University of Bremen

The University of Bremen is a public university in the city of Bremen in northern Germany. Its main teaching language for most bachelor's programmes is German, and it offers a growing variety of master's programmes taught in English, alongside a small number of English-taught bachelor's programmes. Its course catalogue lets applicants filter for programmes taught in English.

For South Asian students, Bremen is an affordable German option because it charges no tuition fee. Students pay a semester contribution instead, which covers the semester ticket for public transport, a contribution to the Studierendenwerk student services organisation and a contribution to the AStA student union. The university's exchange fact sheet stresses that the semester contribution is not a tuition fee. Non-EU students need a student visa from the German Embassy or Consulate before entering Germany, and anyone enrolling must hold health insurance equivalent to German statutory health insurance, at about 110 euros per month according to the university's fact sheet.

Bremen also runs a preparation study programme for applicants who do not yet have enough German for a bachelor's degree: students enrol in a language course of at least 20 hours per week and can stay in Germany on a student visa during preparation studies, for a maximum of four semesters.

Full tuition detail (verified): No tuition fee is charged for studying at the University of Bremen. Students pay a semester contribution twice a year, which includes an administrative fee and the semester ticket for public transport, plus contributions to the Studierendenwerk and the AStA student union. The university's exchange fact sheet confirms the contribution is not a tuition fee and states that exchange students, who are exempt from the administrative contribution, paid 284.50 euros in winter semester 2025/26. The current semester contribution amount for regular degree students was not stated on the official Bremen pages retrieved, so no degree-student amount is given here. Students must also hold health insurance equivalent to German statutory health insurance, at about 110 euros per month according to the university's fact sheet.

Applicants from outside the EU who want an undergraduate degree usually first apply for preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist, then apply to the University of Bremen through its MOIN portal. The university recommends applying for the VPD by 6 June for a winter semester and 1 December for a summer semester, because uni-assist needs at least four weeks to process documents. The university's own application deadlines are 15 July for the winter semester and 15 January for the summer semester, and application and processing at the University of Bremen is free of charge.

Applicants from China, Vietnam and India must hold an APS certificate from the Academic Examination Centre at the German Embassy at the time of application; without it an application cannot be reviewed. Applicants who studied at a university in Pakistan must have the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan stamp on their transcript and degree certificate. Most bachelor's programmes are taught in German, while a growing number of master's programmes are taught in English; the university's exchange fact sheet requires English at B2 for English-taught courses, and degree programmes set their own language proof, so always check the programme page.

Full English requirement detail (verified): No university-wide IELTS minimum was confirmed on the official Bremen pages checked. The university's exchange fact sheet requires English at B2 for English-taught courses; degree programmes set their own language proof, so check the individual programme page before applying.

The University of Bremen offers bachelor's, master's and state examination programmes, with most bachelor's teaching in German and a growing English-taught master's portfolio. Applicants can search the full course catalogue on the university's website and filter for programmes taught in English.

English-taught master's study is the most realistic route for South Asian applicants without German, while German-taught bachelor's and master's programmes require recognised German proof. Because language requirements and admission rules are set per programme, check the programme page in the course catalogue before applying.

The University of Bremen takes part in the Deutschlandstipendium, which supports talented and high-achieving students at public and state-recognised universities in Germany. Each successful candidate receives 300 euros per month, half from private sponsors and half from the Federal Government, irrespective of income and on top of any BAfoG grant, for at least two semesters. First-semester and higher-semester students of all nationalities can apply directly to their university.

Students who need a full scholarship should apply early, ideally from their home country about a year before starting, through the DAAD scholarship database and the university's own scholarship pages. The university also runs PROMOS funding for study-related stays abroad outside the Erasmus area for students already enrolled at Bremen.