About Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), founded in 1402, is one of Germany's oldest and most research-intensive universities and a member of the German U15 group of major research universities. It enrols approximately 25,281 students across 10 faculties and 283 degree programmes, with a campus spread across five sites in Würzburg.
JMU has a strong research profile supported by €180.2 million in third-party funding (including university hospital). Two Clusters of Excellence — NUCLEATE and ctd.qmat — are currently funded under the German Excellence Strategy. The university also hosts CAIDAS (Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science) and is applying for the title of University of Excellence. 14 Nobel Prize winners have researched and taught at JMU.
In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 JMU is ranked 179th worldwide. The university operates under the motto "Science for Society" and is a member of the CHARM-EU European university alliance.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1402
- Students
- 25,281
- International
- 3,078 international students (~12% of total enrolment, WS 2025/26)
- Faculties
- 10
Founded 1402 — one of Germany's oldest universities
Member of German U15 (research-intensive university group)
14 Nobel Prize winners have researched and taught at JMU
Two active Clusters of Excellence (NUCLEATE and ctd.qmat) under the German Excellence Strategy
Ranked 179th worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026
APS certificate required for applicants from India, China, and Vietnam
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
There are no tuition fees at the University of Würzburg for standard degree programmes. All enrolled students pay a mandatory semester contribution of €182.10 per semester (from WS 2026/27), which covers a public transport pass (Semesterticket, €110.10) and Studierendenwerk social fee (€72.00). Additional fees apply for qualified-professional degree programmes and guest students. Bavaria has not introduced a general non-EU tuition fee at JMU as of the information available on the official fees page.
Admission requirements
International degree-seeking students must hold a recognised higher education entrance qualification. Applications typically require a Preliminary Review Document (VPD) from uni-assist, certified copies of school/university certificates with German or English translations, and proof of German language proficiency (B2 for most bachelor's programmes; DSH-2 for restricted-admission programmes and many master's). Applicants from India, China, and Vietnam must additionally submit an original APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle) issued by the German Embassy in their country; this is a hard requirement confirmed by JMU's Student Affairs Office. Some programmes have local admission restrictions (Numerus Clausus); unrestricted programmes allow direct enrolment within the deadline. English-taught programmes require English language proof instead of German.
Application deadlines
Specific deadline dates are published as PDFs per semester on the JMU Dates and Deadlines page (https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/studying-at-jmu/studienangelegenheiten/dates-and-deadlines/). The academic calendar shows: Winter Semester begins mid-October (lectures: 13 Oct 2025 – 6 Feb 2026; 12 Oct 2026 – 5 Feb 2027). Summer Semester begins mid-April (lectures: 13 Apr – 17 Jul 2026). Applicants should check the per-semester PDF for the exact application and enrolment cut-off dates, as these vary by programme type and intake.
Languages of instruction
The majority of programmes are taught in German. German proficiency at B2 level is required for most bachelor's programmes; DSH-2 is required for restricted-admission and many master's programmes. A limited number of English-language master's and international programmes are available (e.g. the BA Diversity, Ethics, and Religion is explicitly English-taught with no German requirement). Applicants should consult the JMU programme database for the language of instruction for each programme. TestDaF TDN 4 and Goethe-Zertifikat B2/C1/C2 are among the recognised certificates.
Campuses & locations
Main historic city-centre campus; central administration
City-centre campus
North campus; International Office / Service Centre InterNational Transfer located here
South campus
Medical faculty and university hospital campus
Living in Bayern
Würzburg is a university city of approximately 130,000 inhabitants in the Franconia region of Bavaria, situated on the Main river roughly midway between Frankfurt and Nuremberg. The city is known for its baroque Residenz palace (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the hilltop Marienberg Fortress, and the surrounding Franconian wine-growing region. Its compact, walkable centre and strong student community — with around 25,000 students among the population — make it well-suited for student life, with relatively lower living costs compared to Munich or Frankfurt.
Student life & support
The Service Centre InterNational Transfer (SINT) and the International Office ([email protected]), both located on Campus Hubland Nord, provide support to international students on enrolment, visa and residence permit formalities, insurance, bank accounts, and general orientation. The university organises "First Steps" orientation events and an International Coffee Corner networking series. The Language Centre offers TestDaF preparation courses; German preparatory language courses are available through private language schools in Würzburg. Student housing is managed through the Studierendenwerk; international students should apply for dormitory places early via the Studierendenwerk Würzburg.
252
Accredited Programmes
129
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
122
Master
1
Magister
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