# Study in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony

> 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.

**Find a course:** https://app.whereismyuni.com/dashboard/map?area=NI&city=Osnabr%C3%BCck

## Cost of living

- Rent: no figure in the 2026 rent study
- 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 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

- **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.

## 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.

## Sources

- [Osnabrück University](https://www.uni-osnabrueck.de)
- [Maiwoche (City of Osnabrück)](https://erleben.osnabrueck.de/en/current-events/maiwoche)
- [MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 (IW Köln)](https://www.iwkoeln.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Studien/Gutachten/PDF/2026/MLP_Studentenwohnreport_2026.pdf)

---

Published by [Where Is My Uni?](https://whereismyuni.com) — every German university on one map. Canonical page: https://whereismyuni.com/study-in/lower-saxony/osnabruck. Last updated November 2026. [How we research](https://whereismyuni.com/study-in/how-we-research).