Skip to content
Where Is My Uni?
All guides

Study in Heidelberg

Germany's oldest university, world-class life-science research, a castle above the Neckar — and some of Germany's highest student rents.

Find a course in HeidelbergRead the guide
Heidelberg
Photo: Heidelberg — Jörg Braukmann (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0

In short

Heidelberg has 5 universities and colleges offering 508 degree courses (238 Bachelor's, 263 Master's), and 29% of them are taught in English or bilingually. A student flat costs about €697 a month (30 m² flat incl. utilities (WG room ≈ €685), MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). Tuition for non-EU students: €1,500 — Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester at public universities such as Heidelberg University. Private universities (SRH, Fresenius) set their own fees.

Heidelberg is the classic German university town: a castle ruin above a Baroque old town on the Neckar, and Heidelberg University, founded in 1386 and Germany's oldest. It is a global centre for medicine and life sciences, with EMBL and the German Cancer Research Center on its doorstep, and also home to the Heidelberg University of Education, SRH University and Hochschule Fresenius. Almost a quarter of residents are students — and rents are among the highest in Germany.

Universities in Heidelberg

Every university and college in Heidelberg in our catalogue, biggest first.

See all 508 courses on the map

Cost of living

What studying in Heidelberg costs, from the latest figures we could source.

Rent for a student flat
≈ €697 / month30 m² flat incl. utilities (WG room ≈ €685), 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

  • Housing is the hardest part — apply to Studierendenwerk Heidelberg halls as soon as you are admitted and consider Mannheim or the Bergstraße towns.
  • A bike is essential; Neuenheimer Feld (the science campus) is across the river from the old town.
  • Join a Neckarwiese barbecue in summer — the riverside meadow is the city's student living room.

Industries & employers

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

  • SAP

    Software

    Global headquarters in Walldorf, about 15 km south.

  • Heidelberg Materials

    Building materials

    One of the world's largest cement makers, headquartered in Heidelberg.

  • Heidelberger Druckmaschinen

    Printing machinery

    Headquarters in Heidelberg, main plant in nearby Wiesloch-Walldorf.

  • EMBL & DKFZ

    Research

    The European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the German Cancer Research Center.

  • Roche Diagnostics

    Pharma & diagnostics

    Large site in neighbouring Mannheim.

Culture & people

Heidelberg has inspired poets for centuries, and its student traditions run deep — you can still visit the old Student Prison where unruly students were locked up until 1914.

Today it is an international research city: you will hear English in labs and cafés, and many residents are scientists from around the world. Evenings are spent in old-town pubs or on the Neckar meadow.

Events & festivals

  • Castle illuminations

    June, July & Sept

    The castle is lit up and fireworks burst over the Old Bridge three times a year.

  • Heidelberger Herbst

    Late September

    Autumn festival filling the old town with music and food stalls.

  • Heidelberger Frühling

    Spring

    A renowned classical music festival.

  • Christmas market

    Late Nov – Dec

    Stalls spread across the old town's squares, with ice skating at Karlsplatz.

Places to see

  • Heidelberg Castle

    Castle

    Germany's most famous castle ruin, with the giant wine barrel.

  • Old Bridge

    Landmark

    18th-century stone bridge with views up to the castle.

  • Philosophers' Walk

    Walk

    Hillside path across the river with the classic city view.

  • Königstuhl

    Viewpoint

    The hill above the castle, reached by historic funicular.

Getting around

Trams and buses (VRN network) link the old town, main station and Neuenheimer Feld campus; most students cycle. Mannheim's ICE hub is about 15 minutes away by S-Bahn, and Frankfurt Airport roughly an hour. Check whether your university's semester contribution includes a semester ticket; the Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month.

Student experiences

First-hand posts from students in Heidelberg, read by our team before they appear.

Loading experiences…

Share your experience

Our team reads every post before it appears. Please don't include contact details.

At least 40 characters. 0/2000

Studying in Heidelberg: FAQ

Is Heidelberg expensive for students?

Yes — it is one of Germany's priciest student cities. A 30 m² student flat costs about €697 a month and a shared-flat room about €685 (MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026).

Which universities are in Heidelberg?

Heidelberg University (founded 1386, Germany's oldest), the Heidelberg University of Education, SRH University, Hochschule Fresenius and a college of church music.

Can I study in English in Heidelberg?

Yes. 29% of the courses in our Heidelberg catalogue are taught in English or bilingually, especially life-science and physics Master's programmes at Heidelberg University.

Do I pay tuition fees in Heidelberg?

Non-EU students pay €1,500 per semester at Heidelberg University and other public institutions in Baden-Württemberg. EU students pay only the semester contribution; private universities charge their own fees.

More guides in Baden-Württemberg

The whole state: Study in Baden-Württemberg

Other university cities

Sources

Ready to find your course in Heidelberg?

Open the map on Heidelberg: every university, every course, filtered by degree, subject, language and cost — free.

Find a course in Heidelberg
Find a course in Heidelberg