About the university
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) was founded in 1965 and has carried the name of the Düsseldorf-born poet Heinrich Heine since 1988. It has five faculties: Medicine, Law, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Philosophy (arts and humanities), and Economics.
HHU is strongest in life sciences and medicine: THE places both its Life Sciences and its Medical and Health subjects at 201–250 in the world for 2026. Overall it is 284th in THE's 2027 table.
Most bachelor's degrees are taught in German, but HHU has a small group of English-taught master's that suit Indian graduates, including Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Economics, Physics, Biology and Linguistics. There is no tuition fee, only a semester contribution of about €350 that includes a regional transport ticket.
Düsseldorf is in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the semester ticket covers buses, trams and regional trains across the state, so other cities in the region are easy to reach.
- Founded
- 1965; named after the poet Heinrich Heine since 1988
- Type
- Public research university with five faculties
- Students
- 24,938 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- International students
- 15% (THE 2027 data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 27.4 to 1 (THE 2027 data)
- Tuition
- No tuition fee; semester contribution about €350
- Intakes
- October (winter); several master's also start in April (summer)
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
951–1000 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
284th in the world
THE subject rankings: Life Sciences 2026
201–250 in the world
THE subject rankings: Medical and Health 2026
201–250 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
MSc Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
- Fee / year
- €700
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- B2 English: IELTS Academic 6.0, Cambridge B2 First or TOEFL iBT equivalent
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €700
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- B2 English: IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 90 (older format) or Cambridge B2 First
- Postgraduate
International Master's Programme in Physics (MSc)
- Fee / year
- €700
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- B2 English: IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 (older format)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €700
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- B2 English, checked by a placement test or interview
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €700
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- C1 English, for example IELTS Academic 7.0
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Artificial Intelligence and Data Science | 2 years (4 semesters) | €700 | ≈ ₹74,200 |
| MSc Economics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €700 | ≈ ₹74,200 |
| International Master's Programme in Physics (MSc) | 2 years (4 semesters) | €700 | ≈ ₹74,200 |
| MSc Biology (MBIO2) | 2 years (4 semesters) | €700 | ≈ ₹74,200 |
| MA Linguistics | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €700 | ≈ ₹74,200 |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- International students near the end of their degree
STIBET Completion of Studies Grant
Value: Amount set by HHU; not shown on the pages we could read
Eligibility: International students at HHU in the final phase of their studies. Check the International Office page for the current round.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Enrolled students, all subjects
Deutschlandstipendium at HHU
Value: Monthly award; check HHU's page for the amount
Eligibility: High-achieving students of all nationalities can apply directly to their university.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- HHU bachelor's degrees are taught in German, so you need German at university level.
- An Indian Class 12 certificate on its own does not usually give direct entry to a German bachelor's; see our Germany guide for the Studienkolleg and other routes.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's degree in a related subject, usually of at least 180 ECTS (six semesters). Programmes check your subject credits closely.
- Most programmes ask for a German-scale grade of 2.5 or better (Biology accepts 3.2); AI and Data Science asks for 30 ECTS of maths (Analysis, Linear Algebra and Stochastics or Numerics).
- Economics also asks for a GMAT, GRE or GTEBS score. Physics needs a uni-assist VPD for non-EU applicants and recommends the GRE.
- Typical deadlines: winter semester applications close 15 July (15 September for Physics); summer semester 15 January or 15 March, depending on the programme. Indian applicants should also see our Germany guide for the APS certificate.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Bachelor's degree certificate and full transcript (or an interim transcript; Economics accepts applications at 75% completion)
- English certificate (IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or Cambridge)
- Module descriptions, for programmes that check your subject credits
- uni-assist VPD, where the programme asks for it
- GMAT, GRE or GTEBS score (Economics)
- APS certificate for Indian degree holders (see our Germany guide)
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 5.5 (Economics) to 6.0 (AI and Data Science, Physics); 7.0 for Linguistics |
| TOEFL iBT | 80 (Physics) or 90 (Economics) in the older format; new-format TOEFL scores are also listed |
| Cambridge English | B2 First accepted for AI and Data Science and Economics |
| German | Not needed for the English-taught master's, but useful for jobs and daily life |
Accommodation and living costs
The Studierendenwerk Düsseldorf runs student residences and takes online applications; apply as soon as you have an offer. DAAD's listing for HHU gives about €500–600 a month for a basic flat or shared room, and at least €1,000 a month for a modest lifestyle in total.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Basic apartment or shared roomDAAD figure supplied for HHU programmes | €500–600per month | ≈ ₹53,000 – ₹63,600 |
| Total living costs, modest lifestyleIncludes housing, food, health insurance, semester fee and study materials (DAAD) | €1,000per month (minimum) | ≈ ₹1.1 lakh |
| HHU semester contributionApproximate (DAAD); includes regional transport in NRW | €350per semester | ≈ ₹37,100 |
Campus and location
HHU is a mid-sized public university in Düsseldorf with about 25,000 students.
- Five faculties: Medicine, Law, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Philosophy, and Economics.
- The semester ticket covers buses, trams and regional trains across North Rhine-Westphalia.
- About 15% of students are international (THE 2027 data).
- The Studierendenwerk Düsseldorf runs student housing, canteens and student services.
Careers and graduate outcomes
HHU does not publish graduate employment figures on the pages we could read. German skills widen your job choices a great deal. For post-study work rules, see our Germany guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in Germany
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Germany. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Germany
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Data Science & AI
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT
Photo: juhotski, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences
Photo: TU Berlin/Pressestelle/Ulrich Dahl, Copyrighted free use PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: Seeott, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) (official website, opens in a new tab)
Munich, GermanyOften chosen for Life Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Law
Photo: Hermann Luyken, CC0 PublicHeidelberg University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Heidelberg, GermanyOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Life Sciences
FAQs
Does HHU charge tuition fees?
No. You pay only the semester contribution, about €350 a semester according to DAAD, which includes a regional transport ticket.
Which master's are taught in English?
Among others: Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Economics, the International Master's in Physics, Biology (MBIO2) and Linguistics.
What IELTS score do I need?
It depends on the programme: 5.5 for Economics, 6.0 for AI and Data Science and Physics, and 7.0 for Linguistics.
When can I start?
Most English-taught master's start in October. Economics, Physics and Linguistics also admit for the April (summer) semester.
How much do I need to live in Düsseldorf?
DAAD's listing for HHU suggests at least €1,000 a month, with a room costing about €500–600 a month.
Sources
- HHU: home page (opens in a new tab)
- HHU: scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: HHU MSc Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: HHU MSc Economics (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: HHU International Master's in Physics (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: HHU MSc Biology (MBIO2) (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: HHU MA Linguistics (opens in a new tab)
- Times Higher Education: Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (opens in a new tab)
- Studierendenwerk Düsseldorf (opens in a new tab)
- Deutschlandstipendium (Federal Ministry) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.hhu.de (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details