# Study in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia > Cologne has 11 universities and colleges offering 668 degree courses (284 Bachelor's, 370 Master's), and 20% of them are taught in English or bilingually. A student flat costs about €714 a month (30 m² flat incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Public universities in North Rhine-Westphalia charge no tuition, including for non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution that includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket. Private universities charge fees. Cologne is relaxed, sociable and proud of it: people talk to strangers in the pub and the whole city dresses up for Carnival. The University of Cologne, TH Köln and the German Sport University draw students from everywhere. Rent is among the highest in Germany, but the city is well connected to the rest of the Rhine-Ruhr region. **Find a course:** https://app.whereismyuni.com/dashboard/map?area=NW&city=K%C3%B6ln ## Cost of living - Rent: ≈ €714 (30 m² flat incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026) - Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Public universities in North Rhine-Westphalia charge no tuition, including for non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution that includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket. Private universities charge fees. - Budget about €714 for a 30 m² flat or €672 for a shared-flat room (MLP 2026); many students live in Ehrenfeld, Sülz or Kalk, or commute from nearby cities. - Carnival week in February is a big deal: lectures continue, but plan for crowds, costumes and closed shops on Rose Monday. - In a Brauhaus, the waiter (Köbes) keeps bringing 0.2-litre Kölsch until you put your coaster on top of the glass. ## Industries & employers - **Ford** (Automotive): Ford-Werke's German headquarters and plant in Cologne-Niehl. - **REWE Group** (Retail): Supermarket and travel group headquartered in Cologne. - **Lufthansa** (Aviation): Deutsche Lufthansa AG has its registered headquarters in Cologne. - **WDR · RTL** (Media): Germany's largest public broadcaster and its biggest private TV group are both based here. ## Culture & people Cologne people are known for being open and chatty, with a local saying for every situation ("Et hätt noch immer jot jejange" – it has always worked out). Life happens in the Veedel, the neighbourhoods, each with its own bars and kiosks. The Belgian Quarter and Ehrenfeld are popular with students. The city has one of Germany's biggest LGBTQ+ scenes, a strong art and music scene and a summer culture of sitting by the Rhine. Kölsch beer and Halve Hahn (a rye roll with cheese, not half a chicken) are local classics. ## Events & festivals - **Carnival** (11 Nov and Feb): The season opens on 11 November; street carnival peaks from Weiberfastnacht to Rose Monday. - **ColognePride** (July): One of Europe's largest Pride parades and street festivals. - **gamescom** (August): The world's largest video games fair, at the Koelnmesse. - **Christmas markets** (Late Nov – Dec): Markets at the cathedral, the old town and the Rhine harbour. ## Places to see - **Cologne Cathedral** (UNESCO): The Gothic cathedral, a World Heritage Site; you can climb its south tower. - **Hohenzollern Bridge** (Bridge): Railway bridge over the Rhine, covered in love locks. - **Museum Ludwig** (Museum): Modern art, with one of Europe's biggest Picasso collections. - **Rheinauhafen** (Waterfront): Old harbour with the Crane Houses and the Chocolate Museum. - **Belgian Quarter** (Neighbourhood): Cafés, small shops and bars a short walk from the university. ## Getting around Cologne's trams, light rail and buses (KVB) and the regional trains around it are covered by the Deutschland-Semesterticket, included in the semester contribution at public universities. Cologne/Bonn Airport is about 15 minutes from the main station by S-Bahn, Düsseldorf is under half an hour away, and fast ICE trains reach Frankfurt in about an hour; high-speed trains also run to Brussels and Paris. ## FAQ ### Is Cologne expensive for students? Yes, Cologne is one of Germany's most expensive student cities: a 30 m² flat costs about €714 a month and a shared-flat room about €672, against a mid-range figure of about €565 across the 38 cities studied (MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). ### Which universities are in Cologne? The main ones are the University of Cologne, one of Germany's largest universities, TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences), the German Sport University Cologne, the Cologne University of Music and Dance, and the Academy of Media Arts. ### Can I study in English in Cologne? Some programmes are taught in English, mostly at Master's level; in our catalogue, 20% of Cologne's courses are in English or bilingual. Most Bachelor's degrees require German. ### Do I pay tuition fees in Cologne? Not at public universities: North Rhine-Westphalia charges no tuition to EU or non-EU students. You pay a semester contribution that includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket. ### Which companies hire students in Cologne? Ford, the REWE Group, Lufthansa and media companies like WDR and RTL are major employers, and Bayer is headquartered in neighbouring Leverkusen. ## Sources - [MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 (IW Köln)](https://www.iwkoeln.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Studien/Gutachten/PDF/2026/MLP_Studentenwohnreport_2026.pdf) - [Cologne Cathedral, UNESCO World Heritage](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/292) - [University of Cologne](https://www.uni-koeln.de) - [TH Köln](https://www.th-koeln.de) - [Deutschland-Semesterticket price, winter 2026/27 (Studentenwerk Leipzig)](https://www.studentenwerk-leipzig.de/en/news/semester-fee-increases-deutschland-semesterticket-and-mobility-fund-become-more-expensive/) --- Published by [Where Is My Uni?](https://whereismyuni.com) — every German university on one map. Canonical page: https://whereismyuni.com/study-in/north-rhine-westphalia/cologne. Last updated November 2026. [How we research](https://whereismyuni.com/study-in/how-we-research).