Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Saxony-Anhalt's oldest and largest university: tuition-free, mostly German-taught, with more than 150 bachelor's options.
- Students
- 18,789
- International
- 9%
- of students
- Tuition
- Free
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1502
About MLU
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) is the largest and oldest university in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It was formed in 1817 when the University of Wittenberg, founded in 1502 and the university where Martin Luther taught, merged with Friedrich University Halle, founded in 1694. Today its campus is in Halle, while the Leucorea foundation in Wittenberg serves as a conference centre. MLU has around 19,000 students, about 350 professors and more than 4,000 staff.
The university offers more than 150 undergraduate and almost 80 postgraduate programmes across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, law, economics and medicine, and many subjects can be freely combined. It also teaches subjects rarely found elsewhere in Germany, such as speech science and medical physics, trains a large share of Saxony-Anhalt's teachers, and educates the state's future lawyers. Teaching is organised in nine faculties, from Theology to three Faculties of Natural Sciences.
Most programmes are taught in German, so international students usually need C1-level German (for example DSH-2 or TestDaF 4 in every section). The main exception at bachelor's level is the English-taught BSc Business Economics. MLU charges no general tuition fees, only a semester contribution that includes a Germany-wide public transport ticket, which makes it a good fit for students who want a traditional German university in an affordable city.
Zukunft mit Tradition
“Future with tradition” — university motto
Why students choose MLU
There is no general tuition fee for German, EU or non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution of 333.30 euros (winter 2026/27) that includes the Deutschlandsemesterticket for public transport.
The BSc Business Economics teaches its first two years entirely in English, with integrated German classes for international students and electives in English and German in the final year.
More than 150 bachelor's options, many freely combinable, include rare subjects such as speech science and medical physics.
MLU coordinates the Cluster of Excellence Center for Chiral Electronics with partners in Halle, Regensburg and Berlin.
Admissions
Winter semester 2027/28 entry
Selectivity
MLU does not publish an overall admission rate. Many bachelor's programmes are admission-free (you can simply enrol), while restricted programmes (Uni-NC) select mainly on the grade of your school-leaving qualification; MLU publishes past NC cut-offs. Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy are allocated through the national hochschulstart system for German and EU/EEA applicants.
Typical entry requirements
| German Abitur or equivalent | A recognised higher education entrance qualification (HZB); admission-free programmes accept all eligible applicants, NC programmes rank applicants by grade |
|---|---|
| Foreign school-leaving certificate | Checked by uni-assist; if it does not give direct access, you first attend the Studienkolleg and pass the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP). Applicants with Indian school certificates need at least 70% of the maximum CGPA from winter 2026/27; APS certificate required for India, China and Vietnam |
| International Baccalaureate | Handled through uni-assist as a qualification obtained outside Germany |
| German language (German-taught programmes) | DSH-2, TestDaF with at least 4 in each section, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule (grade C or better), Goethe C2, DSD II at C1 level or FSP with German |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 72 For the English-taught BSc Business Economics: B2 English, proven by IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72, Cambridge FCE grade C, UNIcert II, 10 points in Abitur English, or native-speaker schooling in listed countries. German-taught programmes require German at C1 level instead. |
Deadlines
- Bachelor's programmes, applicants with foreign qualifications (winter semester) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~9 months15 July 2027
Via uni-assist. The uni-assist portal for MLU usually opens around mid-February. Documents and handling fee must reach uni-assist by the deadline. NC admissions go out from mid-August.
- Studienkolleg (winter semester) Non-binding In ~9 months15 July 2027
MLU recommends applying 4-6 weeks early; the entrance test is held in mid to late August.
- BSc Business Economics (English-taught) Non-binding In ~9 months15 July 2027
Winter start only. German-qualification holders apply via MLU's portal, others via uni-assist.
- Admission-free bachelor's programmes, German-qualification holders Non-bindingEnd of September 2027
Enrolment in NC-free first-degree programmes stays open until the end of September.
Dates follow MLU's fixed annual pattern (15 July for winter semester applications; 15 January for summer semester). Some programmes also start in the summer semester. Confirm on the programme page before applying.
How to apply
Applicants with qualifications from abroad (whatever their citizenship, including IB holders) apply online through uni-assist only; MLU charges no application fee, but uni-assist charges 75 euros for the first and 30 euros for each further application. Applicants with a German Abitur apply or enrol through MLU's own application portal. EU/EEA applicants to DoSV programmes (e.g. Business Studies, Economics, Psychology, Biology) also register on hochschulstart.de, and German/EU applicants to Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy apply via hochschulstart.de.
What admissions looks for
- A recognised school-leaving qualification that gives direct university access in Germany, or the Studienkolleg and FSP if it does not.
- Proof of C1-level German for German-taught programmes.
- For NC-restricted programmes, a strong school-leaving grade, which is the main selection criterion.
- For BSc Business Economics, a points system: school grade (up to 60 points), English level from B2 to C2 (up to 30), and work or international experience (up to 10).
Tips for applying to MLU
- 1 Use uni-assist's admission check first to see whether your school certificate gives direct access or requires the Studienkolleg.
- 2 Apply early: uni-assist processing takes several weeks and you cannot fix a late or incomplete application afterwards.
- 3 If you apply to an NC programme with a foreign qualification, a strong TestAS result (81% or more) can improve your grade by 0.2.
- 4 For Business Economics, higher English certificates earn more selection points, so a C1 or C2 result is worth submitting.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
MLU charges no general tuition fees, so the main costs are the semester contribution and living expenses. Its study finance pages list scholarships, foundations and national scholarship organisations, and the Studentenwerk Halle handles BAföG, halls of residence and social counselling.
- 333.30 euros
- Semester contribution, winter 2026/27
- 315.30 euros
- Semester contribution, summer 2026
- 75 euros first application, 30 euros each additional
- uni-assist handling fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (winter and summer)
Business Economics (BSc)
MLU's English-taught bachelor's: six semesters, first two years fully in English, with integrated German classes and selection by grades, English level and experience.
Medicine (state examination)
Taught by University Medicine Halle, which combines a large modern hospital complex with research; German and EU applicants apply via hochschulstart.
Teacher training
MLU is the main teacher-training university for Saxony-Anhalt's general-education schools, with 1,000 places a year and more than 4,000 trainee teachers.
Law (state examination)
MLU is responsible for educating Saxony-Anhalt's future legal professionals.
Speech science and medical physics
Examples of subjects the university says are rarely found elsewhere in Germany.
Research
- The Cluster of Excellence Center for Chiral Electronics, run by MLU with partners in Halle, Regensburg and Berlin, works on energy-efficient electronics at the boundary of physics and chemistry.
- Research is organised in four core areas: plurality, participation and enlightenment; health and society in transformation; plants to macromolecules; and mineral resources to nanoelectronics.
- MLU coordinates the structural-change projects Just Transition Center, DiP Saxony-Anhalt (bioeconomy model region) and TPG (digital nursing and healthcare).
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Theology
- Faculty of Law, Economics and Business
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Philosophy I
- Faculty of Philosophy II
- Faculty of Philosophy III
- Faculty of Natural Sciences I
- Faculty of Natural Sciences II
- Faculty of Natural Sciences III
Student life
MLU's buildings are spread across Halle: the main buildings, including the lion-guarded Löwengebäude, stand on University Square in the old town, the humanities and social sciences are largely on the Steintor Campus, education and theology are housed in the historic Francke Foundations, and the sciences sit on the Weinberg Campus. The semester ticket gives students public transport across Germany. The Collegium musicum brings together the university choir, the Academic Orchestra, a big band and student theatre (its history includes the first Handel Festival in 1922), and the university sports centre runs courses for students.
- The Deutschlandsemesterticket is included in the semester contribution.
- The Collegium musicum (university choir, Academic Orchestra, Uni-BigBand and student theatre) is open to students; choir auditions for winter 2026/27 are on 15 October 2026.
- The Georg-Forster-Haus is the university's international guest house and meeting centre.
- About 1,750 international students were enrolled in winter 2025/26.
Housing. Halls of residence are run by the Studentenwerk Halle rather than the university, and MLU's student pages describe Halle as a city with enough affordable flats, including shared flats in renovated old buildings.
Location
Halle (Saale) is a historic city in Saxony-Anhalt, the birthplace of George Frideric Handel and home of the Leopoldina, Germany's national academy of sciences. The university is woven into the old town around University Square, and MLU's own student portal stresses that housing is easy to find and affordable compared with crowded student cities. Leipzig/Halle Airport lies between Halle and Leipzig.
Nearest airport: Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ)
Notable alumni
- HG Hans-Dietrich GenscherWest German foreign minister for 18 years; studied law and economics at Halle and Leipzig
- HS Hermann StaudingerNobel Prize in Chemistry 1953 for work on macromolecules; studied chemistry and earned his PhD at Halle
- DE Dorothea ErxlebenFirst woman to receive a medical doctorate in Germany, from the University of Halle in 1754
- AW Anton Wilhelm AmoPhilosopher from present-day Ghana; studied law at Halle and later taught there
- GF George Frideric HandelBaroque composer; matriculated at the University of Halle in 1702
- NI Nitobe InazōJapanese educator and author of Bushido: The Soul of Japan; doctorate in agricultural economics from Halle
- SH Sven HedinSwedish explorer of Central Asia; PhD from Halle in 1892
- FL Friedrich Ludwig JahnFounder of the German gymnastics movement; studied theology and philology at Halle
Frequently asked questions
Does Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg charge tuition fees for international students?
No. As a state university MLU generally charges no tuition fees, including for non-EU students, apart from a few programmes and second degrees. Every student pays a semester contribution, 333.30 euros for winter 2026/27, which includes a Germany-wide transport ticket.
Can I study a bachelor's in English at MLU?
Most programmes are taught in German. The English-taught bachelor's is the BSc Business Economics, which requires B2 English (for example IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 72).
Do I apply to MLU through uni-assist?
Yes, if your school-leaving qualification was obtained outside Germany (including the IB), whatever your nationality. Applicants with a German Abitur use MLU's own portal.
What is the application deadline for MLU?
For winter semester bachelor's entry the deadline is 15 July for international applicants and for NC-restricted programmes; enrolment in admission-free programmes for German-qualification holders stays open until the end of September.
What German level do I need to study at MLU?
For German-taught programmes you need C1-level certificates such as DSH-2, TestDaF with 4 in every section or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule. If your school certificate does not give direct access, you can take the Studienkolleg and FSP first.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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