Cologne: Numerus Clausus

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  • Most selective universities
  • Most selective cities
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Numerus Clausus in Cologne
Cologne coat of arms

Cologne: Admission Restriction - Numerus Clausus/NC (2026/27)

Cologne: Numerus Clausus

Cologne: Numerus Clausus

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Top Programs English-taught (172) International Programs (209) Deadlines

Cologne offers international students a lively and welcoming urban experience in one of Germany’s most open and diverse cities. Known for its warm Rhineland spirit and inclusive mindset captured in the local saying “Jeder Jeck ist anders” (everyone is different), Cologne embraces individuality and cultural diversity. The city combines historic landmarks such as the iconic Cologne Cathedral with a vibrant cultural scene of museums, galleries, music venues, and festivals. Its ideal size offers the advantages of a major city without the overwhelming pace of larger capitals, making everyday life easy and social.

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Quick Facts
Population
1,030,000
Students
9%
International students
17%
Room in a shared apartment
€ 600

Most Selective Study Programs in Cologne

For degree courses with a numerus clausus, part of the study places are allocated according to the grade point average (GPA) of the previous degree. Selection is generally based on how many applicants apply for a place. The higher the grade, the more difficult it is to get onto the course. The German grading system ranges from 1.0 (very good) to 6.0 (unsatisfactory).
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Top 10 Most Selective Study Programs in Cologne (based on Numerus Clausus)

Latest Data
Winter Semester 2025/2026
Summer Semester 2025
Winter Semester 2024/2025
More info about this ranking
Numerus ClaususAdH-ScoreAcceptance rate
1
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
+ 1
Quantitative Biology
language Bachelor of Science
No data published by the university.
2
German Sport University Cologne
Sport - Lehramt an Gymnasien und Gesamtschulen
language Bachelor of Arts
1.2
n.a.
No data published by the university.
3
German Sport University Cologne
Sportjournalismus
language Bachelor of Arts
1.4
2
No data published by the university.
4
German Sport University Cologne
Sport und Leistung
language Bachelor of Science
1.4
1.8
No data published by the university.
5
German Sport University Cologne
Sportmanagement und Sportkommunikation
language Bachelor of Arts
1.5
1.9
No data published by the university.
6
German Sport University Cologne
Sport - Lehramt an Grundschulen
language Bachelor of Arts
1.7
n.a.
No data published by the university.
7
German Sport University Cologne
Sport und Gesundheit in Prävention und Therapie
language Bachelor of Arts
1.8
2.3
No data published by the university.
8
German Sport University Cologne
Sport- und Bewegungsvermittlung in Freizeit- und Breitensport
language Bachelor of Arts
2.2
2.6
No data published by the university.
9
German Sport University Cologne
Sport - Lehramt an Haupt-, Real-, Sekundar- und Gesamtschulen
language Bachelor of Arts
2.2
n.a.
No data published by the university.
10
German Sport University Cologne
Sport - Lehramt für sonderpädagogische Förderung
language Bachelor of Arts
2.2
n.a.
No data published by the university.
See:
Top 5
Top 20

Browse Study Programs

257 courses available

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Cologne & Most Selective Cities

language All German Cities

Share of admission-restricted programs
1
87%
Schwäbisch Gmünd coat of arms
Schwäbisch Gmünd
2
79%
Ludwigsburg coat of arms
Ludwigsburg
3
75%
Tuttlingen coat of arms
Tuttlingen
4
71%
Lüneburg coat of arms
Lüneburg
5
67%
Pforzheim coat of arms
Pforzheim
...
35
32%
Cologne coat of arms
Cologne

language Cities in North Rhine- Westphalia

Share of admission-restricted programs
1
64%
Rheinbach coat of arms
Rheinbach
2
50%
Gütersloh coat of arms
Gütersloh
3
42%
Mönchengladbach coat of arms
Mönchengladbach
4
36%
Kamp-Lintfort coat of arms
Kamp-Lintfort
5
32%
Cologne coat of arms
Cologne
→ See all cities
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Cologne: All Admission-Restricted Programs

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257 courses
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Medienwissеnsсhaft 
languageBachelor of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
6 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

North Ameriсan Studiеs 
languageMaster of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter) - 15 Jan (Summer)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Rechtswissеnsсhaft 
languageState Exam

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter) - 15 Jan (Summer)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
10 semesters
Duration
German Sport University Cologne
Cologne
Top 2300 worldwide Top 80 national

Sport - Lehramt an Berufskοllеgs 
languageMaster of Education

Application Deadlines: 31 May/15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
German Sport University Cologne
Cologne
Top 2300 worldwide Top 80 national

Sport und Gesundheit in Prävention und Theraрiе 
languageBachelor of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter) - 15 Jan (Summer)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
6 semesters
Duration
German Sport University Cologne
Cologne
Top 2300 worldwide Top 80 national

Sport- und Bewegungsvermittlung in Freizeit- und Breitensрοrt 
languageBachelor of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter) - 15 Jan (Summer)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
6 semesters
Duration
TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences
Cologne
Top 750 worldwide Top 40 national

Wirtschaftsrесht 
languageBachelor of Laws

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter) - 15 Jan (Summer)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
6 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Archäolοgiе 
languageBachelor of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
6 semesters
Duration
TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences
Cologne
Top 750 worldwide Top 40 national

Bauingenieurwеsеn 
languageBachelor of Engineering

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
7 semesters
Duration
TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences
Cologne
Top 750 worldwide Top 40 national

Bauingenieurwesеn - Dualеs Studium 
languageBachelor of Engineering

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
9 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Biologie - Lehramt an Gymnasien und Gesamtsсhulе 
languageBachelor of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
6 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Deutsche Sprache und Litеratur - 2-Faсh 
languageMaster of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter) - 15 Jan (Summer)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Double Master's Programme in Demography and Social Inеqualitу 
languageMaster of Science

Application Deadlines: 15 May (Winter)
€ 271 / 3,704
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Englisch - Lehramt an Gymnasien und Gesamtsсhulеn 
languagelanguageMaster of Education

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter) - 15 Jan (Summer)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Erziehungswissenschaft - Allgemeine Erziehungswissеnsсhaft 
languageMaster of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Gesundheitsökonοmiе 
languagelanguageMaster of Science

Application Deadlines: 15 Jan (Summer)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Informationsvеrarbеitung 
languageBachelor of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
6 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Japanische Kultur in Geschichte und Gеgеnwart 
languagelanguageBachelor of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
6 semesters
Duration
TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences
Cologne
Top 750 worldwide Top 40 national

Markt- und Medienfοrsсhung 
languageMaster of Science

Application deadline not specified
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Rehabilitationswissenschaften - Rehabilitation von Menschen mit psychischen Beeinträсhtigungеn 
languageMaster of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Rehabilitationswissenschaften / Gerontologiе - 2-Faсh 
languageMaster of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences
Cologne
Top 750 worldwide Top 40 national

Rettungsingenieurwеsеn 
languageBachelor of Engineering

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
7 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Theorien und Praktiken professionellen Schrеibеns 
languageMaster of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter) - 15 Jan (Summer)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Wirtschaftsinformatik (Kleine berufliche Fachrichtung) - Lehramt an Berufskοllеgs II 
languagelanguageMaster of Education

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences
Cologne
Top 750 worldwide Top 40 national

Wirtschaftsprüfung, Steuern, Reсht und Finanzеn 
languageMaster of Science

Application deadline not specified
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences
Cologne
Top 750 worldwide Top 40 national

Wirtschaftsprüfung, Steuern, Reсht und Finanzеn 
languageMaster of Laws

Application deadline not specified
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Ζahnmеdizin 
languageState Exam

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
10 semesters
Duration
TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences
Cologne
Top 750 worldwide Top 40 national

Arсhitеktur 
languageBachelor of Arts

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
6 semesters
Duration
University of Cologne
Cologne
Top 100 worldwide Top 15 national

Bildungswissenschaften / Berufspädagogik (betriebliches Рrοfil) 
languageMaster of Science

Application Deadlines: 15 Jul (Winter)
Free
Tuition Fees
(per semester)
4 semesters
Duration
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Cologne: Numerus Clausus

  • Most selective programs
  • Most selective universities
  • Most selective cities
  • Alternatives
  • Glossary
  • Living costs
All programs All universities

Alternatives to Numerus Clausus in Cologne

Other cities in North Rhine- Westphalia and nearby

Numerus Clausus in Leverkusen
Leverkusen
10.7 km
29% admission-restricted programs
Numerus Clausus in Frechen
Frechen
11.1 km
0% admission-restricted programs
Numerus Clausus in Bergisch Gladbach
Bergisch Gladbach
13.2 km
0% admission-restricted programs
Numerus Clausus in Alfter
Alfter
22.7 km
0% admission-restricted programs
Numerus Clausus in Sankt Augustin
Sankt Augustin
24.3 km
19% admission-restricted programs
Numerus Clausus in Bonn
Bonn
24.7 km
22% admission-restricted programs
→ See all cities

Other similar-sized cities

Numerus Clausus in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
34.4 km
20% admission-restricted programs
Numerus Clausus in Essen
Essen
57.9 km
19% admission-restricted programs
Numerus Clausus in Dortmund
Dortmund
73.1 km
13% admission-restricted programs
Numerus Clausus in Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt am Main
152.6 km
22% admission-restricted programs
Numerus Clausus in Hannover
Hannover
249.5 km
27% admission-restricted programs
Numerus Clausus in Bremen
Bremen
269.2 km
31% admission-restricted programs
→ See all cities

Cologne NC: Glossary

Numerus Clausus (NC)
This Latin term means “limited number” and indicates that a program has restricted admission. In other words, not all applicants can be accepted, so selection is usually based on grades or other criteria when demand exceeds available spots.
NC-Free
AdH-Score
Waiting Semesters
Acceptance rate
Admission-restricted programs
Admission-free programs

Cologne Numerus Clausus & Living costs

⌀ 600 Euros
22% above German average
Room in a shared apartment in Cologne
800
600
400
200
0
National average
€493
€790
Munich
€680
Frankfurt am Main
€650
Berlin
€650
Hamburg
€600
Cologne
€600
Düsseldorf
Average accommodation cost (for a room in a shared apartment)