- Founded
- 1974
- Students
- 14,000
- International
- 10.2%
- Programmes
- 193
- Taught in English
- 33
About Universität Osnabrück
Universität Osnabrück (Osnabrück University) is a public research university founded in 1974 and located in the historic city of Osnabrück in Lower Saxony, Germany. It enrolls approximately 14,000 students across eight schools and offers around 180 study programmes spanning humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, law, economics, and education.
The university occupies multiple sites throughout the city, with humanities and social sciences housed in and around the historic city-centre campus (including the former prince-bishop's palace), and the Westerberg campus dedicated to natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science. Six strategic research profile lines guide its academic agenda: Digital Society, Integrated Science, Cognition, Mathematical Structures, Human-Environment Networks, and Migration Societies.
With around 1,800 employees and an annual financial volume of approximately €180 million (2023), the university is one of the largest employers in the region. It successfully secured €16.25 million in funding under the federal 'Strategic Development of Potential' programme for 2025-2030.
Founded 1974; one of the younger German public universities, enrolling ~14,000 students across 8 schools
No general tuition fees for non-EU students - Lower Saxony does not impose non-EU surcharges
Applications for non-EU students via uni-assist: deadline 15 June (Winter) / 15 December (Summer)
German C1 proficiency (DSH 2 / TestDaF 16 pts) required for German-taught programmes
Research strengths: membrane biology, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, comparative law, migration studies
Home to the Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center, jointly operated with the City of Osnabrück
Key facts
- Type
- Universitäten
- Founded
- 1974
- Students
- 14,000
- International
- 10.2% international students (Studis Online university profile, preliminary WS 2024/25 figures)
- Faculties
- 8
- Programmes
- 193
Study programmes
193 accredited degrees at Universität Osnabrück, 33 of them taught in English.
Showing 97–99 of 99 matching programmes
Clear filtersAdmissions & fees
What it costs
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.
Admission requirements
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.
Application deadlines
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.
How international applicants apply
Full uni-assist processing for internationals with foreign certificates. Applicants with foreign qualifications submit either via uni-assist (Bachelor/Staatsexamen first semester, all Master programmes, Studienkolleg, Freemover short study) or via the HISinOne portal depending on applicant group (e.g. M.Ed., doctoral applications go via the university portal). Master applicants with international degrees apply EXCLUSIVELY via uni-assist. Deadlines via uni-assist: 15 June (WS) and 15 December (SS); via HISinOne: 15 July (WS) and 15 January (SS). Applications in the wrong portal do not take part in the procedure.
Languages of instruction
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.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Universität Osnabrück
14 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
AStA Small Loan for Unforeseen Financial Emergencies
The AStA Osnabrueck University offers a small loan for unforeseen financial emergencies via the Referat fuer Finanzen. Referenced...
Amount: Small loan (amount varies by emergency)
Bachelor, Master, State examination, Doctorate
DAAD Hilde Domin Programme (At-Risk Students and Doctoral Candidates)
The Hilde Domin Program of the DAAD is a scholarship program for at-risk students and doctoral candidates who need financial suppo...
Amount: Monthly stipend per DAAD rates (PhD: EUR 1,300/month; students: per DA...
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time without deadlines
Bachelor, Master, Doctorate
Foerderpreis (Funding Award) of Osnabrueck University
The Foerderpreis is an annual funding award that students at Osnabrueck University can apply for alongside the Deutschlandstipendi...
Amount: Not specified (varies by annual call)
Deadline: Annual call (check university funding page)
Bachelor, Master
Hardship Loans from Studierendenwerk Osnabrueck
Students experiencing an acute financial emergency can apply for an interest-free loan for emergencies from the Studierendenwerk O...
Amount: Interest-free emergency loan (amount varies)
Bachelor, Master, State examination, Doctorate
Inpijn Bakker Grunwald Prizes (Doctoral Prizes)
The Inpijn Bakker Grunwald Prizes are awarded for outstanding dissertations (two per year), endowed with EUR 1,500 each. Recent wi...
Amount: EUR 1,500 each (two prizes per year)
Doctorate
Landesstipendium Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony State Scholarship)
The Landesstipendium Niedersachsen is awarded based on higher education entrance qualification grades. For foreign students with e...
Amount: Not specified (aligned with state scholarship rates)
Deadline: Annual call (typically aligned with Deutschlandstipendium application...
Bachelor, Master
Landesstipendium Niedersachsen and Foerderpreis
At Osnabrueck University, students can apply annually for a Deutschlandstipendium scholarship, a Landesstipendium Niedersachsen sc...
Bachelor, Master
Madame Courage Osnabrueck University (Single Parents Support)
Students at the university who are single parents can find support through the Madame Courage Osnabrueck University support progra...
Amount: Not specified (support for single parents)
Bachelor, Master, State examination
Oekumenischer Notfonds (Ecumenical Emergency Fund)
The Ecumenical Emergency Fund, provided by 17 partners of Brot fuer die Welt, supports international students from the Global Sout...
Amount: Up to 3 payments of EUR 500 each (max EUR 1,500 total)
Bachelor, Master, State examination, Doctorate
Pool for the Advancement of Women (Doctoral Scholarships)
Female students in the final stages of their doctoral studies may be supported by a scholarship from the Pool for the Advancement...
Amount: Not specified (doctoral scholarship for women)
Doctorate
Prize for Excellent Junior Researchers (Habilitation Prize)
The University Society's prize for excellent junior researchers is awarded for outstanding habilitation theses, endowed with EUR 3...
Amount: EUR 3,000 (one-off prize)
Postdoc (Habilitation)
Sozialfonds fuer Osnabruecker Studierende (SOS) e.V. - Emergency Aid
If local or international students at Osnabrueck University or Osnabrueck University of Applied Sciences find themselves in a temp...
Amount: Emergency aid (amount varies by case, short-term)
Deadline: Rolling (emergency applications anytime)
Bachelor, Master, State examination, Doctorate
Universitaetsgesellschaft Mobility Grants and Partnership Scholarships
Since end of 2020, the University Society secured EUR 105,000 from the Sievert Foundation for Science and Culture and the Felicita...
Amount: Mobility grants/partnership scholarships (total pool EUR 105,000 over...
Bachelor, Master, Doctorate
Universitaetsgesellschaft Osnabrueck - Unrestricted Deutschlandstipendien
The Universitaetsgesellschaft Osnabrueck awards unrestricted Deutschlandstipendien (7 in 2022, 6+1 in 2021, 4 in 2020, 4 in 2019)...
Amount: EUR 300 per month (Deutschlandstipendium standard)
Deadline: Annual (typically November award ceremony)
Bachelor, Master, State examination
Student accommodation
What Universität Osnabrück publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studierendenwerk Osnabrück
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 pageHousing office: [email protected]
Room types mentioned
What that page describes. Availability varies by intake.
From the university
Housing options must be arranged independently and early; the university website provides an overview of accommodation types.
Campuses & locations
Humanities, social sciences, and law; centred around the historic Schloss (former prince-bishop's palace) at Neuer Graben
Natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, and physics
Psychology and cognitive science facilities
Used for teaching and research
Living in Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city of approximately 165,000 inhabitants in the south of Lower Saxony, about 150 km west of Hanover and close to the Dutch border. It is historically significant as one of the venues where the Peace of Westphalia was signed in 1648, ending the Thirty Years' War; this heritage is reflected in the city's Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center and the annual Osnabrück Peace Forum. The city offers a compact, walkable old town, a low cost of living relative to German metropolitan centres, and good rail connections to Hanover, Bremen, Dortmund, and Amsterdam.
Student life & support
The International Office (Neuer Graben 27, Building 19) is the central point of contact for incoming international students and provides guidance on onboarding, visa and residence formalities, scholarships, part-time jobs, and social integration. The office runs a Welcome Session dedicated to degree-seeking international students before the general faculty orientation weeks. German language courses (Intensivkurs Deutsch) are available to help international students develop communication skills. Housing options must be arranged independently and early; the university website provides an overview of accommodation types. All enrolled students receive the Deutschland-Semesterticket as part of their semester contribution, giving unlimited access to regional public transport across Germany (excluding long-distance IC/ICE trains). The OSKA+ mentoring programme supports first-semester students. Financial support for international students in hardship is available through the Hilde Domin Programme and the Ecumenical Emergency Fund.
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