In short
Lübeck has 3 universities and colleges offering 88 degree courses (47 Bachelor's, 40 Master's), and 22% of them are taught in English or bilingually. 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.
Lübeck is a beautiful, compact city whose whole old-town island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The University of Lübeck is small and specialised in medicine, life sciences and computer science, TH Lübeck offers engineering and applied sciences, and the Musikhochschule trains musicians. The Baltic beach at Travemünde is part of the city.
Universities in Lübeck
Every university and college in Lübeck in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of Technische Hochschule Lübeck (opens in a new tab)
Technische Hochschule Lübeck
University of applied sciences 44 courses
- Website of Universität zu Lübeck (opens in a new tab)
Universität zu Lübeck
University 34 courses
- Website of Musikhochschule Lübeck (opens in a new tab)
Musikhochschule Lübeck
Art & music college 10 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Lübeck costs, from the latest figures we could source.
- Rent for a student flat
- No figure yetNot covered by the MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 — check the local Studierendenwerk.
- 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
- Lübeck is not in the MLP rent study; the old-town island is the most sought-after area, so look at St. Jürgen near the campus too.
- Hamburg is about 45 minutes away by regional train, covered by your semester ticket.
- Medical-technology firms around the university offer working-student jobs for engineering and life-science students.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Lübeck.
Dräger
Medical & safety tech
Maker of ventilators and gas detectors, headquartered in Lübeck.
Euroimmun
Medical diagnostics
Laboratory-diagnostics company headquartered in Lübeck.
UKSH Lübeck
Healthcare
The University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein's Lübeck campus.
Niederegger
Food
Lübeck's famous marzipan maker, founded in 1806.
Culture & people
Lübeck was the "Queen of the Hanseatic League", the medieval trading network of northern Europe, and its brick Gothic churches, merchants' houses and narrow passageways (Gänge) still show that wealth. Thomas Mann was born here and set his novel Buddenbrooks in the city; Willy Brandt and Günter Grass also have museums here.
Marzipan is the local obsession, and Niederegger's café is a must. In summer, students take the train or bike to Travemünde's beach on the Baltic.
Events & festivals
Nordic Film Days
November
Festival of films from Scandinavia, the Baltic states and northern Europe.
Travemünder Woche
July
Sailing regatta and festival on the beach in Travemünde.
Christmas markets
Late Nov – Dec
Several markets across the old town, including one in a medieval hospital.
Places to see
Holstentor
Landmark
The 15th-century city gate, Lübeck's symbol.
Lübeck Cathedral
Church
Brick cathedral founded in 1173 by Henry the Lion.
European Hansemuseum
Museum
The history of the Hanseatic League, told in reconstructed scenes.
Buddenbrookhaus
Museum
The Mann family's house and a museum about Thomas and Heinrich Mann.
Travemünde
Beach
Lübeck's seaside district on the Baltic, with ferries to Scandinavia.
Getting around
Lübeck's buses and regional trains are covered by the Deutschland-Semesterticket included in the semester contribution. Regional trains reach Hamburg in about 45 minutes and Travemünde in about 20, and Hamburg Airport is the nearest major airport. The old town is small enough to walk or cycle everywhere.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Lübeck, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Lübeck: FAQ
Which universities are in Lübeck?
Lübeck has 3 universities in our catalogue: the University of Lübeck (medicine, life sciences, computer science), TH Lübeck (Technical University of Applied Sciences) and the Musikhochschule Lübeck.
Can I study in English in Lübeck?
Partly: 22% of Lübeck's 88 degree courses are taught in English or bilingually, mostly Master's programmes in technology and life sciences.
Is Lübeck a good place to study medicine?
The University of Lübeck is small and specialised in medicine and life sciences, with its own university hospital campus, which means close contact with teaching staff.
Do I pay tuition fees in Lübeck?
No. Lübeck's public universities charge no tuition for EU or non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution.
More guides in Schleswig-Holstein
Sources
- Hanseatic City of Lübeck, UNESCO (opens in a new tab)
- University of Lübeck (opens in a new tab)
- TH Lübeck (opens in a new tab)
- University and course numbers: the Where Is My Uni? catalogue, rebuilt from official university data.
Ready to find your course in Lübeck?
Open the map on Lübeck: every university, every course, filtered by degree, subject, language and cost — free.