Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen

As a public university in the state of Hesse, JLU does not charge tuition fees for undergraduate or consecutive master's programmes for any student regardless of nationality (Hesse has not introduced non-EU tuition fees, unlike Baden-Württemberg or Bavaria). Students pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) each semester covering student services, the student union (AStA), and a public-transport semester ticket valid in the local network. The exact contribution amount should be confirmed on the JLU enrolment office website for the current semester, as it is subject to annual adjustment.

Admission requirements for international applicants vary by country of origin, prior qualification, and degree level. For bachelor's programmes, the general requirement is a school-leaving certificate recognised as equivalent to the German Abitur; Indian applicants with Class XII ≥70% may qualify, though many will need to complete a Studienkolleg (foundation year) if direct recognition is not granted. Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants must hold an APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate before applying. For master's programmes, a recognised bachelor's degree of at least three years in a relevant subject is required; the anabin status of the awarding institution determines direct eligibility. German-taught programmes require proof of German proficiency (typically TestDaF TDN 4, DSH-2, or equivalent); English-taught programmes require IELTS or TOEFL. Applications are submitted via JLU's GUDE online portal. The International Office advises applicants to consult the detailed programme-specific requirements on the JLU website.

Winter Semester (starting October): for programmes without admission restriction, international applicants may apply from 1 June with a deadline of 15 August; for restricted-admission programmes the deadline is 15 July. Some specific master's programmes (e.g. Mind, Brain and Behaviour; Sustainable Chemistry) have a 15 June deadline for all applicants; others (Advanced Materials, Agrobioinformatics) have a 15 June deadline with applications accepted from 1 May for international applicants. Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine follow separate centralised procedures (Hochschulstart / stiftungshochschule.de), with applications typically closing 31 May. Summer Semester deadlines are published in autumn of the preceding year; consult the JLU deadlines page at https://www.uni-giessen.de/en/study/application/deadlines for current dates.

The primary language of instruction is German. JLU offers a portfolio of internationally oriented degree programmes taught in English or other foreign languages, including joint and double-degree programmes with partner universities. The university's language centre provides German courses for international students at all levels. Prospective international students should verify the language of instruction for their specific programme in the course catalogue.