How to Study in North Rhine Westphalia for International Students

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North Rhine Westphalia, one of the states in Germany, should be among your choices if you’re looking to study abroad. This location offers world-class education and opportunities to jump-start your career and engage in character-building adventures. You’ll also have the chance to immerse yourself in a rich culture and learn about its nuances compared to the rest of the country.

When it comes to the choices that are available, North Rhine Westphalia currently has 65 universities, from which 43 universities are a part of the public sector and 22 universities are private institutions.

Suppose you’re not just looking for any school but a well-performing school. In that case, the top universities in North Rhine Westphalia you should definitely check out are RWTH Aachen University, Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn, and University of Cologne.

Being able to study in North Rhine Westphalia as an international student starts with planning ahead of time, as the process of researching your institution, filling out forms, and completing your paperwork can take a vast amount of time. In this article, you will find out the application process to study in North Rhine Westphalia, along with information on tuition, language requirements, and visa applications. So, let’s dig in!

1. Cost of Studying in North Rhine Westphalia

The cost of your studies is a big factor to consider when you're planning to study abroad. It can financially burden you, but here's the good thing: the public universities in North Rhine Westphalia don't charge tuition fees to international students like you! University of Applied Health Sciences, Bochum, Protestant University of Applied Sciences Rhineland-Westphalia-Lippe and South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences are some of the tuition-free schools. You will just be required to pay some registration and other study fees, but these won't be as high.

On the other hand, if you choose to study in a private institution, expect that you'll pay higher fees. Here are some of the private universities in North Rhine Westphalia with their tuition fees:

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
SRH University in North Rhine-Westphalia 8,160 Euros 5,040 Euros - 8,160 Euros
Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences 1,704 Euros - 7,440 Euros 1,700 Euros - 7,020 Euros
IUBH School of Business and Management 4,428 Euros 6,468 Euros - 8,988 Euros
IU International University of Applied Sciences 2,628 Euros - 4,428 Euros 3,828 Euros - 6,468 Euros
Witten/Herdecke University 9,936 Euros - 12,600 Euros 9,936 Euros - 13,800 Euros
International School of Management 10,600 Euros - 11,200 Euros 12,600 Euros - 23,400 Euros
Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences 0 Euros 0 Euros
CBS International Business School 13,200 Euros - 15,600 Euros 14,400 Euros - 23,200 Euros
University of Europe for Applied Sciences 11,400 Euros - 12,300 Euros 12,600 Euros - 13,200 Euros
FOM University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management 13,600 Euros - 20,700 Euros

2. Requirements to Study in North Rhine Westphalia for International Students

Once you have an idea of how much tuition fees are to study in North Rhine Westphalia, it’s time to consider preparing the paperwork to apply to those universities. Academic institutions have varying admission requirements, but the ones you should always prepare in advance are your academic records, such as a transcript of records or diploma from a previous academic level, and travel documents, such as your passport and visa.

Some institutions that offer master’s programs might also ask for a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and letters of recommendation. There are also degree programs where you need to take an admissions test before you can apply. Besides these, universities might also require you to submit proof of language proficiency.

In North Rhine Westphalia, English and German are the languages of instruction. If you’re looking to study in any of the academic institutions here, you might need to prove language proficiency by taking standardized tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo for English. Depending on the institution and the language of instruction for your program, you might also have to prove your language proficiency by submitting DSH for German.

To give you an idea, here are some universities in North Rhine Westphalia and their required minimum scores for each program level.

SRH University in North Rhine-Westphalia

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

EBZ Business School

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

RFH – University of Applied Science Cologne

Master’s degree

Typically, you can find information about language requirements on the admissions requirements page of the university. You can also check out if the university has a dedicated language requirements page for international students.

Application Procedure to Study in North Rhine Westphalia

The specific admission process may vary depending on the university. The good news is that most institutions in North Rhine Westphalia have online applications available on their websites, like RWTH Aachen University and Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn. To help you with this, we also compiled the official websites and admission pages of some of the top institutions in North Rhine Westphalia.

RWTH Aachen University

Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn

University of Cologne

Make sure to gather all the information you need for the admission process. As you apply to these institutions, expect that they may ask for additional requirements depending on your nationality, degree, or program. So, it’s best to keep your lines active.

After completing your academic and language requirements, it’s time to apply!

The admission process in North Rhine Westphalia differs from one university to another, so it’s best to contact your chosen school beforehand. Please note that the admission process for international students may take some time, so be sure to know the application dates and apply early.

The application process may take weeks or months, depending on your timing, nationality, degree, and other factors. To make the most of your application, make sure to completely follow the admission steps and submit the necessary requirements to ensure that you’ll be accepted to your chosen university in North Rhine Westphalia.

The key to being admitted to your chosen school will depend on your punctuality and the quality of your application. So make sure to complete the requirements beforehand and follow the steps in applying. After this, you’ll wait for a week or a month for the results.

4. Visa Application for International Students in North Rhine Westphalia

If you’re going to study in North Rhine Westphalia, you will need to apply for a student visa in Germany

In this section, let’s briefly discuss the requirements needed and how you can apply for a student visa in Germany. If you’re going to stay here for your studies, you will need to obtain a German Student Visa .

To start your student visa application in North Rhine Westphalia, you will need to present the following:

  1. Two filled-out and signed national visa forms
  2. Valid passport with two photocopies
  3. Birth certificate
  4. Two recently taken biometric portrait photographs
  5. Proof of financial capability. If you are a scholar, you may present the scholarship certificate
  6. Proof of admission to the university
  7. Original documents of previous education
  8. Curriculum Vitae
  9. Motivational Letter
  10. Travel Health Insurance

Kindly take note that these requirements may vary depending on your nationality. So, please expect that may ask for additional requirements. Moreover, you will be required to pay a student visa application fee. The visa application fee in Germany is 75 EUR.

After preparing your requirements and application fees, it’s time to apply for a student visa! The first steps in getting your student visa are:

  1. Prepare the required documents and fill up the application form.
  2. Find the closest German Consulate or Embassy in your home country.
  3. Schedule a visa appointment,.
  4. Attend your visa appointment and submit the documents.

For more information regarding the specific steps in applying for a student visa, visit or contact the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country. They are the ones responsible for processing your student visa application.

That’s it! After getting your student visa, you can now officially study in North Rhine Westphalia. Make sure to book a flight early, before your classes start, so that you’ll have ample time to explore and familiarize yourself in your new place!