- Founded
- 1477
- Students
- 28,610
- International
- 16%
- Programmes
- 48
- Taught in English
- 40
About Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen is one of Germany's oldest and most distinguished public research universities, founded in 1477. Located in the city of Tübingen in Baden-Württemberg, it has been a centre of scholarship for more than five centuries and is part of the German Excellence Initiative. In the winter semester 2024/25 it enrolled approximately 28,610 students, of whom 4,466 were international students - around 16 percent of the student body, a record high.
The university comprises seven faculties spanning Protestant and Catholic Theology, Law, Medicine, Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences, plus a Centre for Islamic Theology. It offers more than 200 degree programmes from Egyptology to Dentistry. Research strength is reflected in six active Clusters of Excellence (including Machine Learning, CMFI, and iFIT), 47 ERC grants, and third-party research funding of €279.6 million in 2024.
Tübingen is consistently ranked among Germany's leading universities. Times Higher Education placed it 8th nationally in its World University Rankings 2025. Its international reach extends to 543 partner universities worldwide and two branch offices in East Asia.
Founded 1477 - one of Germany's oldest universities, over 545 years of continuous scholarship
Excellence Initiative university with six active Clusters of Excellence including Machine Learning and CMFI
Ranked 8th among German universities in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
Record 16% international student share (4,466 students) as of WS 2024/25
47 ERC grants and €279.6 million in third-party research funding (2024)
543 international partner universities across 75+ countries
Key facts
- Type
- Universitäten
- Founded
- 1477
- Students
- 28,610
- International
- approx. 16% (4,466 international students, WS 2024/25)
- Faculties
- 7
- Programmes
- 48
Study programmes
48 accredited degrees at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, 40 of them taught in English.
Showing 25–48 of 48 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU/EEA international students a tuition fee of €1,500 per semester (€3,000 per academic year) for bachelor's, consecutive master's, and Staatsexamen programmes. EU/EEA students pay no tuition. All enrolled students pay a semester contribution of approximately €194.80-€197.80 (covering student services, administration, and student union fees; exact amount varies slightly by semester). Doctoral students and exchange/Erasmus students are exempt from the non-EU tuition fee. Estimated monthly living costs in Tübingen are approximately €947 (rent €346, living/transport €467, other including health insurance €134).
Admission requirements
International applicants (non-EU/EEA) apply through the university's dedicated portal for non-EU/EEA citizens, separate from the standard ALMA portal used by domestic students. Undergraduate entry requires a recognised higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung); Indian applicants with Class XII ≥70% plus an APS certificate are eligible. A completed first year of a recognised bachelor's degree in the same subject area enables direct bachelor's admission without Studienkolleg. Master's admission requires a recognised bachelor's degree (H+ anabin status); the university's admissions office ([email protected]) advises on individual qualification recognition. APS certificate is mandatory for applicants from India, China, and Vietnam before a student visa can be issued. Language: German-taught programmes require C1/TestDaF TDN 4; English-taught Master's programmes typically require IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90.
Application deadlines
Deadlines vary by programme and degree level. For Master's programmes, most non-EU applicants must apply by 15 July for the winter semester (October start); some programmes have earlier deadlines (e.g. 31 March or 15 April). Select programmes accept applications until 15 September. Summer semester deadlines differ - check the ALMA portal or the programme-specific page. The university advises allowing up to 12 months for visa appointment availability in some countries, so early application is strongly recommended.
How international applicants apply
No uni-assist. Applications (including international ones) are submitted exclusively online via the university's own application portal (C@MPUS/ALMA-based); documents are reviewed in-house by the Admissions Office for International Students (Zulassung internationaler Studierender); APS certificate required for China/India/Vietnam; up to three programmes per application round. University of Tuebingen is not on uni-assist's official member list.
Languages of instruction
Primarily German-taught; growing number of English-taught Master's programmes, especially in STEM and international disciplines. German C1/TestDaF TDN 4 required for German-taught programmes.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
9 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Abschlussstipendien (Completion Scholarships) of the Faculty of Humanities
The Faculty of Humanities awards completion scholarships to Master students writing their thesis in German Studies (Germanistik),...
Deadline: Twice yearly: 1 June (for the coming winter semester) and 1 December (...
master
Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) / YWS Foundation Master & PhD Scholarships
Scholarships for MAKES double Master (Tuebingen + Seoul National Univ) and PhD in Korean Studies. MAKES: 1,000 USD/month + flight...
Amount: MAKES: 1,000 USD/month + flights; PhD: 750,000 Won/month + tuition wai...
Deadline: 31 Oct (spring), 30 Apr (fall) annually
master (double degree MAKES), phd
Baden-Württemberg-Stipendium (for exchange students)
Scholarship for high-qualified exchange students (1-2 semesters) at Baden-Württemberg universities including Tuebingen. Open to in...
Amount: Approx. 600 EUR/month
Deadline: Via home university International Office
bachelor, master, phd
DAAD Master Scholarships (for international applicants)
Full DAAD scholarships for Master studies in Germany. CRITICAL: Application MUST be submitted BEFORE starting the Master programme...
Amount: Full scholarship (BAfoeG-level monthly rate + health insurance + trave...
Deadline: Typically ~1 year before study start (e.g. 15 Nov for following WS)
master
Deutschlandstipendium - Universitaet Tuebingen
The University of Tuebingen awards Deutschlandstipendium grants to especially talented and high-achieving students, funded half by...
Amount: 300 EUR per month
Deadline: Annually 1 November - 30 November (for the following funding year); de...
bachelor, master, state examination
Korea Foundation Scholarship / KGSP / Korean Government Scholarship
Various Korean government/foundation scholarships for Korean Studies Master/PhD students at Tuebingen: Korea Foundation (1 year, r...
Amount: Varies by programme
Deadline: Varies by programme
master, phd
STIBET I - Chancengerechtigkeits-Stipendium (Equal Opportunities Scholarship)
DAAD STIBET I scholarship for international students facing special challenges (e.g. chronic illness, disability) causing extra co...
Amount: 300 EUR per month
bachelor, master, state examination
STIBET I - Engagement-Stipendium (Volunteer Engagement Scholarship)
DAAD STIBET I grant for international students with outstanding voluntary engagement in the international context of the universit...
Amount: 550 EUR per month
bachelor, master, state examination
STIBET I - Studienabschlussstipendium (Graduation Scholarship)
DAAD STIBET I graduation grant for international degree-seeking students in their final phase of studies who face unexpected finan...
Amount: 550 EUR per month
bachelor, master, state examination
Student accommodation
What Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim
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
Student life in Tübingen is organised around the Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim, which manages student housing (dormitories at below-market rents), canteens, cafeterias, and social services.
Campuses & locations
Historic city-centre campus; faculties spread across multiple buildings in the old town and adjacent areas
Medical faculty campus integrated into the city; employs over 11,000 staff
Living in Tübingen
Tübingen is a university city of approximately 90,000 inhabitants in Baden-Württemberg, situated on the Neckar river about 40 km south of Stuttgart. The well-preserved medieval old town, vibrant cultural scene, and high student-to-resident ratio (students make up roughly one third of the population) create a distinctly academic atmosphere. The city is safe, walkable, and has excellent public transport links; a semester ticket covers regional transit.
Student life & support
Student life in Tübingen is organised around the Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim, which manages student housing (dormitories at below-market rents), canteens, cafeterias, and social services. The student body has access to a broad range of sports, cultural societies, music ensembles, and volunteer opportunities. A dedicated Welcome Center (welcome.uni-tuebingen.de) supports incoming international students with registration, buddy programmes, and orientation events. The semester ticket provides affordable public transport across the region.
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