25 Best Universities In North Rhine Westphalia For International Students 2025

North Rhine Westphalia 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 65 universities and colleges in North Rhine Westphalia, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 65 universities in North Rhine Westphalia, RWTH Aachen University and Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn are the top-performing schools in North Rhine Westphalia. This list covers both public and private institutions in North Rhine Westphalia.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in North Rhine Westphalia. 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 North Rhine Westphalia.

How do I get admission to the best universities in North Rhine Westphalia?

Applying to the universities in North Rhine Westphalia 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 North Rhine Westphalia to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in North Rhine Westphalia?

Tuition fees at North Rhine Westphalia’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 15,600 Euros , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 0 Euros to 23,400 Euros. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in North Rhine Westphalia!

As we cover the best universities in North Rhine Westphalia 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 North Rhine Westphalia for International Students

RWTH Aachen University is among the top universities in Germany and is most recognized for its excellence in engineering and natural sciences. The university strongly focuses on research and practical learning, which is why it continues to maintain close ties with its industry partners. The university also takes pride in producing many notable individuals who have received various awards in research and innovation. 

The Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn offers more than 200 courses for over 35,000 German and international students. It is known for its academic excellence and innovative research aimed at promoting sustainability and addressing different social and scientific issues. It is also recognized as the university that has produced the most Nobel Prize winners and recipients of other notable awards in Germany. 

The University of Cologne is recognized as one of the well-distinguished and research-focused institutions in Germany. It is one of the oldest schools founded in Central Europe, and it is also one of the biggest institutions in its country. The university has notable alumni that have received awards, such as the Noble Prize and Leibniz Prize.

The University of Münster has a profound and rich history that can be traced back to the 16^th century. The institution has had a fair share of ups and downs, but it has flourished to become one of the most renowned and well-respected universities in Germany and across the globe. Over the years, it has designed and developed countless cutting-edge programs to accommodate a diverse group of students. And at present, several of its unique programs are considered to be globally acknowledged and desired by a significant number of prospective students.

Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) is a public research university in Bochum City. It is part of the German Research Foundation and has made numerous innovative strides in engineering, psychology, and materials science. Unlike other prestigious German universities, RUB initially operated a single mega campus south of Bochum City. However, the university is perpetually evolving and is currently developing state-of-the-art facilities in various locations within the city. Among its new properties is the Mark 51°7 technology campus, which is presently under construction. Facilities like third-party research institutes, tech start-ups, and innovation hubs are in the works to populate the new campus.

The University of Duisberg-Essen was founded in 2003, though its history can be traced back to 1654. With more than 41,000 students and two main campuses in Duisberg and Essen, it is one of the largest public universities in Germany. The university currently has 12 faculties, offering more than 260 study programs in Social Sciences, Humanities, Business, Natural Sciences, and Engineering.

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf is a German educational institution that is open to students at all tertiary levels. It is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Moreover, the institution specializes in arts, business, humanities, law, mathematics, and more.

The Technical University of Dortmund, also referred to as TU Dortmund University, is a public higher education institution. The school has a variety of bachelor’s and master’s courses being offered. It has been placed in research rankings for subject areas, such as economics, chemistry, engineering, and physics.

Bielefeld University is a public university in Germany. Since its opening in 1969, it has produced countless graduates who have gone on to become successful in their chosen fields. Furthermore, Bielefeld has 14 faculties that offer a wide range of study options.

The University of Wuppertal was founded in 1972 and is a scientific institution. They have three campuses: Campus Grifflenberg which is the main campus, Campus Freudenberg, and Campus Haspel. The University of Wuppertal has different schools of discipline such as cultural studies, arts, design, humanities, engineering, etc.

The University of Siegen is a public institution and one of the top research institutions in Germany. The school was established in 1972, and it is located in North Rhine-Westphalia. It has around 130 program offerings for different areas of study, such as arts, humanities, and sciences.

Located in Paderborn, a city known for its contributions to the country’s IT industry, Paderborn University is recognized for its outstanding education and research in computer science and its applications to different disciplines. The university strives to make an impact on the global information society through conducting different international research activities. It also believes that teaching and research must work hand-in-hand to produce socially aware and technologically skilled individuals who would help improve society. 

Folkwang University of the Arts is a public institution that offers a selection of arts courses, as well as, academic studies programs. It was established in 1927 and is located in Essen. It also has other facilities situated in Duisburg, Bochum, and Dortmund.

The University of Hagen was established in 1974 as a public university. Situated in Hagen, the University of Hagen focuses on distance teaching. The University of Hagen has several affiliations such as EUA, AQUIN, AQAS, and FIBAA, among others.

Witten/Herdecke University was established in 1983 as a private university. Witten/Herdecke University is also part of an international research network. They have colleges/schools that offer courses such as business, health, humanities, and arts, etc.

FH Münster, or Fachhochschule Münster, is one of the largest German public applied sciences universities. It is no surprise that it offers 100+ programs in the sciences, business, engineering, management, health, etc. Another notable feat is that it is the first applied science university to be accredited in Germany.

FH Aachen is also known as the Aachen University of Applied Sciences. The school has two locations: Aachen and Julich. There is a variety of degree programs being offered, especially the university’s specialist areas like business, engineering, and technology.

German Sport University Cologne takes a very special position as the only sports university in Germany. It offers various sports-related courses and is equipped with adequate facilities and resources. The university has greatly expanded with its research and innovative infrastructures to provide more high-quality education for its students.

Founded in 2009, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is a public institution of higher learning in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The university is known for its global academic orientation, as proven by its wide selection of English-taught courses. At present, its student population consists of more than 7,000, with over 50% international students.

Technische Hochschule Köln is also known as the Cologne University of Applied Sciences in English. However, it is widely known as TH Köln for short. This public institution offers 100+ programs in various fields: applied sciences, business, architecture, engineering, computer, social sciences, etc. Three campuses comprise TH Köln: Cologne, Gummersbach and Leverkusen.

The Academy of Media Arts Cologne, also known as KHM (Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln), was founded in 1989. It is a public academic institution that offers courses in Media and Fine Arts, along with seminar-type classes in Art, Film and Television, and Literary Writing. The academy is home to over 400 students, with nearly 50% international students. 

CBS International Business School is a private university in Cologne, Germany specializing in Business Applied Sciences degree programs. It was founded in 1993 and has since built 7 campuses in the country. The university is currently home to over 4,000 students, with around 30% international students.

University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf, or Hochschule Düsseldorf (HSD) in German, is among the premier applied sciences institutions in the country. HSD takes an interdisciplinary approach when it comes to education and research, imparting practical knowledge and skills to students. As a global institution, HSD has also multiple partnerships with various universities abroad in order to facilitate different programs and encourage international exchange.

Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, University of Applied Sciences (H-BRS) is a public university found in the area around Cologne and Bonn. It has three primary locations: Sankt Augustin, Rheinbach and Hennef/Sieg. The university also runs another institution, Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology, with other universities (Bonn University and Aachen Technical University). More than 30 programs are available at H-BRS.

Fachhochschule Dortmund – University of Applied Sciences and Arts is a public institution in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Three campuses and seven faculties comprise the university. These faculties are applied social sciences, architecture, design, electrical engineering, computer science, information technology, mechanical engineering, and business studies. They offer a few English-taught master’s programs.