# Study in Paderborn, North Rhine-Westphalia > Paderborn has 3 universities and colleges offering 316 degree courses (139 Bachelor's, 176 Master's), and 21% of them are taught in English or bilingually. Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Paderborn University charges no tuition, including for non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution that includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket. The Fachhochschule der Wirtschaft is private and charges fees. Paderborn is a small, historic city with a modern economy: computer pioneer Heinz Nixdorf founded his company here, and Paderborn University is known for computer science, engineering and business. It is safe, easy to get around by bike and cheaper than the big Rhine cities. Daily life is quiet outside term time. **Find a course:** https://app.whereismyuni.com/dashboard/map?area=NW&city=Paderborn ## Cost of living - Rent: no figure in the 2026 rent study - Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Paderborn University charges no tuition, including for non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution that includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket. The Fachhochschule der Wirtschaft is private and charges fees. - Paderborn is not in the MLP rent study; rents are generally lower than in larger NRW cities, but student rooms go quickly before the winter semester. - The university's Heinz Nixdorf Institute links computer science and engineering research with local industry; look there for student jobs. - Most students cycle; the campus is about 15 minutes by bike from the centre. ## Industries & employers - **Diebold Nixdorf** (Banking & retail tech): ATM and checkout systems maker; Paderborn is its main German site. - **dSPACE** (Software & simulation): Automotive simulation and testing company headquartered in Paderborn. - **Benteler** (Automotive & steel): Automotive and steel-tube group with large plants in Paderborn. - **Phoenix Contact Power Supplies** (Electronics): Power-supply unit of Phoenix Contact, based in Paderborn. ## Culture & people Paderborn is an old Catholic bishopric: Charlemagne met Pope Leo III here in 799, and the cathedral dominates the centre. Right next to it, about 200 springs feed the Pader, which at around four kilometres is often called Germany's shortest river. The city has a big student population for its size, and life centres on the old town, the Pader meadows and the cafés around the cathedral. Football fans follow SC Paderborn 07. ## Events & festivals - **Libori** (Late July): A church festival and big funfair honouring St. Liborius, one of Germany's oldest folk festivals. - **Paderborner Osterlauf** (Easter Saturday): A large, long-running road race through the city. - **Christmas market** (Late Nov – Dec): Stalls around the cathedral and town hall. ## Places to see - **Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum** (Museum): The world's largest computer museum. - **Paderborn Cathedral** (Church): Romanesque-Gothic cathedral with the famous Three Hares window. - **Pader springs** (Nature): Around 200 springs in the centre feeding the short Pader river. - **Kaiserpfalz** (History): Remains of Charlemagne's palace, with a museum next to the cathedral. ## Getting around Paderborn's buses (PaderSprinter) and regional trains are covered by the Deutschland-Semesterticket included in the semester contribution. Intercity and regional trains connect to Hamm, Bielefeld, Kassel and the Ruhr area, and Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport is about 20 kilometres away. The flat city centre is ideal for cycling. ## FAQ ### Which universities are in Paderborn? The main university is Paderborn University, known for computer science, engineering, business and teacher training; the private Fachhochschule der Wirtschaft (FHDW) also has a campus here. ### Can I study in English in Paderborn? Only some programmes: 21% of Paderborn's 316 degree courses are taught in English or bilingually, mainly Master's degrees in computer science and engineering. ### Is Paderborn good for computer science? Yes. Paderborn University has a long computer-science tradition, the Heinz Nixdorf Institute and close links to local tech firms such as dSPACE and Diebold Nixdorf. ### Do I pay tuition fees in Paderborn? No. Paderborn University is public and charges no tuition for EU or non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution. ## Sources - [Paderborn University](https://www.uni-paderborn.de) - [City of Paderborn: economy](https://www.paderborn.de/microsite/welcome/economy-education/economy.php) --- 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/paderborn. Last updated November 2026. [How we research](https://whereismyuni.com/study-in/how-we-research).