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Study in Düsseldorf

A stylish Rhine city and state capital with big corporate headquarters, a famous art academy and free public universities.

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In short

Düsseldorf has 7 universities and colleges offering 229 degree courses (120 Bachelor's, 100 Master's), and 33% of them are taught in English or bilingually. A student flat costs about €613 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 schools such as WHU and IST charge fees.

Düsseldorf is the business and fashion capital of North Rhine-Westphalia: polished, international and very liveable. Heinrich Heine University, Hochschule Düsseldorf, the Kunstakademie and the Robert Schumann music school are the main places to study. It has Germany's largest Japanese community and an airport with flights almost everywhere.

Universities in Düsseldorf

Every university and college in Düsseldorf in our catalogue, biggest first.

See all 229 courses on the map

Cost of living

What studying in Düsseldorf costs, from the latest figures we could source.

Rent for a student flat
≈ €613 / 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 above average: about €613 for a 30 m² flat and €563 for a shared-flat room (MLP 2026); Bilk, near the university, and Flingern are popular with students.
  • Many large companies here offer English-speaking internships; check corporate career pages as well as university job boards.
  • Order an Altbier, the local dark beer; asking for Kölsch is a classic way to annoy the locals.

Industries & employers

Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Düsseldorf.

  • Henkel

    Consumer goods & adhesives

    Persil and Schwarzkopf maker headquartered in Düsseldorf.

  • Vodafone Germany

    Telecom

    German headquarters on the left bank of the Rhine.

  • Rheinmetall

    Defence & automotive

    Headquartered in Düsseldorf.

  • Metro

    Wholesale

    Wholesale group headquartered in Düsseldorf.

  • trivago

    Tech

    Hotel-search company headquartered in the MedienHafen.

Culture & people

Düsseldorf has a friendly rivalry with Cologne over beer, Carnival and football. The Altstadt is known as "the longest bar in the world" for its hundreds of pubs, and the Rhine promenade is where everyone goes on sunny days. The Königsallee is one of Germany's most exclusive shopping streets.

The Kunstakademie trained artists like Joseph Beuys and Gerhard Richter, and electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk started here. Around Immermannstraße, Japanese restaurants, bookshops and supermarkets reflect the city's long-standing Japanese community.

Events & festivals

  • Carnival

    Feb

    Rhineland Carnival, peaking with the Rose Monday parade.

  • Japan-Tag

    May / June

    Free Japanese culture festival on the Rhine, ending with Japanese fireworks.

  • Rheinkirmes

    July

    A huge funfair on the Rhine meadows in Oberkassel.

  • Christmas markets

    Late Nov – Dec

    Several themed markets across the old town and Königsallee.

Places to see

  • Altstadt

    Old town

    Narrow streets packed with pubs and Altbier breweries.

  • MedienHafen

    Architecture

    Former harbour with Frank Gehry's twisted buildings and the Rheinturm.

  • K20 and K21

    Museum

    The state's collection of 20th- and 21st-century art.

  • Rheinuferpromenade

    Promenade

    Riverside walk from the old town to the Rheinturm TV tower.

Getting around

Düsseldorf's U-Bahn, trams and buses (Rheinbahn) and regional trains are covered by the Deutschland-Semesterticket included in the semester contribution at public universities. Düsseldorf Airport, one of Germany's biggest, is about ten minutes from the main station by S-Bahn, Cologne is under half an hour away, and ICE trains run in every direction.

Student experiences

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Studying in Düsseldorf: FAQ

Is Düsseldorf expensive for students?

Fairly. A 30 m² student flat costs about €613 a month, above the mid-range figure of about €565 across the 38 cities in the MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026; a shared-flat room costs about €563.

Which universities are in Düsseldorf?

Düsseldorf has 7 universities in our catalogue, including Heinrich Heine University, Hochschule Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf and the Robert Schumann Hochschule for music.

Can I study in English in Düsseldorf?

Partly: 33% of Düsseldorf's 229 degree courses are taught in English or bilingually, mostly at Master's level.

Do I pay tuition fees in Düsseldorf?

Not at public universities: EU and non-EU students pay only the semester contribution. Private institutions such as WHU and IST-Hochschule charge tuition.

Which companies hire students in Düsseldorf?

Henkel, Vodafone, Rheinmetall, Metro and trivago are headquartered in Düsseldorf, along with many consulting, advertising and law firms.

More guides in North Rhine-Westphalia

The whole state: Study in North Rhine-Westphalia

Other university cities

Sources

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