The University of Göttingen (Georg-August-Universität) was founded in 1737 and has been a foundation under public law since 2003.[1] Its provisional student total for winter semester 2026/27 is 26,658, and 19.3 per cent are international.[2] It is ranked 261st in the QS World University Ranking (16th in Germany) on the university’s own rankings overview, status 30 September 2026.[3]
The fee page lists a semester fee of €484.18 for winter semester 2026/27; it lists a tuition fee only for individual programmes, such as €800 for the M.Sc. Sustainable International Agriculture.[4] German-taught bachelor’s programmes require German at A1 on application and DSH-2 (or an equivalent certificate) at enrolment.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Georg-August-Universität Göttingen |
| Location | Göttingen, Lower Saxony (Wilhelmsplatz 1, 37073 Göttingen)[1] |
| Legal status | Foundation under public law since 2003[1] |
| Founded | 1737[1] |
| Students | 26,658 provisional for winter semester 2026/27; the facts page shows 21,487 for summer term 2026, excluding the University Medical Center[2] |
| International students | 19.3 per cent (winter semester 2026/27); the international page speaks of around 4,500 students from 138 countries[2] |
| Faculties | 13, covering almost all disciplines except engineering[1] |
| Professors and staff | 404 professors; 4,749 employees in total (reference date 1 December 2025, excluding the University Medical Center)[6] |
| QS World University Ranking | 261st worldwide, 16th in Germany (status 30 September 2026)[3] |
| English-language programmes | More than fifty English-language master’s and PhD programmes[7] |
| Semester fee, winter semester 2026/27 | €484.18 (includes a Germany-wide semester ticket)[4] |
| Tuition | No tuition line in the general fee breakdown; individual programmes list their own (for example €800 for the M.Sc. SIA)[4] |
| German for bachelor’s | A1 at application, DSH-2 at enrolment (Psychology: DSH-3)[5] |
| Official website | uni-goettingen.de |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 9 November 2026.
About the University of Göttingen
The University of Göttingen was founded in 1737.[1] Since early 2003 it has had the legal status of a foundation under public law, the first German comprehensive university to adopt this structure.[1] It has 13 faculties covering almost all academic disciplines except engineering.[1]
The provisional student total for winter semester 2026/27 is 26,658, with up to 27,000 expected as the semester progresses; the share of international students is 19.3 per cent.[2] The facts page counts 21,487 students for summer term 2026, a figure that excludes the University Medical Center, and lists 404 professors.[6] The university’s international page speaks of around 4,500 students from 138 countries and 510 exchange partnerships with 90 countries.[7] Older profile text still cites about 30,000 students and eleven per cent international students, so counts differ by date and definition.[1]
How is the University of Göttingen ranked?
The university’s rankings overview (status 30 September 2026) lists Göttingen at 261st in the QS World University Ranking and 16th nationally. It also lists THE World University Ranking at 133rd worldwide (11th in Germany) and the Shanghai Ranking (ARWU) in the group 151–200 worldwide (group 6–11 in Germany).[3] The page does not label the QS edition.
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Göttingen?
Göttingen has 13 faculties covering almost all disciplines except engineering.[1] It offers more than fifty English-language master’s and PhD programmes.[7] German-taught degrees need German; some master’s programmes in the humanities are open to applicants without German only if they are taught in English.[8] Use the programme pages on the university website to check each degree.
How much does the University of Göttingen cost?
| Item | Amount, winter semester 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Semester fee (enrolment and re-registration) | €484.18 |
| Exchange students (for example Erasmus) and international scholarship holders with German public funding | €409.18 |
| Students on leave of absence | €157.00 |
| Surcharge for long-term students | €500, usually six or more semesters over the standard length |
The fee page itemises the general semester fee as €62.50 administration, €33.20 student body, €226.80 semester ticket (labelled Germany-wide), €11.56 culture ticket and €106.00 Studierendenwerk. These items add up to €440.06, not €484.18, and the page does not explain the difference of €44.12.[4] Its breakdown for the M.Sc. Sustainable International Agriculture adds up to €484.18 and includes a separate tuition fee of €800; the page does not state for which period.[4] The M.Sc. page for the same programme says there are no regular tuition fees and puts the semester contribution at about €450–500; it also estimates about €990 per month for living costs.[9]
We found no general tuition fee for regular programmes on the fee page, but it does not state this in so many words. The LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law charges €9,000 in total (€4,500 per semester) plus a semester fee of about €500.[10] The M.I.N.C. programme states that it has no tuition fees in Göttingen.[11] For living costs and visas, see the Study in Germany guide and our Germany overview.
How do you apply to the University of Göttingen?
International applicants with a non-German school certificate apply online through the university’s own application and upload portal; the page does not mention uni-assist. Do not send documents by post or email. Documents not in German, English or French need a certified translation.[12]
- Entrance qualification: the International Student Office checks whether your certificates qualify you for direct entry. You can check in the anabin database first.[12]
- Studienkolleg: if your qualification is not sufficient, you may be invited to an entrance exam for Studienkolleg Hannover instead of being rejected; the one-year course ends with an assessment exam.[12]
- Fee: €65 per semester of application for evaluating the foreign qualification, unless exempt.[12]
- Limit: up to three admission-restricted programmes per semester.[12]
- Master’s (humanities): apply through the online application portal; no paper documents are required.[8]
We give no deadlines here because they differ for applicants from outside the EU and change every year; check the deadlines page of the university.
Which language level do you need?
German-taught bachelor’s programmes require German at level A1 (CEFR, the European scale from A1 to C2) when you apply. Admitted applicants must provide proof of a successful DSH-2 exam or an equivalent certificate when they enrol; Psychology requires DSH-3.[5] Medicine and dentistry applicants in the first semester must submit DSH-2 or a certified alternative.[5] A DSH certificate from another university counts only if its regulations are registered with the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK).[5]
Master’s requirements differ by programme and faculty.[5] Humanities master’s programmes taught in English are open to applicants without German.[8]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of Göttingen free for international students?
The general fee breakdown lists no tuition, but every student pays a semester fee: €484.18 for winter semester 2026/27, which includes a Germany-wide semester ticket.[4] Some programmes charge their own tuition, for example the LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law at €9,000 in total.[10]
How is the University of Göttingen ranked?
The university’s rankings overview lists it at 261st in the QS World University Ranking and 16th in Germany (status 30 September 2026).[3]
Do I need German to study at the University of Göttingen?
How many students does the University of Göttingen have?
The provisional total for winter semester 2026/27 is 26,658, of whom 19.3 per cent are international.[2]
What if my school certificate is not enough for direct entry?
You may be invited to an entrance exam for Studienkolleg Hannover; after the one-year course and its assessment exam you can apply again for direct admission.[12]
More about studying in Germany
- Germany: best universities
- Study in Germany: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Heidelberg University
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- RWTH Aachen University
- Technical University of Berlin
- Technical University of Munich
- TU Darmstadt
- TU Dresden
- University of Bonn
- University of Cologne
- University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
- University of Freiburg
- University of Hamburg
- University of Mannheim
- University of Münster
- University of Stuttgart
- University of Tübingen
Sources
[1] University of Göttingen: Short profile (page without a date; student figures are older)
[2] University of Göttingen: Many first-year students at the University of Göttingen (news item on the homepage, undated (image file name suggests 27 Oct 2026); total is provisional)
[3] University of Göttingen: Rankings overview (Controlling) (status 30 Sep 2026; QS edition not labelled; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access)
[4] University of Göttingen: Semester fees (page without a date; amounts for winter semester 2026/27)
[5] University of Göttingen: Language requirements for international prospective students (page without a date)
[6] University of Göttingen: Facts and Figures (students summer term 2026; staff reference date 1 Dec 2025)
[7] University of Göttingen: International (page without a date)
[8] University of Göttingen: Applying for master’s programmes (Faculty of Humanities) (page without a date)
[9] University of Göttingen: Financial requirements and funding opportunities (M.Sc. Sustainable International Agriculture) (page without a date)
[10] University of Göttingen: Fees and scholarships (LL.M.) (page without a date)
[11] University of Göttingen: Tuition fees and scholarships (M.I.N.C.) (page without a date; refers to winter semester 2026/27)
[12] University of Göttingen: Informing yourself about the application process (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.