About Universität Siegen
Universität Siegen is a public research university in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Teaching and research are organised across four faculties and a Centre for Teacher Education, covering engineering, natural sciences, humanities, economics, and social sciences. As of Winter Semester 2025/26, the university enrols approximately 13,755 students, supported by 247 professors and over 1,100 scientific staff.
The university offers more than 140 bachelor's and master's degree programmes, including a growing number taught in English, and participates in more than 250 international academic partnerships including 161 Erasmus+ cooperations. It is a member of the ATHENA European University alliance. The university holds the 'audit familiengerechte hochschule' quality seal and has been designated a Fairtrade University.
Siegen consistently claims the best student-to-professor ratio among universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. Its two main campuses — Campus Adolf-Reichwein-Straße and the historic Campus Unteres Schloss (Lower Castle) — are located within the city of Siegen in the Siegerland region of central-western Germany.
Key facts
- Students
- 13,755
- International
- 2,351 international students (WiSe 2025/26), of whom 1,845 are from over 100 countries outside Germany
- Faculties
- 4
13,755 students enrolled in Winter Semester 2025/26 with a best-in-NRW student-to-professor ratio (247 professors)
4 faculties plus a Centre for Teacher Education; over 140 bachelor's and master's degree programmes
2,351 international students from over 100 countries; 161 Erasmus+ cooperations and 250+ international partnerships
Member of the ATHENA European University alliance
No tuition fees for any student (NRW public university); semester contribution approx. €372.80/semester including transport ticket
APS certificate mandatory for Chinese and Vietnamese applicants; required for Indian applicants' visa process
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
Universität Siegen is a public university in North Rhine-Westphalia. There are no tuition fees for any student regardless of nationality (NRW does not charge non-EU tuition fees, unlike Baden-Württemberg or Bavaria). All students pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) of €372.80 per semester (Summer Semester 2026 rate), which includes a Germany-wide semester transport ticket (€208.80), student services contribution (€140.00), solidarity contribution (€4.00), and student council fee (€20.00). Students enrolled in the preparatory German language course pay an additional €500.00 per semester.
Admission requirements
International applicants without a German school-leaving certificate apply through the university's STARTING portal. For German-taught programmes, a minimum German language level of DSH 2 (or equivalent: TestDaF TDN 4, Goethe C2, telc C1 Hochschule) is required. Applicants from China and Vietnam must submit an APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate — enrolment cannot proceed without it. Indian applicants must complete the APS procedure in India as part of the student visa process. Applicants whose foreign qualification does not directly grant university access may need to attend a Studienkolleg (preparatory foundation year). The university operates a separate German language preparatory course (Sprachkurs) for admitted international students.
Application deadlines
Winter Semester: restricted bachelor's/master's programmes June 1–July 15; unrestricted master's programmes April 1–September 15; German language preparatory course September 1–November 15. Summer Semester: restricted programmes December 1–January 15; unrestricted master's programmes October 1–March 15; German language preparatory course February 1–May 15. Only complete applications submitted within the relevant window are accepted.
Languages of instruction
The majority of degree programmes are taught in German. German-language applicants require DSH 2 (or TestDaF TDN 4 in all sections, Goethe C2, or telc C1 Hochschule); linguistics and media programmes recommend DSH 3. A selection of English-taught master's programmes is available (e.g. Accounting, Auditing & Taxation); English proficiency for these is assessed by the relevant faculty.
Campuses & locations
Main campus; engineering, natural sciences, and economics faculties
Historic Lower Castle campus; humanities and social sciences
Living in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Siegen is a mid-sized city of approximately 100,000 inhabitants in the Siegerland highlands of North Rhine-Westphalia, situated roughly midway between Cologne and Frankfurt. The region is noted for its green hills, the Rothaargebirge mountain range, and a strong industrial and engineering heritage. The cost of living is moderate by German standards, with affordable rental housing compared to major metropolitan centres. Siegen has good rail connections to Cologne (approx. 80 minutes) and Frankfurt (approx. 90 minutes).
Student life & support
Student services (Studierendenwerk) provide on-campus dining facilities described as award-winning, along with housing support for students seeking accommodation. The university's International Office (Welcome Center) offers advising for incoming degree students and exchange students in German, English, and Spanish, including in-person, online, and email consultations. The 'Forging International Talents (FIT)' programme supports international students with career workshops and networking for the German job market. Regular social events include monthly international get-togethers and a weekly International Stammtisch every Thursday. The Language Centre (Sprachenzentrum) offers German language courses for international students. University sports (Hochschulsport) and a student council (AStA) round out campus life.
182
Accredited Programmes
98
Master
84
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
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
Universität Siegen?
Our team can help you with the application process, documentation, and everything you need to get started.