In short
Erfurt has 4 universities and colleges offering 218 degree courses (77 Bachelor's, 137 Master's), and 17% of them are taught in English or bilingually. Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Thuringia charges no tuition at public universities for EU or non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution. Private institutions such as IU set their own fees.
Erfurt is Thuringia's capital and one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities, with the inhabited Krämerbrücke and a cathedral hill at its centre. The University of Erfurt focuses on education, humanities, social sciences and public policy, and Fachhochschule Erfurt covers architecture, engineering, social work and more. Its central location and ICE hub make Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt easy to reach.
Universities in Erfurt
Every university and college in Erfurt in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of University of Erfurt (opens in a new tab)
University of Erfurt
University 96 courses
- Website of IU Internationale Hochschule (opens in a new tab)
IU Internationale Hochschule
University of applied sciences 82 courses
- Website of Fachhochschule Erfurt (opens in a new tab)
Fachhochschule Erfurt
University of applied sciences 30 courses
- Website of HMU Health and Medical University (opens in a new tab)
HMU Health and Medical University
Other institution 10 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Erfurt 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
- Erfurt's ICE hub makes it a great base for travel: Berlin and Frankfurt are around two hours away, Leipzig under an hour.
- The University of Erfurt's Willy Brandt School offers an English-taught Master of Public Policy with an international student body.
- Rents are moderate — shared flats in the old town and Krämpfervorstadt are popular with students.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Erfurt.
KiKA
Media
ARD and ZDF's children's TV channel is based in Erfurt.
Thuringian state government
Public sector
Ministries and agencies of the state capital.
X-FAB
Semiconductors
Specialty chip foundry with its main German site in Erfurt.
Zalando
E-commerce & logistics
One of the company's logistics centres is in Erfurt.
Culture & people
Erfurt grew rich in the Middle Ages on trade and woad dye, and its old town of churches, merchant houses and the Krämerbrücke survived largely intact. Martin Luther studied here and entered the Augustinian monastery.
Today it is a calm, green state capital: summer evenings on the Domplatz, the egapark gardens and Thuringian bratwurst from street grills.
Events & festivals
Krämerbrückenfest
June
A medieval-style festival on and around the merchants' bridge.
DomStufen-Festspiele
July – August
Open-air opera on the monumental cathedral steps.
Christmas market
Late Nov – Dec
One of Germany's most beautiful, on the Domplatz below the cathedral.
Places to see
Krämerbrücke
Landmark
A medieval bridge lined with inhabited half-timbered houses.
Cathedral & St. Severus
Church
Two Gothic churches side by side above the Domplatz.
Old Synagogue
UNESCO
One of Europe's oldest preserved synagogues, part of a World Heritage Site.
Petersberg Citadel
Fortress
Baroque fortress with tunnels and views over the old town.
Getting around
Trams and buses cover the city. Erfurt Hauptbahnhof is an ICE hub where the Berlin–Munich and Frankfurt–Dresden lines cross: Berlin and Frankfurt are about two hours away and Munich about 2.5. Leipzig/Halle Airport is about 45 minutes by ICE. Check your semester contribution for the included ticket; the Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Erfurt, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Erfurt: FAQ
Which universities are in Erfurt?
The University of Erfurt, Fachhochschule Erfurt (University of Applied Sciences), the private IU International University and the private Health and Medical University.
Can I study in English in Erfurt?
Some programmes — 17% of the courses in our Erfurt catalogue are taught in English or bilingually, including the Willy Brandt School's Master of Public Policy.
Do I pay tuition fees in Erfurt?
Not at public universities: the University of Erfurt and FH Erfurt charge only the semester contribution. Private institutions such as IU charge tuition.
Is Erfurt a good place to study?
Yes, if you want a calm, affordable city with a beautiful old town and excellent train links — Erfurt's ICE hub puts Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich within a few hours.
More guides in Thuringia
Sources
- University of Erfurt (opens in a new tab)
- KiKA — about the channel (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 Erfurt?
Open the map on Erfurt: every university, every course, filtered by degree, subject, language and cost — free.