University of Rostock
Universität Rostock
Founded in 1419, the Baltic region's oldest university, with no tuition fees and a 352 euro semester fee.
- Students
- 12,775
- International
- 11%
- of students
- Tuition
- Free
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1419
About Rostock
The University of Rostock was founded in 1419 and describes itself as the oldest university in the Baltic Sea region. It has nine faculties plus an Interdisciplinary Faculty that links researchers and students in four profile lines: Life, Light and Matter; Maritime Systems; Ageing of the Individual and Society; and Knowledge, Culture, Transformation.
In winter term 2025/26 it had 12,775 students, of whom 1,350 (10.6 percent) were international, and it welcomed 3,558 first-year students in 2025. It offers more than 157 courses of study, including 44 bachelor's degrees, 60 master's degrees and 34 state-examination courses such as teaching degrees. Teaching degrees and medicine are a large share of enrolment: about 24 percent of students are on teaching-profession state examination courses and about 16 percent on medical science.
Third-party research funding reached 73.6 million euros in 2025, and the university takes part in two DFG Collaborative Research Centres, on electrically active implants (ELAINE) and light-matter interactions at interfaces (LiMatI).
Most degrees are taught in German, so international applicants need to prove German at the level the chosen programme requires. The city is on the Baltic coast, and the university itself says rents in Rostock are affordable compared with other German cities.
Why students choose Rostock
There are no tuition fees at the University of Rostock; students pay a semester contribution of 352 euros, which includes a nationwide public-transport semester ticket.
The range is wide: more than 157 courses of study, from teaching degrees and medicine to computer science, marine technology and agricultural sciences.
Research funding from outside the state grant reached 73.6 million euros in 2025, and the university takes part in two DFG Collaborative Research Centres.
Student rents are described by the university as affordable compared with other German cities, especially in the popular Kroepeliner-Tor-Vorstadt district.
Admissions
Winter semester 2027/28 (applications 1 May to 15 July 2027)
Selectivity
Rostock does not publish an overall acceptance rate. Degree programmes are either open-admission or restricted (numerus clausus), and restricted programmes require an application within the deadline; the page for each programme says which applies.
Typical entry requirements
| Foreign school-leaving certificate | Must entitle you to study in Germany; check your certificate on the anabin database. Applicants from China, Mongolia, Vietnam and India must add an APS certificate. |
|---|---|
| German language | German proof at a CEFR level set by each degree programme; Medicine and Dentistry require C1. Accepted proof includes the DSD II (B2 to C1) and telc C1. |
| Preparatory route | Applicants whose certificate is not enough for direct entry can attend a Studienkolleg. |
Deadlines
- Winter semester bachelor's degrees and state examinations, via uni-assist Non-binding Next deadline · In ~9 months15 July 2027 (application period 1 May to 15 July each year)
Does not apply to the Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, which has its own deadlines. Most undergraduate courses do not accept summer semester applications.
- Winter semester master's degrees without local admission restrictions, via uni-assist Non-binding In ~9 months15 July 2027 (application period 1 May to 15 July each year)
Different windows apply to master's programmes of the Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (winter semester 1 April to 31 May) and to Sustainable Maritime Engineering (winter semester 16 January to 30 April).
The university states the periods as yearly windows rather than by year, so 2027 dates follow the same pattern. Bachelor's degrees and state examinations of the Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and some master's programmes, have their own dates; check the faculty and programme pages.
How to apply
International applicants with a school certificate from abroad apply for bachelor's degrees and state examinations only through uni-assist, uploading certified copies of school and university documents, a CV and proof of German. If admitted, they receive an admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid) and enrol online. EU applicants to Human Medicine and Dentistry apply through hochschulstart.de.
What admissions looks for
- A school-leaving certificate that qualifies you to study in Germany, checked through the anabin database.
- German language skills at the level required for the chosen programme.
- For restricted programmes, a strong grade on the qualification; for medicine and dentistry, C1 German.
- Complete, certified documents submitted on time to uni-assist: an incomplete file cannot be processed.
Tips for applying to Rostock
- 1 Check on the programme page whether your course is open-admission or restricted before you plan your deadline.
- 2 Submit your uni-assist file well before 15 July, since the university states it can only process complete documents that arrive on time.
- 3 Applicants from China, Mongolia, Vietnam and India need the APS certificate from the German embassy in the file.
- 4 Ask the Info-Service at the Student Service Center if you are unsure which application route applies to you.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
The university lists the Deutschlandstipendium and BAfoeg information for students on its website, and has a separate page of scholarships for international students. Student housing is handled by the Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar, which also receives 109 euros of each semester contribution.
- 352 euros per semester (226.80 semester ticket, 109.00 student services, 16.20 student body)
- Semester contribution, winter 2026/27
- 14 euros administrative fee after 15 July / 15 February
- Late re-registration fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (winter and summer)
Computer Science International
One of the programmes of the Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, which sets its own application dates.
Computational Science and Engineering
Listed among the faculty's degrees alongside Visual Computing.
Human Medicine and Dentistry (state examination)
Application window 1 May to 15 July, and C1 German is required.
Teaching degrees (state examination)
About 24 percent of students study teaching-profession courses, supported by a Centre for Teacher Training and Educational Research.
Sustainable Maritime Engineering (Master)
A master's course with its own deadlines, reflecting the Maritime Systems profile line.
Research
- Collaborative Research Centre 1270 ELAINE studies electrically active implants, and CRC 1477 LiMatI studies light-matter interactions at interfaces.
- The DFG-funded international research training group IRTG 2676 works on imaging quantum systems, and CRC/Transregio 410 WETSCAPES2.0 studies rewetted fen landscapes.
- Third-party funding reached 73.6 million euros in 2025.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Agricultural, Civil and Environmental Engineering (AUF)
- Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (IEF)
- Faculty of Law (JUF)
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science (MNF)
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology (MSF)
- Faculty of Humanities (PHF)
- Theological Faculty (THF)
- University Medicine (UMR)
- Faculty of Economic and Social Science (WSF)
- Interdisciplinary Faculty (INF)
Student life
The university describes Rostock as a city where rents are affordable, particularly in the student district Kroepeliner-Tor-Vorstadt, known as KTV. Students can apply for a dormitory place through the Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar or look for flat shares, and every student receives the nationwide public-transport semester ticket with enrolment. The university runs an orientation week for international students, language courses and tandem programmes, and lists student clubs on its campus-life pages. It is a member of the EU-CONEXUS European university alliance.
- Nationwide semester ticket included in the semester contribution.
- Orientation week and language courses for international students.
- Student clubs listed on the university's campus-life pages.
- Rostock International House supports international students and researchers.
Housing. Dormitory places are applied for through the Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar; other options include housing cooperatives and flat shares.
Location
Rostock is a Baltic Sea port city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern that grew rich through the Hanseatic League. The university's main building lies in the city centre, and student life centres on the KTV district, which the university names as popular with students. Rents are affordable compared with other German cities, according to the university, and the nationwide semester ticket makes it easy to travel beyond the region.
Nearest airport: Rostock-Laage Airport (RLG)
Notable alumni
- TB Tycho BraheDanish astronomer; studied at Rostock in 1566
- AO Axel OxenstiernaSwedish chancellor and statesman; studied at Rostock 1599 to 1601
- HS Heinrich SchliemannArchaeologist who excavated Troy; received his PhD at Rostock in 1869
- RS Rudolf SteinerPhilosopher and founder of anthroposophy; Dr. phil. from Rostock in 1891
- FR Fritz ReuterLow German novelist; studied law at Rostock from 1831
- JB John BrinckmanLow German poet; studied law at Rostock from 1834 to 1838
Frequently asked questions
Does the University of Rostock charge tuition fees?
No. The university states it has no tuition fees; all students pay a semester contribution of 352 euros for winter semester 2026/27, which includes a nationwide semester ticket.
How do international students apply to Rostock?
Applicants with a school certificate from abroad apply for bachelor's degrees through uni-assist, from 1 May to 15 July each year for the winter semester.
Do I need German to study at Rostock?
For most programmes, yes. Each degree programme sets a required CEFR German level, and Medicine and Dentistry require C1.
How many students does Rostock have?
12,775 in winter term 2025/26, of whom 1,350 (10.6 percent) were international.
How is the University of Rostock ranked?
QS World University Rankings 2027 places it in the 901-950 band, ARWU 2026 in the 501-600 band and U.S. News Best Global Universities 2026-2027 at 875 (tie).
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.
- University of Rostock: Facts and figures (German)
- University of Rostock: The University in Figures, edition 2026 (PDF)
- University of Rostock: Degree students (international)
- University of Rostock: Application via uni-assist
- University of Rostock: Basic courses of study for non-German prospective students
- University of Rostock: Re-registration and semester contribution (German)
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