Universität Osnabrück

Osnabrück University is a public university in Lower Saxony. There are no general tuition fees for bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes for EU and non-EU students alike — Lower Saxony does not charge non-EU tuition fees (unlike Baden-Württemberg or Bavaria). Students pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) each semester; the exact current amount is not published on the publicly accessible cost page but is in line with other Lower Saxony public universities (typically in the range of €300–€400 per semester and includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket for public transport). Students who exceed their standard study entitlement period are charged a long-term study fee of €500 per semester under Lower Saxony regulations. Certain continuing-education programmes (e.g. LL.M. European Technology Law, M.Sc. Cognitive Computing) charge separate programme fees.

International applicants (non-EU/EEA) must apply through uni-assist. Entry qualifications must be equivalent to the German Abitur for bachelor's programmes; a relevant first university degree is required for consecutive master's programmes. Applicants are advised to check the anabin database (anabin.kmk.org) and uni-assist's qualification checker to verify whether their school-leaving or degree certificates meet German recognition standards. Language requirement for German-taught programmes: C1 level at the time of enrollment (DSH 2, Goethe C2, or TestDaF with a total of 16 points). Provisional admission with B2 is possible, but C1 must be obtained before formal enrollment. Certificates must not be older than two years. The university does not offer its own preparatory German language courses; applicants must obtain proficiency independently before applying. APS certificate: Indian, Chinese (mainland, Hong Kong, Macau), and Vietnamese applicants whose prior qualification was obtained in those countries are required to hold an APS certificate before their student visa can be issued. This is a German consulate/embassy requirement, not specific to Osnabrück University. Indian applicants should allow approximately 4–6 weeks for the APS process at the German Embassy in New Delhi.

Applications for non-EU international applicants are submitted via uni-assist. Published deadlines: 15 June for the Winter Semester (starting October); 15 December for the Summer Semester (starting April). Applicants should submit well in advance of these dates as uni-assist processing adds additional lead time.

The primary language of instruction is German. Most bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes are taught in German, requiring at least C1 proficiency (DSH 2, TestDaF 16 points total, or equivalent Goethe/telc certificate). A selection of courses and some programmes are available in English; the university maintains a dedicated listing of 'Study Programs and Courses in English'. Some programmes in Business Administration accept B2-level English for specific components.