International Students

Thinking about studying at the Faculty of Protestant Theology in Bonn? We would like to welcome you!

Why Bonn?

The University of Bonn has a tradition of more than 200 years and is one of the best in Germany. Come and study theology in the heartland of the Reformation.

At the faculty you will find personal support from academic experts and at the same time you can study independently and choose your own fields of interest.

High Quality, Low Cost Education

Studying in Germany is extraordinarily affordable. There is no tuition apart from a semester fee of less than 300 Euros which also gets you a student ticket on all public transportation in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Aside from living costs, non-EU citizens must show they have access to a sum of approximately 9.000 Euro per year (in a bank or a letter of support from family promising to financially support your studies).

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International Students

English-language Study Programs

German-language Study Programs

Study Opportunities

An overview of all the courses offered by the Faculty of Protestant Theology can be found in the electronic course catalogue BASIS. You can attend our courses as part of different programs.

Study here in Bonn

Interested in studying at the Faculty of Protestant Theology in Bonn? Find out about our English-language degree programs.

Of course, we are also happy to welcome you to our German-language study programs. In addition to German, you will usually need knowledge of ancient languages.

Courses of Study

Global Exchange Program

Spending a semester or entire year here in Bonn is easier than you may think. The university offers global exchange programs with partner universities.

The International Office supports you every step of the way. For up-to-date information and how to apply, please visit the Bonn Study Abroad program page.

International Office

ERASMUS+

ERASMUS+ is a European Union exchange program and gives you the opportunity to spend a portion of your studies here with us at the University of Bonn.

For nomination and application procedures, please first contact your home university’s ERASMUS Coordinator or advisory professor.

ERASMUS+

What Does Theology Mean to our Students?

Students reflect on what theology means to them – and why they love studying Protestant theology at the faculty in Bonn.

What Does Theology Mean to You?

Bild © Ev Theol / YouTube

Steps Towards Studying

Please note that the following steps apply to visiting international students.

If you would like to complete a study program at the Faculty of Protestant Theology with a degree from the University of Bonn, you will find the necessary steps in the information on "Before You Study".

There you will also find the steps that follow after enrollment at the University of Bonn:

How do I find a place to live? Are there any events I should attend at the start? How do I register for courses? When do the courses of study normally begin? What is necessary to successfully participate in a course? How do I pass examinations?

Steps towards studying for international students

How to apply?

If you participate in the ERASMUS program or direct exchange:

Please apply for the exchange program at your home university within the deadlines applicable there.

If you organize your stay at the University of Bonn yourself:

Please contact the Student Affairs Office⁷ of the Protestant Theological Faculty.

Can you tell me what a Learning Agreement is?

Regardless of how you organize your stay at the University of Bonn, it is important to complete a Learning Agreement. This means you, your home university, and the Faculty of Protestant Theology in Bonn agree in advance which modules you would like to complete during your stay and how many credit points you will receive.

This is how you set up a Learning Agreement:

Select your modules: Inform yourself about which modules you would like to study. You can find the modules offered by our faculty in the module descriptions of the different degree programs.
Make sure you can get your academic achievements credited: Please contact the examination office of your home university to clarify how your academic achievements will be credited.
Find your study program: We look forward to supporting you in finding the right course of study for your stay at the University of Bonn.
Get everyone to sign: If you are an ERASMUS student, the ERASMUS coordinator will sign the agreement. For all students who organize their stay themselves, the Dean of Studies is the contact person.

Modules

The modules are usually assigned to one of the five main theological disciplines, Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, Systematic Theology, or Practical Theology. Some modules are interdisciplinary or relate to other disciplines.

As a rule, you can choose which courses you would like to take in order to successfully complete a module.

Details on the modules offered can be found in the Module Handbook for Visiting International Students (Modulhandbuch für internationale Studierende).

Credit Points

Each module consists of one or more courses. To successfully complete a module, you must meet certain performance criteria (without a grade) or pass a graded examination. You will then be awarded the credit points for the module.

At the end of your studies you will receive a Transcript of Records which lists all the modules, courses, and examinations you have successfully completed and the credit points you have earned while studying at the University of Bonn.

How do I enroll after I’ve been accepted?

In order to study at the University of Bonn, you have to enroll as a student – regardless of whether or not you intend to gain a degree.

To enroll, you need to bring along an identification document (identity card, passport), the enrollment application, and a health insurance certificate.

Enrollment takes place at the University of Bonn’s Office of Student Affairs, Poppelsdorfer Allee 49.

Is there any further information on how best to start at Bonn University?

On the website of the ERASMUS Office you will find general information for a good start as an international student at the University of Bonn.

Next Steps

After you have been accepted to your program you should start looking for accomodation as soon as possible. In order to support you in your next steps towards starting your studies in Bonn, we have collected some more information – for example on how to find affordable accomodation.

Before you study

Language Requirements

The English-language Master's program (Extended) Ecumenical Studies does not require knowledge of ancient languages. The English-language Master's program Biblical Studies requires knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, our German-language courses often require knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, or Latin.

Study in English

The Faculty of Protestant Theology offers several opportunities to study at the University of Bonn in English – the perfect choice for international students wishing to further their studies in Germany at a low-cost, world-class institution. If you wish to study in the English-language Master's programs, a B2 certificate in English is required.

Further information on the English-language Master's programs can be found on the homepage of the Master in Biblical Studies and Ecumenical Studies.

If you have further questions, you can also contact the coordinators at any time – we look forward to hearing from you!

Study in German

A C1 certificate in German is required. Students around the world have earned a C1 certificate by dedicating the proper time and practice to intensive language studies. This is particularly within reach for those who may have studied German as a second language in high school or secondary school programs.

A C1 certificate is considered fluent and is an assessment given by the Goethe Institute. For information regarding classes, programs, and testing dates, please visit their American site or German site. Alternatively, a DSH score of 2 is also grounds for acceptance at the University of Bonn. Specific information on the DSH can be obtained here.

Please note that testing dates are only available a few times a year and must be planned in advance and in accordance to when you wish to begin your studies.

Courses with specific language requirements

Courses offered by the Old Testament department usually require knowledge of Hebrew (Hebraicum), for New Testament courses Greek is necessary (Graecum). This especially applies for seminars. If you would like to attend a lecture but do not have the required language skills, please contact your lecturer. Courses offered by the department of Church History sometimes require knowledge of Latin. You may find such information in the course description in BASIS.

Links

Find out about our English-language degree programs or, as a visiting international student, find the right modules for your study stay at our faculty.