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Study in Leipzig

A creative, fast-growing city with one of Germany's oldest universities, a big music scene and below-average rents.

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Augustusplatz
Photo: Augustusplatz — Whgler (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0

In short

Leipzig has 6 universities and colleges offering 394 degree courses (102 Bachelor's, 172 Master's), and 22% of them are taught in English or bilingually. A student flat costs about €454 a month (30 m² flat incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). Tuition for non-EU students: €0 at most — Leipzig University and HTWK Leipzig charge no tuition, including for non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution. Saxon law lets each university charge non-EU students, and the University of Music and Theatre (HMT) does; HHL is a private business school with fees.

Leipzig is young, creative and still relatively affordable, which is why people call it the new Berlin. Leipzig University, founded in 1409, is one of the oldest in Germany, and HTWK, the music conservatory and the Academy of Visual Arts complete the picture. The city has lakes to the south, a huge music history and a fast-growing job market.

Universities in Leipzig

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

See all 394 courses on the map

Cost of living

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

Rent for a student flat
≈ €454 / month30 m² flat incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026
Tuition for non-EU students
€0 at mostPlus 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 well below average: about €454 for a 30 m² flat and €444 for a shared-flat room (MLP 2026), though the market has tightened.
  • Connewitz, Südvorstadt and Plagwitz are popular student areas; the city lakes are a bike ride away.
  • Leipzig and Dresden are about an hour apart by train, so you can explore both.

Industries & employers

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

  • BMW

    Automotive

    Leipzig plant builds cars and electric-vehicle components.

  • Porsche

    Automotive

    Leipzig plant builds the Macan and Panamera.

  • DHL Hub Leipzig

    Logistics

    DHL's largest air-freight hub, at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

  • VNG

    Energy

    Gas and energy group headquartered in Leipzig.

Culture & people

Leipzig has been a trading and book city for centuries. Johann Sebastian Bach worked at St Thomas Church for 27 years, and the Gewandhaus Orchestra is one of the world's oldest. In 1989 the Monday demonstrations that started at the St Nicholas Church helped bring down the Berlin Wall.

Today it is known for its alternative scene, old factories turned into studios, and a relaxed way of life. Former open-cast mines to the south have become lakes for swimming and sailing, like the Cospudener See.

Events & festivals

  • Leipzig Book Fair

    March

    Germany's big spring book fair, with readings all over the city.

  • Wave-Gotik-Treffen

    Pentecost

    One of the world's largest gothic music and culture festivals.

  • Bachfest

    June

    Festival of Bach's music in the churches where he worked.

  • Lichtfest

    9 October

    Light festival on Augustusplatz remembering the 1989 demonstrations.

Places to see

  • Augustusplatz

    Square

    Central square with the Opera, the Gewandhaus and the university.

  • St Thomas Church

    Church

    Bach's church and burial place, home of the Thomanerchor boys' choir.

  • Monument to the Battle of the Nations

    Monument

    Massive 1913 memorial to the 1813 battle against Napoleon.

  • Spinnerei

    Art

    Former cotton mill turned into galleries and artists' studios.

  • Cospudener See

    Lake

    Lake south of the city with beaches and a marina.

Getting around

Leipzig's trams and buses (LVB) and the S-Bahn through the City Tunnel are covered by the Deutschland-Semesterticket, which comes with the semester contribution. Leipzig/Halle Airport is about 15 minutes from the main station by train, ICE trains reach Berlin in about 75 minutes, and Dresden is about an hour away. The city is flat and very bike-friendly.

Student experiences

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Studying in Leipzig: FAQ

Is Leipzig cheap for students?

Yes, compared with western German cities. A 30 m² student flat costs about €454 a month and a shared-flat room about €444, against a mid-range figure of about €565 across the 38 cities studied (MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026).

Which universities are in Leipzig?

Leipzig has 6 universities in our catalogue, including Leipzig University (founded 1409), HTWK Leipzig University of Applied Sciences, the University of Music and Theatre, the Academy of Visual Arts and the private HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management.

Can I study in English in Leipzig?

Partly: 22% of Leipzig's 394 degree courses are taught in English or bilingually, mostly Master's programmes. Most Bachelor's degrees are in German.

Do I pay tuition fees in Leipzig?

Not at Leipzig University or HTWK, where non-EU students pay only the semester contribution. Saxon law allows universities to charge non-EU students, and some, like the University of Music and Theatre, do, so check your programme.

Which companies hire students in Leipzig?

BMW and Porsche run car plants in Leipzig, DHL operates its largest air-freight hub at the airport, and the energy company VNG is headquartered in the city.

More guides in Saxony

The whole state: Study in Saxony

Other university cities

Sources

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