# Study in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein

> 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.

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## Cost of living

- Rent: ≈ €474 (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.
- 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

- **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.

## 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.

## Sources

- [MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 (IW Köln)](https://www.iwkoeln.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Studien/Gutachten/PDF/2026/MLP_Studentenwohnreport_2026.pdf)
- [Kiel University](https://www.uni-kiel.de)
- [GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel](https://www.geomar.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/schleswig-holstein/kiel. Last updated November 2026. [How we research](https://whereismyuni.com/study-in/how-we-research).