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University of Kiel

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Kiel University (also referred to as the CAU) uses research, teaching and the transfer of science to address the great challenges of our time in health, environmental and cultural change, nutrition and energy. In doing so, it ensures peace and preserves livelihoods for future generations. 

History

Kiel University has an eventful history spanning more than 350 years. It started off as a state school, overcame upheaval and crises, finally developing into a successful international research centre.

Education

Kiel University is dedicated to research-based teaching and learning. Therefore, the development of new teaching approaches is evolving constantly at the interfaces between research from the different scientific disciplines. Students from all over the world benefit from this: research results are quickly integrated into programme curricula and our academic staff is trained in-state-of-the-art teaching methods.

Research

The CAU is Schleswig-Holstein’s only fully-fledged university with a major focus on research. Over time, four dynamic priority research areas have systematically developed which are based on strong disciplines interacting together - Marine Science, Life Science, Societal and Cultural Change, and Nano Surface & Interface Science. Each individual research area makes a substantial contribution towards dealing with at least one of the grand challenges of our time.

Career

The CAU is embedded in an international network of scientific, cultural, political and economic contacts and partnerships. This way, the University became a vibrant member of the scientific community and the society, which provide important impulses for CAU's productive development in return.

University of Kiel Key Statistics & Highlights

  • #201 Ranking
  • 32 Scholarships
  • 1,233 Academic Staff
  • 27,750 Students
  • 2,498 Students (int'l)
  • 14,708 Students (female)
  • Public Institution Type

University of Kiel Overview

University of Kiel Scholarships

University of Kiel Scholarships

Below you will find scholarships related to University of Kiel. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.

Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
07 Oct 2026
Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Read more about eligibility

U.S. government
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1400 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) • DAAD
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Fully Funded DAAD EPOS Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

DAAD
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
30 Nov 2026
ServiceScape Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

ServiceScape
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3500 USD
Deadline
15 Nov 2026
ACES Scholarships

Read more about eligibility

ACES Education Fund
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Karl Schmidt Rottluff Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Studienstiftung
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
5000 USD
Deadline
28 Aug 2026
Women Scholarship for International Students
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

educations.com
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
10000 USD
Deadline
01 Sep 2026
The PhD Prep Fellowship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Admit Lab
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
31 Oct 2026
$1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

IvyPanda
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
13 Jul 2026
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Salvado Law
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2026
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Anonymous Hope Fund
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
649 EUR
Deadline
31 Dec 2026
Scholarship of the German National Academic Foundation
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Campus France
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
30 Jun 2026
$1,500 Annual Students’ Presentation Crafting Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

IvyPanda
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1500 USD
Deadline
Not specified
The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

IELTS from 6 to 9
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
12000 USD
Deadline
11 Jan 2027
Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme

Read more about eligibility

The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
20 May 2026
PlagiarismSearch Essay Contest
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

PlagiarismSearch
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid

Read more about eligibility

American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
80 ZAR
Deadline
Not specified
DAAD-NRF Joint Scholarship Programme South Africa

Read more about eligibility

DAAD
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
DAAD-ACEH Scholarship of Excellence

Read more about eligibility

DAAD
Location not available

Complete overview of scholarships

University of Kiel Rankings

Study Portals Meta Ranking

Top 4.4% Germany
Top 4.8% Worldwide

Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.

Academic Ranking of World Universities

201

By Shanghai Jiao Tong University

The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.

ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.

3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities

2023 2024 2025
201 201 201

World University Rankings

351

By Times Higher Education

Dropped 50 places compared to 2025

World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.

3 year trend World University Rankings

2024 2025 2026
301 301 351

QS World University Rankings

618

By TopUniversities

Dropped 7 places compared to 2025

QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.

3 year trend QS World University Rankings

2024 2025 2026
530 611 618

Best Global Universities Rankings

No 2026 Ranking

By U.S. News & World Report

This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2026 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.

Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.

3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings

2024 2025 2026
323 - -

Student services

  • The Central Office for Gender Equality, Diversity and Family represents the areas of equality, mentoring, diversity, the Family Service and the Welcome Service for new appointees in particular.
  • Internal Auditing supports the University Board in carrying out its tasks, by process-independent and objective auditing activities and advisory services.

Housing services

The International Center accepts applications only from the following students:

  • participants of the Erasmus exchange programme
  • stipend holders of Kiel's partner universities (England, France, USA, Poland, Russia, Japan, and Korea)
  • stipend holders of the City of Kiel (Stadt Kiel - Stipendien)
  • DNSZ - stipend holders
  • DAAD students and scholars of the Nordelbische Kirche

The rent in the various dormitories is currently € 190,00 to € 230,00 per month.

Library services

The Institute for Science Education's library in Kiel is a specialized scientific reference library. At present, the library comprises ca. 35,000 media units, 50 e-books and it also subscribes to 110 scholarly journals. Momentarily the e-book stock is being widely extended.

Medical services

You can chose between private and statutory (public) health insurance carriers and companies in Germany. Up until you turn 30 years of age (or up to the 14th full study semester) you must essentially be insured by a statutory health insurance carrier. Only in exceptions will you be allowed to take out private insurance. Please check this with the International Center. 

Campus life

A new medical research and teaching campus for Kiel University is being constructed along Feldstraße. It will be formed out of three new research buildings, a new study centre and refurbished buildings at the area of the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH).

Sports facilities

You are looking for an opportunity to discover new kinds of sports, to exercise your favorite kind of sports or to actively balance your studies?University Sports of Kiel University is the right place for you. A wide-ranging offer of courses, the free sports and games offer, but also the close proximity of our sports facilites as well as our close coopereation with the Fitness Center FiZ, located at Olshausenstr. 71, provide you with a maximum of sporting variety and possibilities for socializing. On the following pages, you can find all there is to know about our institution and our offer.

University of Kiel Campus Locations

#1 Main Campus
Germany Country
Kiel City

University of Kiel Student Reviews & Awards

4.1

Based on 16 reviews

  • 5 Star
    6 Reviews
  • 4 Star
    8 Reviews
  • 3 Star
    0 Reviews
  • 2 Star
    1 Review
  • 1 Star
    1 Review
4/5

Good University

Good curriculum and studying environment. Helpful faculty and good research facilities.

Posted by Provided by ESN
Studied from Oct 2022 - Nov 2024
Posted on Apr 2025
4/5

Quality Education

CAU Kiel is a university that has a great teaching standard. You learn both theoretically and practically as there are chances of practical learning at least in my field of study. Studying at CAU can be a bit overwhelming but it shapes you to be able to deal with the real world.

Posted by Provided by ESN
Studied from Apr 2022 - Mar 2025
Posted on Apr 2025
1/5

Decent but not recommended

CAU is one of the biggest universities in Nothern Germany and is highly commendable for Marine-related and technical majors. However, the social sciences programs are sorely lacking. Even on campus, the language barrier was tough to overcome. Support systems for international students are very minimal though the existing staffs are already overworked to the bone.

Posted by Anonymous
Studied from Unknown
Posted on Jun 2025
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