Goethe University Frankfurt

Goethe University Frankfurt (Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main) is a public research university in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. According to its official Facts and Figures page, it was established in 1914, has 16 faculties, offers 159 study programmes, and enrolled 40,684 students in the winter semester 2025/26, with 607 professors and 3,929 research staff.

The university's International Office describes itself as the first point of contact for students who want to earn a degree, come as exchange students, or join a summer school programme. It provides advisory services and support with requirements, the application process, admissions, enrolment, visas, settling in Frankfurt, and student orientation.

For master's applicants with a foreign degree, applications run through the university's central online application platform in cooperation with uni-assist. Applicants from India, Vietnam and the People's Republic of China must submit an original APS certificate of academic screening.

Why it suits South Asian students

• No tuition fees — the university's Faculty of Economics and Business states there are no tuition fees for its master's programmes; students pay only the semester contribution of €408.28 per semester (winter semester 2026/27), which includes a Germany-wide public transport ticket.
• English-taught master's programmes — the MSc International Economics and Economic Policy is taught entirely in English, and the Faculty of Economics and Business runs additional English-language master's programmes such as Money, Macro and Finance and Management Science.
• Clear India/China/Vietnam process — the university explicitly publishes the APS certificate requirement for applicants from India, Vietnam and China.
• Scholarships open to all nationalities — the Deutschlandstipendium is available from the first semester to students of all nationalities, and a dedicated Graduation Scholarship supports enrolled international students finishing their degrees.

Full tuition detail (verified): Goethe University charges no tuition fees for its master's programmes (stated explicitly on the official Faculty of Economics and Business page: "There are no tuition fees for students of the MIEEP program"). All enrolled students instead pay a semester contribution. For the winter semester 2026/2027 the total semester fee is EUR 408.28, made up of: EUR 226.80 for the Germany-wide semester ticket and environmentally friendly student mobility, EUR 1.10 Palmengarten-AStA ticket, EUR 1.60 AStA hardship fund, EUR 17.10 student body fee, EUR 2.20 and EUR 2.98 additional fees, EUR 106.50 Studierendenwerk fee, and EUR 50.00 administrative costs (fixed by law, unchanged since 2004). The fee is paid on enrolment and at each re-registration.

International applicants with a first undergraduate degree from a foreign higher education institution apply through the university's online application portal, which operates in cooperation with uni-assist. Documents sent directly to Goethe University cannot be considered — everything must be uploaded in the portal by the application deadline.

Required documents include: the first undergraduate degree (usually a bachelor's degree), a Transcript of Records, proof of secondary school education (university entrance qualification such as A-levels or IB), and an APS certificate — applicants from India, Vietnam and the People's Republic of China must submit an original APS certificate of academic screening issued by the Academic Evaluation Centre. All certificates and language proofs must be submitted in their original language together with a certified translation into German or English.

Language requirements: for master's programmes taught in German, a DSH-2 certificate (or equivalent) must be submitted by the deadline — enrolment without it is not possible. If the programme's language of instruction is English, no German skills are needed to apply or enrol, though basic German is recommended for daily life. English skills must be proven, generally by university entrance qualifications or a foreign language certificate; specific test scores are set by each programme's own admission rules. Depending on the programme, additional documents such as a CV, letter of motivation and letters of recommendation may be required.

After receiving an admission offer, enrolment is completed online via the Goethe Campus portal, including uploading documents and transferring the semester fee within the stated deadline. Applicants who have not yet received their degree certificate are admitted provisionally and must submit the bachelor's degree certificate within the first semester (no later than March 31 for winter semester or September 30 for summer semester) to the Office for Master's and International Admissions.

Goethe University offers 159 study programmes across 16 faculties, including a growing set of English-taught master's programmes. The official programme pages confirm English-language options at master's level.

Verified English-taught master's programmes

• MSc International Economics and Economic Policy — an English-language programme focused on economic policy in the context of internationally integrated markets, preparing students for careers in administration, politics and international organisations.
• MSc Money, Macro and Finance — a research-driven programme of the Faculty of Economics and Business with around 80% international students; applications for the first semester run from January 2 to May 15 via the central online platform in cooperation with uni-assist.
• MSc Management Science — an English-language programme of the Faculty of Economics and Business (application window April 1 to May 15 for the first semester, per the official faculty page).

Application deadlines vary by programme and are published on each programme's page. For German-taught master's programmes, a DSH-2 German certificate is mandatory; for English-taught programmes, no German is required.

The university's official Scholarships page lists the following funding options for international students:

Scholarships

• Deutschlandstipendium — available to students of all nationalities at Goethe University, including from the first semester. Besides strong academic achievement, selection considers social commitment (clubs, university politics, volunteer work) and special obstacles arising from a student's family or cultural background.
• Goethe University Graduation Scholarship — open to international students currently enrolled at Goethe University, irrespective of subject, who have registered for their final examinations and are undertaking a bachelor's, master's or state exam thesis. Awarded for a maximum of 6 months up to €500 per month. Note: the page's published deadlines are from 2023, so current rounds should be checked with the International Office.
• Scholarships for relevant internships — for enrolled international students in bachelor's, master's or state exam programmes, for internships oriented towards professional or academic advancement. Application deadlines: January 31, June 30 and October 31 of any given year; applications go to the International Office.
• Scholarship for volunteer work with an international context — supports international students active in university structures and initiatives serving international students, prospective students or alumni.
• DAAD scholarships — the Faculty of Economics and Business points advanced students to the DAAD scholarship database for country- and subject-specific funding, and to the Frankfurter Verein zur Unterstützung internationaler Studierender e.V., which offers grants to foreign students in difficult situations and subsidies for rental deposits.