About Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
The Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, founded in 1818, is one of Germany's largest and most research-intensive universities. It holds the status of a University of Excellence — one of only eleven in Germany — and is the only German university with eight Clusters of Excellence. With over 200 degree programmes across seven faculties, the university enrolls around 31,318 students, of whom approximately 5,285 are international.
In recent decades, the University of Bonn has produced more Nobel Prize and Fields Medal winners than any other German university. It holds 69 ERC Grants (including completed projects) and 23 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prizes, underpinning its standing as a leading research university in Europe. Its annual budget exceeds 835 million euros, with over 214 million euros in third-party research funding.
The university is spread across multiple campuses in and around the city of Bonn, with around 349 buildings, 67 of which are listed historic monuments. The historic baroque main building at Am Hof, a former electoral palace, serves as the university's symbolic centre.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1818
- Students
- 31,318
- International
- ~5,285 international students (~17%)
- Faculties
- 7
University of Excellence (Exzellenzuniversität) since 2019 — one of eleven in Germany
Only German university with eight Clusters of Excellence
More Nobel Prize and Fields Medal winners in recent decades than any other German university
Over 200 degree programmes across 7 faculties; 31,318 students enrolled
69 ERC Grants and 23 Leibniz Prizes reflecting sustained research strength
Historic baroque main building (former electoral palace) founded 1818; 67 listed historic monuments on campus
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) does not charge tuition fees for bachelor's or consecutive master's programmes at public universities, regardless of nationality. All enrolled students pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) each semester; the exact current amount was not published on the pages fetched during this extraction — check the Student Registry page or contact the university directly for the latest figure. NRW has not introduced a separate non-EU tuition fee (unlike Baden-Württemberg's €1,500/semester levy or Bavaria's fees introduced from WS 2025/26).
Admission requirements
International applicants must hold a school-leaving or bachelor's degree recognised as equivalent to the corresponding German qualification. For German-taught programmes, proof of German language proficiency is mandatory — typically DSH-2 or TestDaF TDN 4 in all four components. English-taught master's programmes generally require IELTS or TOEFL; specific thresholds vary by programme. Applicants whose prior qualifications are from India, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), or Vietnam must additionally obtain an APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate before applying; the German visa authority will also require it. The university's Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service ([email protected], +49 228 73-7080) and the Student Registry for International Applicants ([email protected], +49 228 73-4464) are the correct first contacts for admission queries. Admission to restricted programmes (Numerus Clausus) is handled via the national Hochschulstart portal or directly by the university.
Application deadlines
Re-registration deadlines for continuing students: 31 August (winter semester) and 28/29 February (summer semester). Specific application deadlines for new applicants — including international applicants — are published on the university's Application Deadlines page (accessible via the Studying section of uni-bonn.de) and vary by programme and admission type (open admission vs. restricted/NC). The university's lecture periods are: Summer 2026: 14 April – 24 July; Winter 2026/27: 12 October – 5 February 2027.
Languages of instruction
Most bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes are taught in German. A growing number of master's programmes are taught fully in English, spanning STEM, economics, and humanities disciplines. The university accepts DSH and TestDaF as proof of German proficiency for German-taught programmes. Intensive German language preparatory courses and in-semester courses are offered at all CEFR levels. Contact the International Office or check the degree programme listings for current English-taught options.
Campuses & locations
City-centre campus housing the baroque main building (former electoral palace), Faculty of Arts, and Faculty of Law
Interdisciplinary campus spanning over 15 hectares; includes recent additions such as the Rotation Building (opened 2024) and the Teaching and Research Forum
Home to parts of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences; new pharmacy and chemistry buildings under construction
Houses the University Hospital Bonn (UKB)
Home to the Faculty of Education
Agricultural teaching and research station maintained by the Faculty of Agriculture, located outside Bonn
Living in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Bonn is a mid-sized city of approximately 330,000 inhabitants on the Rhine in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, around 25 km south of Cologne. Formerly the capital of West Germany, it retains a significant international presence as the headquarters of numerous UN agencies and international organisations. The city is compact, walkable, and well connected by rail, with a reputation for a high quality of life, relatively affordable rents compared with Frankfurt or Munich, and a lively cultural scene anchored by three major museums (the Bundeskunsthalle, Kunstmuseum Bonn, and the Haus der Geschichte) and the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven.
Student life & support
The International Office (Poppelsdorfer Allee 53 and 102, [email protected]) is the central contact point for international students before, during, and after their studies. It coordinates Welcome Days, a Study Buddy Programme pairing international students with local peers, and intercultural training events through Campus International. German language courses at all CEFR levels — including intensive pre-semester courses and DSH preparatory courses — are offered by the university's language centre. Student housing is managed through the Studierendenwerk Bonn; availability is limited and early application is advised. The university's library system comprises 58 libraries with approximately 5 million volumes.
247
Accredited Programmes
118
Master
119
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
2
Magister
More universities in Nordrhein-Westfalen
View all in Nordrhein-Westfalen →Alanus Hochschule
Kunst- und Musikhochschulen · 25 programmes
Bergische Universität Wuppertal
Universitäten · 291 programmes
CBS University of Applied Sciences
Fachhochschulen / HAW · 51 programmes
Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei
Hochschulen eigenen Typs · 2 programmes
Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln
Universitäten · 30 programmes
EBZ Business School - University of Applied Sciences
Fachhochschulen / HAW · 8 programmes
Interested in Studying at
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitä...?
Our team can help you with the application process, documentation, and everything you need to get started.