Goethe University Frankfurt

Bachelor admission (international applicants)

A school-leaving certificate equivalent to the German Abitur is required. Applicants can check their certificate in the anabin database and the DAAD admission database. Applicants whose qualification gives only indirect access must take the assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung) after preparation at the Preparatory School (Studienkolleg) of the International Study Center (ISZ), which runs over two semesters. Applying to the Studienkolleg requires TestAS (MIN module, in German) and at least German level B1 (CEFR).

Application route and deadlines

Applications with a foreign school diploma generally go through uni-assist; applicants with a German Abitur or a diploma from a German school abroad, or with a recognition notice from a certificate recognition office in Germany, apply directly to the university. Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy applicants treated as equivalent to Germans apply via hochschulstart.de. Some programmes also require registration with Hochschulstart (DoSV) first. Winter semester: programmes with admission restrictions 1 June to 15 July; programmes without restrictions 1 June to 30 September. Summer semester: restricted programmes 1 December to 15 January; unrestricted programmes 1 December to 28/29 February. Preparatory School deadlines are 1 May (winter) and 1 November (summer); DSH course deadlines are 1 June and 1 December. Documents needed include the certificate with subjects and grades and a sworn translation into German or English, proof of German, a passport copy and, for applicants from India, Vietnam and the People's Republic of China, an original APS certificate. Certified copies are required for enrolment, and proof of health insurance is needed to enrol.

German-language requirements

Undergraduate programmes require DSH-2 at the time of application (Medicine and Dentistry DSH-3), which generally also applies to German-taught Master's programmes. Accepted proof for DSH-2 includes TestDaF with TDN 4 in all parts, Goethe-Zertifikat C2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule (satisfactory or better), DSD II, and the Studienkolleg assessment test. DSH-3 equivalents include TestDaF TDN 5 in all parts and Goethe-Zertifikat C2 with at least 'good'. The DSH preparation course and the Preparatory School require at least B1. The DSH examination fee is EUR 115 for ISZ course participants and EUR 160 for other candidates.

Master's admission

Applicants need a relevant first degree, as a rule a Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credit points, with programme-specific requirements set out in the examination regulations. Many programmes also ask for a letter of motivation, subject-specific coursework, proof of aptitude or foreign-language proof. Applicants still studying may apply with at least 80% of the required credit points and a transcript of records, and receive conditional admission; the degree certificate must follow by 31 March or 30 September at the end of the first semester. German-taught Master's programmes usually require DSH-2 or equivalent (for example TestDaF 4x4) at application; English-taught programmes require no German, with English requirements set by each programme. Most Master's applications go through uni-assist (fee EUR 75 for the first programme and EUR 30 for each further programme for applicants with a foreign degree); some go directly to the department. Applicants from India, Vietnam and the People's Republic of China must submit an APS certificate. Admission decisions for restricted programmes usually follow four to eight weeks after the closing date.

Doctoral admission

Doctoral studies require a completed master's degree, Diplom, Magister or State Examination; special rules apply to Bachelor's holders under the doctoral regulations. Candidates first find a supervisor or join a structured programme (information through GRADE), are accepted by the faculty's doctoral committee, and may then enrol as doctoral students via Goethe-Campus; enrolment is not compulsory. Recommended enrolment dates are 30 April and 31 October. German-working-language candidates need DSH-2 at enrolment; a dissertation in another language can be approved by the faculty. Medicine doctoral candidates follow a decentralised process through Faculty 16.

• Westend Campus (Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main): Faculties 01 to 10 and Geosciences (11): Law, Economics and Business, Social Sciences, Educational Sciences, Psychology and Sport Sciences, both Theologies, Philosophy and History, Linguistics, Cultures and Arts, and Modern Languages. Facilities include the Executive Board and administration, the Library of Law and Economics, the PEG Building, House of Finance, Research Center Normative Orders, Seminar Pavilion, Seminar House, House of Silence, a daycare centre, the AStA Campus Office and the Norbert Wollheim Memorial. Dining: Casino, DASEIN, Hoagascht, Summer Garden and several cafes.
• Riedberg Campus (Max-von-Laue-Strasse, 60438 Frankfurt am Main): Physics, Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Biological Sciences and Geosciences (German-language programmes). Facilities include the Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Frankfurt Biotechnology Innovation Center, Giersch Science Center, Otto Stern Center, the Max Planck Institutes of Biophysics and for Brain Research, and the Science Garden. The Natural Sciences Library also holds the Computer Science Library since March 2026. Dining: Mensa Pi x Gaumen, Cafeteria LEVEL, Cafeteria Darwins.
• Niederrad Campus, Frankfurt am Main: the Faculty of Medicine and the University Hospital, with a hospital cafeteria and coffee bar.
• Bockenheim Campus, Frankfurt am Main: the historic campus with the J.C. Senckenberg University Library, the Institute for Computer Science and Goethe Center for Scientific Computing, the Institute for Social Research, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, the Student House (AStA), the International Study Center (ISZ) for German preparation courses, a daycare centre, a student residence and the Cafeteria Bockenheim.
• Ginnheim Campus (Ginnheimer Landstrasse 39, Frankfurt am Main): Exercise and Training Sciences, Social Sciences of Sport, Sports Medicine and Sport Pedagogy, with the University Sports Centre and Cafe HOCHFORM; a new Uni Gym opened for summer semester 2026.

The Science Garden on Riedberg Campus is open to visitors Monday to Friday 9:00 to 15:00 and on Saturdays April to October 11:00 to 17:00.