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Universitäten

Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg

Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

About Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg

Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg (OVGU) is a public research university founded in 1993 through the merger of Magdeburg's Technical University, Teacher Training College, and Academy of Medicine. Organised into nine faculties spanning engineering, natural sciences, medicine, humanities, and economics, it positions itself as a medium-sized university with lean governance structures and strong interdisciplinary research.

OVGU is a member of the EU GREEN Alliance, a network of European universities focused on sustainability and innovation. The university has housed internationally recognised research infrastructure, including the first 7-Tesla ultra-high-field MRI scanner in Europe (2005) and the Centre for Behavioural Brain Sciences (2007). Applications from international degree-seeking students with foreign qualifications are processed via uni-assist e.V.

The university offers 26 study programmes taught fully in English, making it accessible to international students who do not speak German. Sachsen-Anhalt is one of the German federal states that does not charge tuition fees for undergraduate or consecutive master's programmes; students pay only the statutory semester contribution.

Key facts

Founded
1993
Faculties
9

Founded 1993 through merger of three Magdeburg institutions; one of Germany's newer comprehensive universities

Member of the EU GREEN Alliance — a network of sustainability-focused European research universities

26 fully English-taught degree programmes across engineering, economics, social sciences, and life sciences

9 faculties covering medicine, engineering, computer science, humanities, mathematics, and economics

First 7-Tesla ultra-high-field MRI scanner in Europe installed at OVGU (2005)

No tuition fees for standard programmes; semester contribution is 329.30 EUR including a public transport pass

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

No tuition fees are charged for standard bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes at OVGU; Sachsen-Anhalt does not levy non-EU surcharges. Students pay a semester contribution of 329.30 EUR per semester, comprising 90.00 EUR Studentenwerk fee, 226.80 EUR Deutschlandsemesterticket (public transport semester pass), and 12.50 EUR Student Council (StuRa) fee. Separate fee regulations apply for second-degree studies.

Admission requirements

International applicants holding a foreign higher education entrance qualification must apply through uni-assist e.V., which pre-checks documents before the university reviews the application. Applicants with a German bachelor's degree apply directly to OVGU. For bachelor's entry, applicants need a recognised higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung); depending on country of origin, proof of completed study semesters at a home-country institution may be required. For master's entry, a completed first degree in a related subject equivalent to a German bachelor's degree is required. Applicants whose school-leaving certificate does not directly qualify them for German higher education must complete a Studienkolleg (preparatory year) and pass the Feststellungsprüfung, with intake exams typically in mid-August (winter semester) and mid-February (summer semester). APS certificates: Indian, Chinese (PRC), and Vietnamese applicants must present a valid APS certificate — this is a German national requirement for these nationalities and is not institution-specific. German language proficiency: DSH-2 or TestDaF TDN 4 across all parts. English language proficiency for English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.5–7.0 or TOEFL iBT 85–95 depending on programme level.

Application deadlines

OVGU uses a fully online application portal (from winter semester 2024/25 onwards). Specific cut-off dates for each semester are published per programme on the OVGU/uni-assist portal and vary by programme. Studienkolleg entrance exams are held mid-August (for winter semester entry) and mid-February (for summer semester entry). Students are advised to check current deadlines directly on the OVGU application pages and uni-assist.

Languages of instruction

German-taught programmes require DSH-2 or TestDaF TDN 4 (all four parts at level 4 minimum); DSD II, Goethe C2, telc C1 Hochschule, and UNIcert IV are also accepted. OVGU offers 26 programmes taught entirely in English (4 bachelor's, 22 master's), covering engineering, computer science, economics, social sciences, and life sciences. English-taught programmes require IELTS 6.5 (B2) or 7.0 (C1), or TOEFL iBT 85 (B2) or 95 (C1); Cambridge English and Pearson PTE Academic are also accepted. Native speakers from Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States are exempt from the English test requirement.

Campuses & locations

Main Campus Magdeburg

Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg — single consolidated campus hosting all nine faculties

Living in Sachsen-Anhalt

Magdeburg is the state capital of Sachsen-Anhalt, located on the Elbe river approximately 130 km west of Berlin. As one of the oldest cities in Germany, it combines historic landmarks — including the Magdeburg Cathedral (Dom), the oldest Gothic cathedral in Germany — with a growing tech and engineering industry. The city has a relatively low cost of living compared to Munich, Hamburg, or Berlin, making it attractive for students on modest budgets. Direct rail connections link Magdeburg to Berlin (about 75 minutes) and Hannover.

Student life & support

Student housing in Magdeburg is managed by Studentenwerk Magdeburg, which operates dormitories in the city and in Wernigerode (for the Harz campus). International students are supported by the Campus Welcome Centre (Building 01) and the International Office; named contacts for degree students include Eva Böhning and Alexandra Gottschalk, and for exchange students Anne-Katrin Güldenpfennig. The university hosts International Welcome Weeks at the start of each semester. Peer support is offered through IKUS (intercultural student groups). The on-campus Infopoint (+49 391 67-12214) provides first-contact advice. German language support is available through OVGU for students enrolled in English-taught programmes.

International Office: International students page →

176

Accredited Programmes

112

Master

64

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus

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