- Founded
- 1456
- Students
- 9,868
- International
- 8.8%
- Programmes
- 54
- Taught in English
- 24
About Universität Greifswald
Universität Greifswald (University of Greifswald) was founded in 1456, making it one of the oldest universities in Germany and the Baltic Sea region. The university is a full, state-funded public research university in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, organised across five faculties: Medicine, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Law and Economics, and Theology.
For the winter semester 2024/25, a total of 9,868 students were enrolled, of whom 878 were international students from more than 100 countries. The university maintains exchange partnerships with more than 200 universities worldwide and offers 131 degree courses including several English-taught master's programmes.
Research at Greifswald is structured around three interdisciplinary domains addressing environmental, health, and societal challenges. The university collaborates closely with four major non-university research institutions: the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), and the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH).
Founded in 1456 - one of the oldest universities in Germany and the oldest former Swedish university
No tuition fees for any students, including non-EU nationals; semester contribution ~€110-135
9,868 students enrolled (WS 2024/25), giving an exceptionally low student-to-city-population ratio and small seminar groups
Six English-taught master's programmes in STEM and humanities (Data Science, Earth Sciences, Physics, Mathematics, Biodiversity, Baltic History)
Collaborates with four major non-university research institutes including Max Planck and Leibniz institutions
Located on the Baltic Sea coast - direct access to islands Rügen and Usedom; Berlin reachable in under two hours
Key facts
- Type
- Universitäten
- Founded
- 1456
- Students
- 9,868
- International
- 8.8% international students (907 international students out of 10,298, WS 2023/24; official 'Die Universitaet in Zahlen' brochure)
- Faculties
- 5
- Programmes
- 54
Study programmes
54 accredited degrees at Universität Greifswald, 24 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–24 of 54 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
No tuition fees are charged - Mecklenburg-Vorpommern does not levy tuition fees for any students, including non-EU nationals. Students pay a semester contribution of €135 on first enrolment and €110 per semester on re-registration. This contribution covers a student-body fee (€11), a student-services fee (€93), and an administrative enrolment or re-registration fee. The semester contribution is not tuition; it entitles students to subsidised Mensa (canteen) meals and Studentenwerk services.
Admission requirements
International applicants must hold a school-leaving certificate or prior degree recognised as equivalent to German university-entrance qualifications. Applicants from India, China (including HK and Macau), and Vietnam are required to obtain an APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle) before applying. German-taught programmes require proof of German language proficiency (DSH-2 or equivalent TestDaF TDN 4); English-taught master's programmes specify their own language requirements individually. Applicants without numerus clausus restrictions apply directly; locally restricted programmes (including medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry) have stricter admission criteria and earlier deadlines. International students who do not hold recognised German credentials must apply through the International Office. The university's Language Centre offers a DSH preparation course.
Application deadlines
Winter semester (starts 1 October): locally restricted programmes - 15 July; medicine/pharmacy/dentistry (standard) - 15 July; unrestricted programmes - late September (e.g. 26 September 2025 for WS 2025/26). Summer semester (starts 1 April): locally restricted programmes - 15 January; unrestricted programmes - late March (e.g. 27 March 2026 for SS 2026). International students without German credentials should contact the International Office as separate deadlines may apply.
How international applicants apply
Full application runs through uni-assist (not just a VPD): degree-seeking internationals apply online at my.uni-assist.de, uploading all documents as scans (online form, CV, passport, secondary school certificate, university records if applicable, language proof, plus subject-specific items like TestAS for first-semester Medicine/Dentistry or APS certificates for China/India/Vietnam). uni-assist checks formal admission requirements and forwards qualifying applications to Greifswald, which then checks subject-specific requirements and decides on admission. EU/EEA first-semester applicants for Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy apply via Stiftung fuer Hochschulzulassung; EU/EEA applicants for locally restricted subjects (Biology, Human Biology, Landscape Ecology, Psychology) register at hochschulstart.de for BID/BAN before applying via uni-assist. Deadlines: 15 July (winter) / 15 January (summer) for all degree courses and the DSH German course. Sources: uni-greifswald.de Application Procedure and Requirements pages + international applicant flyer.
Languages of instruction
Most bachelor's programmes and all state-examination programmes (law, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, teaching) are taught in German and require strong German proficiency. The university offers several English-taught master's programmes: M.Sc. Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution; M.Sc. Data Science; M.Sc. Earth Sciences & Global Change; M.A. History and Culture of the Baltic Sea Region; M.Sc. Mathematics; and M.Sc. Physics. A DSH German language preparatory course is available on campus for international students who need to meet the German language entry requirement.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Universität Greifswald
3 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
DAAD Prize of the University of Greifswald
The University of Greifswald awards the DAAD Prize to exceptional international students or doctoral students who have distinguish...
Amount: EUR 1,000
Deadline: Annual call; see International Office announcement
Bachelor, Master, Doctorate
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Scholarship (Landesgraduiertenstipendium)
State-funded scholarship for highly qualified graduates pursuing a doctorate at the University of Greifswald. Part of the state's...
Amount: Per state guidelines (typically EUR 1,350-1,550 per month plus researc...
Deadline: Annual call; typically autumn
Doctorate
STIBET Scholarships for International Students
The International Office at University of Greifswald administers DAAD STIBET scholarships for international students, including st...
Amount: Per DAAD STIBET guidelines
Deadline: Published with each call via International Office
Bachelor, Master, Doctorate, State Examination
Student accommodation
What Universität Greifswald publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studentenwerk Greifswald
Not by the university. Apply to them directly, and expect a waiting list.
The university's housing page
Deadlines and application forms are published here, and they change every intake.
Open housing pageRoom types mentioned
What that page describes. Availability varies by intake.
From the university
The Welcome Centre at the International Office (Domstraße 8) supports newly arriving international students with registration, housing, and legal and social questions. The International Guesthouse (IBZ) provides short-term accommodation for incoming students and researchers. The Studentenwerk Greifswald manages several halls of residence (Wohnheime) at affordable rents.
Campuses & locations
City centre campus, main administrative hub
Science and natural sciences area
Medicine and life sciences area
Biomedical and research institute area
Living in Greifswald
Greifswald is a small university city of approximately 60,000 inhabitants on the Baltic Sea coast of north-eastern Germany, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The city borders two Baltic Sea islands, Rügen and Usedom, providing beach and water-sports access. Berlin is reachable by train in under two hours. The historic city centre features Hanseatic brick-Gothic architecture and is compact and bicycle-friendly, with a distinctly student-shaped character given the university's size relative to the city population.
Student life & support
The Welcome Centre at the International Office (Domstraße 8) supports newly arriving international students with registration, housing, and legal and social questions. The International Guesthouse (IBZ) provides short-term accommodation for incoming students and researchers. The Studentenwerk Greifswald manages several halls of residence (Wohnheime) at affordable rents. The Language Centre offers German and other language courses; a DSH preparatory course is available for students who need to meet German-language entry requirements. Monthly International Stammtisch evenings and International Brunches are organised by the International Office to help international students build community. The university sport programme covers beach volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and a wide range of other activities.
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