About the university
Kiel University, officially Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU), was founded in 1665. It began with the four classic faculties of Theology, Law, Medicine and Philosophy and now has eight, with the Faculty of Engineering, founded in 1990, the newest. More than 26,000 students study there.
For Indian graduates, Kiel's English-taught master's are concentrated in two areas: economics and finance (Economics, Quantitative Economics, Quantitative Finance, Environmental and Resource Economics), and engineering and computing (Electrical and Information Engineering, Computer Science). Like other German public universities, Kiel charges no tuition fee, only a semester contribution.
Applicants with a bachelor's from outside Germany apply through uni-assist, and the economics programmes have early deadlines (31 May for the winter semester), so plan well ahead.
Student housing in Kiel is run by the Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein, which takes applications through an online portal; apply as soon as you have an offer.
- Founded
- 1665
- Type
- Public comprehensive university
- Students
- Over 26,000, with around 3,000 staff (Kiel University)
- Faculties
- Eight, including Engineering, Business, Economics and Social Sciences, and Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences
- Tuition
- No tuition fee; semester contribution €403 plus a one-time €55 enrolment fee
- Intakes
- October (winter) and April (summer) for most English-taught master's
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=620 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €806
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- B1 English: IELTS Academic 5.5, PTE Academic 43 or TOEFL iBT 43 (older format); some modules are in German
- Postgraduate
MSc Electrical and Information Engineering
- Fee / year
- €806
- Duration
- 1.5 years (3 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- B2 English, for example TOEFL iBT 72 (older format)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €806
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- C1 English: IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 (older format, with section minimums), TOEIC 945 or UNIcert III
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €806
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- C1 English: IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 (older format, with section minimums), TOEIC 945 or UNIcert III
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €806
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- C1 English: IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 (older format, with section minimums), TOEIC 945 or UNIcert III
- Postgraduate
MSc Environmental and Resource Economics
- Fee / year
- €806
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- C1 English: IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 (older format, with section minimums), TOEIC 945 or UNIcert III
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Computer Science | 2 years (4 semesters) | €806 | ≈ ₹85,436 |
| MSc Electrical and Information Engineering | 1.5 years (3 semesters) | €806 | ≈ ₹85,436 |
| MSc Quantitative Finance | 2 years (4 semesters) | €806 | ≈ ₹85,436 |
| MSc Quantitative Economics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €806 | ≈ ₹85,436 |
| MSc Economics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €806 | ≈ ₹85,436 |
| MSc Environmental and Resource Economics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €806 | ≈ ₹85,436 |
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 Kiel University with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Enrolled students, all subjects
Deutschlandstipendium at Kiel University
Value: Monthly award; check Kiel University 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
- Kiel's 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; see our Germany guide for the Studienkolleg route.
Postgraduate
- Applicants with a bachelor's from outside Germany apply through uni-assist.
- Economics programmes: a bachelor's of at least three years and 180 ECTS with a German-scale grade of 2.5 or better, and at least 35 ECTS in economics and quantitative methods (the exact split differs by programme).
- Economics deadlines for degrees from outside Germany: 1 April–31 May (winter) and 1 October–30 November (summer).
- MSc Computer Science: a computer science bachelor's comparable to Kiel's; applicants with a partial match may sit an online exam. Deadlines 15 June (winter) and 15 December (summer).
- Indian applicants should also see our Germany guide for the APS certificate.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Bachelor's certificate and transcript
- Official module handbook in English or German (economics programmes)
- English certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, TOEIC or UNIcert)
- uni-assist application
- 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 | 6.5 for the economics and finance master's; 5.5 for Computer Science |
| TOEFL iBT | 79 with section minimums for economics (older format); 72 for Electrical and Information Engineering; 43 for Computer Science |
| PTE Academic | 43 for Computer Science |
| Other tests | TOEIC 945 and UNIcert III are accepted for the economics programmes |
| German | Not required for these programmes; some Computer Science modules are taught in German |
Accommodation and living costs
The Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein runs student residences in Kiel and takes applications online. DAAD's entry for Kiel gives minimum living costs of €992 a month; for the visa you must show €11,904 for one year.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum living costsDAAD entry for Kiel University | €992per month | ≈ ₹1.1 lakh |
| Proof of funds for the visaDAAD entry for Kiel University | €11,904per year | ≈ ₹12.6 lakh |
| Kiel University semester contributionPlus a one-time €55 enrolment fee | €403per semester | ≈ ₹42,718 |
Campus and location
Kiel University's main campus is in Kiel; the Faculty of Engineering is on the east bank (Ostufer).
- Eight faculties, from Theology and Law to Engineering and Agricultural Sciences.
- The Faculty of Engineering offers some optional subjects in English inside its German-taught degrees.
- The semester contribution includes a semester transport ticket.
- The Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein runs halls, canteens and student services.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Kiel University does not publish graduate employment figures on the pages we opened. 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:
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FAQs
Does Kiel University charge tuition fees?
No. You pay a semester contribution of €403 (plus €55 once at first enrolment), according to DAAD's entries for Kiel.
Which master's are taught in English?
Among others: Computer Science, Electrical and Information Engineering, Economics, Quantitative Economics, Quantitative Finance and Environmental and Resource Economics. The Faculty of Engineering also lists Materials Science and Business Administration.
What IELTS score do I need?
6.5 for the economics and finance programmes and 5.5 for Computer Science.
When should I apply?
For the economics programmes, apply through uni-assist between 1 April and 31 May for October, or 1 October and 30 November for April. Computer Science closes on 15 June and 15 December.
How much money do I need?
DAAD's entry gives at least €992 a month, and €11,904 for a year as proof of funds for the visa.
Sources
- Kiel University: home page (opens in a new tab)
- Kiel University Faculty of Engineering: international general information (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: Kiel MSc Computer Science (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: Kiel MSc Electrical and Information Engineering (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: Kiel MSc Economics (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: Kiel MSc Quantitative Economics (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: Kiel MSc Quantitative Finance (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: Kiel MSc Environmental and Resource Economics (opens in a new tab)
- Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein (opens in a new tab)
- Deutschlandstipendium (Federal Ministry) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.uni-kiel.de (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details