- Founded
- 1971
- Students
- 21,131
- International
- 16%
- Programmes
- 101
- Taught in English
- 19
About Universität Kassel
Universität Kassel is a public research university in the state of Hessen, founded in 1971 as a reform university with a strong emphasis on practice-oriented learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and social responsibility. Its institutional motto - "Today for tomorrow" - reflects a core orientation toward sustainable and socially just futures, with two declared research priority areas: "Multifunctional Matter and Multiscale Systems" and "Sustainable Transformations".
In the winter semester 2025/26, the university enrolled 21,131 students across 11 faculties, offering 40 bachelor's programmes, 50 master's programmes, 8 fee-based postgraduate master's programmes, and teacher training curricula. The Kassel Institute for Sustainability operates as a dedicated research institution within the university. Third-party research funding reached €76.7 million in 2025.
The university is distributed across multiple sites in and around the city of Kassel, with additional locations in Witzenhausen (Organic Agricultural Sciences) and the Hessian State Domain Frankenhausen. Its School of Art and Design (Kunsthochschule Kassel) has a separate campus on Menzelstraße.
21,131 students enrolled in WS 2025/26, with 16% international students (3,357)
Founded in 1971 as a reform university emphasising interdisciplinary and practice-oriented study
11 faculties spanning engineering, social sciences, organic agriculture, arts, and sustainability
No tuition fees for bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes regardless of nationality
Semester contribution of €409.27 includes a Germany-wide public transport ticket
Home of the Kassel Institute for Sustainability; two declared DFG-funded research priority areas
Kassel hosts documenta (every 5 years) - a UNESCO-recognised contemporary art event; Wilhelmshöhe park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Key facts
- Type
- Universitäten
- Founded
- 1971
- Students
- 21,131
- International
- 16% foreign students (3,357 out of 21,131 students, incl. 2,588 Bildungsauslaender - official Zahlen und Fakten page)
- Faculties
- 11
- Programmes
- 101
Study programmes
101 accredited degrees at Universität Kassel, 19 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–24 of 41 matching programmes
Clear filtersAdmissions & fees
What it costs
Universität Kassel is a public university in Hessen and charges no tuition fees for bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes, regardless of nationality (EU or non-EU). The university does not apply the non-EU surcharge that Baden-Württemberg or Bavaria imposes. All enrolled students pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) of €409.27 per semester (WS 2025/26 figure), which covers student services (Studierendenwerk), a Germany-wide public transport semester ticket (€226.80), student council (AStA), bike-sharing, cultural ticket, and administrative costs. Exchange students are exempt from the €50 administrative cost portion, paying €359.27. Eight fee-based postgraduate (non-consecutive) master's programmes exist and charge separate tuition - check individual programme pages for those amounts.
Admission requirements
International applicants must hold a school-leaving or university qualification recognised as equivalent to the German Hochschulreife or a bachelor's degree. Admission requirements vary by programme type. For German-taught programmes, proof of German language proficiency is required - typically TestDaF (TDN 4 in all four parts), DSH-2, or equivalent Goethe/telc certificate at C1 level. English-taught master's programmes generally require IELTS (around 6.5 overall) or TOEFL iBT (approximately 90+), depending on the programme. Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants applying to degree programmes must present a valid APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle) as part of the visa and enrolment process. Specific admission requirements are published per programme at www.uni-kassel.de/uni/en/study/all-degree-programmes.html. Applicants are advised to contact the International Office or "Information Studium" for programme-specific queries.
Application deadlines
Application deadlines are programme-specific and vary between restricted-admission (Numerus Clausus, NC) and open-admission programmes. As a general reference for Hessen public universities: winter semester (October start) applications typically close around 15 July for restricted programmes via hochschulstart.de or the university's own portal; summer semester (April start) applications typically close around 15 January. International applicants are strongly advised to check deadlines directly on the university's application portal or contact "Information Studium" well in advance, as some programmes do not offer summer intake.
How international applicants apply
uni-assist handles the complete application (standard procedure, not just VPD): 'As a prospective student (including Germans and EU citizens) with a school-leaving qualification from abroad, you must always apply via uni-assist.' Applicants register at My assist, upload all documents fully online (no postal documents), pay the fee - the application is only complete once the fee is transferred. uni-assist checks formal admission requirements (result after about 4-6 weeks by email and post) and forwards qualifying applications to the University of Kassel, which then runs its own formal check and subject-specific admission decision. Deadlines are published on each degree programme page; the application guide recommends applying early. Sources: uni-kassel.de 'Application with foreign certificates' and the international applicants guide.
Languages of instruction
The primary language of instruction is German. The university offers a growing number of English-taught master's programmes, particularly in STEM and sustainability-related fields. Prospective students should check individual programme pages for the language of instruction, as the majority of bachelor's programmes are German-taught.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Universität Kassel
9 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Deutschlandstipendium (Universitaet Kassel)
Kassel's Germany Scholarship supports talented enrolled students with EUR 300 per month, half from private sponsors and half from...
Amount: EUR 300/month
Deadline: Annual online calls (example 2025/26: 01 - 20 September for all studen...
bachelor, master
Deutschlandstipendium (Universität Kassel)
Universität Kassel awards the Deutschlandstipendium. EUR 300/month (half private sponsors, half federal government) for talented s...
Amount: EUR 300/month
Deadline: 1 September 2026 – 20 September 2026 (main phase); 1 October 2026 – 20...
bachelor, master
ERASMUS+ Mobilitätszuschüsse (Universität Kassel)
EU-funded grants for study semesters and internships at European partner universities. Kassel students can receive one study and o...
Amount: Varies by destination country (partial stipend)
Deadline: Per International Office deadlines
bachelor, master, state examination, doctorate
Kassel Stipendium (Studierendenwerk Kassel)
Support for students at Universität Kassel who successfully complete their studies despite special life situations. Monthly EUR 20...
Amount: EUR 200/month
Deadline: Annual (typically winter semester start)
bachelor, master, state examination, artistic degrees (Kunsthochschule)
PROMOS Stipendien für weltweite Auslandsaufenthalte (Uni Kassel)
DAAD-funded mobility grants for study, internships, and research stays worldwide (outside ERASMUS+) for German students and Bildun...
Amount: Varies by country (DAAD rates) + travel allowance
Deadline: Per International Office deadlines
bachelor, master, state examination, doctorate
Promotionsabschlussstipendien (Uni Kassel Graduiertenakademie)
Doctoral completion scholarships for final-phase PhD students at Universität Kassel, administered via the Graduiertenakademie. Inc...
Amount: Exposé-Stipendium: EUR 1,300/month (max 9 months); Abschlussstipendium...
Deadline: Per Graduiertenakademie announcement
doctorate
Stipendien der Begabtenförderungswerke (Uni Kassel Vertrauensdozent:innen)
Uni Kassel hosts Vertrauensdozent:innen for all 13 German talent promotion foundations: Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, Stif...
Amount: Monthly stipend up to BAföG max + health insurance + non-material prog...
Deadline: Varies by foundation
bachelor, master, state examination, doctorate
Wissenschafts- und Förderpreis der IHK (Uni Kassel)
Science and support prize from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Kassel-Marburg for outstanding students/graduates at Universit...
Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Per IHK announcement
bachelor, master, doctorate
Zuschüsse zu Reisekosten (Fachbereich 05, Uni Kassel)
Travel cost grants for students of Faculty 05 (Social Sciences) at Universität Kassel for study/research-related travel.
Amount: Varies (travel cost reimbursement)
Deadline: Ongoing
bachelor, master, doctorate
Student accommodation
What Universität Kassel publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studentenwerk Kassel
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 Studierendenwerk Kassel manages student halls of residence (Wohnheime) across the city, offering subsidised accommodation for enrolled students; applications should be submitted as early as possible as demand typically exceeds supply.
Campuses & locations
Main campus, central Kassel
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Sports sciences (task-Halle Auepark)
School of Art and Design
Murhard Library
Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences
Hessian State Domain (agricultural research)
Living in Kassel
Kassel is a mid-sized city of approximately 200,000 residents in the heart of Germany (northern Hessen), situated along the Fulda river and framed by extensive forested hills. It is internationally known for documenta, one of the world's most significant contemporary art exhibitions held every five years. The Wilhelmshöhe palace park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is a landmark of the city. Kassel is well connected by ICE high-speed rail (roughly 90 minutes to Frankfurt, under 2 hours to Berlin) and offers a relatively affordable cost of living compared to Frankfurt or Munich.
Student life & support
The Studierendenwerk Kassel manages student halls of residence (Wohnheime) across the city, offering subsidised accommodation for enrolled students; applications should be submitted as early as possible as demand typically exceeds supply. The university's International Office, based at the CampusCenter (Moritzstr. 18), runs a Welcome Centre that organises a pre-arrival Online Welcome Week and an in-person Welcome Week at the start of each semester, covering orientation, registration, and visa/residence matters. The university and affiliated language centres offer German language courses at multiple levels for international students. A city-wide bike-sharing scheme (nextbike, first 60 minutes free for students) and a semester-wide public transport ticket are included in the semester contribution, making getting around the city straightforward.
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