Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) is a comprehensive research university in Bavaria with about 25,000 students in winter semester 2025/26, including 3,078 international students. Bavarian law (BayHIG) allows universities to charge non-EU students, but JMU's fee table for winter 2026/27 lists no general international tuition: students pay a semester fee of $210 (€182.10). International applicants first obtain a preliminary review (VPD) from uni-assist and then apply on the WueStudy portal, with a 15 July deadline for the winter semester. Applicants without direct university access are referred to the Bavarian Studienkolleg in Munich.
JMU is separate from THWS, the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, which has its own programmes and application system.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Würzburg, Bavaria (Lower Franconia) |
| Students (winter 2025/26) | about 25,000, including 3,078 international |
| THE World University Rankings 2027 | 182 |
| Non-EU tuition | none in general (fee table for winter 2026/27) |
| Semester fee, winter 2026/27 | $210 (€182.10) |
| Fee-paying programmes | LL.M. Digitalization and Law at $2,840 (€2,500) per semester and one other programme at $2,270 (€2,000) |
| Application | VPD from uni-assist, then WueStudy |
| International deadlines | 15 July (winter), 15 January (summer) |
| German for enrolment | DSH-2 for most programmes, B2 for selected bachelor's degrees |
| Foundation route | Studienkolleg in Munich, assigned by JMU |
Who is JMU for?
| JMU fits if you | Compare alternatives if you |
|---|---|
| want a Bavarian university without international tuition | want an English-taught bachelor's (there is only one) |
| are interested in computer science, AI, quantum technology, life sciences or psychology | prefer a big-city environment like Munich |
| have B2 German and choose a programme where B2 is enough to enrol | need certainty that Bavarian fee rules stay unchanged for your whole degree |
| like a compact, walkable city | are looking for applied, practice-led programmes — then check THWS |
JMU lists the ct.qmat Cluster of Excellence in quantum materials, and Würzburg is where Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays in 1895. Nearby, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg will charge new non-EU students from summer semester 2027; other Bavarian options are LMU Munich and TU Munich, compared in our guide to universities in Munich.
What it costs
| Item (winter 2026/27) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Semesterticket (transport) | $130 (€110.10) |
| Studierendenwerk contribution | $82 (€72) |
| Semester fee, total | $210 (€182.10) |
| Living-cost proof for the visa | $13,520 (€11,904) a year |
| Minimum first year (two semester fees plus visa funds) | about $13,930 (€12,268) |
Programme fees apply only to selected master's degrees such as the LL.M. Digitalization and Law. Because Bavarian law lets universities introduce non-EU tuition, and FAU has already done so, check JMU's fee page before applying. See our guide to free university education in Germany for what remains payable at "free" universities.
Bachelor's admission: VPD, WueStudy and deadlines
- Check whether you need a VPD and request it from uni-assist before applying to JMU. Handling costs $85 (€75) for the first programme per semester and $34 (€30) for each additional one; translations made in Russia must have the translator's signature notarised.
- Apply on WueStudy, which opens at the end of May for winter and the end of November for summer, uploading your documents.
- Meet the deadline of 15 July (winter) or 15 January (summer). Not every programme starts in summer.
Medicine and dentistry require the digital TestAS with the medicine module, and applications for medicine, pharmacy and dentistry are sent by post or handed in. Applicants from China, India and Vietnam also need an APS certificate.
German requirements depend on the programme. Restricted programmes require DSH-2-level proof at application. Most programmes require DSH-2 at enrolment, but B2 is enough for selected bachelor's degrees including Informatik, Künstliche Intelligenz und Data Science, Wirtschaftsinformatik, Wirtschaftswissenschaft, Political and Social Studies, Quantentechnologie and Mathematische Physik. Certificates should not be older than one year. Our uni-assist guide explains the VPD process.
Without direct access: Studienkolleg in Munich
If your school certificate does not give direct access, you need a one-year Studienkolleg and the Feststellungsprüfung. For JMU this is the Bavarian state Studienkolleg in Munich. You do not apply there directly: you apply to JMU for your intended subject by 15 July or 15 January, and JMU issues the Studienkolleg assignment together with an invitation to the entrance exam. After passing the Feststellungsprüfung you apply to JMU again. See our Studienkolleg guide.
Master's degrees and English-taught programmes
Most master's programmes also use WueStudy and require a VPD for degrees from outside the EU/EEA, but several set their own deadlines.
| English-taught programme | Start | Deadline | VPD for non-EU degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA Diversity, Ethics and Religions | winter | 15 July | yes |
| MSc Artificial Intelligence | winter | 15 July | yes |
| MSc Artificial Intelligence & Extended Reality | winter | 15 March | yes |
| MSc Aerospace Informatics | winter and summer | 15 July / 15 January | yes |
| MSc Applied Earth Observation and Geoanalysis (EAGLE) | winter | 15 May | no, apply via the department |
| MSc Biochemistry | winter | 1 April – 1 June | in some cases |
Other English-taught master's degrees include Computer Science, Quantum Engineering, Satellite Technology, Translational Neuroscience, Physics International, Mathematics International, Management International, International Economic Policy, Chemistry, Biosciences and English Speaking Cultures. B2 English is the most common requirement. Compare with other universities in our guide to English-taught master's degrees in Germany.
Housing
Student halls in Würzburg belong to Studierendenwerk Würzburg, which takes applications online. Apply right after admission and look for a shared flat (WG) in parallel, since hall places are allocated as rooms become free. Our student housing guide covers deposits and rental checks.
Visa and funding notes
- Apply for a national study visa at the German mission for your place of residence as soon as you are admitted.
- Residents of Russia can apply only at the German Embassy in Moscow (RK-Termin booking); the St Petersburg consulate closed on 18 September 2026. You choose the blocked-account provider yourself: the German Foreign Office no longer publishes a provider list, and according to the embassy no Russian bank can open a qualifying account. A biometric passport is required.
- The living-cost proof is $13,520 (€11,904) per year — see our blocked account guide and student visa guide.
- DAAD scholarships are open to many nationalities; Russia designated DAAD an "undesirable organisation" in February 2026.
The embassy decides on the visa, and JMU decides on admission.
Common mistakes
- Applying on WueStudy before the VPD is ready.
- Assuming B2 is enough everywhere, when most programmes need DSH-2 at enrolment.
- Treating the absence of tuition as permanent while Bavarian law allows fees.
- Confusing JMU with THWS when checking programmes and deadlines.
- Missing early programme deadlines such as 15 March for AI & Extended Reality.
FAQ
Do international students pay tuition at the University of Würzburg?
JMU's fee table for winter 2026/27 shows no general tuition for non-EU students; everyone pays a semester fee of $210 (€182.10). A few programmes such as the LL.M. Digitalization and Law are fee-paying, and Bavarian law allows changes, so check the fee page before applying.
Do I need a VPD to apply to JMU?
Usually yes: applicants without a German school certificate or degree need a uni-assist VPD before applying on WueStudy. Some master's programmes that take applications through the department, such as EAGLE, do not require it.
What German level does JMU require?
Most programmes require DSH-2 or an equivalent at enrolment. B2 is enough for several bachelor's degrees, including computer science, AI and data science, economics and quantum technology. Restricted programmes require proof at the application stage.
Where is the Studienkolleg for Würzburg?
In Munich, at the Bavarian state Studienkolleg. You apply to JMU for your subject by 15 July or 15 January, and JMU issues the assignment with an exam invitation. Your place in the college depends on the entrance exam.
Which programmes are taught in English?
One bachelor's degree (Diversity, Ethics and Religions) and more than twenty master's degrees, including Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Quantum Engineering, Satellite Technology and Translational Neuroscience. B2 English is the typical requirement.
How is JMU different from THWS?
JMU is the research university with medicine, law, sciences and humanities. THWS is the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, focused on practice-oriented programmes and with its own application process.
Sources
- JMU: semester fee from winter 2026/27, full fee table
- JMU: international applications, bachelor's and state examination, documents
- JMU: German language requirements, Studienkolleg
- JMU: international degree programmes, facts and figures
- FAU: non-EU tuition from summer 2027
- uni-assist: fees, documents from Russia
- THE World University Rankings 2027
- German Embassy Moscow: national visa, study visa checklist (PDF)
Dollar figures use the ECB reference rate of 30 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1355), rounded to $1 below $100 and to $10 above. Facts checked on 1 October 2026. See all German profiles on our study in Germany page.
If you want to work through your route to Würzburg, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Constructor University Bremen: Admission, Costs and Degree Status
- Leibniz University Hannover: Admission, Semester Fees and the Studienkolleg
- Studying in Germany for international applicants
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU)
- Technical University of Munich (TUM)
- Universities in Munich: LMU, TUM, Hochschule München and More — Admission, Fees and Housing
