In short
Kiel has 5 universities and colleges offering 287 degree courses (127 Bachelor's, 154 Master's), and 32% of them are taught in English or bilingually. A student flat costs about €474 a month (30 m² flat incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Public universities in Schleswig-Holstein charge no tuition, including for non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution that includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket.
Kiel is Schleswig-Holstein's capital and its biggest university city, wrapped around a long fjord on the Baltic Sea. Kiel University (founded 1665) is strong in marine and earth sciences, and GEOMAR is one of Europe's leading ocean research centres. Life revolves around the water, and rents are below the middle of the 38 cities in the MLP 2026 study.
Universities in Kiel
Every university and college in Kiel in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of Kiel University (opens in a new tab)
Kiel University
University 228 courses
- Website of Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Kiel (opens in a new tab)
Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Kiel
University of applied sciences 44 courses
- Website of Muthesius Kunsthochschule (opens in a new tab)
Muthesius Kunsthochschule
Art & music college 11 courses
- Website of Kiel University of Applied Sciences (opens in a new tab)
Kiel University of Applied Sciences
University 4 courses
- Website of Duale Hochschule Schleswig-Holstein - staatlich anerkannte Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften in Trägerschaft der Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Holstein (opens in a new tab)
Duale Hochschule Schleswig-Holstein - staatlich anerkannte Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften in Trägerschaft der Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Holstein
University of applied sciences 0 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Kiel costs, from the latest figures we could source.
- Rent for a student flat
- ≈ €474 / month30 m² flat 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
- Rent is below the middle of the 38 cities in the MLP 2026 study: about €474 for a 30 m² flat and €404 for a shared-flat room.
- Kiel Week in June brings millions of visitors; book any guests' accommodation early.
- Bring windproof clothes; the weather changes fast on the fjord.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Kiel.
thyssenkrupp Marine Systems
Shipbuilding
Submarine and naval shipbuilder headquartered in Kiel.
GEOMAR
Ocean research
Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, based in Kiel.
Caterpillar Motoren
Engines
Builds MaK marine engines in Kiel.
Raytheon Anschütz
Navigation systems
Maker of ship navigation systems, based in Kiel.
Culture & people
Kiel is a sailing city: it hosted the Olympic sailing events in 1936 and 1972, and the fjord is full of boats from spring to autumn. Northern Germans are known for few words and a dry sense of humour, and "Moin" is the greeting for any time of day.
The city was heavily bombed in the Second World War and is mostly modern, but its waterfront, beaches and green spaces make it very liveable. Students spend summer at the Falckenstein beach or on the Kiellinie promenade watching ferries to Scandinavia.
Events & festivals
Kiel Week
June
The world's largest sailing event and a huge summer festival.
Christmas markets
Late Nov – Dec
Markets in the old town and on the Holstenstraße.
Places to see
Kiellinie
Promenade
Waterfront walk past the university's marine institutes and yachts.
Kiel Canal locks
Canal
The Holtenau locks of the world's busiest artificial waterway.
Laboe Naval Memorial
Memorial
Tower and U-boat museum at the mouth of the fjord.
Falckenstein Beach
Beach
Long sandy beach on the western side of the fjord.
Getting around
Kiel's buses (KVG) and the regional trains are covered by the Deutschland-Semesterticket included in the semester contribution. Regional trains reach Hamburg in about 75 minutes, and Hamburg Airport is the nearest major airport, reachable by express bus. Ferries cross the fjord, and daily ferries leave for Oslo and Gothenburg.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Kiel, read by our team before they appear.
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Studying in Kiel: FAQ
Is Kiel expensive for students?
No. A 30 m² student flat costs about €474 a month and a shared-flat room about €404 (MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026), below the mid-range figure of about €565 across the 38 cities studied.
Which universities are in Kiel?
Kiel has 5 universities in our catalogue, including Kiel University (Christian-Albrechts-Universität, founded 1665), Kiel University of Applied Sciences and the Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts and Design.
Can I study in English in Kiel?
Partly: 32% of Kiel's 287 degree courses are taught in English or bilingually, especially marine sciences and other science Master's programmes.
Do I pay tuition fees in Kiel?
No. Public universities in Schleswig-Holstein charge no tuition for EU or non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution.
When is Kiel Week?
Kiel Week (Kieler Woche) takes place every June. It is the world's largest sailing event and turns the whole city into a festival for nine days.
More guides in Schleswig-Holstein
Sources
- MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 (IW Köln) (opens in a new tab)
- Kiel University (opens in a new tab)
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (opens in a new tab)
- University and course numbers: the Where Is My Uni? catalogue, rebuilt from official university data.
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