Imagine: While your fellow students in the USA are juggling part-time jobs and their studies and still face a mountain of debt after graduation, you are enjoying a coffee in Passau's picturesque old town streets.
Your studies? Free of charge, first-class – and in English. Your weekend? Prague, the Alps or a trip to Milan. Your degree? Made in Germany, respected worldwide.
✔ Top-tier education (Bachelor's and Master's programmes) - including entire programmes taught in English
✔ Zero tuition fees - even for international students
✔ Your gateway to Europe - explore cities like Vienna, Budapest or Florence
✔ Premium support - small class sizes and personable academics
✔ Affordable housing - comfy flatshares or cozy apartments in the old town
✔ Free language classes - learn German or other languages, taught by native speakers, for your resumé
✔ High quality of life - study and relax in one of the prettiest and safest cities in Germany
Students at the University of Passau enjoy a cosmopolitan university community. We're one of the top German universities for international mobility. We also consistently achieve great results in global university league tables.
With a degree from the University of Passau, you’ll launch a successful career, wherever your journey might take you. Thanks to designing our degree programs with the job market in mind, frequently integrating work experience opportunities, and our strong networks of businesses, research institutions, and alumni, you’ll be well prepared for working in your chosen profession – whether in Germany, Europe, or worldwide.
Many degree programmes can be completed entirely in English
Discover our English-language programmes!
A site of higher education and a popular holiday destination, Passau is famous for its baroque old town, the river cruise ships and its Mediterranean flair. Welcome to the picturesque "City of Three Rivers"!
Our green campus, situated on the banks of the Inn river, blends nature and quality of life with short distances and an exceptional learning environment.
Small classes, easy access to professors, a close-knit campus community: here, you are never just a face in the crowd!
No financial burden, but an unforgettable time in Passau. Compared to studying in the USA, studying in Passau offers clear advantages:
| Cost point | American University | University of Passau |
|---|---|---|
Tuition fees (annual) | $10,000 - $50,000+ (depending on university & state) | €0 (only biannual semester contribution, approx. €127) |
Cost of living (monthly) | ||
Student residence halls: | Student residence halls: | |
| Shared apartment: $500 - $1,200 (€460 - €1,110) | Shared apartment: €250 - €500 | |
| Health insurance $100-$400 (€90-€370) | Health insurance approx. €120 | |
| Food and groceries: $200 - $400 (€185 - €370) | Food and groceries: €150 - €250 | |
| Books: $100 to $400 (€90 - €370) | Books: €50-€100 | |
Total costs per year | $22,000 – $75,000 | € 8,000 – €12,000 |
In Passau, you can enrol on degree programmes about:
The University of Passau also offers the opportunity to earn a German-American Double Master's Degree as part of the M.Sc. Business Administration programme.
As parents, you only want the best for your child. At the University of Passau, students earn an internationally recognised degree – in English or German and at a fraction of the cost of an American university.
Passau is a very safe city, and you can rest assured that your children are in a protected university environment and that you have nothing to worry about.
Further information can be found on our page for parents and in the DAAD brochure Questions and Answers for Parents
Contribute to providing your school’s students with a low-cost and high-quality European education at the University of Passau with accredited German or English-language programmes.
Download the following information brochures to find out about the most important benefits:
Use the uni-assist university entrance check to find out whether you can study in Germany or whether you need first need further qualifications. If your school diploma or university degree does not directly entitle you to study in Germany, you may first have to attend the Studienkolleg (further education college for international applicants).
The University of Passau does not charge tuition, but students do have to pay a small semester contribution, which covers auxiliary student services e.g. local transportation.
Compared to most American cities, life in Passau is significantly cheaper. The monthly costs depend on your lifestyle, but are on average around €850-1100 per month.
Please note: If you need a residence permit to study in Germany, you must prove that you are financially secure, regardless of the actual costs. Your residence permit will not be issued or extended without proof of funding.
The number of students applying for scholarships that fully finance their studies is high. The best source of information for such scholarships is the DAAD:
There are also scholarships that do not provide comprehensive funding, but offer supplementary grants for studying:
In addition to the DAAD database, the following portals are also available:
If you come to Germany to study and live here, there are a few formalities you need to fulfil.
If you are a US citizen, you can enter Germany without a visa. After your arrival, however, you will need to apply for a residence permit. The residence permit requires proof of financing.
Further information on visas and residence permits.
You can find all the answers you need about finding accommodation in Passau on our housing website.
Many students in Germany have a part-time job–for example, as a university student worker (Hiwi) e.g. as a teacher’s assistant, in the library, or on research projects; or outside of the university, for example in a restaurant or at a company. International students are allowed to work alongside their studies.
If you want to study in Germany, you must have health insurance. You must prove that you have sufficient health insurance at the latest by the time you enroll at the University.
"A piece of advice for my fellow incoming Americans intending to stay longer than a year is to make sure your driver’s license is from a state with a reciprocity agreement with Germany. If it is not, then take a trip to your grandparents or friend in another state and exchange it before coming. This will allow you to get German license for nothing more than a small fee. If your state does not have an agreement with Germany you will have to take classes and tests, and it will cost thousands of euros." - Dan Rowe
You'll find further important advice on the U.S. embassy's website.
You can find an overview of the service and counselling offers of the University of Passau under "Who can help me".
