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Chemistry, biology, biotechnology and physics at private universities in Germany – from affordable distance learning at €237/month to fully English-taught research programmes on a dedicated campus. All programmes are accredited and recognised worldwide. This page compares tuition fees, explains entry requirements for international students and shows you what natural scientists earn in Germany.
- Overview of all Courses
- How much does it cost to study natural sciences at a private university in Germany?
- Which programmes are taught in English?
- What qualifications do I need as an international student?
- Student visa, health insurance and working in Germany
- What do natural scientists earn in Germany?
- Frequently asked questions about studying natural sciences in Germany
- Related programmes at private universities in Germany
Overview of all Courses
We have a total of 25 courses in the field of Natural Sciences.
Applied Chemistry
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 6 Semester
- Idstein
- from 595 € monthly
- German
Biopharmaceutical Science
- Provadis School of International Management and Technology
- 7 Semester
- Frankfurt
- from 505 € monthly
- German
Bioanalytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Idstein
- from 880 € monthly
- English
Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Idstein
- from 880 € monthly
- English
Biosciences
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 6 Semester
- Idstein
- from 595 € monthly
- German
Chemical Engineering
- Provadis School of International Management and Technology
- 7 Semester
- Frankfurt
- German
Biochemistry and Cell Biology
- Constructor University
- 6 Semester
- Bremen
- English
Chemistry and Biotechnology
- Constructor University
- 6 Semester
- Bremen
- English
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 3 Semester
- Idstein
- from 550 € monthly
- German
Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology
- Constructor University
- 6 Semester
- Bremen
- English
Mathematics
- Constructor University
- 6 Semester
- Bremen
- English
Economic Chemistry
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 5 Semester
- Online-Campus
- from 630 € monthly
- German
Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Constructor University
- 6 Semester
- Bremen
- English
Physics and Data Science
- Constructor University
- 6 Semester
- Bremen
- English
Chemical Engineering
- Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences
- 7 Semester
- Pfungstadt
- from 219 € monthly
- German
Chemical Engineering
- Provadis School of International Management and Technology
- 5 Semester
- Frankfurt am Main
- from 600 € monthly
- German
Food Safety
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Idstein
- German
Pharmaceutical Management and Technology
- SRH Fernhochschule - The Mobile University
- 6 Semester
- online
- from 299 € monthly
- German
Food Safety
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 6 Semester
- Idstein
- German
Biomedicine
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Idstein
- from 880 € monthly
- German
Bioanalytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 2 Semester
- Idstein
- from 880 € monthly
- English
Computational Chemistry
- Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences
- 3 Semester
- online
- from 693 € monthly
- German
Biochemical Engineering
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Idstein
- from 880 € monthly
- English
Applied chemistry
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 6 Semester
- Idstein
- from 345 € monthly
- German
Biomedical Sciences
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 6 Semester
- Idstein
- from 950 € monthly
- English
How much does it cost to study natural sciences at a private university in Germany?
Tuition fees for natural science programmes at private German universities range from €237 to €950 per month. Total programme costs run from €10,015 to €60,000 depending on format, university and degree level. Even the most expensive option – Constructor University at €60,000 total – is significantly cheaper than comparable programmes in the US, UK or Australia.
Tuition compared: Germany vs. US, UK and Australia
| Country | Annual tuition (natural sciences) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Germany (private, distance) | €2,800–€4,000 | Wilhelm Büchner, SRH – taught in German |
| Germany (private, campus) | €7,000–€11,400 | Fresenius, Provadis – German and English |
| Germany (private, premium) | €18,700–€20,000 | Constructor University – English only, scholarships up to 50 % |
| Germany (public university) | €0–€600 | Semester fee only, taught in German, competitive admission (NC) |
| United Kingdom | £20,000–£35,000 | International student fees, ~€23,000–€41,000 |
| United States | $40,000–$60,000 | Private research universities, ~€37,000–€55,000 |
| Australia | A$35,000–A$50,000 | International fees, ~€21,000–€30,000 |
English-taught bachelor programmes
| Course | University | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Sciences, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | from 34895 € total from 950 € monthly | |
| Chemistry and Biotechnology, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | Constructor University | from 56000 € total | |
| Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | Constructor University | from 60000 € total | |
| Physics and Data Science, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | Constructor University | from 60000 € total |
English-taught master programmes
| Course | University | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemical Engineering, Master of Engineering On-campus program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | from 11255 € total from 880 € monthly | |
| Bioanalytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Master of Science On-campus program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | from 11255 € total from 880 € monthly | |
| Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Master of Science On-campus program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | from 21815 € total from 880 € monthly |
Constructor University offers need-based scholarships covering up to 50 % of tuition. The Deutschlandstipendium (€300/month) is available to students at all private universities, including international students. Tuition paid for a second degree (master) is fully tax-deductible in Germany.
Which programmes are taught in English?
Around half of all natural science programmes at private German universities are taught entirely in English. In practice, this means two institutions: Constructor University in Bremen and Fresenius University near Frankfurt. Constructor University offers only English-language programmes: Chemistry and Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Physics and Data Science (all B.Sc.). Fresenius teaches several master programmes in English, including Biomedicine, Bioanalytical Chemistry and Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, plus the bachelor Biomedical Sciences.
Most bachelor programmes at Fresenius (Applied Chemistry, Biosciences, Food Safety) and all programmes at Provadis and Wilhelm Büchner University are taught in German. If you speak German at B2 level or above, these are significantly cheaper options – starting at €237/month for distance learning.
What qualifications do I need as an international student?
All private universities in this category admit students without a German NC (numerus clausus). Your school-leaving certificate must be recognised in Germany – check the anabin database to see if your qualification grants direct university access (Hochschulzugang) or requires a foundation year (Studienkolleg). Many countries also require academic transcripts to be verified through uni-assist.
Language requirements: English-taught programmes typically require IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80–90. Constructor University accepts SAT scores and IB diplomas as part of its own admissions process. For German-taught programmes, you need TestDaF TDN 4 or DSH-2. Master applicants need a bachelor’s degree in a related natural science or engineering field.
Student visa, health insurance and working in Germany
Non-EU students need a student visa before arriving in Germany. The key requirement is a blocked account (Sperrkonto) with €11,904 (as of 2025), from which you can withdraw up to €992/month to cover living expenses. You also need health insurance – public student insurance costs approximately €120/month for students under 30.
- Working while studying: International students may work 120 full days or 240 half days per year without a work permit. Student jobs in labs, tutoring or university research are common.
- After graduation: Germany grants an 18-month job-seeking visa to graduates of German universities. With a MINT degree (which includes all natural sciences), your chances of finding a sponsored work visa are excellent – the MINT skills shortage in Germany currently stands at 148,500 unfilled positions.
- Living costs: Budget €900–€1,200/month outside of tuition for rent, food, transport and insurance. Cities like Bremen and Frankfurt are more affordable than Munich or Hamburg.
What do natural scientists earn in Germany?
Physicists earn the highest starting salaries among natural scientists in Germany at approximately €57,000 per year. Chemists and biotechnologists start around €50,000, while biologists enter at roughly €45,000. A PhD increases starting salaries by about 30 % across all disciplines – and is practically required for research positions.
| Discipline | Entry level | After 5 years | After 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics (industry) | ~€57,000 | ~€65,000 | ~€77,000 |
| Chemistry (pharma/industry) | ~€50,000 | ~€62,000 | ~€70,000 |
| Biotechnology | ~€50,000 | ~€58,000 | ~€70,000 |
| Biology (industry) | ~€45,000 | ~€60,000 | ~€64,000 |
| With PhD (avg. all) | ~€61,500 | ~€70,000 | ~€80,000 |
Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical corridor – running from Frankfurt through Ludwigshafen to Basel (Switzerland) – is one of Europe’s largest employers in the natural sciences. Companies like BASF, Bayer, Merck and Sanofi actively recruit international graduates, particularly in biotechnology, green chemistry and pharmaceutical R&D.
Frequently asked questions about studying natural sciences in Germany
On campus at Constructor University in Bremen, English is the working language – from lectures to the cafeteria. At Fresenius in Idstein, the English-taught master programmes operate in English, but campus life and the surrounding town are predominantly German-speaking. Learning basic German (A2–B1) is recommended for everyday tasks like opening a bank account, visiting a doctor or signing a rental contract. Most universities offer free German courses for international students.
Start with Germany’s major job platforms: StepStone, Indeed and LinkedIn. For natural sciences specifically, jobvector is the leading specialist job board. The Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region (home to Fresenius and Provadis) and the Rhine-Neckar area (BASF, Roche) are hotspots. Career fairs like “jobvector career day” and university career services help with initial contacts. Many private universities also have industry partnerships that lead to internships and job offers.
Yes. All accredited programmes use the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), which makes credit transfer straightforward. If you start a bachelor at a private university and want to continue at a public one (or vice versa), your ECTS credits are recognised. For PhD applications at public universities, a master’s degree from an accredited private university is treated equally to one from a public institution.
Constructor University appears in the THE World University Rankings and QS rankings. Fresenius University and other applied sciences universities (Fachhochschulen) typically do not appear in research-focused global rankings, but they hold full German state accreditation and institutional accreditation from the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat). Degrees from all accredited private universities are legally equivalent to those from public universities.
The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) offers scholarships for international students at both public and private universities – including research grants specifically for MINT subjects. Political foundations like the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes offer full scholarships covering tuition and living expenses, though competition is intense. For natural sciences specifically, industry scholarships from companies like BASF, Bayer and Evonik are worth exploring – they often combine financial support with internship placements in Germany.
Related programmes at private universities in Germany
If you are interested in the applied side of science, explore Engineering Sciences for programmes in chemical engineering and materials science. Health Sciences covers pharmacy, biomedicine and medical technology. For data science and computational approaches to science, see Information Sciences.
About the Author Christian Wolf
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