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Study in Baden-Württemberg

Germany's engineering heartland, with Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Stuttgart — and €1,500 tuition per semester for non-EU students.

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Heidelberg Castle
Photo: Heidelberg Castle — Motatcho (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0

In short

Baden-Württemberg has 77 universities and colleges offering 3,556 degree courses (1,690 Bachelor's, 1,782 Master's), and 25% of them are taught in English or bilingually. A student flat costs about €697 a month (30 m² flat in Heidelberg incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). Tuition for non-EU students: €1,500 — Per semester for non-EU students at public universities (state law), on top of the semester contribution. Some groups are exempt, for example students who finished school in Germany.

Germany's engineering heartland — Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and SAP are all here — with historic university towns like Heidelberg, Tübingen and Freiburg and the Black Forest on the doorstep. It is prosperous and well organised, and one of the few states where non-EU students pay tuition.

University cities

Every city in Baden-Württemberg with a university. Cities with a guide link to it.

  • Stuttgart

    9 universities 604 courses 18% in English

  • Heidelberg

    5 universities 508 courses 29% in English

  • Freiburg

    6 universities 343 courses 24% in English

  • Karlsruhe

    7 universities 332 courses 17% in English

  • Tübingen

    3 universities 280 courses 36% in English

  • Mannheim

    6 universities 173 courses 29% in English

  • Ludwigsburg

    3 universities 159 courses 1% in English

  • Konstanz

    4 universities 151 courses 40% in English

  • Weingarten

    2 universities 126 courses 9% in English

  • Ulm

    2 universities 121 courses 37% in English

  • Schwäbisch Gmünd

    2 universities 98 courses 3% in English

  • Aalen

    2 universities 90 courses 32% in English

  • Villingen-Schwenningen

    3 universities 82 courses 45% in English

  • Heilbronn

    1 university 71 courses 61% in English

  • Pforzheim

    1 university 66 courses 39% in English

  • Nürtingen

    1 university 60 courses 30% in English

  • Offenburg

    1 university 59 courses 25% in English

  • Reutlingen

    2 universities 59 courses 44% in English

  • Göppingen

    1 university 42 courses 14% in English

  • Sigmaringen

    1 university 37 courses 35% in English

  • Biberach an der Riß

    1 university 24 courses 21% in English

  • Trossingen

    1 university 16 courses 6% in English

  • Rottenburg

    2 universities 15 courses 7% in English

  • Backnang

    1 university 12 courses 0% in English

  • Friedrichshafen

    1 university 11 courses 73% in English

  • Bad Liebenzell

    1 university 7 courses 29% in English

  • Esslingen am Neckar

    1 university 3 courses 100% in English

  • Kehl, Rhein

    1 university 3 courses 67% in English

  • Mosbach

    1 university 2 courses 100% in English

  • Bad Mergentheim

    1 university 1 course 0% in English

  • Schwetzingen

    1 university 1 course 0% in English

Cost of living

What studying in Baden-Württemberg costs, from the latest figures we could source.

Rent for a student flat
≈ €697 / month30 m² flat in Heidelberg incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026
Tuition for non-EU students
€1,500 / semesterPlus the semester contribution every student pays. The rules are summed up in In short.
Proof of funds for a visa
€992 / monthThe proof of funds German missions currently ask of student-visa applicants (€11,904 a year) — confirm with the German embassy or consulate handling your application.

Good to know

  • Every public university here charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester — budget for it on top of the €992 a month for your blocked account.
  • Heidelberg (≈ €697 for a 30 m² flat) is the priciest student city outside the big metropolises; Mannheim (≈ €550) and Tübingen (≈ €538) are cheaper (MLP 2026).
  • Heidelberg University, founded in 1386, is the oldest university in today's Germany.

Industries & employers

Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Baden-Württemberg.

  • Mercedes-Benz

    Automotive

    Headquartered in Stuttgart; the main plant is in Sindelfingen.

  • Porsche

    Automotive

    Headquartered in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.

  • Bosch

    Engineering & tech

    The world's largest automotive supplier, headquartered in Gerlingen near Stuttgart.

  • SAP

    Software

    Europe's largest software company, headquartered in Walldorf near Heidelberg.

  • ZF

    Automotive supplier

    Headquartered in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance.

  • Trumpf

    Machine tools & lasers

    Headquartered in Ditzingen near Stuttgart.

Culture & people

The state joins two old regions with friendly rivalry: Baden in the west along the Rhine, and Württemberg around Stuttgart, home of the famously hard-working, thrifty Swabians. Expect Spätzle, Maultaschen and plenty of local wine, plus Swabian dialect that takes a while to tune into.

Life is outdoorsy and orderly — hiking in the Black Forest and the Swabian Jura, swimming in Lake Constance, cycling along the Neckar. Carnival here is the Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht, with wooden masks and parades in small towns rather than big city parties.

Events & festivals

  • Cannstatter Volksfest, Stuttgart

    Late Sept – early Oct

    Stuttgart's answer to Oktoberfest: beer tents, rides and the fruit column on the Wasen fairground.

  • Heidelberg Castle illuminations

    June, July & September

    Three summer evenings when the castle ruin is lit red and fireworks rise over the Neckar.

  • Stuttgarter Weindorf

    Late Aug – early Sept

    Wine stalls from the region fill Stuttgart's old town for about two weeks.

  • Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht

    Feb – March

    Carnival with carved wooden masks and witch costumes, strongest in towns like Rottweil and Konstanz.

Places to see

  • Heidelberg Castle & old town

    Castle

    A red sandstone ruin above Germany's oldest university town and the Old Bridge over the Neckar.

  • Black Forest

    Nature

    Wooded hills, waterfalls and hiking trails between Karlsruhe, Freiburg and the Swiss border.

  • Lake Constance

    Lake

    The Bodensee, shared with Austria and Switzerland — swimming, sailing and the flower island of Mainau.

  • Karlsruhe Palace

    Palace

    The city's streets fan out from the palace like a hand fan; the gardens are a favourite student hangout.

  • Schlossplatz, Stuttgart

    City

    The central square between the New Palace and the main shopping street, Königstraße.

  • Ulm Minster

    Landmark

    The church with the world's tallest steeple, 161.5 m — you can climb its 768 steps.

Getting around

Stuttgart, Mannheim, Karlsruhe and Ulm are ICE hubs, and Frankfurt Airport is under an hour by train from Mannheim and Heidelberg. Stuttgart Airport covers most European routes, and Freiburg is about 45 minutes from Basel.

Semester tickets vary by university here. Students under 27 can buy the state's discounted youth Deutschlandticket (D-Ticket JugendBW), which covers buses, trams and regional trains in all of Germany — check with your university's student union which deal applies.

Student experiences

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Studying in Baden-Württemberg: FAQ

Do international students pay tuition in Baden-Württemberg?

Yes. Public universities in Baden-Württemberg charge non-EU students €1,500 per semester on top of the semester contribution; EU students and some exempt groups pay only the contribution.

Is Baden-Württemberg expensive for students?

Fairly, yes. A 30 m² student flat costs about €697 a month in Heidelberg, €643 in Freiburg and €611 in Stuttgart; Mannheim (about €550) and Tübingen (about €538) are cheaper (MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026).

Can I study in English in Baden-Württemberg?

Yes — 25% of the 3,556 degree courses listed for Baden-Württemberg on Where Is My Uni? are taught in English or bilingually. Heidelberg has a particularly high share.

What is the best university city in Baden-Württemberg?

It depends on what you want: Stuttgart and Karlsruhe for engineering and industry contacts, Heidelberg, Tübingen and Freiburg for classic university-town life, and Mannheim for business.

How many universities are in Baden-Württemberg?

Where Is My Uni? lists 77 universities in Baden-Württemberg offering 1,690 bachelor's and 1,782 master's programmes.

How do I get around Baden-Württemberg as a student?

Regional trains and ICEs connect all the main university cities, and students under 27 can buy the discounted D-Ticket JugendBW, valid on local and regional transport across Germany.

Every district in Baden-Württemberg

A guide to each district and district-free city in Baden-Württemberg: universities, housing, jobs, transport and weather.

Sources

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