In short
Marburg has 3 universities and colleges offering 210 degree courses (96 Bachelor's, 84 Master's), and 12% of them are taught in English or bilingually. Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Hesse charges no tuition at public universities. Students at Philipps-Universität Marburg pay only the semester contribution, which includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket (€226.80 per semester from winter 2026/27).
Marburg is a small, steep university town on the Lahn river, with a castle on top and half-timbered lanes below. Philipps-Universität Marburg, founded in 1527, is the world's oldest Protestant university still in existence, and is known for medicine, pharmacy, psychology and the humanities. Students make up a large part of the town, which gives it a lively, slightly alternative feel.
Universities in Marburg
Every university and college in Marburg in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of Marburg University (opens in a new tab)
Marburg University
University 209 courses
Archivschule Marburg
Other institution 1 course
- Website of Evangelische Hochschule Tabor (opens in a new tab)
Evangelische Hochschule Tabor
University of applied sciences 0 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Marburg 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 upper town is steep — public lifts connect it to the lower town, and you will still climb a lot of stairs.
- Most programmes are in German; check the language requirements early if your German is still basic.
- Your semester ticket is a Deutschlandticket, so weekend trips to Frankfurt, Kassel or the Lahn valley cost nothing extra.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Marburg.
CSL Behring
Biotech & pharma
Large plasma-protein production site in Marburg's Behringwerke.
University Hospital Giessen and Marburg
Health
The Marburg university hospital is one of the town's largest employers.
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Research & education
The university itself employs thousands of staff and student assistants.
Culture & people
The Brothers Grimm studied in Marburg, and fairy-tale motifs are hidden all over the upper town. The Elisabethkirche, Germany's oldest purely Gothic church, and the Landgrave's Castle frame the skyline.
Student life is everywhere: in the bars of the Oberstadt, on the Lahn meadows in summer and in the many student societies, from choirs to rowing clubs.
Events & festivals
3 Tage Marburg
2nd weekend of July
The town's free summer festival, with stages across the old town and dragon-boat races on the Lahn.
Christmas market
Late Nov – Dec
Stalls in the old town and around the Elisabethkirche.
Places to see
Landgrave's Castle
Castle
Hilltop castle with a museum and the best view over the Lahn valley.
Elisabethkirche
Church
Germany's oldest purely Gothic church, built from 1235.
Oberstadt
City
The medieval upper town with half-timbered houses and the market square.
Lahn river
Nature
Riverside paths and meadows for walking, cycling and canoeing.
Getting around
City buses and the public lifts connect the upper and lower town; many students walk. Regional trains reach Giessen in about 20 minutes and Frankfurt in about an hour, and Kassel is about an hour north. Frankfurt Airport is the nearest major airport.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Marburg, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Marburg: FAQ
Is Marburg a good place to study?
Yes, if you like a small, historic student town. Philipps-Universität Marburg is strong in medicine, pharmacy and psychology, charges no tuition, and students shape the whole town.
Can I study in English in Marburg?
A limited number of programmes, mostly Master's degrees — 12% of the courses in our Marburg catalogue are taught in English or bilingually.
Do I pay tuition fees in Marburg?
No. Philipps-Universität Marburg charges no tuition, also for non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution, which includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket.
How far is Marburg from Frankfurt?
About an hour by regional train, with Giessen about 20 minutes away.
More guides in Hesse
Sources
- Philipps-Universität Marburg — semester contribution (opens in a new tab)
- Festivals in Deutschland — 3 Tage Marburg (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 Marburg?
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