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University of Cologne Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs
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For most of the programs at the University of Cologne, international students are required to apply by the dates given below:
Undergraduate and postgraduate course deadlines 2026:
- Summer Semester: Jan 15, 2026
- Winter Semester: Jul 15, 2026
Note: Applicants must apply via Uni-assist for the University of Cologne admissions. For some courses, Uni-assist advises students to apply 4 to 6 weeks before to have some buffer time before VPD processing.
- University of Cologne Admissions 2026
- University of Cologne Eligibility and Selection 2025
- University of Cologne Admission Process 2025
- University of Cologne Application Process 2025
- University of Cologne Students review
- + 1 more item
University of Cologne Admissions 2026
According to an unofficial source, the University of Cologne acceptance rate is around 31%. This means that the university is quite selective at the time of admission. Hence, to take admission here, the applicants must have an exceptional academic record. For the University of Cologne admission, applicants must have a high school qualification for admission to undergraduate courses. Furthermore, for admission to a master's degree, the applicants must have a university degree. The University of Cologne is free for international students and does not charge any tuition fees.
This university is one of the most popular universities in Germany. According to Shiksha Popularity rankings, the University of Cologne ranks at #15 in Germany and #159 in the world. International students are drawn to this university because it is affordable and strongly focused on a practical curriculum.
To make an application to this university as an international student, below are the general admission requirements:
- University Entrance Qualification: As a general admission requirement, international students are required to have a high school certificate for undergraduate programs or a Bachelor's degree for PG programs.
- Language proficiency: There are a variety of courses available at this university; most of the UG programs are German-taught, for which international students are required to be proficient in German. Some programs require English language proficiency.
- Application documents: To make an application at this university, international students will be required to submit certain application documents, like academic transcripts, proof of language proficiency, a motivation letter, a CV, and maybe some other program-specific requirements.
University of Cologne Courses and Fees
International students can choose from 217 courses that are available at the University of Cologne at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The popular specialisations among international students include General Medicine, Business Analytics, Genetics, and International Business, and the tuition fee typically ranges from INR 0 to INR 55.6 L for PG courses; however, there is no tuition fee for undergraduate courses at this university.
Also read: University of Cologne Ranking 2025
University of Cologne Admission Highlights 2025
The University of Cologne has become highly competitive for international students because of its acceptance rate. Among all the University of Cologne courses, the popular courses among international students are MSc in Business Administration, MSc in Business Analytics and Econometrics, Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, etc. To get admission to the university, students need to complete the admission application by submitting the required information. The table below includes the highlights of the University of Cologne admission 2025:
|
particulars |
University of Cologne Admission Highlights |
|---|---|
|
Application Portal |
Official website |
|
Application Fee |
Free application |
|
Acceptance Rate |
31% (International applicants) |
|
English Language Tests Accepted |
|
|
International Application Deadlines |
Summer semester: Jan 15, 2025 |
Commonly asked questions
University of Cologne is a top-ranked university in Germany which offers a variety of courses on undergraduate, graduate as well as Diploma level, both in German and Englilsh. However, international students must note that they do require a German language proficiency certificate at DSH-2 or higher and basic understanding of the language in order to get enrolled in the university. In order to prepare students for their studies, Cologne University offers a program named Studienstart International program to all the Non-EU/EEA students. This course includes German-language classes and introductory courses tailored to the degree programmes as well as a variety of intercultural modules, which is meant to ease the student's start at the University of Cologne. After fully completing this one-semester program, students can begin their regular studies.
The University of Cologne acceptance rate is 20%. The low percent indicates that the university is quite tough to enter. Student must showcase their academic excellence to get into the university.
Once an applicant is admitted in the University of Cologne, they must formally accept the offer of admission within five days using their KLIPS 2.0 account (University of Cologne's online application portal). If they do not accept it within five days, the offer of admission will expire.
- Pay the entire semester fee;
- Upload a photograph to KLIPS 2.0 for electronic student ID (UCCard); and
- Submit the documents needed for enrolment.
The student's KLIPS 2.0 account will specify which documents are required for their enrolment, but most students must submit the following general requirements:
- Signed enrolment application form
- Proof of health insurance coverage
- A certificate that the applicant has been removed from the student register (for students who have previously been enrolled at a German university)
- A German language proficiency certificate at DSH-2 or higher
Students admitted to Medical studies or Dentistry via Hochschulstart must submit the following additional documents for enrolment:
- Copy of passport or identification card and a passport photo
- Legally certified copy of secondary school leaving certificate and a transcript of subjects and marks and any transcripts from studies abroad (with translation if not issued in English or French)
- A signed consent form for participation in the pilot degree programme (only for Medicine)
University of Cologne Eligibility and Selection 2025
University of Cologne programs are offered through the university's six faculties ie; Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Science, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Human Science feature and consist of an extensive portfolio of more than 200 fields of study on bachelor's, master's and diploma level.Below are the courses and their eligibility criteria for international students. Applicants must thoroughly check all the courses and choose their interested courses:
|
PG Programs |
Academic Qualifications |
English Proficiency Requirements |
Documents Required |
Interview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS(23 courses) |
|
|
Not required |
|
| M.Sc.(10 courses) |
|
|
Not required |
|
| M.A.(78 courses) |
|
|
Required |
|
| LL.M.(6 courses) |
|
|
Required |
Check below the list of undergraduate courses with their requirements:
|
UG Programs |
Academic Qualifications |
English Proficiency Requirements |
Documents Required |
Interview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.A.(55 courses) |
|
IELTS |
|
Required |
| BBA(9 courses) |
|
|
Required |
|
| B.Sc.(11 courses) |
|
|
Required |
|
| B.E. / B.Tech(2 courses) |
|
|
Required |
Also read: Cost of Living in Germany for International Students
University of Cologne Fees for International Students 2025
Considering that the University of Cologne is a public university in Germany, the other components are required to be paid by the student. Which includes accommodation, health insurance, and miscellaneous expenses. There is no application either at this university. It is a highly cost-effective alternative for students looking to study abroad.
Commonly asked questions
International students are required to upload the core academic documents to uni-assist, which include school-leaving/university entrance proof, complete transcripts, a bachelor's degree certificate, or a provisional proof.
Additionally, the applicants might also be asked for certified translations if the academic documents are not in German or English. The processing takes 4 to 6 weeks after the payment of the University of Cologne Application fee.
The list of the core VPD documents required is given below:
- A school leaving certificate or proof of having passed a university entrance exam.
- A bachelor's degree certificate
- Full transcripts of records covering all semesters
International students are required to submit the official transcripts from all the previously attended institutions.
They are to be translated into either English or German by a certified agency before an applicant gets to the uni-assist stage of application. Once these requirements are met, students can submit the scanned copies of these transcripts via the portal. The students might be requested to submit more of these documents if requested.
University of Cologne Admission Process 2025
Applicants applying from overseas must follow the University of Cologne admission process, which includes many steps, and it must be followed diligently. Applying, through enrollment, visa, housing, and arrival are some important steps for this process.
- Select a program and intake: As the first step of the process, international students should choose a program that suits their profile. Many of the programs offered at the University of Cologne have different deadlines.
- Confirm Eligibility Path: UG students whose secondary credentials do not grant direct admission to Cologne are required to apply through an entrance test.
- Submit Required Application Materials: Students are then required to submit the required application materials, such as the scanned copies of standardized tests, school reports & transcripts, teacher evaluations, etc.
- Application Review: The University of Cologne admissions team conducts a holistic review (considering academic achievements, test scores, essays, recommendations, extracurriculars, and other criteria). Preference is given to the students who are top-performing with outstanding achievement beyond academics.
- Acceptance: Once the Stanford application is successfully submitted, the admission decisions are released in mid-December (Early Action). These students are required to confirm their enrolment by paying a deposit.
- Post Admission Process: At this stage, the applicants are required to apply via digital.diplo.de to apply for a student visa to Germany.
University of Cologne Application Deadlines 2025
The University of Cologne has only one intake season; hence, all applicants must be prepared with all the admission requirements in order to apply to the university with priority. Students can refer to the table below for the application deadline details of the University of Cologne:
-
- Summer Semester: Jan 15, 2026
- Winter Semester: Jul 15, 2026
Also read: 7 Steps to study in Germany
University of Cologne VISA Requirements for International Students
The German Federal Foreign Office has introduced a new Consular Services Portal (digital.diplo.de) to streamline and make the student visa application process faster in 2025.
Under this new system, applicants can now:
-
Complete and submit their visa application form online
-
Upload all required documents digitally
-
Visit VFS Global solely for the biometric data submission, after completing the online process
Mentioned below are the documents required for a German student visa to study at the University of Cologne:
- Valid passport
- Copy of your passport’s information page (A4 size copy)
- Application form
- A declaration stating that the information provided is true and complete.
- Cover Letter explaining the reason for your visa application. You may be required to submit a German translation of this document.
- Letter of Admission from a German University
- University Certificates and transcripts - Degree certificates and mark sheets
- Proof of Language Proficiency (German language test scores). Applicants for PhD studies and Erasmus Mundus Scholarship holders are exempt from this rule.
- Proof of funds
- 3 passport pictures according to biometric specifications, not older than 6 months
- Demand Draft for the Student Visa Fee
Also read: How to Get a German Student Visa From India?
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
To get admission to Cologne Uni the eligibility criteria mentioned below need to be fulfilled first-
· High school level qualification (for bachelor’s courses)
· A bachelor’s degree (for master’s courses)
· Degree certificate
· German language proficiency
· Academic transcripts
University of Cologne has only one intake season, hence all interested applicants must be prepared with all the admission requirements in order to apply to the university at priority. Students can refer to the table below for the University of Cologne application deadlines:
Program | Applications Open | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
International Management (CEMS MIM), Economic Research | Mid-Jan, 2025 | Mar 31, 2024 |
| Double Master's Programs | Apr, 2024 | May 15, 2024 |
| All Other Master's Programs | Apr, 2024 | Jun 15, 2024 |
University of Cologne offers a variety of courses on bachelor's, master's as well as doctoral level to all international students every year. Studying in this university can be considered extremely inexpensive or very affordable since the University of Cologne does not charge tuition fees. However, it is mandatory for all students to pay a social contribution fee of around EUR 250 per semester or EUR 500 per year. This fee also includes a public transit pass for busses and rail in North Rhine – Westphalia.
University of Cologne MBA Admissions 2026
The University of Cologne also offers MBA programs, which are 10 in number. These courses are offered in specialisations like Economics, Business Administration, Health Economics, Business Analytics & Econometrics, Education in Economics, Economic Research, International Management, Business Informatics, Economic Research, and many more.
Below are the MBA admission requirements for the University of Cologne:
- A relevant bachelor's degree (should have at least 180 ECTS credits) and an overall GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale.
- English language proficiency by taking tests like IELTS or TOEFL.
- Preliminary review documentation (VPD) through uni-assist
- Official transcripts
- School leaving certificate/proof of having passed a university entrance exam.
Eligibility Criteria
- Accepting Exams: IELTS, PTE, TOEFL
University of Cologne MS Courses 2026
There are 42 MS courses available at Uni of Cologne with a duration of 2 years. International students are required to take an English proficiency test such as IELTS, TOEFL or PTE. There is no tuition fee however the acceptance rate stands at only 20% which makes it a highly selective university to get into. Check below the requirements for indian students-
- A relevant bachelor's degree in a related field
- English or German language proficiency (depending on the program)
- VPD (pre assessment) from uni assist
- APS certificate (for Indian students)
- Apply through the university portal before the deadline
Eligibility Criteria
- Accepting Exams: IELTS, PTE, TOEFL
University of Cologne Application Process 2025
Check the below mentioned steps to apply to the University of Cologne:
- International students must choose a program among various UG, PG and law programs and check their eligibility requirements.
- International students can apply via the official website and fill out the required details like academic transcripts, references, standardized test scores, English language proficiency scores.
- After uploading the required documents, international students can submit the University of Cologne applications as they charge no application fee from international students.
- University of Cologne will review application and within three to four weeks they will provide an offer letter to join the program.
Commonly asked questions On Application Process
University of Cologne accepts major English exam scores as proof of English language proficiency. Students can refer to the table below for minimum score requirements:
English Language Exam | Minimum Score Required |
|---|---|
TOEFL iBT | 95 & Above |
7.0 & Above | |
76 & Above | |
Cambridge | C1 Advanced |
TOEIC | Listening - 490 Reading - 455 Writing - 200 Speaking - 200 |
University of Cologne Admission FAQs 2025
As per the student alumni reviews at an unofficial source, here is what University of Cologne students keep in mind before starting their first semester:
· Make connections
· Join different clubs and societies of the college
· Stay in touch with the professors
· Do not miss the induction week
· Try to study in groups as this will broaden the knowledge
Indian students who satisfy the requirements below can apply for a Master's in Business degree at the University of Cologne:
· A UG degree in Business with a minimum GPA of 2.7
· C1 Level in German
· Valid scores in TOEFL or IELTS
University of Cologne
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The possible reasons of an application getting rejected could be-
The necessary subject requirements are not met.
Language proficiency test scores are insufficient
Minimum grades not achieved
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VPD Document missing which is a pre check document that ensures that the student is eligib
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| Population of City | 10,75,935 |
University of CologneContact Information
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