About the university
Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (OVGU) is a public university in Saxony-Anhalt, named after the 17th-century Magdeburg scientist and mayor. It is best known for engineering, computer science, economics, natural sciences and medicine.
OVGU lists 24 programmes taught mainly in English, almost all of them master's. The computer science faculty's Data and Knowledge Engineering, Digital Engineering and Visual Computing are the most familiar to Indian applicants, alongside Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Chemical and Energy Engineering and International Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship.
There is no tuition fee for a first degree, only a semester fee of €329.30 that includes a Germany-wide transport ticket. Many master's set a grade threshold on the German scale (for example strictly better than 2.3 for Data and Knowledge Engineering), and several close earlier than the usual 15 July, so plan ahead.
Magdeburg is the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, on the Elbe river about 90 minutes from Berlin by train, and living costs are low by German standards.
- Founded
- 1993
- Type
- Public university in Saxony-Anhalt with a strong engineering, computing and medicine profile
- English-taught programmes
- 24 bachelor's and master's listed on OVGU's 'Study Programmes in English' page
- Tuition
- No tuition fee for a first degree; semester fee €329.30 (winter 2026/27)
- Intakes
- October (winter); several master's also start in April (summer)
- Application
- International applicants apply via uni-assist; usual deadlines 15 July (winter) and 15 January (summer), earlier for many master's
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=646 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
MSc Data and Knowledge Engineering
- Fee / year
- €659
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- C1: IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95 or PTE Academic 76 (OVGU framework)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €659
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- C1: IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95 or PTE Academic 76 (OVGU framework)
- Postgraduate
MSc Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
- Fee / year
- €659
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester only)
- English
- B2: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 85 or PTE Academic 70 (OVGU framework)
- Postgraduate
MSc International Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship
- Fee / year
- €659
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- C1: IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95 or PTE Academic 76 (OVGU framework)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €659
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); uni-assist window 15 April–15 May
- English
- B2 or C1 under OVGU's framework (B2: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 85, PTE 70; C1: IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95, PTE 76); check the programme page for its level
- Postgraduate
MSc Operations Research and Business Analytics
- Fee / year
- €659
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); uni-assist window 15 April–15 June
- English
- B2 or C1 under OVGU's framework (B2: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 85, PTE 70; C1: IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95, PTE 76); check the programme page for its level
- Postgraduate
MSc Systems Engineering for Manufacturing
- Fee / year
- €659
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); uni-assist window 15 April–15 June
- English
- B2 or C1 under OVGU's framework (B2: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 85, PTE 70; C1: IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95, PTE 76); check the programme page for its level
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €659
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); uni-assist window 15 April–15 June
- English
- B2 or C1 under OVGU's framework (B2: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 85, PTE 70; C1: IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95, PTE 76); check the programme page for its level
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Data and Knowledge Engineering | 2 years (4 semesters) | €659 | ≈ ₹69,812 |
| MSc Digital Engineering | 2 years (4 semesters) | €659 | ≈ ₹69,812 |
| MSc Electrical Engineering and Information Technology | 2 years (4 semesters) | €659 | ≈ ₹69,812 |
| MSc International Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship | 2 years (4 semesters) | €659 | ≈ ₹69,812 |
| MSc Visual Computing | 2 years (4 semesters) | €659 | ≈ ₹69,812 |
| MSc Operations Research and Business Analytics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €659 | ≈ ₹69,812 |
| MSc Systems Engineering for Manufacturing | 2 years (4 semesters) | €659 | ≈ ₹69,812 |
| MSc Biomechanical Engineering | 2 years (4 semesters) | €659 | ≈ ₹69,812 |
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 Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Enrolled students
Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship) at OVGU
Value: See OVGU's Germany Scholarship page for the current call
Eligibility: High-achieving enrolled students, including international students.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Master's and doctoral students
DAAD scholarships
Value: Monthly stipend; amount depends on the programme
Eligibility: Competitive awards; check the database for awards open to Indian applicants.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- You need a higher education entrance qualification; if your Class 12 certificate does not give direct access, OVGU says you must attend a Studienkolleg first. Some countries also need a few semesters of study at home.
- Most bachelor's are in German (DSH-2, TestDaF 4 or equivalent); English-taught bachelor's include International Business and Economics, Engineering Science and Biomedical Sciences.
- Applications with a foreign school certificate are pre-checked by uni-assist.
Postgraduate
- A first degree in a related subject, equivalent to a German bachelor's; several programmes accept a three-year (six-semester, 180 ECTS) bachelor's.
- Programmes set grade limits on the German scale, for example strictly better than 2.3 (Data and Knowledge Engineering), strictly better than 2.5 (Digital Engineering), 2.0 or better (Electrical Engineering and IT) and 1.0–2.9 (International Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship).
- International applicants apply via uni-assist. Data and Knowledge Engineering and Digital Engineering close on 15 May (winter) and 26 November (summer); International Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship on 15 June and 15 December.
- Indian applicants need an APS certificate for the German student visa.
Documents
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcript
- English certificate at B2 or C1 (as the programme requires)
- Motivation letter and programme forms where asked (for example the 'Relevance' form for International Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship)
- APS certificate (for the visa)
- Certified copies may be needed at enrolment
- Valid passport
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 | 6.5 for B2, 7.0 for C1 (IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online accepted) |
| TOEFL iBT | 85 for B2, 95 for C1 |
| PTE Academic | 70 for B2, 76 for C1 |
| Cambridge | FCE with grade A, or CAE with grade B or C |
| Exemptions | Certain school certificates and degrees from listed countries; check OVGU's general requirements |
Accommodation and living costs
Studentenwerk Magdeburg runs student halls in the city; private shared flats are also common. OVGU's 'Organisation of your stay' pages cover accommodation for international students.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Semester feeWinter 2026/27, includes the Deutschlandsemesterticket | €329per semester | ≈ ₹34,906 |
| Proof of finances for the student visa (blocked account)2026 figure from Make it in Germany | €11,904per year | ≈ ₹12.6 lakh |
Campus and location
OVGU is a campus university in Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt; OVGU publishes a campus map and arrival guide for new students.
- Faculties for engineering, computer science, natural sciences, economics, humanities and medicine.
- 24 programmes taught mainly in English.
- Semester fee includes a Germany-wide transport ticket.
- Berlin is about 90 minutes away by train.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Graduates of OVGU's engineering and computing master's often join manufacturing, automotive, IT and research employers. The figures below are general German rules, not a promise of a job.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Job-search permit after graduating | Up to 18 months | Make it in Germany |
| Work allowed while studying | 140 full days or 280 half days a year (student assistant jobs at the university don't count) | Make it in Germany |
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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Photo: Seeott, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) (official website, opens in a new tab)
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FAQs
Does OVGU charge tuition fees?
Not for a first degree. You pay the semester fee, €329.30 for winter 2026/27, which includes a Germany-wide transport ticket.
What IELTS score do I need for Data and Knowledge Engineering?
C1, which OVGU accepts as IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95 or PTE 76. Programmes at B2 level accept IELTS 6.5.
When are the deadlines?
Many master's close earlier than 15 July: Data and Knowledge Engineering and Digital Engineering on 15 May for winter and 26 November for summer, via uni-assist.
Is my CGPA enough?
OVGU programmes use the German grade scale, for example strictly better than 2.3 for Data and Knowledge Engineering. uni-assist converts your Indian grades.
Is there an April intake?
Yes for some master's, such as Data and Knowledge Engineering, Digital Engineering and International Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship. Medical Systems Engineering starts in summer.
Sources
- OVGU: Study Programmes in English (opens in a new tab)
- OVGU: MSc Data and Knowledge Engineering (opens in a new tab)
- OVGU: MSc Digital Engineering (opens in a new tab)
- OVGU: MSc Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (opens in a new tab)
- OVGU: MSc International Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship (opens in a new tab)
- OVGU: uni-assist application deadlines (opens in a new tab)
- OVGU: fees and charges (semester fee) (opens in a new tab)
- OVGU: full-time studies for international students (opens in a new tab)
- OVGU: general requirements (language certificates) (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany: working while studying (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany: visa for studying and job search after graduation (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings 2027: Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.ovgu.de (opens in a new tab)
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