In short
Siegen has 1 university offering 147 degree courses (65 Bachelor's, 82 Master's), and 37% of them are taught in English or bilingually. Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — The University of Siegen charges no tuition, including for non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution that includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket.
Siegen sits among wooded hills in the south of North Rhine-Westphalia, in one of Germany's most forested regions. The University of Siegen is the city's only university and covers engineering, economics, media studies and education. The city is small and steep, life is affordable, and the region's family-owned metal and machinery companies hire graduates.
Universities in Siegen
Every university and college in Siegen in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of University of Siegen (opens in a new tab)
University of Siegen
University 147 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Siegen costs, from the latest figures we could source.
- Rent for a student flat
- No figure yetNot covered by the MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 — check the local Studierendenwerk.
- 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
- Siegen is not in the MLP rent study, but rents are generally lower than in Rhine-Ruhr cities.
- The city is very hilly and the main campuses are on hilltops; buses are your friend.
- Learn German early: daily life and most courses run in German.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Siegen.
SMS group
Plant engineering
Steel-plant maker with roots in the Siegerland and large workshops in nearby Hilchenbach.
SSI Schäfer
Logistics systems
Warehouse and logistics-systems maker based in nearby Neunkirchen.
Krombacher
Food & drink
One of Germany's best-known breweries, in Kreuztal-Krombach next to Siegen.
Culture & people
The Siegerland has mined and worked iron for centuries, and that heritage still shapes the region's many family-owned engineering firms. People are known as reserved but reliable. The painter Peter Paul Rubens was born in Siegen in 1577, and the Siegerland Museum in the Upper Castle shows some of his works.
In recent years the university has moved parts of its campus into the city centre, including the Lower Castle, which has brought more student life downtown. At weekends, the Rothaarsteig and other trails in the surrounding forests are the main attraction.
Events & festivals
KulturPur
Pentecost
Music, theatre and dance festival in a big tent on the Giller hill near Hilchenbach.
Siegener Stadtfest
Late August
City festival with live music and market stalls linking the upper and lower town.
Christmas market
Late Nov – Dec
Held at the Lower Castle, with an ice rink and a historic Ferris wheel.
Places to see
Upper Castle
Museum
Hilltop castle housing the Siegerland Museum and Rubens paintings.
Lower Castle
Campus
Baroque palace in the centre, now part of the university.
Rothaarsteig
Nature
Long-distance hiking trail through the forests near Siegen.
Getting around
Buses and regional trains in and around Siegen are covered by the Deutschland-Semesterticket included in the semester contribution. Regional trains reach Cologne in about an hour and a half and Frankfurt in roughly two hours, and the nearest major airports are Cologne/Bonn and Frankfurt. Because of the hills, most students use buses rather than bikes.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Siegen, read by our team before they appear.
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Studying in Siegen: FAQ
Which universities are in Siegen?
Siegen has one university in our catalogue, the University of Siegen, with 147 degree courses in engineering, economics, media, natural sciences, humanities and teacher training.
Can I study in English in Siegen?
Only some programmes: 37% of the University of Siegen's courses are taught in English or bilingually, mostly at Master's level.
Is Siegen cheap for students?
Siegen is not covered by the MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026, but as a smaller city it is generally cheaper than the big university cities of the Rhineland.
Do I pay tuition fees in Siegen?
No. The University of Siegen is public and charges no tuition for EU or non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution.
More guides in North Rhine-Westphalia
Sources
- University of Siegen (opens in a new tab)
- KulturPur festival (opens in a new tab)
- SMS group, Hilchenbach (opens in a new tab)
- University and course numbers: the Where Is My Uni? catalogue, rebuilt from official university data.
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