Education
The UoC’s syllabus currently comprises about 100 quality-assured degree programmes (Ger.), giving students the opportunity to choose from a total of over 300 subject and teaching degree combinations. The bachelor and master’s programmes have recently successfully undergone the Model Accreditation (Modellakkreditierung) process and thus now have harmonized programme structures and examination regulations, and introduced special quality standards in cross-cutting areas such as internationalization, advice and supervision, and equal opportunities.
Research
The University of Cologne’s six Faculties are the institutional framework for its research activities. The Faculties offer a total of 102 degree programmes and support 16 cross-Faculty research and teaching centres. Moreover, the UoC has several large, internationally competitive research areas: mechanisms of aging-associated diseases; behavioral economic engineering and social cognition, quantum matter and materials, socio-economic, cultural and political transformations in the global south, plant sciences and skills and structures in language and cognition.
Career
The University´s study programm prepare graduates for excellent career opportunities on the employment market. The Professional Centre renders personal assistance to students in seizing these opportunities: through its Professional & Academic School and the Career Support Centre.
University of Cologne Scholarships
Below you will find scholarships related to University of Cologne. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Fully Funded DAAD EPOS Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Karl Schmidt Rottluff Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) • DAAD
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Graduate School Scholarship Programme
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
26 Feb 2025
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
90000 AUD
Deadline
Not specified
World Universities Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
01 Mar 2025
Voice Talent Online Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Fully Funded DAAD EPOS Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Karl Schmidt Rottluff Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) • DAAD
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Graduate School Scholarship Programme
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
26 Feb 2025
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
90000 AUD
Deadline
Not specified
World Universities Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
01 Mar 2025
Voice Talent Online Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Fully Funded DAAD EPOS Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Karl Schmidt Rottluff Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) • DAAD
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Graduate School Scholarship Programme
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
26 Feb 2025
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
90000 AUD
Deadline
Not specified
World Universities Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
01 Mar 2025
Voice Talent Online Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Fully Funded DAAD EPOS Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Karl Schmidt Rottluff Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) • DAAD
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Graduate School Scholarship Programme
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
26 Feb 2025
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
90000 AUD
Deadline
Not specified
World Universities Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
01 Mar 2025
Voice Talent Online Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Fully Funded DAAD EPOS Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Karl Schmidt Rottluff Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) • DAAD
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Graduate School Scholarship Programme
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
26 Feb 2025
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
90000 AUD
Deadline
Not specified
World Universities Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
01 Mar 2025
Voice Talent Online Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Fully Funded DAAD EPOS Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Karl Schmidt Rottluff Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) • DAAD
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Graduate School Scholarship Programme
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
26 Feb 2025
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
90000 AUD
Deadline
Not specified
World Universities Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
01 Mar 2025
Voice Talent Online Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
University Ranking
Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2024
151
2023
151
2022
151
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.
World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
2025
157 3
2024
160 -14
2023
146
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.
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2025
285 -17
2024
268 67
2023
335
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.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
2025
-
2024
241 3
2023
244
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.
Student services
If you have any questions regarding studying in Cologne, please feel free to contact the staff of the department "International Students"!
Housing services
- The Kölner Studierendenwerk operates 90 student dormitories with 5.000 spots for students from all of Cologne’s universities, including spots for students with children or families.
- In addition to the student dormitories operated by the "Kölner Studierendenwerk", an array of private student dormitories (website in German language) operated by other institutions exists as well.
Library services
- As part of the University of Cologne, the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (WiSo Faculty) offers you a huge store of specialized academic literature and periodicals.
- The largest holdings are found in the University and City Library.
Medical services
Health insurance is mandatory for everyone seeking to enrol at a German university. You can either take out German statutory health insurance (appr. 80 € per month) or prove that you are sufficiently covered by a foreign or private health insurance policy by presenting either an EHIC card or an exemption certificate ("Befreiungsbescheinigung") issued by German statutory health insurance company.
Campus life
The University of Cologne is set on a large urban campus in the heart of the lively and thriving city of Cologne. The surrounding Rhineland is one of Europe’s most developed economic regions. Open, friendly and with an international outlook, Cologne is a great place to live, work and study. We would be delighted to welcome you in Cologne.
Sports facilities
Our broad offer includes different mass and health-oriented sports, a comprehensive course programme, and special events. We promote the dual careers of top athletes and host a modern gym.
Accreditation
The Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences ("WiSo Faculty") of the University of Cologne was re-accredited by the EQUIS Accreditation Board on 27 March 2018 and received the world-renowned EQUIS accreditation of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) for the highest possible duration of five years. This confirms the high international quality standard of the faculty in research and teaching. At the moment, only 108 business schools worldwide hold this internationally recognized accreditation with a 5-year duration