# Study in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt

> Magdeburg has 3 universities and colleges offering 186 degree courses (77 Bachelor's, 107 Master's), and 39% of them are taught in English or bilingually. A student flat costs about €393 a month (30 m² flat incl. utilities (WG room ≈ €336), MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Saxony-Anhalt charges no tuition at public universities for EU or non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution.

Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, is a green city on the Elbe with one of Germany's lowest student rents. Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg is known for engineering, computer science and medicine, and Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences offers practical degrees. It is calm, spacious and well connected to Berlin and Hanover.

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## Cost of living

- Rent: ≈ €393 (30 m² flat incl. utilities (WG room ≈ €336), MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026)
- Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Saxony-Anhalt charges no tuition at public universities for EU or non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution.
- Rent is low enough that many students can afford their own small flat — compare a WG room (about €336) with a 30 m² flat (about €393).
- Look at the university's English-taught engineering and computer-science Master's programmes, which attract many international students.
- Cycle the Elbe Cycle Route — one of Germany's most popular long-distance bike paths runs right through the city.

## Industries & employers

- **University Hospital Magdeburg** (Health): One of the largest employers in Saxony-Anhalt.
- **Saxony-Anhalt state government** (Public sector): Ministries and agencies of the state capital.
- **GETEC** (Energy): Energy-services group headquartered in Magdeburg.
- **Fraunhofer IFF** (Applied research): Institute for factory operation and automation in Magdeburg.

## Culture & people

Magdeburg was the seat of Emperor Otto the Great, and its cathedral is the oldest Gothic cathedral in Germany. Much of the city was rebuilt after the war, which gives it wide streets and many parks.

Student life is relaxed: the Elbe banks and the Rotehornpark in summer, the Hasselbachplatz bar district at night, and the colourful Green Citadel by Friedensreich Hundertwasser in the centre.

## Events & festivals

- **Kaiser-Otto-Fest** (Early October): Medieval festival around the cathedral square.
- **Christmas market & Lichterwelt** (Late Nov – Dec): Christmas market plus a city-wide light installation.

## Places to see

- **Magdeburg Cathedral** (Church): The oldest Gothic cathedral in Germany, with Otto the Great's tomb.
- **Magdeburg Water Bridge** (Engineering): Europe's longest navigable aqueduct, carrying a canal over the Elbe.
- **Green Citadel** (Architecture): Hundertwasser's last building, pink with golden onion domes.
- **Elbauenpark** (Park): Riverside park with the wooden Millennium Tower.

## Getting around

Trams and buses (MVB) cover the city. Trains reach Berlin in about 1.5–2 hours and Hanover in about 1.5; Leipzig/Halle Airport and Berlin Airport (BER) are the nearest airports. Check your semester contribution for the included ticket; the Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month.

## FAQ

### Is Magdeburg cheap for students?

Yes — it is one of Germany's cheapest student cities. A 30 m² student flat costs about €393 a month and a shared-flat room about €336 (MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026).

### Which universities are in Magdeburg?

Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences and the private Steinbeis University — 186 courses in our catalogue.

### Can I study in English in Magdeburg?

Yes. 39% of the courses in our Magdeburg catalogue are taught in English or bilingually, especially engineering and computer-science Master's programmes at Otto von Guericke University.

### Do I pay tuition fees in Magdeburg?

No. Public universities in Saxony-Anhalt charge no tuition for EU or non-EU students; only the semester contribution applies.

## Sources

- [MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 (IW / MLP)](https://www.iwkoeln.de/studien/michael-voigtlaender-christian-oberst-philipp-deschermeier-mlp-studentenwohnreport-2026.html)
- [Festivals in Deutschland — Kaiser-Otto-Fest Magdeburg](https://www.festivalsindeutschland.de/festival/kaiser-otto-fest-magdeburg)
- [Magdeburger Weihnachtsmarkt & Lichterwelt](https://weihnachtsmarkt-magdeburg.de/)

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Published by [Where Is My Uni?](https://whereismyuni.com) — every German university on one map. Canonical page: https://whereismyuni.com/study-in/saxony-anhalt/magdeburg. Last updated November 2026. [How we research](https://whereismyuni.com/study-in/how-we-research).