# Universität Potsdam

> public · Potsdam · germany

## Facts

- **Tuition, non-EU:** €0 — verified 2026-07-27
- **Semester contribution:** €500 — verified 2026-07-27
- **IELTS minimum:** 6 — verified 2026-07-27
- **Financial proof for a student residence permit:** €11,904 per year (2026, DAAD / Study in Germany — proof of financing (blocked account, 992 EUR/month for 12 months): https://www.study-in-germany.com/en/plan-your-studies/requirements/proof-of-financing/)

**Intakes and deadlines**

| Intake | Deadline | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WiSe (restricted master) | Jun 1 | Via the central application service (uni-assist). Restricted consecutive master's (Cognitive Science, Cognitive Systems, Psychology, etc.). |
| WiSe (DSH exam) | May 31 | Via the central application service (uni-assist). Language test application. |
| SoSe (restricted master) | Dec 1 | Via the central application service (uni-assist). |
| SoSe (free-admission master) | Feb 15 | Via the central application service (uni-assist). |
| Winter semester — unrestricted (free-admission) Master's programmes, via the central application service (uni-assist) | 15 August | Confirmed, matches stored row. Source: https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/studium/application-enrollment/application-master |

Deadlines verified 2026-07-27.

## Profile

- **Country:** germany (DE)
- **City:** Potsdam
- **Region:** Brandenburg
- **Type:** public
- **Fields:** natural-sciences, humanities, law, economics, social-sciences, education, international-relations, political-science
- **Study routes:** studienkolleg, direct-master, language-prep
- **Website:** https://www.uni-potsdam.de
- **Address:** Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469 Potsdam
- **Data verified:** 2026-07-27

## About

Potsdam is just outside Berlin, a town with palaces and parks but far cheaper than the capital itself. Students get city life and cultural access without the high rents that make Berlin brutal on a budget.

## Strengths

- Tuition is €0 for non-EU students; the only compulsory payment is a semester contribution of ≈€500 per year, which funds administration and student services rather than teaching.
- As a public research university in Brandenburg, it offers a full academic spectrum: natural sciences, humanities, law, economics, social sciences, and education.
- An IELTS 6.0 requirement is accessible for most CIS applicants without years of additional preparation.
- A German university diploma is EU-recognised, opening graduate job markets across 27 member states.
- Germany grants 18 months post-study job-seeker visa rights, giving time to convert degree into employment.
- Potsdam sits minutes from Berlin, giving students access to one of Europe's largest job and internship markets while living in a smaller, lower-cost city.

## Watch out for

- Most bachelor programmes are taught in German; without C1-level German, your programme choices will be severely limited.
- Non-EU school leavers without a recognised university entrance qualification typically must complete a preparatory year (Studienkolleg) before admission.
- Germany requires proof of funds via a blocked account (Sperrkonto) of approximately €11,904 for a visa — a significant upfront cash requirement.
- Potsdam is a smaller city; despite proximity to Berlin, on-campus internship and networking opportunities are more limited than in a major metropolitan university.
- Student housing in the Berlin-Potsdam area is competitive and expensive relative to other German regions, increasing overall living costs beyond tuition.

## Scholarships

- **National schemes:** DAAD, Deutschlandstipendium
- **Note:** DAAD: Master's/PhD, merit-based (RU/BY de-facto restricted post-2022). Deutschlandstipendium: €300/mo, all nationalities, merit + social commitment. Apply via university portal (Apr–Jun).
- **Researched:** 2026-05

## Accommodation

- **University dormitory:** yes
- **Dormitory cost:** €240–340
- **Private housing:** €500–650
- **Rent figures describe:** the city of Potsdam
- **Notes:** Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg. Demand significantly exceeds supply — university explicitly warns of shortage. Apply before admission letter arrives. New 308-place hall under construction (northern Potsdam). Avoid rental scams (university warning). Private furnished rooms from €550.

## National and EU scholarships for this destination

- [DAAD Scholarships](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/daad.md) — Monthly stipend + travel & insurance (varies by programme)
- [Erasmus+](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/erasmus-plus.md) — Monthly mobility grant set by the home institution + possible top-ups
- [Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/erasmus-mundus.md) — Full scholarship: tuition + travel, visa & a monthly living allowance (set per programme)
- [Deutschlandstipendium](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/deutschlandstipendium.md) — €300/month (€150 federal + €150 private donor), for at least 2 semesters — 2026

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Canonical page: https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-potsdam
Source of this file: https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-potsdam.md

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Where no date is shown, none is claimed — the figure is real, its check date is not on record.