Study in Frankfurt, international student city guide

Frankfurt, which is located in the West of Germany, is home to around 791,000 people, making it the fifth most populous city in Germany. The city played an important role in the Holy Roman Empire, and has long been an ethnically and religiously diverse place, with the population being young and from all over the world.

Frankfurt is a wealthy city, and is considered a global hub for commerce, culture, education and IT. It is also home to many global and European business headquarters. The city is well connected to the rest of Germany and the wider world, with Frankfurt Airport being one of the busiest in the world, and the Frankfurt Central Station being the second busiest railway in Germany.

All universities in Frankfurt

• Goethe University Frankfurt
• Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies
• Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
• Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
• Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts
• Max Planck Institute of Biophysics
• Max Planck Institute for Brain Research
• Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory
• Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology
• Städelschule

Top universities in Frankfurt

Goethe University Frankfurt

Goethe University Frankfurt, also known as Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main in German, is a public university. It was founded in 1914, and hosts around 45,000 students across it’s four campuses in Frankfurt.

Goethe University is part of the IT cluster Rhine-Main-Neckar (RMU), which is sometimes referred to as the Silicon Valley of Germany, is a group of universities that play an important role in IT in Germany, as well as the world.

The university’s consistently impressive world rankings are reflected in its alumni list, which boasts many important figures in various scientific fields, as well as a significant number of Nobel Prize winners.

Frankfurt universities world ranking 2025

Below are the top-ranked Frankfurt universities for international students, with their ranks in two of the world’s most well-respected international university rankings, the QS 2026 University World rankings and the Times Higher Education 2025 Rankings.

For more information about rankings systems and methodologies see our University rankings explained guide.

Tuition and living costs in Frankfurt

Public universities in Germany are heavily subsidised by the government, and therefore do not charge tuition fees for domestic or international students. You will normally pay a small semester fee of around 300 to 500 EUR. Private universities can set their own tuition fees, so will usually cost more, especially for international students.

In terms of living costs, Frankfurt is relatively affordable when compared to other German and European cities. On average, you should budget for around 900 EUR per month. This should cover your rent, groceries, health insurance and travel. You will need to provide evidence of this money at the Immigration Office in order to be able to enter the country. Germany offers great discounts for students on entertainment, museums, public transport, etc., so make sure to take advantage of this.

Life in Frankfurt for international students

Around Frankfurt there are many interesting attractions that will keep students inspired both during and outside of term time. For instance, Frankfurt is home to more than 30 museums, which is one of the largest variety of museums in Europe. These museums display a variety of mediums, from art and music, to historical artefacts and natural history.

As well as many museums, the city is also home to two botanical gardens, and plays host to a number of festivals throughout the year. Frankfurt has a very active nightlife scene, with plenty of opportunities to take advantage of clubs, restaurants and bars.