About the university
The University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) is one of Germany's youngest and largest universities, with campuses in two neighbouring cities of the Ruhr area. It has eleven faculties and more than 37,000 students, about a fifth of them international.
For Indian engineering students, UDE is best known for its ISE (International Studies in Engineering) programmes. These master's are taught roughly half in German and half in English, in fields such as Embedded Systems Engineering, Communications Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Power Engineering. You need B2 in both languages at enrolment, so plan to learn German. Fully English options include Medical Informatics, Water Science, Environmental Toxicology and Development and Governance.
There is no tuition fee. Bachelor's applications and a few master's go through uni-assist; most master's use UDE's own application portal.
Duisburg and Essen sit in the heart of the Ruhr, a dense metropolitan region in North Rhine-Westphalia. The semester ticket covers local and regional transport across Germany, and Düsseldorf and Dortmund are close.
- Founded
- 2003, one of Germany's youngest universities
- Type
- Public research university with eleven faculties
- Students
- 37,298 (31 December 2025)
- International students
- 21% of all students; 22% of first-year students (31 December 2025)
- Campuses
- Duisburg, Essen and the University Hospital Essen
- Student–staff ratio
- 23.2 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Tuition
- No tuition fee; semester contribution €367.80 (winter 2026/27)
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
801–850 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
=292nd in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
MSc Embedded Systems Engineering (ISE)
- Fee / year
- €736
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- October (winter); check the ISE office for April starts
- English
- B2 English (TOEFL, IELTS or a medium-of-instruction certificate) and B2 German
- Postgraduate
MSc Medical Informatics (with FH Dortmund)
- Fee / year
- €736
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer), from winter 2026/27
- English
- TOEFL iBT 90, TOEFL ITP 550 or IELTS 6.5 (certificate no more than two years old)
- Postgraduate
MSc Communications Engineering (ISE)
- Fee / year
- €736
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- October (winter); check the ISE office for April starts
- English
- B2 English (TOEFL, IELTS or a medium-of-instruction certificate) and B2 German
- Postgraduate
MSc Mechanical Engineering (ISE)
- Fee / year
- €736
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- October (winter); check the ISE office for April starts
- English
- B2 English (TOEFL, IELTS or a medium-of-instruction certificate) and B2 German
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €736
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- October (winter); check the ISE office for April starts
- English
- B2 English (TOEFL, IELTS or a medium-of-instruction certificate) and B2 German
- Postgraduate
MSc Automation and Safety (ISE)
- Fee / year
- €736
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- October (winter); check the ISE office for April starts
- English
- B2 English (TOEFL, IELTS or a medium-of-instruction certificate) and B2 German
- Postgraduate
MSc Computational Mechanics (ISE)
- Fee / year
- €736
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- October (winter); check the ISE office for April starts
- English
- B2 English (TOEFL, IELTS or a medium-of-instruction certificate) and B2 German
- Postgraduate
MSc Management and Technology of Water and Wastewater (ISE)
- Fee / year
- €736
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- B2 English and B2 German (without a German-language school certificate)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Embedded Systems Engineering (ISE) | 2 years | €736 | ≈ ₹78,016 |
| MSc Medical Informatics (with FH Dortmund) | 2 years (4 semesters) | €736 | ≈ ₹78,016 |
| MSc Communications Engineering (ISE) | 2 years | €736 | ≈ ₹78,016 |
| MSc Mechanical Engineering (ISE) | 2 years | €736 | ≈ ₹78,016 |
| MSc Power Engineering (ISE) | 2 years | €736 | ≈ ₹78,016 |
| MSc Automation and Safety (ISE) | 2 years | €736 | ≈ ₹78,016 |
| MSc Computational Mechanics (ISE) | 2 years | €736 | ≈ ₹78,016 |
| MSc Management and Technology of Water and Wastewater (ISE) | 2 years | €736 | ≈ ₹78,016 |
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 Duisburg-Essen with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Enrolled students
UDE scholarship and Deutschlandstipendium
Value: Monthly scholarship; see the current call
Eligibility: Gifted, high-achieving students, judged on grades, social commitment and personal achievement.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - All levels
Scholarship foundations (Begabtenförderwerke)
Value: Depends on your financial circumstances
Eligibility: Students of all subjects; ask international@uni-due.de about eligibility for international students.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Most bachelor's are taught in German; you need DSH-2 level (or TestDaF 4 in all parts) before you start.
- ISE bachelor's need B1 in German and English at enrolment and good school maths; apply through uni-assist.
- Deadlines: restricted programmes 1 May–15 June (winter) and 1 November–15 December (summer); admission-free programmes 1 May–31 July and 1 November–31 January.
Postgraduate
- A related bachelor's degree with an average of at least 3.0 on the German scale (or the foreign equivalent) for ISE master's.
- Most master's use the UDE application portal; Informatik, Software Engineering and Economics go through uni-assist.
- Same deadlines as bachelor's; Development and Governance takes applications 1–31 March.
- Indian students must show an APS certificate at enrolment.
Documents
- Admission letter and passport copy
- Class 12 certificate, bachelor's certificate and full transcripts
- English and German language certificates, as the programme asks
- APS certificate (required for India at enrolment)
- Proof of health insurance
- Passport-style photo
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 | 6.5 for Medical Informatics, Water Science and Environmental Toxicology; 6.0 for Development and Governance |
| TOEFL iBT | 90 for Medical Informatics; 100 for Water Science and Environmental Toxicology |
| ISE master's | B2 English, usually shown by TOEFL, IELTS or a medium-of-instruction certificate |
| German | ISE master's need B2 German at enrolment; German-taught programmes need DSH-2 |
Accommodation and living costs
The Studierendenwerk Essen-Duisburg has over 2,000 places in 19 residences in Essen, Duisburg and Mülheim. Apply online through its housing page. Rents vary by residence and room type.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Studierendenwerk residence roomRange across residences | €265–816per month | ≈ ₹28,090 – ₹86,496 |
| Typical Duisburg residencee.g. Sternbuschweg and Tulpenstraße | €332–465per month | ≈ ₹35,192 – ₹49,290 |
| Semester contributionWinter 2026/27 | €368per semester | ≈ ₹38,987 |
Campus and location
UDE has two main campuses, in the neighbouring cities of Duisburg and Essen, plus the University Hospital in Essen.
- Programmes such as MTW³ and Development and Governance are on the Duisburg campus.
- Water Science and Environmental Toxicology are taught on the Essen campus.
- The semester ticket covers travel between the campuses and across Germany on local and regional transport.
- 6,374 staff, including 533 professorships (31 December 2025).
Careers and graduate outcomes
ISE graduates combine an engineering degree with working German, which helps with jobs in the Ruhr area's industry and across Germany. 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 UDE | 21% (31 December 2025) | University of Duisburg-Essen: facts and figures |
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
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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 Duisburg-Essen charge tuition?
No. You pay a semester contribution of €367.80 (winter 2026/27), paid after enrolment, so do not transfer money in advance.
Are ISE programmes taught in English?
Partly. ISE master's are taught roughly half in German and half in English, and you need B2 in both languages at enrolment.
Which master's are fully in English?
Among others: Medical Informatics, Water Science, Environmental Toxicology and Development and Governance. Econometrics is mostly in English.
When can I enrol?
Only after you arrive in Germany. Bring your APS certificate, as UDE asks for it at enrolment.
Sources
- University of Duisburg-Essen: facts and figures (opens in a new tab)
- UDE: study courses (opens in a new tab)
- UDE: ISE master's programmes (opens in a new tab)
- UDE: ISE admission requirements (opens in a new tab)
- UDE: international admissions (opens in a new tab)
- UDE: social and student body contribution (opens in a new tab)
- UDE: funding and scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- UDE: MSc Medical Informatics (opens in a new tab)
- Studierendenwerk Essen-Duisburg: housing (opens in a new tab)
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027: University of Duisburg-Essen (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings 2027: University of Duisburg-Essen (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government): studying in Germany (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: University of Duisburg-Essen (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.uni-due.de (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details