Study in Dortmund, Germany

About Dortmund

Dortmund is one of the largest cities in the Ruhr, the former coal and steel region of North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany. Today it is a centre for technology, logistics and research, and it is known well beyond Germany for its football club. For students it combines the prices of a mid-sized city with the infrastructure of a large one and quick connections to the other Ruhr cities, Cologne and Düsseldorf.

Most international students come to Dortmund either to study at its technical university or to learn German to the level needed for a degree.

Studying in Dortmund

The largest institution is TU Dortmund University, whose facilities are spread over a larger North Campus and a smaller South Campus, with further buildings in the neighbouring technology park and in the city. Besides its German-taught degrees, it offers a selection of English-taught degree programmes.

Our directory lists one school in Dortmund: Projekt Deutsch lernen (pdL), a German language school in the city centre that has taught German since 1978 and has run courses for prospective university students since 1991. It has cooperated with TU Dortmund since 1993 and prepares students for the DSH, the university entrance language exam; the school states that its students have achieved the highest success rates in the DSH at TU Dortmund since 1991. As a telc competence centre, pdL also holds telc exams from A1 to C1, including telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, which German universities usually accept for admission.

Most degree programmes at German universities are taught in German, and most universities require at least level B2. International degree programmes and English-taught postgraduate programmes are exempt from this requirement but ask for proof of English instead.

Cost of living for students

State universities in Germany generally charge no tuition fees for bachelor's degrees and most master's degrees. Every student pays a semester contribution of between €70 and €430, which at many universities includes a semester ticket for local public transport.

According to the DAAD, students need between €900 and €1,200 a month depending on the city, and the average student spends €410 a month on rent including utilities. Students from outside the EU must prove €992 a month when they apply for a student visa (DAAD, figure as of 1 January 2025).

Getting around and daily life

Dortmund has an underground light rail, trams and buses, and regional trains link it to the rest of the Ruhr. The Deutschlandticket, valid on local and regional transport throughout Germany, has cost €63 a month since January 2026; where a university offers it as a Deutschlandsemesterticket, students pay 60% of that price.

Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland only need an ID card. Students from countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil or Japan can enter without a visa but need a residence permit for stays of more than three months; most other students need a national student visa from the German embassy. A tourist visa cannot be converted into a student visa later.

Frequently asked questions

Can I learn German in Dortmund?

Yes. Projekt Deutsch lernen has taught German in the city centre since 1978 and prepares students for the DSH and telc exams needed for university admission.

Are there English-taught programmes in Dortmund?

Yes. TU Dortmund University offers a selection of English-taught degree programmes; most of its other degrees are taught in German.

How much does it cost to study in Dortmund?

State universities generally charge no tuition fees, but students pay a semester contribution of €70 to €430. The DAAD estimates living costs of €900 to €1,200 a month in Germany.