Germany
Study in Essen: universities, programmes and fees
Essen has 3 universities and colleges in our catalogue with 47 undergraduate programmes in 22 fields of study. At public institutions an EU student typically pays no tuition fee, a non-EU student no tuition fee.
- Universities
- 3
- Programmes
- 47
- EU fee / year
- Free
- Non-EU fee / year
- Free
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.
Universities in Essen
| University | Type | Programmes | EU fee / year | Non-EU fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universität Duisburg-Essen | public | 42 | €0 | €0 |
| Hochschule der bildenden Künste (HBK) Essen | private | 3 | — | — |
| Folkwang Universität der Künste | public | 2 | €0 | €0 |
What you can study in Essen
- Business Administration 8
- Languages and Literature 5
- Mathematics 4
- Design 3
- Biomedical Engineering 2
- Biology 2
- Primary Education Teaching 2
- Chemistry 2
- Computer Science 2
- Sociology 2
- Journalism 2
- Philosophy 2
- Music and Musicology 2
- Civil Engineering 1
- Mechanical Engineering 1
- Biotechnology 1
- Psychology 1
- Economics 1
- Pedagogy 1
- English Studies 1
- History 1
- Art History 1
Student residences
Prices published by the universities or the public student housing service.
| Residence | University | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Wohnheime des Studierendenwerks Essen-Duisburg | Universität Duisburg-Essen | 272–696 EUR / month |
| Wohnheime des Studierendenwerks Essen-Duisburg | Folkwang Universität der Künste | 272–696 EUR / month |
How admission works in Germany
Some programmes have open admission; others have fewer places than applicants (numerus clausus), where the school-leaving grade (1.0 is best, 4.0 worst) and waiting time decide. Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy are allocated through hochschulstart.de. Foreign school certificates are checked (often via uni-assist); if the certificate gives no direct access, a year at a Studienkolleg and the Feststellungsprüfung exam are required. German-taught programmes require German at DSH-2 / TestDaF 4 level. More in the guide Study in Germany.
Sources
- DAAD — Finances: tuition fees at higher education institutions in Germany, checked 4 October 2026
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Studiensuche (Studienangebote, grundständig, Vollzeit), checked 4 October 2026
How the figures are collected and calculated: Data and sources.