# Study in Erfurt, Thuringia

> 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.

**Find a course:** https://app.whereismyuni.com/dashboard/map?area=TH&city=Erfurt

## Cost of living

- Rent: no figure in the 2026 rent study
- 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'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

- **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.

## 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.

## Sources

- [University of Erfurt](https://www.uni-erfurt.de/)
- [KiKA — about the channel](https://www.kika.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/thuringia/erfurt. Last updated November 2026. [How we research](https://whereismyuni.com/study-in/how-we-research).