Universities in North Rhine-Westphalia
Nordrhein-Westfalen
North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany's most populous state and has the most universities in our directory — from RWTH Aachen, Cologne, Bonn and Münster to the Ruhr universities in Bochum, Dortmund and Duisburg-Essen. The dense rail network makes it easy to live in one city and reach others.
Capital: Düsseldorf
Tuition policy for non-EU students
No general tuitionNo general tuition fee for non-EU students in a first bachelor's or most master's degrees at state institutions. Some states charge fees for second degrees or long study durations.
Source: daad.de Checked 26 October 2026
Living costs
Germany-wide reference: students spend €876 per month on average, of which €410 on rent (DZHW 22nd Social Survey, published by DAAD). Costs are higher in large cities — use the cost calculator with your own figures.
Open the cost calculator →University cities
Our directory lists 17 institutions in this state — not every higher-education institution there.
Aachen1 university
See in directory- RWTH AachenUniversitätTU9No non-EU tuition
One of Europe's leading technical universities in engineering and computer science.
Bielefeld1 university
See in directory- Universität BielefeldUniversitätNo non-EU tuition
A globally influential center for sociology, with all its faculties housed in one unusual, interconnected building.
Bochum1 university
See in directory- Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB)UniversitätNo non-EU tuition
The first new university founded in West Germany after WWII, strong in IT security and engineering in the heart of the Ruhr region.
Bonn1 university
See in directory- University of BonnUniversitätNo non-EU tuition
Founded in 1818, a well-established Rhineland university housed in a former electoral palace.
Dortmund1 university
See in directory- Technische Universität DortmundUniversitätNo non-EU tuition
A Ruhr-region technical university strong in statistics and physics.
Duisburg1 university
See in directory- Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE)UniversitätNo non-EU tuition
Formed from the merger of the Duisburg and Essen universities, one of the Ruhr region's largest universities.
Düsseldorf1 university
See in directory- Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf (HHU)UniversitätNo non-EU tuition
Named after Düsseldorf-born poet Heinrich Heine, a university strong in medicine and life sciences.
Essen1 university
See in directory- Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE)UniversitätNo non-EU tuition
Formed from the merger of the Duisburg and Essen universities, one of the Ruhr region's largest universities.
Hagen1 university
See in directory- FernUniversität in HagenUniversitätNo non-EU tuition
Germany's only public distance-learning university, flexible for working professionals and the country's largest by enrollment.
Cologne2 universities
See in directory- University of CologneUniversitätNo non-EU tuition
Founded in 1388, one of Germany's largest traditional universities by enrollment.
- TH Köln (Technische Hochschule Köln)University of applied sciencesNo non-EU tuition
Germany's largest university of applied sciences by enrollment, with a broad program range across engineering, social work and media.
Münster2 universities
See in directory- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU)UniversitätNo non-EU tuition
One of Germany's largest universities, strong in law, business and theology, in one of the country's most bicycle-friendly cities.
- FH Münster (Münster University of Applied Sciences)University of applied sciencesNo non-EU tuition
A large Hochschule sharing bike-friendly Münster with WWU, offering a broad program range across engineering, design and social work.
Paderborn1 university
See in directory- Universität PaderbornUniversitätNo non-EU tuition
Known as the 'University of the Information Society', strong in computer science and information technology.
Sankt Augustin1 university
See in directory- Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS)University of applied sciencesNo non-EU tuition
A modern, internationally oriented Hochschule near Bonn, strong in computer science and engineering, sharing a campus with Fraunhofer IAIS.
Siegen1 university
See in directory- Universität SiegenUniversitätNo non-EU tuition
In the Siegerland industrial region, strong in social sciences, media studies and engineering.
Wuppertal1 university
See in directory- Bergische Universität WuppertalUniversitätNo non-EU tuition
In the Bergisches Land region, strong in architecture, safety engineering and physics.
Multiple campuses
- FOM University of Applied SciencesCooperative (dual) universityNon-EU tuition
Listed under its legal seat; it also runs campuses in other states.
One of Germany's largest private higher education institutions for students who work while studying.