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Study in Hesse

Frankfurt's banks and Germany's biggest airport, plus university towns like Darmstadt, Giessen and Marburg — no tuition at public universities.

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Römerberg (Frankfurt)
Photo: Römerberg (Frankfurt) — Dontworry (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 3.0

In short

Hesse has 43 universities and colleges offering 1,754 degree courses (801 Bachelor's, 748 Master's), and 25% of them are taught in English or bilingually. A student flat costs about €721 a month (30 m² flat in Frankfurt incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Public universities charge no tuition for regular degrees; you pay only the semester contribution (about €100–400, usually including the semester ticket).

Frankfurt's skyline, the European Central Bank and Germany's busiest airport — with classic university towns like Darmstadt, Giessen and Marburg a short train ride away. Finance, pharma and IT jobs are close, and Frankfurt is one of the most international cities in Germany.

University cities

Every city in Hesse with a university. Cities with a guide link to it.

  • Frankfurt am Main

    9 universities 434 courses 34% in English

  • Darmstadt

    5 universities 322 courses 17% in English

  • Giessen

    2 universities 254 courses 22% in English

  • Marburg

    3 universities 210 courses 12% in English

  • Kassel

    3 universities 117 courses 24% in English

  • Wiesbaden

    4 universities 92 courses 14% in English

  • Fulda

    3 universities 83 courses 22% in English

  • Friedberg (Hessen)

    1 university 78 courses 24% in English

  • Bad Sooden-Allendorf

    1 university 43 courses 0% in English

  • Bad Homburg vor der Höhe

    2 universities 41 courses 61% in English

  • Oestrich-Winkel

    1 university 32 courses 81% in English

  • Geisenheim

    1 university 17 courses 41% in English

  • Witzenhausen

    1 university 17 courses 94% in English

  • Offenbach

    1 university 4 courses 0% in English

  • Hanau

    1 university 3 courses 0% in English

  • Maintal

    1 university 2 courses 0% in English

  • Oberursel

    1 university 2 courses 0% in English

  • Dietzhölztal

    1 university 2 courses 0% in English

  • Bad Hersfeld

    1 university 1 course 0% in English

Cost of living

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

Rent for a student flat
≈ €721 / month30 m² flat in Frankfurt incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026
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

  • Frankfurt is one of Germany's priciest student cities (≈ €721 for a 30 m² flat, MLP 2026); Darmstadt (≈ €599) is cheaper and only about 20 minutes away by train.
  • Darmstadt carries the official title 'City of Science' (Wissenschaftsstadt).
  • Philipps-Universität Marburg, founded in 1527, is the oldest Protestant university in the world still running.

Industries & employers

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

  • Deutsche Bank · Commerzbank

    Banking

    Both headquartered in Frankfurt's banking district.

  • European Central Bank

    Finance

    The ECB is based in Frankfurt's Ostend.

  • Deutsche Börse

    Finance

    Stock exchange operator, headquartered in Eschborn near Frankfurt.

  • Merck

    Pharma & chemicals

    The world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company, headquartered in Darmstadt.

  • Opel

    Automotive

    Headquartered in Rüsselsheim.

  • Fraport · Lufthansa

    Aviation

    Frankfurt Airport is Lufthansa's main hub and a huge employer.

Culture & people

Hessians are down-to-earth and fond of their dialect. The local drink is Apfelwein (Ebbelwoi), served in a grey stoneware jug in the old pubs of Frankfurt-Sachsenhausen, often with Grüne Soße — a cold herb sauce — or Handkäs mit Musik, a sour-milk cheese with onions.

The Brothers Grimm grew up and studied here, and the 'German Fairy Tale Route' runs from Hanau through Marburg and Kassel. Frankfurt itself is a city of commuters and newcomers: its banks and airport draw people from all over the world.

Events & festivals

  • Frankfurt Book Fair

    October

    The world's largest book fair; the final days are open to the public.

  • Museumsuferfest, Frankfurt

    Late August

    A weekend of music, food and open museums along both banks of the Main.

  • Hessentag

    June

    The state festival, held in a different Hessian town each year, with concerts and parades.

  • documenta 16, Kassel

    12 June – 19 Sept 2027

    The world-famous contemporary art exhibition, held every five years.

Places to see

  • Römerberg, Frankfurt

    Old town

    Frankfurt's historic square with the Römer town hall and half-timbered houses.

  • Main riverbank & Eiserner Steg

    River

    The footbridge between the centre and Sachsenhausen, with views of the skyline.

  • Mathildenhöhe, Darmstadt

    UNESCO

    An Art Nouveau artists' colony with the Wedding Tower, listed by UNESCO in 2021.

  • Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, Kassel

    UNESCO

    A huge hillside park with the Hercules monument and water features that run on summer afternoons.

  • Giessen

    City

    A student town where students make up a large share of the population, home of Justus Liebig University.

  • Marburg

    Old town

    Steep lanes, half-timbered houses and a castle above the Lahn river.

Getting around

Hesse is a transport hub. Frankfurt Airport is Germany's largest, and Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof has direct ICE trains to almost every major German city plus Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. Most universities include the Deutschland-Semesterticket in the semester contribution.

The RMV network links Frankfurt with Darmstadt, Wiesbaden, Mainz and Giessen by S-Bahn and regional trains, so many students live in a cheaper town and commute.

Student experiences

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Studying in Hesse: FAQ

Is Frankfurt expensive for students?

Yes. A 30 m² student flat in Frankfurt costs about €721 a month, among the highest in Germany (MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). Darmstadt is about €599.

Do international students pay tuition in Hesse?

No. Hesse's public universities charge no tuition for regular bachelor's and consecutive master's degrees; students pay only the semester contribution, which usually includes the semester ticket.

Can I study in English in Hesse?

Yes — 25% of the 1,754 degree courses listed for Hesse on Where Is My Uni? are taught in English or bilingually, with Frankfurt offering the most.

What is the best university city in Hesse?

Frankfurt suits finance, business and law students who want big-city life; Darmstadt is strong in engineering and computer science; Giessen and Marburg are classic, affordable university towns.

How many universities are in Hesse?

Where Is My Uni? lists 43 universities in Hesse with 801 bachelor's and 748 master's programmes.

How do I get around Hesse as a student?

The RMV and NVV networks cover buses, trams, S-Bahn and regional trains, and the Deutschland-Semesterticket included at most universities is valid on all local and regional transport in Germany.

Every district in Hesse

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

Sources

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