In short
Passau has 1 university offering 46 degree courses (16 Bachelor's, 23 Master's), and 37% of them are taught in English or bilingually. Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — The University of Passau charges no tuition fees, regardless of where students come from, and has said it does not plan to introduce non-EU fees. Students pay only the semester contribution, which includes a bus pass.
Passau sits where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet, right on the Austrian border. The University of Passau — known for law, business, computer science and cultural studies — has a compact campus along the Inn, a short walk from the Baroque old town. It is small and scenic, with students making up a large part of daily life.
Universities in Passau
Every university and college in Passau in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of University of Passau (opens in a new tab)
University of Passau
University 46 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Passau costs, from the latest figures we could source.
- Rent for a student flat
- No figure yetNot covered by the MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 — check the local Studierendenwerk.
- Tuition for non-EU students
- €0 / 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
- The campus is on the riverbank — a room in the old town or Innstadt puts you within walking distance of everything.
- Linz is about an hour away by train if you want a bigger city for a weekend.
- Pack for rain and river fog in autumn; Passau's spring floods are part of local life, so check a flat's location before signing.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Passau.
ZF Passau
Automotive & off-highway
ZF's Passau site builds axles and transmissions for construction and agricultural machines.
Micro-Epsilon
Sensors
Precision sensor maker headquartered in Ortenburg, near Passau.
Tourism & river cruises
Services
Passau is a major stop for Danube river cruises.
Culture & people
Passau's old town is a narrow peninsula of pastel Italian Baroque houses between two rivers, crowned by St. Stephen's Cathedral. It is a small city, so you will keep bumping into classmates in the cafés along the Inn.
The university draws many international and exchange students, and the Bavarian–Austrian border culture means dumplings, coffee-house life and easy trips to Austria and the Czech Republic.
Events & festivals
Festspiele Europäische Wochen
Summer
Passau's European Weeks music and arts festival, with concerts across the region.
Dult
Spring & autumn
Passau's traditional folk festivals with beer tents and rides.
Christmas market
Late Nov – Dec
Stalls on Cathedral Square below St. Stephen's.
Places to see
St. Stephen's Cathedral
Church
Baroque cathedral with one of the world's largest church organs.
Dreiflüsseeck
Viewpoint
The tip of the old town where three differently coloured rivers meet.
Veste Oberhaus
Fortress
Hilltop fortress across the Danube with a museum and panoramic views.
Bavarian Forest National Park
Nature
Hiking and lynx territory about an hour north.
Getting around
Passau is walkable, and the semester contribution includes a city bus pass. ICE trains run towards Regensburg, Nuremberg and Frankfurt and across the border to Linz and Vienna; Munich is about two hours away by regional train. Munich Airport is the nearest major airport. Bavaria's discounted student Deutschlandticket costs €43 a month in 2026.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Passau, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Passau: FAQ
Is Passau a good place to study?
Yes, if you like a small, scenic city. The University of Passau has a compact riverside campus, a strong reputation in law, business and computer science, and charges no tuition fees.
Does the University of Passau charge tuition fees?
No. The University of Passau charges no tuition fees for any students, including non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution of roughly €130, which includes a bus pass.
Can I study in English in Passau?
Yes. 37% of the University of Passau's courses in our catalogue are taught in English or bilingually, including Master's programmes in computer science, AI and business.
How far is Passau from Munich?
About two hours by train. Regensburg is about an hour away, and Linz in Austria about an hour.
More guides in Bavaria
The whole state: Study in Bavaria
Other university cities
Sources
- University of Passau — no tuition fees for international students (opens in a new tab)
- University of Passau — fact sheet 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
- Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern — Bavarian student Deutschlandticket (opens in a new tab)
- University and course numbers: the Where Is My Uni? catalogue, rebuilt from official university data.
Ready to find your course in Passau?
Open the map on Passau: every university, every course, filtered by degree, subject, language and cost — free.