22 Best Universities In Hessen For International Students 2025

Hessen is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in Germany. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 22 universities and colleges in Hessen, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 22 universities in Hessen, Goethe University Frankfurt and Technical University of Darmstadt are the top-performing schools in Hessen. This list covers both public and private institutions in Hessen.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Hessen. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Hessen.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Hessen?

Applying to the universities in Hessen involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Hessen to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Hessen?

Tuition fees at Hessen’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 0 Euros to 15,000 Euros , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 0 Euros to 36,500 Euros. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Hessen!

As we cover the best universities in Hessen for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Hessen for International Students

Goethe University Frankfurt, colloquially referred to as Goethe University, is a public institution of higher learning in Frankfurt. The university is named in honour of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a famous philosopher from Frankfurt. Since its founding by prominent Frankfurt citizens in 1914, Geothe University has grown into one of the leading universities in Germany, gaining an outstanding reputation for its business and social research programs.

The university has five campuses spread across various locations in the city. Its new Westend Campus, with its picturesque fields and travertine-faced buildings, is one of Germany’s most beautiful campuses.

The Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt) is a public institute of higher studies in Germany. It is a prestigious center of learning, mainly due to its rich historical background and top-quality courses and programs. Adding to this, TU Darmstadt is also consistently included in lists of top universities worldwide.

The University of Giessen has the official name of Justus Liebig University Giessen, named after the inventor of artificial fertilizer. It is part of the world’s top 500 universities, an impressive feat. Various disciplines, including law, medicine, arts, and business, are available at the institution. For those pursuing medicine, the University of Geissen has the only private university hospital in Germany.

The Philipps University of Marburg, usually referred to as the University of Marburg, is among the public universities in Hessen, Germany. It was founded in 1527, making it one of the oldest operating universities in the country. The university currently has over 22,000 students, with more than 15% international enrolment, and offers programs in Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, and Medicine.

University of Kassel is a flourishing institution located in Hessen, Germany. As the institution is serious about helping combat current global issues, it puts great effort into promoting sustainability and climate change on its campus. In addition, it is even recognized for forming multidisciplinary programs concentrating on natural and agricultural sciences. The University of Kassel is fast becoming a first-rate university in the Hesse region. Many local and international students prefer obtaining a degree at the university even if it can still be considered a young university.

The Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences was founded in 1971, though its history goes back to 1876 through the foundation of the Technical University of Darmstadt. It is one of the largest universities for Applied Sciences in Hesse, Germany. The university has over 17,000 students, with more than 18% international students.

European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), or Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) in German, is a public institution and among the smallest universities in Germany. It is also known as the Viadrina or the University of Frankfurt (Oder). An ancient establishment, the university was first founded in 1506 but closed down in 1811. It was then reopened in 1991 as the present university. Many programs are offered at the Viadrina, some of which are English-taught.

Known as one of the top business schools not only in Germany but on the entire continent, the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management is a private academic institution that provides outstanding business education and research. It is among the elite business schools that received triple accreditation from the three most prominent accrediting bodies. The school’s programs are designed to be up-to-date with the latest business trends to train students to become highly adaptable and competent professionals in the business industry.

Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, a public institution in Hessen, Germany, was known before as Fachhochschule Frankfurt am Main. It comprises four faculties: architecture, civil engineering, and geomatics; computer science and engineering; business and law; and health and social work. One of the European Silicon Valley members, the university is well-regarded and top-ranked, placing 100th in Germany, 9th in Hessen, and 3rd in Frankfurt, according to EduRank.

Fulda University of Applied Science is home to over 7,000 students from both Germany and around the world. With the vision and goal of making a difference, the university strives to provide their students with the means of changing the world. They offer students the opportunity to follow their dreams and chase the career they wish to pursue.

Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM) is a specialized university that offers numerous degree programs in applied science. The university educates more than 18000 full-time students at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels on three campuses in Hesse, Germany. Each of its campuses promotes an open-minded environment between instructors and students. The faculty encourages students to participate in social interactions and activities to help develop their capabilities and skills. This ensures that students will reach their full potential upon completion of their studies at the university.

EBS University of Business and Law was established in 1971 as a private research university. EBS has three campuses: two in Wiesbaden and one in Oestrich-Winkel. EBS has officially attained its university status in 2011.

Hochschule RheinMain or RheinMain University of Applied Sciences is a public institution in Wiesbaden City, Germany. The university is conveniently part of Europe’s Silicon Valley: IT-Cluster Rhine-Main-Neckar. Moreover, it has two locations: Wiesbaden and Rüsselsheim. The Wiesbaden location is further subdivided into three campuses.

Fresenius University of Applied Sciences was founded in 1848. Originally named Fresenius Chemical Laboratory, it became a private university situated in Idstein, Germany. It established distance and online learning for students across different programs in 2015.

Geisenheim University offers a variety of in-demand courses. It focuses on programs related to food and beverage, environment, and technology, enabling students to work alongside renowned researchers and professors. Since its establishment, the university has already built an excellent reputation, primarily due to its professional and practice-oriented graduates.

Hochschule für Bildende Künste-Städelschule or simply Städelschule is an art academy in Germany. The school accepts a limited number of students every year and considers artistic talent in its selection process. It has a long history in the arts education, dating back to 1817.

Offenbach University of Art and Design ensures that students get one-on-one supervision to enhance their arts, design, and media skills deeply. The university upholds the principle of forward-looking practice and allows students to maximize creativity through external opportunities and experience. The Offenbach University of Art and Design students are allowed to study under various professors to develop their individuality through diverse teaching perspectives.

The Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology or Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Sankt Georgen in German, is an academic institution that specializes in degree programs in Philosophy and Theology. It was founded in 1926, serving as a training ground for dioceses around the world. At present, the school is home to around 360 students.

Also known as HfMDK, the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts is a state-institutionalized university of arts that trains its students to be successful in fields related to music, theater, and dance. As of right now, this institution is staffed by 63 full-time professors with the assistance of nearly 400 part-time lecturers. Accepting students from all over the world, this university houses nearly 1,000 full-time students that are enrolled in 30 different academic programs.

The Protestant University of Applied Sciences in Darmstadt was founded in 1971. It is located in the city of Darmstadt, Hesse. The Protestant University of Applied Sciences in Darmstadt is sponsored by Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau, the Protestant Church of Kurhesse-Waldeck and the social welfare organisation of both Hessian Protestant Churches, the Diakonie Hesse, and also recognized by Hessen Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts.

The Giessen School of Theology was established 1974. Is it situated in the city of Giessen, Hesse. The Giessen School of Theology is focused on Theology, and is recognized Hessen Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts.

The Lutheran Theological College was established in 1948. It is situated in Oberursel, Hesse. The Lutheran Theological College awards higher education degrees as recognized by the Hessen Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts.