Goettingen for international students: a research university in a small city
TL;DR: The University of Goettingen runs more than 100 master programmes in the sciences, humanities and social sciences, one third of them taught in English, and more than 15 percent of its master students come from abroad. Several programmes end in a double or joint degree with a partner university.
What kind of university this is
Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen is a full research university, the opposite end of the spectrum from the universities of applied sciences that dominate many international shortlists. If your plan runs towards a doctorate or a research career, that difference is the whole point.
Its programme range is wide: more than 100 master programmes across the natural and life sciences, the humanities and the social sciences.
Studying there in English
One third of the degree programmes are taught in English, which is a higher share than most German research universities offer. More than 15 percent of master students come from abroad, so the international machinery is routine rather than exceptional.
Several master programmes also offer a double or joint degree with a partner university abroad, which is worth checking before you apply: the same two years can produce two qualifications.
| What you get | Detail |
|---|---|
| Master programmes | More than 100, across sciences, humanities and social sciences |
| Taught in English | One third of programmes |
| International master students | More than 15 percent |
| Double and joint degrees | Available on a number of master programmes |
The small-city trade
Goettingen is a university town rather than a city with a university in it. That cuts both ways, and honestly so.
In its favour: rent is a fraction of Munich or Frankfurt, everything is walkable or cyclable, and the student population dominates the social calendar. Against it: the part-time job market is smaller than in Berlin or Hamburg, and the graduate job market is somewhere else entirely, which means your first job search will probably involve moving.
If the budget is the binding constraint, a smaller city is the cheapest lever you have. See our student housing guide for what to expect either way.
Who it suits, and who it does not
- Suits: research-minded applicants, anyone aiming at a doctorate, students who want an English-taught master at a traditional research university, and budget-conscious applicants.
- Does not suit: applicants who need a large city job market during the degree, or who want the applied, project-heavy teaching style of a Hochschule.
Before you apply
Run the same checks as anywhere else, in the same order: recognition of your own degree in Anabin, the language of instruction on the specific programme page, the application route, then the deadline. Our post on shortlisting German universities sets out the sequence, and the grade converter tells you whether your marks clear the bar.
Sources
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