- Founded
- 1457
- Students
- 24,500
- Programmes
- 248
- Taught in English
- 33
About Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau
The Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (University of Freiburg) was founded in 1457 and is one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Germany. Located in Freiburg im Breisgau in the southwest of the country, it is a comprehensive research university spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and medicine across eleven faculties.
With approximately 24,500 students and around 240 degree programmes, Freiburg is a research-intensive institution and a member of the German U15 group of research universities, as well as European alliances including EUCOR (The Upper Rhine University), EPICUR, and LERU (League of European Research Universities). It holds 440 full professorships and 32 junior professorships and counts 23 Nobel laureates among those associated with the university.
The university ranks fifth in Germany and among the 101-150 best universities worldwide in the Shanghai Ranking. It operates two Clusters of Excellence (in biological signalling studies and in forest systems) and secured 219 million euros in third-party research funding in 2023.
Founded in 1457 - one of the oldest universities in Germany
23 Nobel laureates associated with the university
Ranked 5th in Germany and 101-150 worldwide in the Shanghai Ranking
Member of German U15 and LERU research-university groups
Cross-border EUCOR alliance with partners in France and Switzerland
Two Clusters of Excellence (biological signalling and forest systems)
Key facts
- Type
- Universitäten
- Founded
- 1457
- Students
- 24,500
- International
- Approximately 18 percent: the university's official student statistics count 4,413 international students out of 24,520 enrolled in winter semester 2023/24 (status 01.12.2023).
- Faculties
- 11
- Programmes
- 248
Study programmes
248 accredited degrees at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau, 33 of them taught in English.
Showing 25–48 of 248 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Tuition for regular degree programmes is otherwise covered by Baden-Württemberg's fee rules. Non-EU/EEA international students pay a tuition fee of 1,500 euros per semester, which is charged in addition to the regular semester fee. Numerous exemption categories apply, including foreign nationals who obtained their university entrance qualification in Germany, EU/EEA family members, settlement-permit holders, eligible refugees, doctoral candidates, and Erasmus students.
Admission requirements
International (non-EU/EEA) applicants apply via the University of Freiburg's Application and Admission Team / Service Center Studium, which advises on admission requirements such as the university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung). Applicants without a German entrance qualification are directed to the International Office and, where academic preparation is needed, to the Studienkolleg (preparatory college). Specific language-proficiency thresholds (e.g. DSH/TestDaF for German-taught programmes or IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught programmes) and any APS-certificate requirements for applicants from India, China, or Vietnam are not published on the general application pages and should be confirmed per programme with the admissions team ([email protected]) before applying.
Application deadlines
Winter semester (examples for 2026 intake): subjects with restrictive admission 01 June - 15 July; subjects with special prerequisites 01 June - 30 September; free-admission subjects 01 June - 08 October; Master of Education 01 June - 15 July; Human Medicine/Dentistry/Pharmacy for former high-school graduates until 31 May. Summer semester (2026): restrictive-admission subjects 01 Dec 2025 - 15 Jan 2026; special-prerequisite subjects until 31 March; free-admission subjects until 09 April; Master of Education until 15 January. Deadlines vary by applicant group and programme and must be met by the university or hochschulstart.de.
How international applicants apply
Direct application via own portal - no uni-assist: international applicants for undergraduate programmes (Bachelor, State Examination) apply directly in the university's own online application portal by uploading documents (portal opens 1 June for winter semester / 1 December for summer semester). Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy are likewise NOT routed through hochschulstart but applied for directly at Freiburg's portal. No uni-assist or VPD requirement appears on the international-admission pages.
Languages of instruction
The university offers around 240 degree programmes across eleven faculties; the majority are taught in German. According to its internationalisation pages it additionally runs 22 English-language degree programmes and 15 bilingual German-French programmes. The published contact for international applicants is the Service Center Studium / Zentrale Studienberatung at [email protected] (open consultation hours Mon, Tue, Thu 10:00-12:00 and Thu 14:00-16:00).
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau
11 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Deutschlandstipendium at the University of Freiburg
With the Deutschlandstipendium the University of Freiburg supports students whose path promises outstanding achievements in study...
Amount: EUR 300 per month
Deadline: Annual: 1 March - 31 March (for funding starting 1 April); no winter s...
Bachelor, Master
Kant-Stiftung Freiburger Weltbürgerstipendium
World Citizen Scholarship for students at the University of Freiburg, offered by the Kant-Stiftung in cooperation with the Stiftun...
Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Per foundation announcement
Master
Maria-Ladenburger-Stiftung Abschlussstipendien
Completion scholarships for students at the University of Freiburg in the final phase of their studies, offered by the Maria-Laden...
Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Per foundation announcement
Master
Prix Bartholdi Stipendium
Scholarship for education and work abroad in France for students, apprentices, employees and adults. Offered through the France Ce...
Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Per Prix Bartholdi deadlines
Bachelor, Master
QUERDENKER-Stipendium
Scholarship for education and work abroad in non-mainstream destinations (not Malta, England, USA). 'Individuality and independent...
Amount: EUR 500 - 1,250
Deadline: Per programme deadlines
Bachelor, Master
Stipendien-Infotool & Beratung (Scholarship Info Tool & Advisory)
The University of Freiburg's Stipendien-Infotool bundles all important information on scholarship search and application. Before b...
Amount: N/A (advisory service)
Deadline: N/A (ongoing advisory)
Bachelor, Master, Doctorate
Studienstartstipendium (Study Start Scholarship)
Scholarship for study starters at the University of Freiburg, listed among the university's own scholarship programmes.
Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Per university announcement
Bachelor
SWFR Finanzielle Hilfen für internationale Studierende
Financial aid for international students in financial emergencies at the University of Freiburg, administered by the Studierendenw...
Amount: Varies (emergency support)
Deadline: Rolling applications
Bachelor, Master, Doctorate
Thomas Bayes-Nachwuchsförderpreis
Young researcher award/prize named after Thomas Bayes at the University of Freiburg.
Amount: Not specified (prize money)
Deadline: Per announcement
Master, Doctorate
Vereinigte Studienstiftungenverwaltung Freiburg Scholarships
The Vereinigte Studienstiftungenverwaltung Freiburg administers multiple foundations offering scholarships to students at the Univ...
Amount: Varies by foundation
Deadline: Varies by foundation
Bachelor, Master, Doctorate
Waldseemüller-Preis
Prize/award named after Martin Waldseemüller at the University of Freiburg for outstanding achievements.
Amount: Not specified (prize money)
Deadline: Per announcement
Bachelor, Master
Student accommodation
What Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studierendenwerk Freiburg
Not by the university. Apply to them directly, and expect a waiting list.
The university's housing page
Deadlines and application forms are published here, and they change every intake.
Open housing pageRoom types mentioned
What that page describes. Availability varies by intake.
From the university
Accommodation is supported by the Studierendenwerk Freiburg (SWFR), which offers places in residence halls and assistance in finding housing on the open market; the International Office also compiles housing information and portals for incoming students.
Campuses & locations
Main university site in central Freiburg; central buildings include Kollegiengebäude I. Visitor address: Friedrichstraße 39, 79098 Freiburg.
Living in Freiburg
The university is located in Freiburg im Breisgau in the southwest of Germany, near the Black Forest and close to the borders with France and Switzerland (reflected in the cross-border EUCOR "Upper Rhine University" alliance). Further descriptive detail about the city was not published on the official university pages reviewed.
Student life & support
Accommodation is supported by the Studierendenwerk Freiburg (SWFR), which offers places in residence halls and assistance in finding housing on the open market; the International Office also compiles housing information and portals for incoming students. The International Office (Wilhelmstraße 1b, 79098 Freiburg) runs welcome services and Welcome Days for international students. Language courses are offered through the university's Language Teaching Centre.
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