

University of Osnabrück
- Last Updated on: June 3, 2025 by
- Sridhar Kongara
Osnabrück University is a dynamic and modern University in the northwest of Germany, founded in 1974. The university focuses on the principles of sustainability, inclusivity and global solidarity. With eight master’s programs exclusively in English, Osnabrück University provides an outstanding ground for students from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds. It is arguably one of Germany’s most successful universities in terms of its international orientation, as well as being located at the heart of an open and hospitable academic environment.
Courses Offered
** Fees mentioned here are approximate and are per year, Unless specified otherwise
Why Choose University of Osnabruck
Osnabrück gets the prize for academic quality and proximity to the international arena, not to mention within striking distance of most budgets! So, here are a few key reasons why students across the world dream of studying at this university:
High Quality Education and Research
- Osnabrück University was founded in 1974 and is characterized by high-level academic education and research-oriented teaching concept. It does cross-field research in artificial intelligence, microbiology, and cognitive science.
- The university has a strong commitment to “research-based learning” that gives students direct exposure to groundbreaking research in the academy.
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Affordably Priced and Centrally Located
- Located centrally in the historic “City of Peace, Osnabrück is in a safe & affordable city to live & study.
- The cost of living is lower than in many other German cities, great for those worried about the financial implications of studying abroad.
- Students get inexpensive semester tickets for public transport and cheap rates for their meals in the student canteen.
Strong International Focus
- With more than 14,000 students, including a large international cohort, the institution provides a Welcome Hub and many services that help international students make the transition successfully.
- most programs are available around the world to users everywhere. For example, the full eight master’s programs offered in the English language by the university (for Cognitive science, Nano sciences and Peacebuilding.)
- Students may also participate in a summer or winter study abroad program with classes, field trips and cultural activities.
Practice-Oriented Learning
- Practical and project-oriented learning Osnabrück University also emphasizes its theory-based learning with audiovisual training, but also by integrating internships, life cases and group projects into the curriculum.
- A strong working relationship with local and international companies gives students work-relevant experience and allows for a smoother transition into the workforce.
- Meanwhile, engineers can benefit from such live workshops to try out their skills in a real environment which makes them more employable and enhance their chances in career prospects through hands-on involvement in programs like the Summer University Lingen and the International Study Program: Sustainability and Innovation.
Comprehensive Student Support
- Individual support is available through the Center for International Students (CIS) for international students in terms of admission, preparation in German, and integration into different cultures.
- The Learning Center (LC) gives students tools they need to succeed academically: workshops on time management and learning strategies; academic writing help; and more academic support.
- CIM manages not only housing services but also search events for students social scholarships to provide students with a good starting point for their university life and an interesting life in the future.
Training in Languages and Culture
- To help international students successfully settle into their studies and life in Germany, the university offers a pre-semester intensive German language course every semester.
- Field trips to Berlin, cooking classes to make traditional German foods and movie nights are part of activities designed to increase students’ cultural understandings.’
- Academic study and cultural exchange come together in programs like the International Summer University, which prepare students for global citizenship.
Sustainable and Social Responsibility
- Innovative and future-oriented university programs, e.g. renewables, e-mobility.
- Central to the university mission is social responsibility, with students active in community service here and abroad.
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Campus Facilities at University of Osnabruck
Campus Osnabrück University also has a wide variety of offerings available on campus to cater to its students with a resource rich and colorful campus. To enhance the academic learning and student experience, the university has developed world-class academic, research, recreational and support infrastructure across the university campuses.
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Campus Locations and Layout
- The university consists of two broad campuses — City Center Campus (Humanities, Social Sciences and Law) and Westerberg Campus (Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science).
- This idea connects both sites of the university in the historic city of Osnabrück to either explore on foot with long walks or short bike rides or easy public transport in between both sites.
- The Botanical Garden on the Westerberg Campus is an experimental and research site for students and researchers in a peaceful atmosphere.
The Modern Learning Infrastructure
- The university is properly equipped with lecture halls, research laboratories and pc centers that ensure excessive-quality teaching and research in the complete disciplines.
- The Center for Information Management and Virtual Teaching is the department that provides teachers, students and staff with the latest cutting-edge digital tools available to refine their online and hybrid learning habits.
- The Language Centre also integrates several languages through the Reading Centre and the Reading Lab and teaches German as a second language and courses preparing for the field of academic education for international students.
Library Facilities: Writing research activities in online databases and journals are easy things for students.
Canteens and Cafeterias: All university locations feature award-winning canteens and cafeterias, operated by the Student Services Osnabrück.
Sports and Recreation
- Every semester the University Sports Centre runs a wide-ranging sports program including everything from group sports and fitness classes to individual well-being plans.
- Recreational sports are very important for your physical wellbeing as well as community bonding and they are offered indoors and outdoors.
Cultural and Music Activities
- The cultural scene in Osnabrück is also appealing. Students also participate in the University Choir, Chamber Choir and Collegium Musicum and Big Band.
- The campus experience is enriched further by regular events, including concerts, symposia and exhibitions.
Student Services Offered By University of Osnabruck
- Specific infrastructures such as the International Office, Equal Opportunity Office and PhD/Postdoc Career Center will take care of your academic, career and personal guidance.
- The Learning Center offers workshops in study skills, academic writing, and time management to students.
- Providing everything from individualized counseling services to cultural integration programs, the university ensures its students have the support systems they need before, during and after their studies.
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The International Office
- The first point of contact for all international students, foreign education holders, trainees, exchange students, visiting scholars and PhD candidates.
- They help with applications and visa and residency needs, housing and health insurance.
- Since lots of settler’s arrival events run for multiple weeks, they are known as the backbone support workers for new arrivals, supporting orientation weeks, cultural activities, academic overview and many different tiers of events.
International Students HUB
- The Welcome Hub provides information and advice, with services designed specifically for Exchange Students and Degree-Seeking International Students. Key offerings include:
- Bureaucracy Liaison: Help to register at the Burgert (citizen’s office) and apply for residence permits.
- Housing Support: Support with key handovers for those in university dormitories, information on finding private accommodation if needed.
- Nations where relevant faculty advisors are available to assist your course selection, learning agreement or academic integration by appointment, or can check in with the International Office.
- On a faculty or discipline level, multidisciplinary staff that specialize in that discipline provide support (Business Administration, Natural, Humanities, Cognitive Science).
- A few cultural activities are joining the University Choir, joining a music ensemble (e.g., the Big Band), and discussing the city through the university organized events.
Language Support
- They have German as a foreign language courses for absolute beginners, intensive prior to semester course and semester course with the Language Center.
- These colleges probably also provide specialized classes ranging in subjects from academic writing to getting international students ready for their degree program language needs via intercultural competence.
- Networking and Campus Life
- Interactive campus map: Students can learn how to reach facilities including libraries, cafeterias, sports centers, etc.
Specialist Advice and Counseling Services
- Study Counseling Service individual support: Academic and career planning, mapping out potential career opportunities and how to reach your goals
- We train well before, which is sometimes challenging for students, and hence the introduction of Psychosocial Counseling as this students’ mental health and well-being is one of top priorities.
- To help students develop, the Learning Center offers workshops on study skills, time management and exam preparation.
Online and Remote Support
- Because academia isn’t always attentive to industry needs, the university has virtual consultation hours for students who aren’t able to come by in person. These are about applications, residency and housing.
- The virtual handout includes FAQs about living and studying in Osnabrück plus some advice about budgeting, food and ways to enjoy the culture.
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Student Life at University of Osnabruck
Osnabrück University is in a vibrant city with rich academic, cultural and leisure opportunities. Students not only have a chance to study at this modern university surrounded by hospitality but also live in the heart of the historic “City of Peace”, rich in world heritage, where you can gain more than knowledge in an academic, social and personal development perspective.
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- With a population of approximately 160,000 people, including more than 25,000 students attending Osnabrück University and the University of Applied Sciences, the more-than-1,200-year-old diocesan city of Osnabrück boasts a wealth of sights and attractions.
- The city’s enchanting medieval Old Town, a maze of timber-framed houses and bustling cafes, sets a colorful scene for student life. Many galleries, restaurants, and many modern shopping malls are also within walking distance.
- Close to two highways (A1 and A30) and half an hour from Münster-Osnabrück Airport, the city is well connected and a short distance from other secrets like Hannover, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Berlin.
- Osnabrück University provides numerous cultural event offerings (i.e. symposiums, concerts, lectures, excursions). These events are usually announced in the university’s quarterly calendar of events.
Campus Life
- The university campuses are modern, welcoming, and very close to the city space. The campus has a Botanical Garden, libraries, and award-winning canteens too along with it.
- Balance is also maintained within the institutions through periodic events, fairs and networking opportunities that promote bonding with peer groups and help them create a community with professors.
Affordable Living
- The other good part with the Osnabrück city is, it is very low in living cost for students. Monthly costs for rent, food and transportation amount to roughly €990, a fraction of what you’d pay in the big German cities.
- Thanks to the semester ticket, students can travel on public transport at low prices and dine extremely affordably in the university’s award-winning canteens and cafeterias.
Leisure and Sports
- Team sports, fitness classes, wellness programs and more are on offer throughout the university complex to keep students active. Osnabrück is a green city there are parks, trails and lakes and suits outdoor activities like cycling, hiking and picnicking. Students can also benefit from the city’s vibrant cultural life, with theaters, cinemas and festivals throughout the year.
- It is a nice enough safe university town in a way you would expect from it, considering it is going to be used to deal with students from every place in the world.
Nearby Attractions: Osnabrück’s central location allows students to easily travel to neighboring cities and countries. Weekend escapes to cultural cities like Amsterdam, Berlin and Hamburg provide a bit of fun and adventure.
Scholarships Offered by University of Osnabruck
Osnabrück Scholarship for Madame Courage: Targeted specifically for single parents who study at Osnabrück University. Run by the Catholic Women’s Social Service organization to help single parents balancing study and caregiving.
- Amount: $10,000.
- Eligibility: It specifically addresses women PhD candidates in the last phase of their doctoral studies and aims to promote gender equality in academia.
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Hilde Domin Program (DAAD):
- Provides funding that allows the students to study in Germany.
- Eligibility: To apply, candidates need to be nominated by a university.
- Amount: $10,000 for tuition fee.
Konrad Adenauer Foundation
- criteria include extraordinary academic performance, volunteer activity, cultural interests or religious affiliation.
- Amount: Full Tuition fee waiver.
External Scholarships
- All types of students pursuing study and research at different levels in Germany can find scholarship opportunities through the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) – the largest scholarship provider in Germany.
- For living and study costs: Interest-free loans
Student Loans: Including the KfW-Studienkredit (KfW Student Loan) or Bildungskredit (Training Loan), which some international students may be eligible to receive under special conditions.
Internships & Placements at University of Osnabruck
It is widely recognized in terms of the quality of its teaching and Osnabrück University strongly believes in active learning, along with great opportunities to practice in internship or project working companies. But these programs are all about closing the gap between the world of books and the world of work so that learners can take their place in successful careers across all the registers of economic activity.
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Networking with Hiring Managers and Job Search Support
- Osnabrück University has close partnerships with regional and global organizations for placement opportunities available to students.
- Job and internship ads are through the “Schwarzes Brett” (notice board) and online portals, which advertise vacancies with local businesses and research institutes.
- In Germany and across the European Union, the Federal Employment Office (Underagent für Arbeit) and EURES – The European Job Mobility Portal are a good place to seek internships and jobs.
International internships organizations like:
- IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience): This is for students in the technical field and natural sciences who want a study exchange as an internship.
- Organizes internships for students of business and economics.
- GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation): This organization provides placements in developing countries.
- Most of these organizations will charge you a minimal amount to help you get placed, but they provide a structured and dependable path for international experiences.
Internships funded by Erasmus+
- The Erasmus Office at the Osnabrück University espouses the Erasmus+ Traineeships Program which enables financial support for students staying abroad for an internship in Europe.
- Students receive academic credits for the activities done during an internship so that their practical experience is also counted for their degree programs.
Working During Studies: On that basis, particularly for overseas students, they will work from 120 full days or 240 half days out of educational institution, without further permission through the Foreigners’ Office needed. This limit applies to internships and part-time jobs as well.
Legal Support and Guidance
- International Office. Advice on visa and work permit in Germany for these internships/post-internship employment
- Mandatory internships (referring to mandatory internship for a specific field of study) are also permitted and do not require any separate approval from the Foreigners Office.
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Entry Requirements for University of Osnabruck
The Osnabrück University admits new students based upon their academic grades and their language qualifications (Also any relevant visa or residency conditions if cases apply). Undergraduate, postgraduate and international students respectively detailed admission requirement are mentioned below.
Academic Requirements: Certain graduates of literacy programs do not have diplomas equivalent to the German Abitur and might have to first attend Studienkolleg in Germany for about a year before taking an aptitude test. The foundation subjects of Osnabrück University take place in Hanover.
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Language Proficiency
- German Language Requirements: The Study programs mostly require a C1 German language skill (CEFR).
- Some programs also require advanced fluency in other dialects, depending on the field of study.
- Apply for admission (Evidence of English language proficiency must be provided, e.g. TOEFL, IELTS) especially if applying for an English-taught program. Everybody’s programs specifically have different requirements.
Special Rules for Countries: India: For the Indian applicants, the verifying of the certificates is done by the Academic Evaluation Center (APS) of the German Embassy located in New Delhi.
University of Osnabruck Ranking
Osnabrück University is now one of the leading institutions nationally and internationally in terms of academic quality, research output and innovative teaching methods. Its inter-disciplinary orientation and its thirst for excellence have placed institutions in various world and national university ranking systems.
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Global Rankings
45 on 2025 edition of Best Global Universities list released by the U.S. News & World Report, which ranks the institutions for their research performance and global research and academic reputation.
The university was ranked No.1347 among 20,966 universities worldwide, which places it among the top 6.5 per cent in the world by CWUR 2024. To show that this rank is gaining regional but by far this site is rank 476 in Europe.
CHE University Ranking
The latest CHE (Center for Higher Education) University Ranking 2024/2025, one of the oldest and most established evaluation systems in Germany, has placed Osnabrück University particularly well.
Regional Impact: Osnabrück University, made up of several elite graduate schools and institutes, is also one of the best universities in Lower Saxony, closely tied to the region’s development through research partnerships with industry in sectors including artificial intelligence, sustainable energy and biotechnology.
Acceptance rate: Osnabrück University is inclusive and non-selective, welcoming students from every corner of the world. While the university does not officially release their overall acceptance rate, some reports suggest that the university’s acceptance rate is very high, with some sources reporting that nearly 100% of applicants who meet the requirements are accepted.
Open Admission Policy: Osnabrück University: State-focused admissions policy reflects its commitment to accessibility and participation in higher education This university, operates based on giving chances to local and foreign students equally, being one of the universities that assure students achieving the required grades, to be accepted.
Factors Influencing Admission
Academic Qualifications: When considering admission to the university, truthful inspection of the necessary educational background for the programs available is a prerequisite of joining the university; this includes completion of a secondary school diploma comparable to the German Abitur if applying for undergraduate studies or a suitable completed undergraduate degree for accepting applicants with postgraduate qualifications.
Language Proficiency: Most degree courses require applicants to have German language skills (C1 level). Some, but not all, programs in English will require for proof of English fluency by standardized tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
Key Highlights
- It is largely liberalized, as Osnabrück University is an inclusive university that emphasizes educational access rather than competition.
- You have a fair chance to get into this university if you meet the criteria for academic and language conditions, so it is a good option for international applicants as well.
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