Hagen: List of all tuition-free study programs (2026/27)

Hagen offers international students a distinctive educational experience at FernUniversität, Germany's only state distance-learning university and one of the largest universities in the country, serving over 75,000 students worldwide through a pioneering digital model that combines flexibility with genuine academic rigour. International students benefit from an innovative approach that allows them to pursue accredited degrees in law, economics, humanities, mathematics, and computer science while maintaining work commitments, balancing family responsibilities, or remaining in their home countries—removing barriers that make traditional German university study impossible for many. The comprehensive online platform delivers lectures, materials, and interactive support, while regional study centres across Germany and partnerships abroad provide in-person exam facilities and occasional face-to-face sessions for those who want them. Students who choose to relocate to Hagen itself discover surprising natural beauty: nearly 60 percent of the city is covered in forests and green spaces, earning it the nickname "Gateway to the Sauerland," and living costs remain remarkably affordable compared to major German cities.