University of Cologne Admission Requirements 2027 for International Students

The University of Cologne is one of Germany's oldest and largest public universities, with particular strength in law, economics and the humanities. It charges no tuition fee to non-EU students, who pay only the same semester contribution as everyone else.

Requirements

Bachelor's

Applicants need a higher education entrance qualification recognised as equivalent to the German Abitur, confirmed through uni-assist for most non-EU applicants. Most bachelor's programmes are taught in German and require a German language certificate; a smaller number of English-taught bachelor's programmes ask for English at around B2 level.

Master's

Applicants need a relevant bachelor's degree. Many master's programmes admit through the university's own KLIPS system rather than uni-assist. Language requirements are set per programme: German-taught programmes ask for a German certificate (commonly TestDaF level 4 or DSH-2), English-taught programmes for an English certificate, typically at B2 to C1 level.

Documents

Certified copies of school and university certificates and transcripts; a certified translation if the originals are not in German or English; a preliminary review through uni-assist for most non-EU bachelor's applicants; proof of German or English language proficiency depending on the programme; and confirmation of health insurance before enrolment. Master's applicants also submit their bachelor's degree certificate or an official transcript of progress if not yet complete.

How to apply

Choose a bachelor's or master's programme and check whether it admits through uni-assist or the university's own KLIPS portal.
If required, apply for a preliminary document review through uni-assist ahead of the university's own deadline.
Submit your application inside the stated window; most master's programmes close 15 July for the winter semester and 15 January for the summer semester, with some faculties setting earlier dates.
Upload certified copies of your certificates, transcripts and language certificate.
If admitted, pay the semester contribution, arrange health insurance, and apply for a student visa if coming from outside the EU or EEA.
Enrol and register your address in Cologne.

English test waiver

Cologne sets English requirements per programme rather than university-wide. This figure comes from an official master's programme page (Neuroscience M.Sc.) and is representative of many English-taught master's programmes; bachelor's programmes with an English component more commonly ask for B2, equivalent to around IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 80. Applicants with a prior degree taught fully in English, or from an English-speaking country, are generally exempt.