About Philipps-Universität Marburg
Philipps-Universität Marburg, founded in 1527 by Landgrave Philip the Magnanimous, is the world's oldest Protestant university still in existence. Located in Marburg (Hessen), it operates 16 departments spanning law, medicine, natural sciences, and humanities, alongside 12 overarching research centers and a University Hospital.
In winter semester 2025/26 the university enrolled 20,899 students, of whom 4,739 (22.7%) are international students. It employs 3,974 full-time staff including 379 professors, and holds a 2025 budget of €459.7 million with €106.1 million in third-party research funding. Research strength is evidenced by 2 Excellence Clusters, 5 Collaborative Research Centers, and 13 ERC Grants active as of December 2025.
The university offers 208 degree programmes including 24 bachelor's, 75 master's, and 21 teacher-education programmes. It holds the HRK Re-Audit for Internationalisation and participates in the EUPeace European university alliance.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1527
- Students
- 20,899
- International
- 4,739 international students (22.7%)
- Faculties
- 16
Founded 1527 — the world's oldest Protestant university still in operation
20,899 students enrolled (WS 2025/26); 22.7% international (4,739 students)
16 departments and 12 research centres; 208 degree programmes including 75 master's
No tuition fees for any nationality; semester contribution ~€406–€426 includes a public-transport semester ticket
2 DFG Excellence Clusters and 13 active ERC Grants (as of December 2025)
HRK Re-Audit Internationalisation certified; member of the EUPeace European university alliance
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
Hessen public universities, including Philipps-Universität Marburg, charge no tuition fees for any nationality (EU or non-EU) for standard bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes. A semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) is charged each semester: €405.80 for summer semester 2026 and a preliminary €426.00 for winter semester 2026/27. The contribution covers administrative costs and a semester ticket for local public transport. Exchange students pay a reduced rate (€50 less than the standard amount). No separate non-EU tuition surcharge applies; Hessen has not introduced such fees.
Admission requirements
International applicants for bachelor's programmes apply via uni-assist (for foreign qualifications). For unrestricted-admission bachelor's programmes, the deadline is 1 June – 15 August (winter semester) and 1 November – 15 February (summer semester). For restricted-admission programmes the deadlines are 1 June – 15 July (winter) and 1 November – 15 January (summer). Studienkolleg Mittelhessen applications close 1 March – 15 April (winter) and 1 September – 15 October (summer). Language requirements: German-taught programmes require proof of German proficiency (typically DSH-2, TestDaF TDN 4, or equivalent). English-taught master's programmes require IELTS or TOEFL; exact thresholds vary by programme. APS certificate: required for applicants whose prior qualification was obtained in India, China, or Vietnam before a student visa can be issued — Marburg itself does not gate the application on APS, but the German embassy will require it at the visa stage. Indian applicants with a Class XII certificate of ≥70% and at least one completed year of bachelor's study at an H+ recognised institution may be eligible for direct master's or bachelor's admission subject to anabin status of their prior institution.
Application deadlines
Bachelor's (foreign qualifications, winter semester): 1 June – 15 August (unrestricted); 1 June – 15 July (restricted admission). Bachelor's (foreign qualifications, summer semester): 1 November – 15 February (unrestricted); 1 November – 15 January (restricted). Studienkolleg Mittelhessen: 1 March – 15 April (winter); 1 September – 15 October (summer). Exact master's deadlines vary by programme; check the university's MARVIN course catalogue.
Languages of instruction
Instruction is primarily in German. An increasing number of master's programmes are offered in English, particularly in STEM and interdisciplinary fields. Prospective students should check individual programme pages for the language of instruction. The university also offers preparatory German courses and language support for incoming international students.
Campuses & locations
Distributed across the city of Marburg; administrative centre at Biegenstraße 10, 35037 Marburg
Living in Hessen
Marburg is a compact university city of approximately 77,000 inhabitants in the federal state of Hessen, situated along the Lahn river and surrounded by wooded hills. The medieval old town (Altstadt) and the 13th-century Landgrave's Castle dominate the cityscape. With roughly one-quarter of the population being students, the city has a strong student culture, affordable cost of living relative to larger German cities, and good rail connections to Frankfurt (approximately one hour).
Student life & support
The Studentenwerk Marburg manages affordable student halls of residence and canteens (Mensa) across the city. The International Office offers a structured Welcome and Orientation programme each semester (March/September and April/October intakes), including online intercultural awareness training, a buddy programme, and the MarMento peer-mentoring scheme. A VisaFlow tool assists incoming students with tracking administrative and immigration requirements. The 'From Peer to Peer' sessions cover general queries, housing consultation, and job-search and scholarship advice. The university also runs the POINT online orientation portal specifically for prospective international students. German language courses for international students are coordinated through the university's language centre.
192
Accredited Programmes
85
Master
106
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
1
Magister
More universities in Hessen
View all in Hessen →accadis Hochschule Bad Homburg
Fachhochschulen / HAW · 23 programmes
Akademie für Tonkunst Darmstadt
Berufsakademie · 8 programmes
Charlotte Fresenius Hochschule
Hochschulen eigenen Typs · 6 programmes
CVJM-Hochschule
Fachhochschulen / HAW · 3 programmes
Deutsche Berufsakademie Sport und Gesundheit
Berufsakademie · 3 programmes
DIPLOMA Hochschule - Private Fachhochschule Nordhessen
Fachhochschulen / HAW · 46 programmes
Interested in Studying at
Philipps-Universität Marburg?
Our team can help you with the application process, documentation, and everything you need to get started.