University in Germany
Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
University profile
Bielefeld University (Universität Bielefeld) is a comprehensive research university in Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was founded in 1969 with an explicit research mandate and a commitment to research-oriented teaching, and it describes its guiding principle as Transcending Boundaries: crossing the lines between disciplines, between research and teaching, and between science and society. As a full university it covers the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, engineering and medicine, and it has about 24,000 students.
The university is organised in 14 faculties: Biology; Chemistry; Educational Science; History, Philosophy and Theology; Health Sciences; Linguistics and Literary Studies; Mathematics; Physics; Psychology and Sports Science; Law; Sociology; Business Administration and Economics (Wirtschaftswissenschaften); the Technical Faculty; and the Medical Faculty OWL. Bachelor programmes offer a wide choice of subject combinations and an individual complementary area (Ergänzungsbereich), and interdisciplinary Master programmes let students look beyond their own subject.
Teaching and research take place on one compact campus in Bielefeld, with the main building (Universitätshauptgebäude) dating from the 1970s and its central hall as the meeting point of the university. The campus is being extended: the Campus Süd, between the main building and the Teutoburg Forest, is under construction, with new buildings for the Medical Faculty OWL, and the main building is being refurbished in stages. The Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung (ZiF), founded in the spirit of Helmut Schelsky, is a distinctive place for interdisciplinary research.
Student life is supported by the Universitätsbibliothek, the university sport programme (Hochschulsport), a university choir and cultural events, Mensa catering and student societies. Studierendenwerk Bielefeld runs halls of residence with about 2,700 places, and the semester contribution includes a semester ticket valid across North Rhine-Westphalia. Advice is offered by the central student advisory service, psychological counselling and the Infopunkt International.
The university welcomes several hundred students and visiting scholars from around the world each year. Most courses are taught in German, but international Master programmes and 'International Track' programmes need no German; English-taught Master programmes include Data Science, Linguistics, Mathematics, Quantitative Economics, Sustainable Chemistry and World Studies. Double degree programmes and Erasmus+ exchange are available, and Bielefeld is a member of the NEOLAiA European university alliance of nine universities. Bielefeld is a state university of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The university charges no tuition fees. Students pay only the semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag), a social contribution due every semester. It is not tuition and includes a share for Studierendenwerk services and the semester ticket and NRW ticket valid across North Rhine-Westphalia. Applications through uni-assist carry a fee, and the TestAS test is also subject to a fee.
Each semester the university awards completion scholarships to international students working towards a Bachelor, Master or state examination, funded by the DAAD and partners such as the Association for the Promotion of International Students in Bielefeld and the Universitätsgesellschaft. Applicants must be in the final phase of study with the thesis registered and a supervisor commitment, show good academic performance and current financial need, and not hold German citizenship. The award is at least 250 euros per month for up to six months. Applications run 1 December to 15 January for the summer semester and 1 June to 15 July for the winter semester. A CV, enrolment certificate, transcript, signed work plan and supervisor reference are required. See the scholarship page.
Under the NRWege ins Studium programme the university awards scholarships of up to 1,000 euros per month for one semester at a time (extension possible) to students with a refugee background who have no BAföG entitlement and no other means of support. Applications run 15 July to 15 August for the winter semester and 15 January to 15 February for the summer semester. See the scholarship page.
The DAAD Prize (1,000 euros) and the ViSiB Prize (750 euros) are awarded annually to high-achieving, committed international students on nomination by teaching staff. See the prizes page.
The Studienfonds OWL offers the Deutschlandstipendium and social scholarships to students of the university (Studienfonds OWL). In financial emergencies the AStA social advice service gives social loans and semester contribution refunds, the ESG and KHG student congregations give small emergency grants to international students of any faith, and the International Office can award emergency aid from the ViSiB association. BAföG is available only to certain groups of international students. Student assistant jobs are advertised through the Career Centre. See costs and funding.
NRWege Scholarship for Students with a Refugee Background at Bielefeld University →
Browse the scholarships listed for Bielefeld University and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for Bielefeld University →Applicants with a foreign school-leaving qualification who want a Bachelor degree or the first state law examination first request a preliminary review documentation (Vorprüfungsdokumentation, VPD) from uni-assist, which checks whether the certificates are equivalent to German qualifications. The VPD can be requested all year and should be submitted at least eight weeks before the application deadline; it cannot be submitted later. After receiving it, the applicant applies online through the university's application and status portal and uploads the VPD with the school certificate, any previous study records (with sworn translations if not in German or English), proof of German language skills and, for school education in India, Vietnam or China, an APS certificate. Applicants with access to a Studienkolleg only (indirect entitlement) may apply with a TestAS result of at least 90 in both the core test and the subject module (50/50 in the digital TestAS); the DAAD online programme VORsprung prepares applicants for STEM Bachelor programmes. The Fachhochschulreife does not qualify for study at Bielefeld.
Most programmes have a numerus clausus (NC). Selection is mainly by the grade of the school-leaving certificate, and for applicants of other nationalities a separate procedure applies with 7% of places. EU/EEA and equivalent applicants also request a VPD and, for programmes in the dialogue-oriented procedure (DoSV), register with hochschulstart.de. Medicine is allocated through hochschulstart.de.
For the winter semester 2026/27 the application period for Bachelor programmes with NC is 1 June to 15 July 2026 and for programmes without NC 1 June to 15 November 2026. For the summer semester 2027 it is 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027 (NC) and 1 December 2026 to 15 May 2027 (no NC). Master programmes (except Data Science): 1 June to 15 July for the winter semester and 1 December to 15 January for the summer semester. Data Science (MSc) is open for the winter semester only (1 June to 15 July). Lottery procedure applications run 1 to 15 September and 1 to 15 March. Enrolment in programmes without NC is possible until 15 November (winter) and 15 May (summer); for NC programmes the date is in the admission letter. Semester dates 2026/27: 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, lectures 12 October 2026 to 5 February 2027.
Most courses are in German, so applicants with a foreign qualification must prove German: TestDaF (TDN 4 in all four parts, or a total of 16 with TDN 4 in the written part), DSH-2 or DSH-3, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule (at least 'befriedigend'), Goethe-Zertifikat C2 (Grosses Deutsches Sprachdiplom), DSD II of the KMK (C1 in the written part and one other part), ÖSD C2, or the Feststellungsprüfung at a Studienkolleg (German part). English-taught Master programmes and International Tracks need no German but require English at CEFR level B2 under the university's guidelines. British and American Studies (MA) requires English as a native language, an English-language previous degree obtained in Germany, TOEFL iBT 90 (computer-based 230) or IELTS 7.0.
Applicants with a recognised first degree apply online through the application and status portal within the deadline, uploading school certificate, degree certificate and transcript of records (with translations if not in German or English), language certificates and any further documents required by the subject-specific regulations. The responsible faculty checks subject-specific suitability, formal academic qualification and language skills; if all three are met, it issues an access decision. Programmes without NC need only this access decision for enrolment; restricted programmes also require an admission letter, and 7% of places are reserved for non-EU applicants. A transcript plus confirmation that all requirements for the degree have been met is accepted if the final certificate is not yet available, and the certificate must then be submitted promptly. Data Science (MSc) requires a VPD from uni-assist for first degrees obtained outside Germany. APS certificates are required in some cases for India, China and Vietnam.
Enrolment requires the application for matriculation, proof of university entrance qualification, proof of health insurance through the electronic M10 notification (sender number H0000644), a scan of the passport or ID card, language certificate where applicable, APS certificate where applicable and, for Master programmes, the Bachelor certificate or proof of completed studies. Health insurance proof is not required for doctoral enrolment.
Doctoral candidates are supported by the Graduate Centre of the Graduate and Academic Career Development Centre (GrACe) and, for international candidates, the Welcome Centre. The faculties set the doctoral regulations and supervision arrangements.
Main campus, Bielefeld (Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld): all faculties and central services are on the campus at the edge of the Teutoburg Forest.
Medical Faculty OWL has three clinical sites that together form the University Hospital OWL, with the teaching hospital Klinikum Bielefeld among them; the model study programme in Medicine combines campus teaching with these sites.
Study programmes offered at Bielefeld University.
Experiences shared by students of Bielefeld University.
Studied here? Share your experience to help other applicants.
Book a free consultation with our expert counsellors and take the first step towards your dream university.
Copyrights © 2026 StudyMapped. All rights reserved.
Enter your credentials to continue.
Join us and start your study abroad journey.
