About the university
The Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg was founded in 1457 and is one of Germany's oldest universities. It has eleven faculties covering the humanities, social and natural sciences, engineering and medicine.
Freiburg is known for its research in medicine, life sciences, environmental and forest sciences, and for a Faculty of Engineering that teaches computer science, embedded systems, microsystems and sustainable systems engineering.
Indian students mostly look at Freiburg's English-taught master's in computer science, embedded systems engineering, sustainable systems engineering and environmental governance. Non-EU students pay €1,500 per semester under Baden-Württemberg law. Engineering admission is competitive and checks your bachelor's subjects closely.
Freiburg im Breisgau is a green, sunny city in the far south-west of Germany, on the edge of the Black Forest and close to France and Switzerland. It is a compact university city where many students get around by bike.
- Founded
- 1457, one of the oldest universities in Germany
- Type
- Public research university of the state of Baden-Württemberg, with eleven faculties
- Students
- 20,266 in THE World University Rankings 2027 data (the university cites more than 25,000)
- International students
- 17% (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Tuition for non-EU students
- €1,500 per semester, plus a semester contribution of €190
- Intakes
- October (winter); some master's, such as Computer Science and Embedded Systems Engineering, also start in April
- Student–staff ratio
- 32.9 students per staff member (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
245 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
=139 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €3,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October; April
- English
- C1: IELTS Academic 7.0, PTE Academic 76, TOEFL iBT 95 (old scale) or C1 Advanced
- Postgraduate
MSc Embedded Systems Engineering
- Fee / year
- €3,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October; April
- English
- C1: IELTS Academic 7.0, PTE Academic 76, TOEFL iBT 95 (old scale) or C1 Advanced
- Postgraduate
MSc Sustainable Systems Engineering
- Fee / year
- €3,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October
- English
- English at B2 level (no test scores listed; check the programme page)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €3,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October
- English
- C1: IELTS Academic 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95 (old scale) or C1 Advanced
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Computer Science | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €3,000 | ≈ ₹3.2 lakh |
| MSc Embedded Systems Engineering | 2 years (4 semesters) | €3,000 | ≈ ₹3.2 lakh |
| MSc Sustainable Systems Engineering | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €3,000 | ≈ ₹3.2 lakh |
| MSc Environmental Governance | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €3,000 | ≈ ₹3.2 lakh |
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 University of Freiburg with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Master's
DAAD EPOS scholarship (MSc Environmental Governance)
Value: Full scholarship from the DAAD; amount set by the DAAD
Eligibility: Applicants from developing countries with at least two years' work experience and a last degree no older than six years.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Almost all of Freiburg's bachelor's programmes are taught in German, so most Indian students apply for master's.
- An Indian Class 12 certificate on its own does not usually give direct entry to a German bachelor's.
- Indian applicants need an APS certificate.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's in a closely related subject with a strong grade. Computer Science expects solid theoretical computer science (automata, computability, graph theory, algorithms).
- Sustainable Systems Engineering has listed a 2.5 cut-off on the German scale, at least 120 ECTS in engineering and science, and four years of study for applicants from Asia, so a three-year Indian degree may not be enough.
- Apply online through Freiburg's portal; there is no uni-assist step for the Faculty of Engineering master's.
- Non-EU deadlines: Computer Science 15 April to 31 May (winter) and 1 November to 15 December (summer); Embedded Systems Engineering 1 March to 15 May (winter).
- Indian applicants need an APS certificate.
Documents
- Valid passport
- APS certificate
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- English test score (IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT or Cambridge C1 Advanced)
- CV and statement of purpose or motivation letter
- Course descriptions, for programmes that check your subject background
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 | 7.0 for Computer Science, Embedded Systems Engineering and Environmental Governance (C1 level). |
| PTE Academic | 76 for Computer Science and Embedded Systems Engineering. |
| TOEFL iBT | 95 on the pre-2026 scale (with section minimums), or 5 in each section on the scale used since 2026. |
| Sustainable Systems Engineering | Asks for English at B2 level, lower than the C1 needed for the other engineering master's. |
Accommodation and living costs
Student Services Freiburg (SWFR) runs the student residences, which are let for a whole semester and applied for online. Rooms are in short supply in Freiburg, so apply as soon as you are admitted and look at private shared flats at the same time.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition plus semester contribution€1,500 tuition + €190 semester contribution (€80 administration, €103 student union, €7 student body) | €1,690per semester | ≈ ₹1.8 lakh |
| Living costs you must prove for the student visaBlocked-account amount for 2026, set by the German government | €11,904per year | ≈ ₹12.6 lakh |
Campus and location
The university's buildings are spread through Freiburg's old town, with the Faculty of Engineering on its own campus to the north-west of the centre. Freiburg is compact, flat in the centre and easy to cycle.
- The humanities and central university buildings are in the old town.
- The Faculty of Engineering, home to computer science and microsystems engineering, has its own campus.
- The Black Forest, France and Switzerland are within easy reach.
- Student residences are let by semester (October to March, April to September).
Careers and graduate outcomes
Freiburg graduates in computing and engineering often move to the tech and industrial employers of Baden-Württemberg and Switzerland's border region. The figures below are general 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, or up to 20 hours a week | Make it in Germany |
| International students | 17% | THE World University Rankings 2027 |
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
How much does the University of Freiburg cost for Indian students?
€1,500 tuition per semester plus a €190 semester contribution, so €1,690 per semester. Some continuing-education programmes charge their own fees.
Does Freiburg accept PTE?
Yes for Computer Science and Embedded Systems Engineering, with PTE Academic 76. IELTS Academic 7.0 and TOEFL iBT are also accepted.
Can I join in April?
Computer Science and Embedded Systems Engineering take students in both October and April. Sustainable Systems Engineering and Environmental Governance start in October only.
Is a three-year Indian bachelor's accepted?
For most master's a 180-ECTS degree is the minimum, but Sustainable Systems Engineering has asked applicants from Asia for four years of study. Check each programme's rules before applying.
Sources
- University of Freiburg: MSc Computer Science programme page (opens in a new tab)
- University of Freiburg: MSc Sustainable Systems Engineering programme page (opens in a new tab)
- Faculty of Engineering Freiburg: master's flyer (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes 2026/27: Freiburg MSc Computer Science (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes 2026/27: Freiburg MSc Embedded Systems Engineering (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes 2026/27: Freiburg MSc Environmental Governance (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD International Programmes: Freiburg MSc Sustainable Systems Engineering (opens in a new tab)
- University of Freiburg: housing for international students (opens in a new tab)
- University College Freiburg: about the university (opens in a new tab)
- University of Freiburg: QS World University Rankings 2027 news (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: University of Freiburg (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany: visa for studying (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.uni-freiburg.de (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details