In short
Giessen has 2 universities and colleges offering 254 degree courses (94 Bachelor's, 113 Master's), and 22% of them are taught in English or bilingually. Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Hesse charges no tuition at public universities, including JLU and THM, for EU and non-EU students. You pay only the semester contribution, which includes a semester ticket.
Giessen is a mid-sized city in central Hesse where students are everywhere — it has one of the highest student-to-resident ratios in Germany. Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) is known for life sciences, veterinary medicine, agriculture and psychology, and Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM) offers engineering and applied programmes. It is unpretentious and affordable, with Frankfurt about an hour away.
Universities in Giessen
Every university and college in Giessen in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of Justus Liebig University Giessen (opens in a new tab)
Justus Liebig University Giessen
University 172 courses
- Website of Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen - THM (opens in a new tab)
Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen - THM
University of applied sciences 82 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Giessen 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 city was heavily rebuilt after the war, so do not expect a pretty old town — the student life makes up for it.
- Use the semester ticket for trips to Marburg (about 20 minutes) and Frankfurt.
- Spend summer evenings on the Lahn riverbanks or at concerts up at Schiffenberg Monastery.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Giessen.
University Hospital Giessen and Marburg
Health
One of Germany's largest university hospitals, with a big Giessen campus.
Leica Camera
Optics
Headquartered in Wetzlar, about 15 km west.
Hensoldt
Optronics
Optics and sensor site in Wetzlar.
Culture & people
Giessen's character comes from its students: cafés, cheap bars and a busy Seltersweg shopping street. JLU's history includes the chemist Justus von Liebig and Wilhelm Röntgen, who discovered X-rays and taught here.
The surrounding Lahn valley offers cycling, canoeing and castles, and Marburg's medieval old town is only a short train ride away.
Events & festivals
Gießener Kultursommer
August
Central Hesse's main open-air concert series, at Schiffenberg Monastery.
Christmas market
Late Nov – Dec
Stalls around the Kirchenplatz and city centre.
Places to see
Mathematikum
Museum
The world's first hands-on mathematics museum.
Botanical Garden
Garden
Founded in 1609, Germany's oldest botanical garden still in its original location.
JLU campus
University
Justus Liebig University's historic main building.
Schiffenberg
Viewpoint
Former monastery on a hill above the city, with a beer garden.
Getting around
City buses cover Giessen and are included in the semester ticket. Regional trains reach Frankfurt in about an hour and Marburg in about 20 minutes. Frankfurt Airport is roughly an hour away.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Giessen, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Giessen: FAQ
Which universities are in Giessen?
Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) and Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM), with 254 courses in our catalogue.
Is Giessen a good place to study?
Yes, if you want an affordable student city. Students make up a huge share of the population, JLU is strong in the life sciences and veterinary medicine, and there are no tuition fees.
Can I study in English in Giessen?
Some programmes, mostly Master's degrees. 22% of the courses in our Giessen catalogue are taught in English or bilingually.
How far is Giessen from Frankfurt?
About an hour by regional train, and Frankfurt Airport is roughly an hour away.
More guides in Hesse
Sources
- Stadtwerke Gießen — Gießener Kultursommer (opens in a new tab)
- Justus Liebig University Giessen (opens in a new tab)
- University and course numbers: the Where Is My Uni? catalogue, rebuilt from official university data.
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