# Universität zu Köln (University of Cologne)

> public · Cologne · germany

## Facts

- **Tuition, non-EU:** €0 — verified 2026-06-02
- **IELTS minimum:** 6.5 — verified 2026-06-02
- **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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SoSe | Jan 15 | Via the central application service (uni-assist) (date of receipt). |
| Winter semester — Bachelor, 1st semester, local restricted admission (NC) | 15 July | Confirmed; matches stored row for the Bachelor level. Source: https://studsek.uni-koeln.de/bewerbung/alle_termine_im_ueberblick/index_ger.html |
| Winter semester — Bachelor, unrestricted (zulassungsfrei) enrolment | 30 September | Not in stored data; added for completeness. Source: https://studsek.uni-koeln.de/bewerbung/alle_termine_im_ueberblick/index_ger.html |

Deadlines verified 2026-06-02.

## Profile

- **Country:** germany (DE)
- **City:** Cologne
- **Region:** Nordrhein-Westfalen
- **Type:** public
- **Fields:** business, economics, social-sciences, it, law, medicine, humanities, stem
- **Study routes:** studienkolleg, direct-master, language-prep
- **Website:** https://www.uni-koeln.de/en/
- **Address:** Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923 Köln, Germany
- **Data verified:** 2026-06-02

## About

Cologne is a major city with 50,000 students—large, vibrant, with a real cultural scene and nightlife. The cost of living is high for Germany, so budget carefully. But the diversity and employer presence in the city compensate with internship and job opportunities.

## Strengths

- As a public university in NRW, Cologne charges no tuition for international students, unlike private German peers.
- IELTS 6.5 minimum is accessible for most CIS applicants with standard B2-level English preparation.
- The university covers business, economics, law, medicine, humanities, IT, and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) — broad field fit for diverse academic goals.
- Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city with a strong media, finance, and tech economy, supporting internship access.
- A German degree carries EU recognition, and graduates are eligible for an 18-month job-seeker visa across the entire Schengen zone.
- Students may work 120 full or 240 half days per year, enabling part-time income to offset living costs.

## Watch out for

- Most bachelor programmes are taught in German — CIS applicants without C1 German must plan 1-2 years of language preparation.
- Non-EU school leavers typically need to complete a preparatory year (Studienkolleg) or equivalent before direct bachelor admission in Germany.
- Germany requires proof of funds via a blocked account (Sperrkonto) of approximately €11,904 before a student visa is issued.
- Cologne is a major city with a known student-housing shortage — securing affordable accommodation can take months and requires early action.
- Admission to high-demand faculties such as medicine and law is highly competitive, with a cap on the number of places (numerus clausus) limiting available places.

## 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:** €320–450
- **Private housing:** €580–670
- **Rent figures describe:** the city of Köln
- **Notes:** KSTW (Kölnisches Studierendenwerk). 90+ residences, 5,000 places. Warm rent (all-inclusive). Very scarce — only ~1/3 of applicants receive a place. Apply 3–6 months before planned move-in.

## 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-zu-koeln
Source of this file: https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-zu-koeln.md

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