University in Germany
Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
University profile
Heidelberg University, also called Ruperto Carola, was founded in 1386 and is the oldest university in present-day Germany. It is a public corporation and a comprehensive research university whose subjects span the humanities, social sciences and law, natural and engineering sciences, and the life sciences including medicine. Its motto is Semper apertus. It has been funded as a University of Excellence under the Excellence Strategy since 2019, having been funded as such since 2007 under earlier funding rounds, and holds three Clusters of Excellence.
The university is based in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, with its historic core in the Altstadt (Old Town), the Bergheim area, and the large science campus Im Neuenheimer Feld. The Medical Faculty Mannheim works from Mannheim. In winter 2025/26 it had 32,178 students, of whom 6,633 (20.6%) were international, and it offered 196 degree programmes in summer 2026.
Faculties
Research is organised in four Fields of Focus (life sciences and medicine; natural and engineering sciences; humanities and cultural studies; social sciences and law) and two Flagship Initiatives, Engineering Molecular Systems and Transforming Cultural Heritage. Teaching is research-oriented, with students introduced to independent research early on.
Roughly one-fifth of students and one-third of doctoral candidates are foreign nationals. The International Relations Office supports degree-seeking, exchange, ERASMUS and short-term students, the Studienkolleg prepares applicants for the Feststellungsprüfung, and the Kolleg für deutsche Sprache und Kultur offers German-language preparation. The International Relations Office also runs an accommodation service for international students, and the Studierendenwerk Heidelberg operates student halls. The university is a member of the 4EU+ European University Alliance, the Coimbra Group, the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and the German U15, and is a member of Acquin for accreditation.
All students pay a semester fee of EUR 189.80 per semester (2026/27), made up of EUR 80.00 administrative fee, EUR 95.00 student-services contribution, EUR 10.00 student-body contribution, EUR 2.30 nextbike levy and EUR 2.50 theatre flat rate. This is the Semesterbeitrag and is not tuition.
Baden-Württemberg charges tuition of EUR 1,500 per semester to international students from non-EU/EEA countries with a foreign university entrance qualification (Bachelor's, Staatsexamen and consecutive Master's). Exemptions are set by law and up to 5% of international students can be exempted; the application deadline is 15 July for the winter semester and 15 January for the summer semester. Special fees apply for continuing-education and second-degree programmes.
Some faculties and institutes offer subject-specific foundation grants. For international students the university notes scholarships are limited and applications usually begin in the home country; the DAAD scholarship database is the starting point. Details: Scholarships for students and Study financing for international students.
For visa purposes the German Embassy minimum monthly cost of living is EUR 992 (summer semester 2026); proof of sufficient funds is required before entry.
Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship) at Heidelberg University →
Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarships (MINT) →
Robert and Christine Danziger Scholarship for African Doctoral Students →
Amirana Scholarship for Medical and Dental Students →
Browse the scholarships listed for Heidelberg University and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for Heidelberg University →A higher-education entrance qualification is required. Foreign qualifications are assessed using the evaluation framework of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). If a qualification is considered only partially comparable to the Abitur, applicants may take the Feststellungsprüfung after the preparatory course at the Studienkolleg of Heidelberg University, a two-semester subject-specific course. Studienkolleg applications are made through the heiCO portal (1 May to 30 June for winter semester, 1 November to 15 December for summer semester).
All applicants, whatever their nationality, apply online through the heiCO portal. Exceptions are the nationally restricted programmes (Human Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy) for Germans, EU/EEA citizens and nationals in education, and subjects in the DoSV procedure, which require registration at hochschulstart.de first. Some subjects have no admission restriction, some use a university-internal selection procedure, some an entrance examination, and some the DoSV. Deadlines vary by procedure and subject. For semester dates: winter semester 1 October to 31 March, summer semester 1 April to 30 September; winter 2026 lectures run 12 October 2026 to 6 February 2027. Heidelberg's Study Programme Finder shows the route for each subject.
All undergraduate programmes and all German-taught Master's programmes require very good German. The minimum is generally DSH-2, proven at enrolment (some programmes require it at application, and some such as Psychology, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Law require DSH-3). Accepted evidence includes DSH level 2, TestDaF with TDN 4 in all components, Goethe-Zertifikat C2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, ÖSD C2, the Deutsches Sprachdiplom Level 2 and the Feststellungsprüfung. German is not required for English-taught Master's programmes, which require very good English as set out in each programme's admission regulations. The DSH is held at the end of September and the end of March (fee EUR 100).
Applicants need a completed first university degree that qualifies for the chosen programme. All Master's programmes are access-restricted, with requirements such as above-average grades and a minimum number of credit points in the same or a related field, and some are also admission-restricted. Applications are made through heiCO, and requirements are set in the subject-specific admission regulations. Continuing-education Master's programmes generally require at least one year of professional experience.
Doctoral candidates must hold a university degree (usually a Master's or state examination) and be accepted by a faculty. Enrolment is possible all year via heiCO with a heiDOCS doctoral file, the faculty's confirmation of acceptance (no older than six months), degree certificate and university entrance qualification. Enrolment is mandatory until the oral doctoral examination.
The Service Portal for students at Seminarstraße 2 hosts the accommodation service for international students. Heidelberg can be reached from Frankfurt and Stuttgart airports, and by bus lines 31, 32 and tram lines 21 and 24 to the campuses.
Study programmes offered at Heidelberg University.
Experiences shared by students of Heidelberg 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.
