German Sport University Cologne

Konstanz, Germany

The German Sport University Cologne is Germany’s only specialised sport and exercise sciences university, founded in Cologne in 1947. It originated as the Deutsche Hochschule für Leibesübungen in Berlin in 1920 and was re-established post-WWII, gaining official university status in 1970. Today, DSHS stands as a global leader in sports academia.
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Tuition Fees, Cost of Living & Accommodation at German Sport University Cologne

Cost Of Living

€ 10500

Undergraduate Fees International Students

€ 430

Post Graduate Fees International Students

€ 2000

German Sport University Cologne Departments

  • Institute of Biochemistry
  • Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics
  • Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine
  • Institute of Communication and Media Research
  • Institute of Dance and Movement Culture
  • Institute of European Sport Development and Leisure Studies
  • Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics
  • Institute of Movement and Neurosciences
  • Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology
  • Institute of Movement Therapy and Movement-oriented Prevention and Rehabilitation

Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of German Sport University Cologne

German Sport University Cologne is a selective institution with an acceptance rate of 40 to 50%. The university also offers affordable tuition fee structure and awards a number of scholarships, grants, and financial aid to its students.

German Sport University Cologne is also home to over 15 research centers with a few accredited by WADA and International Olympic Association. Some of the research centers include Institute of European Sport Development and Leisure Studies, Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, and Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology.

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Distinguished Alumni of German Sport University Cologne

Infrastructure & Facilities at German Sport University Cologne

The DSHS campus spans approximately 187,000 m² in Cologne’s Müngersdorf district, adjoining the city’s Sports Park and RheinEnergieStadion  . It includes 61,000 m² of dedicated sports facilities, such as 23 indoor halls, 22 outdoor courts/fields, a 50 m competitive swimming center, and a diving hall with platforms up to 10 m  . Academic infrastructure encompasses 19 specialized institutes, lecture halls, seminar spaces, and cutting‑edge physiology and biomechanics laboratories, enabling a seamless blend of education, sport, and research.

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German Sport University Cologne Student Life

With around 6,000 students representing over 70 countries, DSHS fosters a vibrant multicultural community  . Student life extends beyond academics into peer collaborations, research groups, and regular symposiums (e.g. biomechanics, doping analysis)  . Social activities include cultural events, student-organized tournaments, and community-focused initiatives, supported by active student government (AStA) and sports buddies.

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German Sport University Cologne Career support

The Education & Career Service at DSHS offers comprehensive career support, including job-board access, on-campus recruitment events, career fairs, résumé and interview coaching, potential analysis workshops, and personalized counseling  . Additionally, the university supports lifelong learning with specialist courses and tailored training programs.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Admission Requirements at German Sport University Cologne

Academic qualification:

Applicants must hold a recognized university entrance qualification—such as the German Abitur or its international equivalent (e.g., 10+2)? .

Sports aptitude test:

Admission is locally restricted, requiring candidates to pass a sports aptitude test, which assesses physical performance and sport-specific skills? .

Language proficiency (for international students):

Applicants must submit valid language certificates—IELTS or TOEFL for English, or a German language certificate if applicable? .

 

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Campus
Recruitment By top Companies

DSHS has a strong career service, supporting students with job-board listings, career fairs, application coaching, and employer networking  . Graduates are well-placed in careers across sports science, coaching, physiotherapy, health promotion, and education.

    German Sport University Cologne Corporate Partnership

    • PUCRS, Brazil : Signed a formal cooperation in 2022 with DSHS’s Master’s in Olympic Studies, facilitating faculty exchange (e.g., Dr. Nelson Todt) and joint Olympic education research .
    • European College of Sport Science (ECSS) : The office of this major sports science association is hosted at DSHS, positioning the university at the heart of European sports science agenda-setting and congress organization.
    • H2Train Project (EU-funded) : DSHS participates as a full partner in this EU innovation initiative alongside industry and research entities, targeting advanced hydrogen training technologies .
    • GSU Innovation Space (Start-up Collaboration) : Works with business and science partners to mentor and fund sports-tech start-ups via the Innovation Space, including knowledge transfer and startup incubation.
    • Mediašport (Slovenia) – Baleria Project : DSHS’s Institute for Sport Economics & Management is a lead partner with Mediašport, a Slovenian youth sports organization, in developing EU-wide youth sports exchange programmes.
    • ECSS Corporate Members (e.g., FIBO, FMS, MEDICA) : Through ECSS, DSHS has affiliations with major fitness trade fairs and health/medical technology firms for knowledge exchange.
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    Notable Achievements of German Sport University Cologne

    German Sport University Cologne is ranked 1st in Germany and 17th globally in Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments published by ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities. The university is also ranked 699th globally for Clinical Medicine by US News and World Report.

    German Sport University Cologne is ranked 92nd in the country by UniRank university rankings and is accredited by Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia. The university is also a member of European University Association.

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    Achievements

    01.
    Human Resources Excellence in Research Quality Seal

    Awarded the prestigious “HR Excellence in Research” label by the European Commission, recognizing DSHS’s supportive environment for researchers and its outstanding career development framework .

    Year
    2023
    02.
    Excellence in Research Award for Johannes Meyer

    Prof. Johannes Meyer and his team received the Excellence in Research Award for their outstanding work spanning gaze behavior, exercise and sport psychology—showcasing the university’s multidisciplinary research capabilities .

    Year
    2023
    03.
    Shanghai Academic Ranking – #1 in Germany for Sports Science

    DSHS was ranked the top German university in the field of Sports Science and placed 17th globally according to the 2020 Shanghai Academic Ranking, reinforcing its leading position in the discipline.

    Year
    2020

    Notable Innovation, Research & Development German Sport University Cologne

    Biomedicine in Space: Institute of Physiology and Anatomy has flown experiments on the ISS  .

    Elite Sport Research Center (Momentum) coordinates interdisciplinary studies in performance optimization.

    Anti-doping Sciences: Operates a WADA-accredited lab in Cologne, contributing to global anti-doping research advancements .

     

    Notable Innovation

    01.
    OnBeat: Rhythm Training App for Dance

    Created by the Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics and funded under the EXIST programme, OnBeat is an innovative app that helps users develop an intuitive sense of rhythm—especially useful for dancers and performers.

    Year
    2025
    02.
    N12 Tactics: Sports Match-Analysis Platform

    Another EXIST-funded spin-off from the Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, N12 Tactics employs advanced data analytics to revolutionize soccer match analysis, offering coaches and analysts deeper tactical insights.

    Year
    2025
    03.
    Big Toe PowerPro (formerly “Total Toe”)

    Developed by Prof. Jan-Peter Goldmann, this strength-training device targets short foot muscles—often overlooked in movement training. Designed to enhance foundational foot strength, it earned the “Technologies for Healthy Movement” award.

    Year
    2018

    University Ranking of German Sport University Cologne

    1996

    Region: Europe

    568
    Medicine
    -
    739
    -
    -

    Connect With German Sport University Cologne

    • Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Koln, Germany

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