University of Bonn Summary
University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is known for mathematics, natural sciences, economics, agriculture, life sciences, medicine, law, humanities, social sciences, theology, philosophy, political science, computer science and interdisciplinary research. The university has a good academic reputation in Germany and internationally, particularly in research excellence, doctoral training and a wide range of subjects.
Founded in 1818, the university has developed into one of Germany’s most respected comprehensive universities. Bonn’s academic landscape is a mixture of traditional university and modern research institute, of international networks and close ties to policy, science and public institutions. Bonn is also famous for its international organizations, its past as a capital, its United Nations presence, and its ties to the public sector, all of which can be very useful for students who are studying policy, development, economics, sustainability, and global affairs.
Many of the University of Bonn’s programs are offered in German at the undergraduate level. International applicants should carefully check the German language requirements before applying. Undergraduate students may opt to study law, economics, business administration, political science, sociology, psychology, philosophy, history, theology, languages, literature, mathematics, computer sciences, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, geosciences, agricultural sciences, nutrition and food sciences, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy-related study and teacher education.
At the University of Bonn you can choose from a variety of master’s programs in German and some in English. Popular postgraduate study areas are Mathematics, Economics, Autonomous Systems, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Neurosciences, Molecular Cell Biology, Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural and Food Economics, Geography, Geodetic Engineering, Dependency and Slavery Studies, Development Research, European Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Philosophy and related interdisciplinary fields. Admissions are based on academic fit, proof of language, prior coursework and program-specific requirements.
The University of Bonn is particularly strong at doctoral level. Doctoral research is offered in all fields of mathematics, natural sciences, life sciences, medicine, agriculture, economics, law, humanities, theology, social sciences and interdisciplinary fields. The university is known for its strong graduate research structures and clusters. Doctoral candidates can be employed within faculties, graduate schools, research groups and externally funded projects .
University of Bonn is a public university and is not generally charged tuition fees for regular degree programs. The students pay a semester contribution. It is about EUR 300 per semester and it can change. This contribution is for student services and other semester costs. International students should also be careful with their living expenses. Bonn is usually cheaper than Munich but students will still need to budget for rent, health insurance, food, transport, study materials, visa or residence costs and personal expenses.
To sum up, University of Bonn is the top choice for students looking for a well-regarded German public research university with strong academic offerings in mathematics, science, economics, agriculture, medicine, humanities, law and social sciences. It is particularly well-suited for students who wish to pursue careers in research, academia, public policy, international organisations, economics, agriculture, science, healthcare, law and doctoral study.

