In short
Schleswig-Holstein has 13 universities and colleges offering 588 degree courses (260 Bachelor's, 317 Master's), and 24% of them are taught in English or bilingually. A student flat costs about €474 a month (30 m² flat in Kiel incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Public universities charge no tuition for regular degrees; you pay only the semester contribution (about €100–400, usually including the semester ticket).
Between two seas: North Sea islands, the Baltic coast and sailing in Kiel. Laid-back, windy and close to Denmark, with university cities in Kiel, Lübeck and Flensburg and Hamburg within an hour or so by train.
University cities
Every city in Schleswig-Holstein with a university. Cities with a guide link to it.
Cost of living
What studying in Schleswig-Holstein costs, from the latest figures we could source.
- Rent for a student flat
- ≈ €474 / month30 m² flat in Kiel incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026
- 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
- Kiel is affordable — about €474 for a 30 m² flat, compared with €700 in nearby Hamburg (MLP 2026).
- Kiel Week in June is one of the world's biggest sailing events — and a huge free summer party.
- Flensburg is just a few kilometres from the Danish border, and Danish is taught and spoken in the region.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Schleswig-Holstein.
Dräger
Medical & safety tech
Family-run company headquartered in Lübeck since 1889.
thyssenkrupp Marine Systems
Shipbuilding
Builds submarines and naval ships in Kiel.
Niederegger
Food
The famous Lübeck marzipan maker.
freenet
Telecom
Mobile-phone provider headquartered in Büdelsdorf near Rendsburg.
GEOMAR
Ocean research
One of Europe's leading marine research centres, in Kiel.
Culture & people
Northerners are famously few with words — 'Moin' works as hello at any hour — but friendly and dependable. The weather is windy and changeable ('Schietwetter'), and people make up for it with beach chairs, sailing and long summer evenings by the water.
The state has a Danish minority in the north and Frisian speakers on the North Sea coast and islands. Fish sandwiches, Lübeck marzipan and Flensburg beer are local staples, and the Hanseatic towns are full of red-brick Gothic architecture.
Events & festivals
Kiel Week
Late June
Nine days of sailing regattas, tall ships and free concerts along the Kiel Fjord.
Wacken Open Air
Early August
One of the world's biggest heavy-metal festivals, in a small village in Holstein.
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival
July – August
Classical concerts in churches, barns and manor houses across the state.
Lübeck Christmas markets
Advent
Several markets in the old town, including one in the courtyard of a medieval hospital.
Places to see
Holstentor & Lübeck old town
UNESCO
The leaning city gate and the island old town of the 'Queen of the Hanseatic League'.
Lübeck Cathedral
Landmark
A brick cathedral founded in 1173 by Henry the Lion.
Kiel Fjord
Sea
Ferries, sailing boats and the beaches of Laboe and Falckenstein on the Baltic.
Flensburg harbour
City
Historic ships and merchant courtyards at the end of the Flensburg Fjord.
Wadden Sea & Sylt
UNESCO
Mudflats, dunes and the long beaches of Sylt and the North Frisian islands.
Hedeby & Danevirke
UNESCO
A Viking trading town and border wall near Schleswig, with a museum and reconstructed houses.
Getting around
Most universities include the Deutschland-Semesterticket in the semester contribution, covering buses, ferries on the Kiel Fjord and regional trains across Germany. Regional trains connect Kiel, Lübeck and Flensburg with Hamburg in roughly 45 minutes to two hours.
Hamburg Airport is the main airport for the state. From Kiel, overnight ferries sail to Oslo and Gothenburg, and trains to Copenhagen run via Flensburg.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Schleswig-Holstein, read by our team before they appear.
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Studying in Schleswig-Holstein: FAQ
Is Schleswig-Holstein expensive for students?
No. A 30 m² student flat costs about €474 a month in Kiel, compared with about €700 in nearby Hamburg (MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026).
Do international students pay tuition in Schleswig-Holstein?
No. Public universities in Schleswig-Holstein charge no tuition for regular degrees; students pay only the semester contribution, which usually includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket.
Can I study in English in Schleswig-Holstein?
Yes — 24% of the 588 degree courses listed for Schleswig-Holstein on Where Is My Uni? are taught in English or bilingually.
What is the best university city in Schleswig-Holstein?
Kiel has the largest university and is the place for marine science and sailing; Lübeck is strong in medicine and life sciences; Flensburg is small, close to Denmark and known for teacher training and European studies.
How do I get around Schleswig-Holstein as a student?
Regional trains link the university cities with each other and with Hamburg, and the Deutschland-Semesterticket covers them, plus buses and the Kiel Fjord ferries.
Every district in Schleswig-Holstein
A guide to each district and district-free city in Schleswig-Holstein: universities, housing, jobs, transport and weather.
Sources
- MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 (IW Köln) (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia — Schleswig-Holstein (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia — Kiel Week (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia — Lübeck (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia — Hedeby (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia — Drägerwerk (opens in a new tab)
- University and course numbers: the Where Is My Uni? catalogue, rebuilt from official university data.
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