In short
Rostock has 2 universities and colleges offering 168 degree courses (55 Bachelor's, 79 Master's), and 14% of them are taught in English or bilingually. A student flat costs about €476 a month (30 m² flat incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Public universities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania charge no tuition, including for non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution that includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket. A 2026 proposal to introduce fees for non-EU students was rejected.
Rostock is the largest city in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and a relaxed place to study by the sea. The University of Rostock, founded in 1419, is one of the oldest in northern Europe, and the University of Music and Theatre adds the arts. Rents are well below average, and the beach is a 20-minute train ride away.
Universities in Rostock
Every university and college in Rostock in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of University of Rostock (opens in a new tab)
University of Rostock
University 130 courses
- Website of Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock (opens in a new tab)
Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock
Art & music college 38 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Rostock costs, from the latest figures we could source.
- Rent for a student flat
- ≈ €476 / month30 m² flat 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
- Rent is low: about €476 for a 30 m² flat and €450 for a shared-flat room (MLP 2026).
- The Kröpeliner-Tor-Vorstadt (KTV) is the student neighbourhood, close to the city centre and campus.
- German matters here: only a small share of courses is taught in English.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Rostock.
AIDA Cruises
Tourism
Cruise line headquartered in Rostock.
Nordex
Wind energy
Wind-turbine maker with production in Rostock.
Liebherr
Maritime cranes
Builds ship and offshore cranes in Rostock's port.
Port of Rostock
Logistics
Major Baltic ferry and cargo port.
Culture & people
Rostock was a powerful Hanseatic trading city, and its brick Gothic churches and gabled houses still show it. St Mary's Church has an astronomical clock from 1472 that still works. People in the north are calm and friendly, and life slows down noticeably in summer.
Warnemünde, Rostock's seaside district, has a wide sandy beach, a lighthouse and cruise ships passing through the harbour entrance. Fish sandwiches from the boats on the Alter Strom are a local ritual.
Events & festivals
Hanse Sail
August
One of the world's largest gatherings of tall ships, in Rostock and Warnemünde.
Warnemünder Woche
July
Sailing regatta and beach festival in Warnemünde.
Christmas market
Late Nov – Dec
A large market stretching through the city centre.
Places to see
Warnemünde
Beach
Wide Baltic beach, lighthouse and the Alter Strom harbour.
St Mary's Church
Church
Brick Gothic church with a 15th-century astronomical clock.
St Peter's Church
Church
Its tower gives one of the best views over the city.
Kröpeliner Straße
Street
Pedestrian street from the Kröpeliner Gate to the university square.
Getting around
Rostock's trams and buses (RSAG) and the S-Bahn to Warnemünde are covered by the Deutschland-Semesterticket included in the semester contribution. Trains reach Berlin and Hamburg in about two to three hours, and ferries sail from the port to Denmark and Sweden. Rostock-Laage Airport is small, so most students fly from Hamburg or Berlin.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Rostock, read by our team before they appear.
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Studying in Rostock: FAQ
Is Rostock cheap for students?
Yes. A 30 m² student flat costs about €476 a month and a shared-flat room about €450 (MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026), well below the mid-range figure of about €565 across the 38 cities studied.
Which universities are in Rostock?
Rostock has 2 universities in our catalogue: the University of Rostock, founded in 1419, and the University of Music and Theatre Rostock.
Can I study in English in Rostock?
Only a few programmes: 14% of Rostock's 168 degree courses are taught in English or bilingually, so German is important.
Do I pay tuition fees in Rostock?
No. Universities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania charge no tuition for EU or non-EU students; a 2026 bill to introduce fees for non-EU students was rejected by the state parliament.
More guides in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Sources
- MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 (IW Köln) (opens in a new tab)
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania tuition bill (GradGermany, Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- University of Rostock (opens in a new tab)
- University and course numbers: the Where Is My Uni? catalogue, rebuilt from official university data.
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