Study in Heidelberg, Germany

About Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a historic university city on the river Neckar in the north of Baden-Württemberg, in south-west Germany. Its old town, the castle above the river and its long academic tradition draw visitors from around the world, but for much of the year the city is shaped by its students.

Students come to Heidelberg for Germany's oldest university, for research-oriented degrees in medicine and the sciences, and for German courses in a small city where most places can be reached on foot, by bike or by tram.

Studying in Heidelberg

SpainExchange lists four schools in Heidelberg: two universities and two language schools. Heidelberg University (Universität Heidelberg), founded in 1386, is the oldest university in Germany. It has 32,178 students, 6,633 of them international, and has been funded as a University of Excellence since 2007.

The Academy of Languages is located in the historic centre, a few metres from the Neckar. According to the school, more than 10,000 language students and exam candidates take its courses and exams every year, and participants in its German courses come from over 100 countries. It prepares students for TestDaF, telc, TOEFL and IELTS, runs a preparatory course for the assessment test that international students without direct university access must pass, and arranges halls of residence, flats, host families and airport transfers. The directory also lists the International House Heidelberg – Collegium Palatinum, another German language school.

Cost of living for students

Baden-Württemberg charges students from outside the EU tuition of €1,500 per semester at state universities, according to the DAAD; doctoral students are exempt. Heidelberg University confirms that international students from outside the EU and EEA pay additional fees. All students pay the semester fee, which is currently €189.80 at Heidelberg University.

The DAAD estimates student living costs at €900 to €1,200 a month, depending on the city, with rent averaging €410 a month across Germany. The Studierendenwerk Heidelberg runs student residences in Heidelberg and other towns in the region and helps students find private rooms. Over Christmas and New Year, the university's International Relations Office arranges short homestays with local hosts for international students who stay in Heidelberg.

Students from outside the EU who need a visa must prove funds of €992 a month (DAAD figure as of 1 January 2025). German-taught degrees usually require level B2, while English-taught international programmes are exempt. Students who attend a Studienkolleg take the Feststellungsprüfung (assessment test) after two semesters. A prospective student visa is valid for up to nine months and also covers a language course; a tourist visa cannot be converted into a student visa.

Getting around and daily life

Heidelberg is compact, and buses and trams link the old town, the main station and the university campus in Neuenheimer Feld. Since January 2026 the Deutschlandticket, valid on local transport throughout Germany, costs €63 a month; where a university offers it as a Deutschlandsemesterticket, students pay 60% of that price. The nearest major international airport is Frankfurt.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Heidelberg University?

Heidelberg University was founded in 1386 and is the oldest university in Germany. Today it has more than 32,000 students.

Do international students pay tuition in Heidelberg?

Students from outside the EU and EEA pay €1,500 per semester at state universities in Baden-Württemberg, in addition to the semester fee of €189.80 at Heidelberg University. Doctoral students do not pay the tuition fee.

Can I prepare for German university entrance in Heidelberg?

Yes. The Academy of Languages offers TestDaF and telc preparation and a course that prepares international students for the assessment test taken at the end of a Studienkolleg.

Where can students live in Heidelberg?

The Studierendenwerk Heidelberg runs student residences and a private room service. Language schools such as the Academy of Languages also arrange host families and flats.