About the university
Bielefeld University was founded in 1969 as a research university and today has about 23,000 students in 14 faculties. It is a public university in North Rhine-Westphalia, so there is no tuition fee, only a semester contribution of about €350.
Bielefeld is known for its interdisciplinary approach, its economics and mathematics departments, its technical faculty's work on intelligent and interactive systems, and its sociology and history. It teaches 14 master's programmes fully in English, plus international tracks in Intelligent Interactive Systems, Physics and Sociology that can be studied entirely in English.
For Indian students, the main draws are the English-taught MSc Data Science, Quantitative Economics and Mathematical Economics, and the Intelligent Interactive Systems track. Bielefeld accepts a first degree with a standard length of at least six semesters, so a three-year bachelor's can qualify; the programme rules decide the subject fit.
Bielefeld is a mid-sized city in eastern Westphalia, between the Teutoburg Forest and the Ruhr. Living costs are moderate by German standards: the university estimates about €900 a month, with rents of €260–€390.
- Founded
- 1969, with an explicit research mandate
- Type
- Public research university in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Students
- 23,342 (university figures, 31 December 2025)
- International students
- 2,105 from 113 countries (31 December 2025)
- Faculties and programmes
- 14 faculties; 48 bachelor's and 44 master's programmes
- Tuition
- No tuition fee; semester contribution €351.65 (winter 2026/27)
- Intakes
- October (winter); some master's also start in April (summer)
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
1001–1200 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €703
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester only)
- English
- English at B2 level (CEFR); see the university's language requirements page
- Postgraduate
MSc Intelligent Interactive Systems (Intelligente Interaktive Systeme, English international track)
- Fee / year
- €703
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester only)
- English
- English at B2 level (CEFR) for the English track; electives may be limited when studied fully in English
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €703
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester only)
- English
- English at B2 level (CEFR); see the university's language requirements page
- Postgraduate
Master's in Mathematical Economics
- Fee / year
- €703
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); check the programme page for April entry
- English
- English at B2 level (CEFR); see the university's language requirements page
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €703
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); check the programme page for April entry
- English
- English at B2 level (CEFR); see the university's language requirements page
- Postgraduate
Master's in Sustainable Chemistry
- Fee / year
- €703
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); check the programme page for April entry
- English
- English at B2 level (CEFR); see the university's language requirements page
- Postgraduate
Master's in Behaviour: From Neural Mechanisms to Evolution
- Fee / year
- €703
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); check the programme page for April entry
- English
- English at B2 level (CEFR); see the university's language requirements page
- Postgraduate
Master's in Ecology and Environmental Change
- Fee / year
- €703
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); check the programme page for April entry
- English
- English at B2 level (CEFR); see the university's language requirements page
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Data Science | 2 years (4 semesters) | €703 | ≈ ₹74,550 |
| MSc Intelligent Interactive Systems (Intelligente Interaktive Systeme, English international track) | 2 years (4 semesters) | €703 | ≈ ₹74,550 |
| MSc Quantitative Economics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €703 | ≈ ₹74,550 |
| Master's in Mathematical Economics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €703 | ≈ ₹74,550 |
| Master's in Mathematics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €703 | ≈ ₹74,550 |
| Master's in Sustainable Chemistry | 2 years (4 semesters) | €703 | ≈ ₹74,550 |
| Master's in Behaviour: From Neural Mechanisms to Evolution | 2 years (4 semesters) | €703 | ≈ ₹74,550 |
| Master's in Ecology and Environmental Change | 2 years (4 semesters) | €703 | ≈ ₹74,550 |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Bielefeld University with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Enrolled students, all subjects
Studienfonds OWL scholarships
Value: Varies by scholarship programme
Eligibility: Studienfonds OWL runs scholarship programmes open to all Bielefeld students, including international students; apply once enrolled.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Final-stage bachelor's and master's students
Studienabschluss-Stipendium (degree completion grant)
Value: Amount not published on the overview page
Eligibility: International students close to finishing their degree; applications twice a year.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Master's and doctoral students
DAAD scholarships
Value: Monthly stipend; amount depends on the programme
Eligibility: Competitive awards; check the database for awards open to Indian applicants.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Bachelor's programmes are taught in German, so you need German proof such as TestDaF (TDN 4 in all parts) or DSH-2.
- Apply first to uni-assist for a preliminary review documentation (VPD), then through Bielefeld's application portal.
- uni-assist decides whether your Class 12 gives direct or only indirect (Studienkolleg) entry; with indirect entry you can apply with a TestAS standard score of at least 90 in the core test and subject module.
- An APS certificate is required if your schooling was in India.
Postgraduate
- A first university degree with a standard length of at least six semesters, so a three-year Indian bachelor's can qualify; the subject-specific rules set the rest.
- Apply online through Bielefeld's application and status portal. Data Science also needs a uni-assist VPD.
- Deadlines for international applicants: 1 June–15 July for winter 2026/27 and 1 December 2026–15 January 2027 for summer 2027 (no summer intake for Data Science).
- Indian applicants need an APS certificate.
Documents
- School-leaving certificate (Class 12)
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcript, with certified translations if not in German or English
- Proof of English (B2, or the level set by your programme)
- APS certificate
- uni-assist VPD (bachelor's and MSc Data Science)
- Any extra documents required by the programme's subject-specific regulations
- Valid passport
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Level needed | B2 (CEFR) for English-taught master's and international tracks, under the university's guidelines |
| Exceptions | Interdisciplinary Studies of Science needs C1; British and American Studies needs TOEFL iBT 90 or IELTS 7.0 |
| German | Not needed for English-taught master's and international tracks |
Accommodation and living costs
Bielefeld's international office points students to student halls run by the Studierendenwerk, private halls and shared flats. Its cost page gives a monthly budget of about €900 in total.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Rent: student hall, private hall or roomUniversity estimate | €260–390per month | ≈ ₹27,560 – ₹41,340 |
| FoodUniversity estimate; Mensa meals from about €2.70 | €200per month | ≈ ₹21,200 |
| Health insurance and medical costsUniversity estimate | €100per month | ≈ ₹10,600 |
| Total living costsUniversity estimate, includes rent and semester fees | €900per month | ≈ ₹95,400 |
Campus and location
Bielefeld University is a compact campus university on the edge of the city, close to the Teutoburg Forest, with its main building at the centre.
- 14 faculties, including a technical faculty and a newer medical faculty.
- 18 university buildings with about 187,000 m² of floor space, several being renovated.
- Semester ticket for travel across Germany is included in the semester contribution.
- Studienfonds OWL and the international office run scholarships and welcome services.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Graduates of Bielefeld's economics, data science and computing programmes go into analytics, finance, research and industry in North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond. The figures below are general German rules, not a promise of a job.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Job-search permit after graduating | Up to 18 months | Make it in Germany |
| Work allowed while studying | 140 full days or 280 half days a year (student assistant jobs at the university don't count) | Make it in Germany |
Studying in Germany
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Germany. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Germany
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Data Science & AI
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT
Photo: juhotski, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences
Photo: TU Berlin/Pressestelle/Ulrich Dahl, Copyrighted free use PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: Seeott, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) (official website, opens in a new tab)
Munich, GermanyOften chosen for Life Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Law
Photo: Hermann Luyken, CC0 PublicHeidelberg University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Heidelberg, GermanyOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Life Sciences
FAQs
Does Bielefeld University charge tuition fees?
No. You pay only the semester contribution, €351.65 for winter 2026/27, which includes a Germany-wide public transport ticket.
Is my three-year Indian bachelor's accepted for a master's?
Bielefeld asks for a first degree with a standard length of at least six semesters, which a three-year degree meets. Each programme's rules then check your subject background.
What are the application deadlines?
For international applicants, 1 June to 15 July for the winter semester and 1 December to 15 January for the summer semester. MSc Data Science starts only in winter.
What English level do I need?
B2 for most English-taught master's. Interdisciplinary Studies of Science asks for C1, and British and American Studies for TOEFL iBT 90 or IELTS 7.0.
Do I need APS for Bielefeld?
Yes. The university lists the APS certificate as a required document for applicants educated in India.
Sources
- Bielefeld University: English-taught master's and international tracks (eKVV) (opens in a new tab)
- Bielefeld University: MSc Data Science (opens in a new tab)
- Bielefeld University: MSc Quantitative Economics (opens in a new tab)
- Bielefeld University: MSc Intelligent Interactive Systems (opens in a new tab)
- Bielefeld University: semester contribution and re-registration (opens in a new tab)
- Bielefeld University: application for international applicants (opens in a new tab)
- Bielefeld University: deadlines for international applicants (opens in a new tab)
- Bielefeld University: language requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Bielefeld University: costs and funding (opens in a new tab)
- Bielefeld University: facts and figures (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany: working while studying (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany: visa for studying and job search after graduation (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings 2027: Bielefeld University (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.uni-bielefeld.de (opens in a new tab)
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