# Study in Rostock, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

> 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.

**Find a course:** https://app.whereismyuni.com/dashboard/map?area=MV&city=Rostock

## Cost of living

- Rent: ≈ €476 (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.
- 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

- **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.

## 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.

## Sources

- [MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 (IW Köln)](https://www.iwkoeln.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Studien/Gutachten/PDF/2026/MLP_Studentenwohnreport_2026.pdf)
- [Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania tuition bill (GradGermany, Oct 2026)](https://www.gradgermany.com/blog/saxony-mecklenburg-vorpommern-tuition-fees-draft)
- [University of Rostock](https://www.uni-rostock.de)

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