In short
Osnabrück has 2 universities and colleges offering 310 degree courses (160 Bachelor's, 146 Master's), and 28% of them are taught in English or bilingually. Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Public universities in Lower Saxony charge no tuition, including for non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution that includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket. A long-term fee applies if you study well beyond the standard period.
Osnabrück is a mid-sized, student-friendly city between Münster and Bremen. Osnabrück University, whose main building is a baroque palace, is known for cognitive science, psychology and migration research, and Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences is one of the larger in Germany, with a strong agriculture and food campus. Life is relaxed and the old town is compact.
Universities in Osnabrück
Every university and college in Osnabrück in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of Osnabrück University (opens in a new tab)
Osnabrück University
University 188 courses
- Website of Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences (opens in a new tab)
Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences
University of applied sciences 122 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Osnabrück 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
- Osnabrück is not in the MLP rent study; it is generally cheaper than nearby Münster (≈ €663 for a 30 m² flat).
- Osnabrück's station is a rail crossroads, so Hamburg, Bremen, Amsterdam-bound and Ruhr trains are all easy to reach.
- The university and the applied-sciences university share some campuses, such as Westerberg; check where your programme is taught.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Osnabrück.
Volkswagen Osnabrück
Automotive
Vehicle plant in Osnabrück.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics
Logistics
Global logistics firm headquartered in Osnabrück.
KME
Metals
Copper-products manufacturer headquartered in Osnabrück.
Culture & people
Osnabrück calls itself the City of Peace: the Peace of Westphalia that ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648 was negotiated here and in Münster. The writer Erich Maria Remarque was born here, and the Felix Nussbaum Haus by Daniel Libeskind shows the work of the Osnabrück-born painter murdered in Auschwitz.
It is a lively student town with many pubs in the old town and around the Hasestraße. The surrounding countryside, with the Teutoburg Forest and the Wiehen Hills, is good for cycling.
Events & festivals
Maiwoche
May
Ten days of free concerts across the city centre, one of northern Germany's biggest city festivals.
Steckenpferdreiten
25 October
Children ride hobby horses to the town hall to celebrate the Peace of Westphalia.
Christmas market
Late Nov – Dec
Market around the town hall and St Mary's Church.
Places to see
Town Hall and Hall of Peace
History
Where the peace treaty was negotiated in 1648.
Felix Nussbaum Haus
Museum
Museum by Daniel Libeskind for the painter Felix Nussbaum.
Osnabrück Palace
Campus
Baroque palace now used as the university's main building.
Osnabrück Zoo
Zoo
A large zoo on the edge of the Teutoburg Forest.
Getting around
Osnabrück's buses and the regional trains are covered by the Deutschland-Semesterticket included in the semester contribution. The main station is a two-level rail crossroads with ICE and IC services to Hamburg, Bremen and the Ruhr, and Münster/Osnabrück Airport (FMO) is about half an hour away. Most students cycle.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Osnabrück, read by our team before they appear.
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Studying in Osnabrück: FAQ
Which universities are in Osnabrück?
Osnabrück has 2 universities in our catalogue: Osnabrück University and Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, together offering 310 degree courses.
Can I study in English in Osnabrück?
Some programmes: 28% of Osnabrück's courses are taught in English or bilingually, for example in cognitive science.
Is Osnabrück expensive for students?
Osnabrück is not covered by the MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026, but it is generally cheaper than nearby Münster, where a 30 m² flat costs about €663.
Do I pay tuition fees in Osnabrück?
No. Public universities in Lower Saxony charge no tuition for EU or non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution, plus a long-term fee if you study far beyond the standard period.
More guides in Lower Saxony
Sources
- Osnabrück University (opens in a new tab)
- Maiwoche (City of Osnabrück) (opens in a new tab)
- MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 (IW Köln) (opens in a new tab)
- University and course numbers: the Where Is My Uni? catalogue, rebuilt from official university data.
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