Goethe University Frankfurt Logo

Goethe University Frankfurt

Studying at Goethe University Frankfurt

The Goethe University, founded in 1932 and named after one of the city's most famous citizens, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, has approximately 48,000 students. The pursuit of science and knowledge with and for society is directly connected to Goethe University's foundation history as Stiftungsuniversität in 1914: a university founded by Frankfurt citizens for Frankfurt citizens. Goethe University reiterated its obligation to interact openly with the general public and to make this connection beneficial within the framework of collaborative projects by reverting to its status as Stiftungsuniversität (university foundation under public law) in 2008. Goethe University, based in Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region, is ideal for societal collaborations: it is located in one of Europe's most economically prosperous regions, with a high concentration of cultural institutions and political institutions all the way up to the European level.

Here are a few of the most notable highlights of the turning points and milestones of the university in chronological order:

  • 2019 - Astrophysicists from Goethe University contributed to the first image of a black hole, which the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration announced in April 2019. The team led by Professor Luciano Rezzolla used supercomputers to simulate the results, which was crucial for interpreting the findings.

  • 2017 - President Emmanuel Macron visited Goethe University and spoke with Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Gilles Kepel, and the university students about his vision for Europe.

  • 2011 - The Dalai Lama addresses 200 invited guests in the Bockenheim Campus auditorium, with over 2,500 online viewers tuning in via the university computer center's live broadcast. For the first time, Goethe University is ranked among the top 100 institutions in the world in the Shanghai rankings and is ranked sixth among German universities.

The pursuit of science and knowledge with and for society is the Third Mission of Goethe University, which dates back to its foundation as Stiftungsuniversität in 1914. Joint activities and projects strengthen the intensive connection to society that science inherently holds by Goethe University academics with partners and institutions from all areas of the society.

What can I study at Goethe University?

Goethe Institution is a large European university that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in all traditional fields. Goethe University offers approximately 200 degree programs in 16 faculties to students at three main campus locations in Frankfurt am Main. You can learn more about Goethe University's academic programs here:

The university's master's programs' job-friendly model helps students to manage their education, career, and leisure time while also ensuring solid, long-term planning. The lectures (semester 1-3) are held over 10 weekends per semester, on Fridays (1 pm to 8 pm) and Saturdays (1 pm to 8 pm) (9 am to 5 pm). Lecture-free periods are planned throughout the semester. A consistent presence on campus is not required in the fourth semester.

Graduates of our master's programs are automatically included in the GBS alumni network. GBS has welcomed almost 500 graduates to its alumni community since its inception in 2004. Our alumni are invited to events and Friday Talks, have access to various GBS privileges and stay connected through the Alumni Portal long after completing their studies

Here are a few notable rankings of the Goethe University:

  • US News ranking #222

  • QS World #311

  • Times Higher Education #251

European Central Bank, German Federal Bank, Deutsche Bank, Lufthansa, PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Nestlé, Ferrero SpA, Kia Motors, Standard & Poor's, Moody's, Vodafone, Hyundai Motors, and others are among the most important corporations and employers in Frankfurt am Main.

Application requirements

The application fee is 75 EUR, and below are the documents that must be submitted:

  • Certificate of graduation or high school graduation, showing subjects taken and grades earned.

  • Translated transcripts by a certified translator in any language other than German or English.

  • Legal certification for all academic transcripts and papers that are presented.

  • Proof of German proficiency - at least a B1 certificate.

  • Valid passport.

  • English Language Proficiency Test scores.

  • Depending on the course, test scores from TestAS and OSA (online self-assessment) .

  • GMAT or GRE scores for a few graduate programs.

Remaining expected dates for the winter semester 2021/22 are:

  • Deadline for Non-EU citizens - 15th July 2021

  • Deadline for EU citizens - 31st July 2021

  • Bachelor’s and state exams with no admission restrictions (for applicants with a ‘DSH-2’ certificate or equivalent: language requirements) - 31st August 2021

  • Master’s programmes - Deadlines differ, please refer to the Master Portal

  • Doctoral studies - No deadline

  • Non-EU citizens applying to study medicine or dentistry (submission of the TestAs result is mandatory) - 15th July 2021

  • EU-citizens applying to study medicine, dentistry or pharmacy - Special procedure via”hochschulstart”    

How to get funding at Goethe University?

Although grades are crucial, additional factors such as your origin, denomination, social commitment, family history, or study subject are frequently considered when considering whether or not to offer a scholarship at Goethe. Different scholarship donors have different goals, so make sure you do your "homework" before applying. International students, particularly in later semesters or throughout Master's programs, are supported in addition to first-semester students. There are also scholarships or grants available for final papers and exams, as well as a semester abroad or internships.

All students at Goethe University, regardless of their country of origin (this applies, for example, to the "Deutschlandstipendium"), as well as international/foreign students, are eligible to apply for scholarships (this applies for example to graduation and internship scholarships). Moreover, students from EU (and EEA) member states and/or "Bildungsinländer*innen "as defined by 8 BAföG (foreign students who, for example, graduated from a German secondary school and are qualified to study at a German university) (this applies for example for scholarships tied to a specific denomination) can also benefit from the funding opportunities.

Research opportunities

The university's research strength is bolstered by remarkable individual initiatives as well as outstanding joint research, which is the result of a constant interchange of ideas and long-term collaboration amongst experts from various disciplines. 

Goethe University encourages its researchers to start new research projects and provides a conducive environment for high-quality research. Their goal is to conduct cutting-edge, future-oriented research in collaboration with our university and non-university partner institutions, resulting in societally beneficial outcomes.

Website

https://www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de/en

Email

incoming@uni-frankfurt.de

Phone

+49-69-798-17193

Address

60323 Frankfurt, Germany