In short
Dessau-Roßlau has 2 universities and colleges offering 92 degree courses (35 Bachelor's, 57 Master's), and 24% of them are taught in English or bilingually. Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Saxony-Anhalt charges no tuition at public universities for EU or non-EU students; Anhalt University students pay only the semester contribution.
Dessau-Roßlau is a small city on the Elbe and Mulde rivers, best known as the home of the Bauhaus from 1925 to 1932. Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Anhalt) teaches architecture, design and facility management here, with further campuses in Köthen and Bernburg, and many programmes attract international students. Life is quiet and cheap, with Leipzig and Berlin within reach by train.
Universities in Dessau-Roßlau
Every university and college in Dessau-Roßlau in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (opens in a new tab)
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
University 63 courses
Hochschule Anhalt
University of applied sciences 29 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Dessau-Roßlau 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
- Check which campus your programme is on: Anhalt University teaches in Dessau, Köthen and Bernburg.
- Living costs are low, but the city is quiet — Leipzig is the nearest big city for nightlife and part-time jobs.
- Cycle through the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm on a sunny weekend.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Dessau-Roßlau.
German Environment Agency (UBA)
Public sector
Germany's federal environment agency is headquartered in Dessau.
Bauhaus Dessau Foundation
Culture
Runs the Bauhaus building, the Masters' Houses and exhibitions.
Chemical Park Bitterfeld-Wolfen
Chemicals
Large industrial park about 30 km south.
Culture & people
The Bauhaus moved to Dessau in 1925, and Walter Gropius's school building and the Masters' Houses are now UNESCO World Heritage, alongside the 18th-century landscape gardens of the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm.
It is a small, green city with a slow pace, and the Bauhaus design programmes bring a creative, international crowd.
Events & festivals
Kurt Weill Fest
Late Feb – March
Festival celebrating the Dessau-born composer of The Threepenny Opera.
Christmas market
Late Nov – Dec
Stalls in the city centre.
Places to see
Bauhaus Building
UNESCO
Walter Gropius's 1926 school building — you can even stay overnight in the studio rooms.
Masters' Houses
UNESCO
Homes of Gropius, Kandinsky, Klee and other Bauhaus teachers.
Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm
UNESCO
English-style landscape gardens and palaces along the Elbe.
Bauhaus Museum Dessau
Museum
The foundation's collection in a modern glass building.
Getting around
Trams and buses cover the city. Regional trains reach Leipzig in under an hour and Berlin in about 1.5 hours; Leipzig/Halle Airport is the nearest airport. Check your semester contribution for the included ticket; the Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Dessau-Roßlau, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Dessau-Roßlau: FAQ
Which university is in Dessau?
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Anhalt), which teaches architecture, design and facility management in Dessau and other subjects in Köthen and Bernburg.
Can I study in English in Dessau?
Yes. 24% of the courses in our Dessau-Roßlau catalogue are taught in English or bilingually, including international Master's programmes in architecture.
Do I pay tuition fees in Dessau?
No. Public universities in Saxony-Anhalt charge no tuition for EU or non-EU students; only the semester contribution applies.
Is Dessau a good place to study?
Yes, for architecture and design in particular — you study in the city of the Bauhaus, with very low living costs. The trade-off is a quiet small-town life.
More guides in Saxony-Anhalt
Sources
- Visit Dessau — Kurt Weill Festival 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (opens in a new tab)
- German Environment Agency — Dessau (opens in a new tab)
- University and course numbers: the Where Is My Uni? catalogue, rebuilt from official university data.
Ready to find your course in Dessau-Roßlau?
Open the map on Dessau-Roßlau: every university, every course, filtered by degree, subject, language and cost — free.