About the university
The University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität) was founded in 1818; its main building is a baroque former palace. It is one of Germany's 15 Universities of Excellence and holds eight Clusters of Excellence. Two Nobel laureates, the physicist Wolfgang Paul and the economist Reinhard Selten, worked here.
Bonn is best known for mathematics, economics, physics and astronomy, neuroscience and agricultural sciences. Its Institute of Computer Science runs English-taught master's in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, and the Bonn-Aachen International Center for IT (b-it) runs Life Science Informatics.
Indian students look at Bonn because there is no tuition fee, a good number of master's are taught in English and the university sits high in world rankings. Several of the popular computing master's ask for C1-level English and have selective admission, so strong grades matter.
Bonn, the former West German capital, lies on the Rhine just south of Cologne. It hosts UN offices and federal ministries, and the semester ticket (the Deutschlandsemesterticket) covers local and regional public transport across Germany.
- Founded
- 1818
- Type
- Public research university; one of Germany's Universities of Excellence since 2019, with 8 Clusters of Excellence
- Students
- About 31,300 (31,318, December 2025, preliminary)
- International students
- 5,285 students from abroad (December 2025, preliminary)
- Faculties
- 7
- Student–staff ratio
- 31.4 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Tuition
- No tuition fee; semester contribution €363.07 (winter 2026/27)
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=209 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
89th in the world
Excellence Strategy (German federal and state governments) 2019
One of 15 Universities of Excellence
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €726
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- English at CEFR C1
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €726
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at CEFR C1
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €726
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- English at CEFR C1
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €726
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at CEFR B2 (IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €726
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at CEFR B2 (IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €726
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at CEFR B2 (IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €726
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- English at CEFR B2 (IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €726
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at CEFR B2 (IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Computer Science | 2 years (4 semesters) | €726 | ≈ ₹76,956 |
| MSc Artificial Intelligence | 2 years (4 semesters) | €726 | ≈ ₹76,956 |
| MSc Cyber Security | 2 years (4 semesters) | €726 | ≈ ₹76,956 |
| MSc Life Science Informatics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €726 | ≈ ₹76,956 |
| MSc Economics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €726 | ≈ ₹76,956 |
| MSc Mathematics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €726 | ≈ ₹76,956 |
| MSc Physics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €726 | ≈ ₹76,956 |
| MSc Neurosciences | 2 years (4 semesters) | €726 | ≈ ₹76,956 |
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 University of Bonn with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Enrolled bachelor's, master's and state-exam students
Scholarship Recognizing Exceptional Engagement (DAAD STIBET)
Value: €650 a month for five months (last round)
Eligibility: Non-German citizens with a school-leaving certificate from outside Germany, at least in their second semester, with good to very good results and six months of voluntary work. The last deadline was 15 June.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Final-year international students
Degree Completion Scholarship (DAAD STIBET)
Value: Monthly support; amount set in each call
Eligibility: International degree students with an average of 2.5 or better who are expected to graduate within 12 months. The next call is planned for December 2026, subject to funding.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Bachelor's programmes are taught almost entirely in German, so you need German at the level the programme sets.
- Depending on your Indian school certificate, Bonn may ask for university records or an assessment exam (Feststellungsprüfung) as well as your Class 12 results.
- Apply through Bonn's own online portal: by 15 July for the winter semester and 15 January for the summer semester.
- Applicants from India need an APS certificate.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's degree in a related subject. Each faculty sets its own rules and deadlines, so check the programme page.
- Popular computing master's (Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security) have selective admission and ask for C1 English.
- Applicants from India need an APS certificate.
Documents
- Copy of your passport
- APS certificate
- CV in table form
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts, with English or German translations where needed
- English certificate (IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or another accepted test), submitted by the deadline
- Any programme-specific items, such as a motivation letter or module descriptions
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 |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (B2) | Overall 5.5 |
| TOEFL iBT (B2) | 72 (test-date score; TOEFL ITP not accepted); institution code D393 |
| PTE Academic (B2) | 59 |
| C1 programmes | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security ask for C1; check the programme page for accepted proofs |
| Waiver | Possible if your school or completed bachelor's was taught in English, with official confirmation |
Accommodation and living costs
The Studierendenwerk Bonn runs about 3,700 places in 29 residential complexes. Rents are all-inclusive (electricity, heating, water and internet), and around 62% of places cost less than €350 a month warm. Demand is high, so apply online as soon as you can; you must confirm a monthly email to stay on the waiting list. The university puts living costs in Bonn at roughly €1,000 a month.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Single room, Studierendenwerk residenceIncluding additional costs | €250–400per month | ≈ ₹26,500 – ₹42,400 |
| Apartment, StudierendenwerkDepends on size and location; very limited | €250–600per month | ≈ ₹26,500 – ₹63,600 |
| Security depositAbout 1.5 to 2 months' rent | €375–1,200one-off | ≈ ₹39,750 – ₹1.3 lakh |
| Living costs in Bonn (university estimate)Mainly rent | €1,000per month | ≈ ₹1.1 lakh |
Campus and location
Bonn is a green, compact city on the Rhine. The university's buildings are spread across the city, with the main building in the centre and Campus Poppelsdorf for the sciences.
- The main building is a baroque former palace.
- Campus Poppelsdorf houses natural sciences, agriculture and the botanic gardens.
- The semester ticket covers local and regional trains, buses and trams across Germany, so Cologne is an easy day out.
- Rents in Studierendenwerk halls include internet and bills, which makes budgeting simpler.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Bonn graduates in computing, economics and the sciences find work in the Rhineland, home to large employers and research institutes. German language skills widen your choices a lot. See our Germany guide for work rules while studying and after graduation.
| 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 | Make it in Germany |
| International students at Bonn | 17% | Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 |
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 the University of Bonn charge tuition fees for Indian students?
No. You pay only the semester contribution, €363.07 for winter 2026/27, which includes a Germany-wide transport ticket.
Which master's are taught in English?
Among others: Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Life Science Informatics, Economics, Mathematics, Physics, Astrophysics, Neurosciences and several agriculture and geography master's. Cyber Security is taught in German and English.
What IELTS score do I need?
For B2 programmes, IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72 or PTE Academic 59. Computer Science, AI and Cyber Security ask for C1, which is higher.
Can I start in April?
Some master's, including Computer Science, Cyber Security and Physics, also start in the summer semester (April). Many others start only in October.
Do I need APS?
Yes. Bonn states that applicants from India can apply only with an APS certificate.
Sources
- University of Bonn: costs and semester contribution (opens in a new tab)
- University of Bonn: degree programmes A–Z (opens in a new tab)
- University of Bonn: MSc Computer Science (opens in a new tab)
- University of Bonn: English language skills (B2) (opens in a new tab)
- University of Bonn: applicants from non-EU countries (opens in a new tab)
- University of Bonn: facts and figures (opens in a new tab)
- University of Bonn: costs, financing and scholarships for international students (opens in a new tab)
- b-it (University of Bonn): accommodation in Bonn (opens in a new tab)
- Studierendenwerk Bonn: accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027: University of Bonn (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings 2027: University of Bonn (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government): studying in Germany (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: University of Bonn (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.uni-bonn.de (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details