University of Cologne is a public research university established in the year 1388. It was the sixth university to be established in Central Europe. University of Cologne admissions are offered to more than 48,000 students. University of Cologne acceptance rate for international students is nearly 20%. You must apply in the official student portal of the university for admissions.

The popular University of Cologne courses are offered in study areas of chemistry, anthropology, archaeology, psychology, medicine, etc. These courses have different set of entry requirements as per the level you are applying for. As an international student, it is mandatory to submit German Language Proficiency tests such as DSH, TELC1, TestDaF or English Language Proficiency test scores of IELTS, TOEFL and PTE. The university recommends that the scores must not be more than 2 years old and should be submitted along with the application form.
Apart from the academic entry requirements, an international candidate would have to submit certain documents such as past academic certificates and degrees, transcripts, etc. Students from India would also need to submit an APS certificate for admissions. An APS certificate is the evidence of Indian academic documents and a requirement for German Study visa application. Proper immigration documents such as passport, student visa and other documents are also required to apply to German Universities. These documents will be verified by the admissions department and if needed they can schedule an appointment with you.
Why Study in University of Cologne?
University of Cologne is considered to be one of the oldest universities in Cologne, Germany. The university offers a diverse range of academic courses to the international students to study in Germany. The university is also known to be one of the largest research universities in Germany. The below given points show the notable reasons to study for University of Cologne masters and bachelor programs:
- Approximately 92% of the University of Cologne graduates secure jobs after within 3 months of course completion.
- The highest salary offered to a graduate of University of Cologne is EUR 2,50,000 (INR 2,24,93,775.33).
- Most placements are offered in top job oriented sectors such as engineering, information technology, healthcare, finance, etc. The average employment rate for the graduates is above 85% in this university.
- The cost of living in Cologne is relatively less as compared to the other cities such as Berlin. An approximate cost for international students residing in Cologne is EUR 986 (INR 88,715.45).
University of Cologne Rankings
University of Cologne ranking has been awarded by popular ranking bodies such as QS, US News, Times, etc. The rankings of University of Cologne have seen an improvement as compared to last year. It is always recommended that you must check the recent rankings of the public universities in Germany before applying. Below given are the University of Cologne ranking in 2024:
- #268 in QS World University Rankings 2024
- #244 in the US News and World Report 2023-24
- #160 in the Times Ranking of World Universities 2024
University of Cologne Fees for International Students
University of Cologne fees for international students are not charged. All students need to pay a social contribution fee of around EUR 250 (INR 22,493.78) or EUR 500 (INR 44,987.55) per semester for University of Cologne courses. The social contribution fees cover costs of administrative costs, student services, and public transportation passes, etc. The fees for public transit passes for buses and rail in North Rhine-Westphalia are also included within this.
University of Cologne Deadlines
University of Cologne deadline for 2024 applications happen to be in the months of January and June. The intakes in Germany for University of Cologne are done in two semesters, which are winter and summer semesters. The application portal for the UG, PG and University of Cologne MBA courses often open in the beginning of June for the winter semester and for summer semester it opens around the beginning of December. The below table shows the University of Cologne deadlines for the two intake periods:
| Semester | Deadline |
| Winter Semester (UG Courses) | July 15 |
| Summer Semester (UG Courses) | January 15 |
| Winter Semester (PG Courses) | June 15 |
| Summer Semester (PG Courses) | January 15 |
Documents Required for University of Cologne
For admission to University of Cologne, you will be required to submit certain documents such as past educational certificates, updated CV, letter of acceptance from the university, etc. A valid passport and German student visa are also required to stay and study in Germany. The document submission may have an extended deadline, depending on the program you are applying for. Some important University of Cologne admission requirements for international students are given below:
- Past educational certificates and qualifications should be uploaded to University of Cologne application portal
- Updated CV or Resume (without any career gap)
- APS Certificate is mandatory to apply to University of Cologne
- Proof of German or English Language Proficiency
- Letter of acceptance from the university
- Proof of entrance exam result
- Program specific documents
- Official transcripts with grades
- ID Proof (Passport)
University of Cologne Exams Required
University of Cologne requires certain exams to study in Germany. These exams include IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. The university recommends that you must not submit scores more than 2 years old. Given below are the exam score requirements for University of Cologne international students:

University of Cologne Cost of Attendance
Besides the social contribution fee, an international candidate will also have to incur the living expenses in Germany. The type of costs associated are rent, alimentation, clothes, leisure activities, insurance fees, etc. According to university officials, the cost of living in Germany at Cologne is around EUR 986 (INR 88,715.45). University of Cologne accommodation and other related expenses are given below:

University of Cologne Extracurricular Activities
University of Cologne offers extracurricular activities through guest lectures, theater performances, musical events, guided tours, exhibitions, etc. You can participate in these activities by registering on the official website of the university. You can also get in touch with the members of these groups through their contact IDs available in the official website of the university. Some popular extracurricular activities available for University of Cologne bachelor programs as well as masters programs students are given below:

University of Cologne Scholarships for International Students
University of Cologne also offers scholarships to international students based on their academic achievements and merit. The scholarships in Germany for international students are awarded on a per-month basis. Students with disabilities and illness also receive financial aid from the university. The table given below shows the scholarships available for University of Cologne courses:
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount |
| DAAD Scholarship | Awarded on merit basis to the students | Varies |
| Deutschland stipendium Scholarship | Awarded to first-year students as well as students in higher semesters and master's students (Merit Basis) | EUR 300 (INR 26,992.53) per month for 2 semesters |
| Social Stipend | Financial need basis | EUR 300 (INR 26,992.53) per month for 2 semesters |
| Scholarship for Students with Disabilities/Special Needs or Chronic Illness | Awarded to students with disability or chronic illness | EUR 300 (INR 26,992.53) per month for 2 semesters |
University of Cologne Job Outcomes
The placements are offered through the University of Cologne careers services team. The jobs in Germany provided by the University of Cologne attract an average salary of nearly EUR 1,15,000 (INR 1,03,47,136.65). The jobs are offered in sectors of logistics, finance, marketing, accounting, etc. Given below are the jobs offered to candidates from University of Cologne careers services team:

University of Cologne Notable Alumni
University of Cologne has some prestigious alumni members across different professions. Some popular alumni members of University of Cologne include Lena Meyer-Landrut, Stefan Raab, Uwe Boll, etc. You can contact these personalities to learn about their experiences from their contact IDs or social media profiles. The below table shows the University of Cologne notable alumni members along with their professions:
| Alumni | Profession |
| Lena Meyer-Landrut | German singer |
| Stefan Raab | German television producer, businessman, and former entertainer |
| Uwe Boll | German filmmaker |
| Anke Engelke | German comedian, actress, voice actress and television presenter |
| Heinrich Böll | German writer |
University of Cologne vs Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich vs Technical University Munich vs Humboldt University of Berlin
A comparison table among the top universities has been given below. Before making any selection, we recommend that you must go through this table. The universities are compared on the basis of acceptance rate, student and faculty ratio, average tuition fees, salary, etc. These universities have been chosen because of its relatively similar annual salary package and acceptance rate of international students. The comparison among University of Cologne vs Ludwig Maximilian University vs Technical University Munich vs Humboldt University of Berlin are as follows:
| Parameters | University of Cologne | Ludwig Maximilian University | Technical University Munich | Humboldt University of Berlin |
| Total number of programs | More than 300 programs | More than 300 programs | More than 100 programs | More than 171 programs |
| Acceptance rate | 20% | 10% | 8% | 15% |
| Accepted exams | IELTS, TOEFL and PTE | IELTS and TOEFL | IELTS and TOEFL | TOEFL and IELTS |
| Student to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 9:1 | 13:1 | 16:1 |
| Average tuition fees | EUR 250 (INR 22,493.78) or EUR 500 (INR 44,987.55) per semester | EUR 85 (INR 7,647.88) | EUR 2,000 — EUR 6,000 (INR 1,79,950.20–5,39,850.61) | No tuition fee is charged |
| Average annual salary | EUR 1,15,000 (INR 1,03,47,136.65) | EUR 1,40,000 (INR 1,25,96,514.18) | EUR 1,26,000 (INR 1,13,36,862.77) | EUR 81,228 (INR 73,08,497.53) |
It is suggested by the university officials that you must apply in the official student portal of University of Cologne. For any related query, you can write an email to international@verw.uni-koeln.de. You can also contact them via phone on +49 221 470-7014. If at all you are unable to contact them, we recommend you to appoint an educational agent in your area.
FAQs
Ques. How is the University of Cologne?
Ans. University of Cologne is a public research university established in the year 1388. It was the sixth university to be established in Central Europe.
Ques. What is the acceptance rate for the University of Cologne?
Ans. University of Cologne acceptance rate for international students is nearly 20%. This implies that the university follows a strict admissions policy.
Ques. Where should I apply for University of Cologne?
Ques. What are the popular courses at the University of Cologne?
Ans. The popular University of Cologne courses are offered in study areas of chemistry, anthropology, archaeology, psychology, medicine, etc.
Ques. What do I need for admission to the University of Cologne?
Ques. What documents do I need to submit for admissions in University of Cologne?
Ans. Apart from the academic entry requirements, an international candidate would have to submit certain documents such as past academic certificates and degrees, transcripts, etc.
Ques. What is the employment rate in the University of Cologne?
Ans. Approximately 92% of the University of Cologne graduates secure jobs after within 3 months of their course completion here.
Ques. What is the highest salary received in the University of Cologne?
Ans. The highest salary offered to a graduate of University of Cologne is EUR 2,50,000 (INR 2,24,93,775.33).
Ques. What is the average tuition fees for University of Cologne courses?
Ques. What is the social contribution fee?
Ans. All students need to pay a social contribution fee of around EUR 250 (INR 22,493.78) or EUR 500 (INR 44,987.55) per semester for University of Cologne courses.
Ques. What is the QS ranking for University of Cologne?
Ans. The QS ranking for University of Cologne is #268 in QS World University Rankings 2024. This university has also been ranked by the US News and Times body.
Ques. When is the application deadline for University of Cologne?
Ques. When does the application portal open for admissions?
Ques. What exams are required for admissions in University of Cologne?
Ans. The exams include IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. The university recommends that you must not submit scores more than 2 years old.
Ques. What is the cost of living at the University of Cologne?
Ans. According to university officials, the cost of living in Germany at Cologne is around EUR 986 (INR 88,715.45).
Ques. What are the extracurricular activities in University of Cologne?
Ans. University of Cologne offers extracurricular activities through guest lectures, theater performances, musical events, guided tours, exhibitions, etc.
Ques. Are scholarships available at the University of Cologne?
Ans. University of Cologne also offers scholarships to international students based on their academic achievements and merit. The scholarships in Germany for international students are awarded on a per-month basis.
Ques. What are some of the scholarships available at the University of Cologne?
Ans. Some of the scholarships available in University of Cologne are Deutschland stipendium Scholarship, Social Stipend, Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, etc.
Ques. How are the placements in University of Cologne?
Ans. The placements are offered through the University of Cologne careers services team. The jobs in Germany provided by the University of Cologne earn an average salary of nearly EUR 1,15,000 (INR 1,03,47,136.65).
Ques. Who are the famous alumni members of University of Cologne?
Ans. Some popular alumni members of University of Cologne include Lena Meyer-Landrut, Stefan Raab, Uwe Boll, etc. You can contact these personalities to learn about their experiences from their contact IDs or social media profiles.





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