne English Language Requirements
There are no English-taught undergraduate programs of study at the University of Cologne. Students must therefore demonstrate excellent German-language skills when they apply. For the postgraduate programs taught in English, the following minimum test scores are required:
- IELTS: 5.5 to 7.0
- TOEFL iBT: 72
The University of Cologne German language requirements are as follows.
- TestDaF TDN 4 in all examination parts
- DSH 2
- Deutsches Sprachdiplom, level II of the KMK (DSD II)
- Telc C1 Hochschule
- Telc C2
- Goethe-Insitut C1 certificate
- ÖSD C2
- Passed “German section” of the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP)
Must Read: Exams Required to Study in Germany
University of Cologne Cost of Attendance
The University of Cologne fees for Indian students is around 610 EUR per semester, only for the semester contributions; tuition fees are zero. Apart from this, they need to pay around 986 EUR for the monthly living expenses in Germany. Refer to the estimated breakdown below to know more.
| Particulars | Cost Per Month in EUR |
|---|---|
| Rent | 442 |
| Utilities | 200 |
| Clothes | 47 |
| Study Materials | 20 |
| Semester Fee | 53 |
| Health insurance, Medical fee | 120 |
| Phone and Internet | 33 |
| Leisure/Culture/Sports | 71 |
University of Cologne Scholarships for International Students
The University of Cologne has a scholarship program for both German and international students. These academic merit based awards are of 3 types, all paying 300 EUR (26,910 INR) per month. The 3 types of grants are:
- Deutschlandstipendium des Bundes
- Sozialstipendium der Universität zu Köln (social scholarship)
- Stipendium für Studierende mit Behinderung oder chronischer Erkrankung (scholarship for students with disability and chronic disease)
Many international students depend on a job/ a scholarship/ a loan to finance their studies in Cologne. The university can assist you in getting externally-funded scholarships in Germany. Search the DAAD Scholarships Database to know more.
Note: You can only avail partial scholarships in Cologne. Full-ride scholarships are awarded in exceptional cases. Scholarships are mostly awarded to advanced students pursuing Master and PhD programs. Freshmen students have relatively little chance of getting a scholarship.
University of Cologne Ranking 2025
University of Cologne QS ranking is #285 in the World University Ranking category. In the current THE World University Ranking 2025, the University of Cologne is ranked 157th internationally and 14th in Germany. More details on the University of Cologne ranking trends are as follows.
| Ranked By | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank | 2022 Rank | 2021 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QS | #285 | #268 | #335 | #311 | #282 |
| THE | #157 | #160 | #146 | #172 | #145 |
The University of Cologne offers a globally ranked education (#157 THE 2025, #285 QS 2025) at zero tuition cost, making it a top choice for Indian students seeking affordability and quality. With a 20% acceptance rate, admissions are competitive, especially for popular master’s programs like International Management, MBA, and Physics. While students pay a semester fee of 304.75 EUR and monthly living costs of ~986 EUR, partial scholarships (300 EUR/month) are available for advanced students. Strong academics (81–90% in bachelor’s), German (TestDaF Level 4) and English proficiency (IELTS 5.5–7.0), plus an APS certificate are key admission requirements. Currently, the university has 45,187 students, including 5,074 international students.
FAQs
Ques: Is University of Cologne prestigious?
Ans: Yes, the University of Cologne is one of Germany’s oldest and most prestigious public universities, ranked #157 globally by THE and #285 by QS in 2025. It consistently ranks among the top 15 universities in Germany, known for its research strength and international programs.
Ques: Is it hard to get into Cologne University?
Ans: Yes, admission to the University of Cologne is highly competitive with an acceptance rate of around 20% for international students. Indian applicants need strong academic scores (81–90% in bachelor’s), valid APS certificate, and language proficiency in both German and English to qualify.
Ques: Is Cologne a good place to study?
Ans: Absolutely. Cologne is a vibrant student city offering a mix of academic excellence, cultural diversity, and affordability. With zero tuition fees, reasonable living costs (~986 EUR/month), and ample part-time job opportunities, it’s a popular and practical choice for Indian and international students.
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University of Cologne Student Profiles
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University of Cologne Reviews
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1 Reviews Found
Overview
My university has one of the most renowned programs in anthropology and ethnography. It enrolls more than 5000 international students annually. It boasts of an intercultural environment that I found attractive. Enrolling in my particular programs is based on good references and above-average grades in your previous educational qualification. I did not pay any application fee and it was the only university I applied to in Germany. After enrolment, I was informed that I was selected on the basis that there was a project that was being started in the area studies program that I was well experienced in.
Fees
$270 per semester as a social fee. this fee includes public transport ticket for the whole semester. International students do not get loans under normal circumstances. I was awarded the DAAD scholarship for international students which is about $1080 including a family allowance. Selection is based on how relevant your studies are to what the scholarship wanted and it was also based on my academic grades.
University of Cologne Scholarships
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bharat Petroleum Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Google's Women Techmakers Program | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Bhajan Lal Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyDoctorate | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Heinrich Boll Scholarships | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyDoctorate | TypeCompany-Sponsored | |
| Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyDoctorate | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Deutschland Stipendium Program | Scholarship per student$300 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCollege-Specific |
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University of Cologne Admissions
Application Portal: https://my.uni-assist.de/
Attendance Cost
The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees
Faculty
| Total Faculty | Full Time | Part Time | Graduate Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5827 | - | - | - |
University of Cologne Campus Location
Nearby This Campus
- Hospital
- Airport
- Pharmacy
- Book Store
- Shopping Mall
- Train Station
Hospital
Pharmacy
Shopping Mall
Airport
Book Store
Train Station
● All distance are measured radially. Actual distance may vary
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