Kiel University
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Schleswig-Holstein's only comprehensive university, on the Baltic coast, with two Clusters of Excellence and no tuition fees.
- Students
- 24,416
- Tuition
- Free
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1665
- QS World Ranking
- #620
- 2027 edition
About CAU
Kiel University, known in Germany as the CAU (Christian-Albrechts-Universität), was founded in 1665 by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, and chose the motto Pax optima rerum, peace is the most valuable asset. It is the only comprehensive university in Schleswig-Holstein and one of the few German universities in a city directly on the sea. In winter semester 2025/26 it had 24,416 students in eight faculties, from theology, law and medicine to agricultural and nutritional sciences and engineering, taught by 419 professors.
Research is organised into four priority areas: Kiel Marine Science, Kiel Life Science, Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science, and Societal, Environmental and Cultural Change. Two Clusters of Excellence, ROOTS on connectivity in past societies and Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation (PMI), both begin their second funding phase in 2026, and the university works closely with the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
The key fact for international applicants is language: all bachelor's programmes are taught exclusively in German, and English-taught options start at master's level. Undergraduates therefore need C1-level German, such as TestDaF 4x4 or DSH-2, and apply through uni-assist. In return, there are no tuition fees and a semester fee of 403 euros that includes a Germany-wide transport ticket.
Pax optima rerum
“Peace is the most valuable asset” — university motto
Why students choose CAU
No tuition fees for any nationality; the 403-euro semester fee for winter 2026/27 includes the Germany-wide semester ticket.
More than 230 degree programmes across eight faculties, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and law as state examination courses.
Marine science on the Baltic coast, with the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research as a close partner.
Two Clusters of Excellence, ROOTS and Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation, both renewed for a second phase from 2026.
Admissions
Winter semester 2027/28 entry
Selectivity
Kiel publishes no admission rate. Many bachelor's programmes are open to all qualified applicants; restricted programmes select by grade, and Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy are allocated under Germany-wide restrictions.
Typical entry requirements
| Foreign school-leaving certificate | Must be recognised as a higher education entrance qualification in Germany (check anabin); otherwise pass the Feststellungsprüfung at a Studienkolleg |
|---|---|
| German (all bachelor's programmes) | C1 level: TestDaF 4444, Goethe C2, DSH-2, telc C1 Hochschule, DSD II, a Studienkolleg final examination or German vocational training |
| Applicants from China, India or Vietnam | APS certificate required with the application |
Deadlines
- Summer semester (non-EU applicants, via uni-assist) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 monthsBeginning of November 2026 to 15 January 2027
Only programmes that admit first-year students in the summer semester.
- Winter semester (non-EU applicants, via uni-assist) Non-binding In ~9 monthsBeginning of May to 15 July 2027
Standing application window published by Kiel's International Center; also applies to first-semester Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy for non-EU applicants.
Kiel publishes recurring windows rather than year-specific dates (information sheet status December 2024). EU/EEA applicants with foreign qualifications follow the dates on the university's uni-assist page; Medicine and Dentistry for EU/EEA applicants go through hochschulstart.de.
How to apply
International applicants apply through uni-assist (75 euros for the first programme, 30 euros for each additional CAU programme) with a CV, passport copy, school-leaving certificate with German or English translation, German language certificate, any Studienkolleg or university certificates and, for China, India and Vietnam, the APS certificate. Restricted-admission bachelor's programmes also need a BID and BAN from hochschulstart.de. Graduates of the Studienkolleg Hamburg apply directly to Kiel's International Center.
What admissions looks for
- A school-leaving certificate recognised in Germany as a higher education entrance qualification, or a passed Feststellungsprüfung.
- German at C1 level, shown by one of the listed certificates such as TestDaF 4444 or DSH-2.
- For restricted programmes, a competitive school-leaving grade.
- A complete uni-assist application with translations and, where required, the APS certificate.
Tips for applying to CAU
- 1 Do not plan on an English-taught bachelor's: all of Kiel's bachelor's programmes are in German, so book your TestDaF or DSH early.
- 2 If you have only B1 or B2 German, Kiel's International Center explains how to join a German course before applying for a degree.
- 3 Studienkolleg graduates from Hamburg apply directly to Kiel; everyone else applies through uni-assist.
- 4 Look for housing early: dorm places are limited, and the International Center suggests searching in nearby towns reachable free with the semester ticket.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Kiel charges no tuition fees. The Deutschlandstipendium pays 300 euros a month for a year to students with excellent academic records, and the International Center lists university and church emergency funds for international students.
- 403 euros
- Semester fee, winter 2026/27
- 300 euros a month for one year
- Deutschlandstipendium
- 75 euros first programme, 30 euros each additional
- uni-assist fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (winter and summer)
Human Medicine (State Examination)
Linked to the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein and to the PMI Cluster of Excellence on chronic inflammation.
Law (State Examination)
Home of the Walther Schücking Institute for International Law, founded in 1914 and the oldest university institute for public international law in Germany.
Marine and geosciences
Part of the Kiel Marine Science priority area, working with GEOMAR on the Baltic coast.
Prehistoric and Historical Archaeology
Anchored in the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence, where 150 researchers study humans and environment in past societies.
Agricultural Sciences
Taught in the Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, one of the university's eight faculties, with programmes from agribusiness to crop and livestock science.
Research
- Cluster of Excellence ROOTS - Social, Environmental, and Cultural Connectivity in Past Societies, entering its second funding phase in 2026.
- Cluster of Excellence Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation (PMI), also starting its second phase in 2026.
- Four priority research areas: Kiel Marine Science, Kiel Life Science, Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science (KiNSIS) and Societal, Environmental and Cultural Change (SECC).
- Close partnerships with GEOMAR, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Theology
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering
Student life
Kiel's main campus clusters around the Christian-Albrechts-Platz, with the university high-rise, the Audimax and the Mensa, a short ride from the Kiel Fjord. The semester fee includes a Germany-wide transport ticket, so the beaches and towns around Kiel cost nothing extra to reach. The International Center calls Kiel a safe city with moderate living costs and a lively bar and club scene, and the university sports programme and the SEA-EU alliance of coastal universities add chances to train, travel and study abroad.
- Semester ticket valid across Germany, included in the 403-euro semester fee.
- SEA-EU, a European university alliance of coastal universities, for exchanges and joint activities.
- University sports programme with support for elite athletes studying at CAU.
- Holstein Study Award for the university's top three students each year.
Housing. Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein runs dormitories for bachelor's and master's students, but places are limited, so the university advises also looking privately and in nearby towns.
Location
Kiel is the capital of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany's northernmost state, set directly on the Kiel Fjord of the Baltic Sea. The International Center describes it as a very safe city with moderate living costs and plenty of sport, culture and nightlife. Finding a flat can be hard, so many students also look in nearby towns such as Eckernförde or Rendsburg, which they can reach free with the semester ticket.
Nearest airport: Hamburg Airport (HAM)
Notable alumni
- FB Franz BoasFounder of modern American anthropology; PhD in physics from Kiel (1881)
- GD Gerhard DomagkNobel laureate in Medicine for discovering the first sulfonamide antibiotic; studied medicine at Kiel
- PS Peer SteinbrückFederal Minister of Finance (2005-2009); economics graduate
- GS Gerhard StoltenbergMinister-President of Schleswig-Holstein and Federal Minister of Finance; doctorate in history
- DK Doris KönigFormer Vice President of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany; studied law at Kiel (1975-1980)
- WK Wolfgang KubickiFDP federal chairman (from 2026) and Vice President of the Bundestag (2017-2025); studied economics and law
- AB Alice BotaJournalist; studied German literature, political science and sociology
Frequently asked questions
Does Kiel University offer bachelor's degrees in English?
No. All bachelor's programmes are taught in German; English-taught programmes are available at master's and doctoral level.
How much does it cost to study at Kiel University?
There are no tuition fees for any nationality. You pay a semester fee, 403 euros for winter 2026/27, which includes a Germany-wide transport ticket.
How do international students apply to Kiel University?
Through uni-assist, with a recognised school-leaving certificate and C1 German such as TestDaF 4444 or DSH-2. Applications from China, India and Vietnam need an APS certificate.
What is the application deadline for Kiel University?
For non-EU applicants, the winter semester window runs from the beginning of May to 15 July, and the summer semester window from the beginning of November to 15 January.
What if my school certificate is not accepted in Germany?
You take the Feststellungsprüfung at a Studienkolleg; Kiel's partner is the Studienkolleg Hamburg, whose graduates can apply directly to Kiel.
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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