The university city of Düsseldorf.
Düsseldorf is far more than a state capital, fashion metropolis, and business location. With nine universities and a total of 56,335 students, the Rhine metropolis is among the most important higher education locations in North Rhine-Westphalia. Düsseldorf therefore plays a central role in the regional science and education landscape and combines academic diversity with urban life.
The higher education landscape is characterized by a well-balanced mix of universities, universities of applied sciences, as well as specialized art academies and private higher education institutions. Among the largest institutions are Heinrich-Heine- Düsseldorf (HHU) and Hochschule Düsseldorf (HSD), each with a central campus in the city. The range of offerings is complemented, among others, by Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Robert Schumann Hochschule, several private universities of applied sciences, and specialized higher education programs in the fields of management, media, and design.
Overall, Düsseldorf presents itself as a versatile higher-education hub with clear academic strengths, significant research institutions, and a high number of students. The combination of university research, practice-oriented teaching, artistic excellence, and private educational offerings makes the city an attractive place to study and conduct research within North Rhine-Westphalia.
Düsseldorf as a higher-education location – facts and figures!
In Düsseldorf, 56,335 students are currently enrolled at the city’s nine higher education institutions and are spread across universities, universities of applied sciences, art colleges, and private providers. This makes academia an integral part of the urban everyday life of a metropolis with 658,245 inhabitants.
Every year, many young people decide anew to pursue a degree in the state capital: most recently, 7,576 first-year students began studying in Düsseldorf. At the same time, 9,022 graduates leave the city’s higher education institutions each year and, as academically qualified professionals, shape the regional and supraregional labor market. The student body is predominantly female: 57% women compared with 43% men.
In terms of academic profile, Düsseldorf as a higher education location is particularly strong in two fields of study. With 9,240 students, economics and business studies constitute the largest department. Natural sciences follow in second place with 6,842 students. Technically oriented disciplines also play an important role: 4,825 students are enrolled in engineering sciences, and a further 4,348 in computer science.
In addition, there is a pronounced medical focus. 3,641 medical students are enrolled in Düsseldorf, giving the location a distinctly health sciences profile. The range of subjects is complemented by law with 2,194 students as well as by mathematics degree programs (814 students).

Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (WS 2024/25) • Graduate statistics PJ 2024
The universities in Düsseldorf!
In addition to its large universities, Düsseldorf has a diverse and specialized higher education landscape. Several institutions complement the city’s academic offerings and broaden the range of subjects to include artistic, management-oriented, and practice-oriented degree programs. This creates a differentiated higher education environment that appeals to different educational paths and target groups.
An outstanding role in the artistic field is played by the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. As an art academy, it is a central component of the city’s cultural education landscape and has shaped Düsseldorf for decades as a location for fine arts and artistic training. This profile is complemented by the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf, which is also part of the artistic higher education sector and is primarily known for degree programs with a musical and artistic focus.
In addition, Düsseldorf is home to several private universities of applied sciences that offer degree programs geared in particular toward practical and application-oriented study. The IST‑Hochschule für Management Düsseldorf focuses on management and offers corresponding degree programs in a business-oriented environment. The IU Internationale Hochschule, which is represented at several locations, as well as Hochschule Fresenius, which is headquartered among other places in Düsseldorf, also expand the range of privately organized higher education offerings.
Media- and design-oriented degree programs are represented at the Mediadesign Hochschule, which also maintains a campus in Düsseldorf. It complements the academic spectrum, particularly with design- and media-related disciplines. In addition, the Fliedner Fachhochschule Düsseldorf is another private university of applied sciences that is part of the higher education location and contributes to the disciplinary breadth of the range of degree programs on offer.
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.
The Heinrich‑Heine‑Universität Düsseldorf (HHU) has been a central part of Düsseldorf’s higher education landscape since its founding in 1965. With a single, central campus location in Düsseldorf, it brings together teaching, research, and academic life in one place and is one of the region’s most important universities. For companies, institutions, and organizations, HHU provides access to a large and academically diverse student body.
With 28,641 enrolled students, Heinrich Heine is by far the largest higher education institution in the city. Each year, 3,982 first-year students begin their studies at the university, while 3,806 graduates earn their degrees. These figures underscore the institution’s continuous dynamism and make it a relevant place for study and qualification beyond Düsseldorf.
In terms of content, HHU is broadly positioned while also having clear academic focal areas. The natural sciences are particularly strongly represented with 6,842 students, as is human medicine with 3,641 students. Computer science also plays a central role with 3,336 students. In addition, there are business and economics (2,712 students), law (2,194 students), and mathematics (813 students).
The university is not only a place of teaching, but also a significant employer in the field of science. In total, 3,742 employees work at Heinrich‑Heine‑Universität, including 337 professors. This staffing forms the basis for research and teaching in the various departments.
HHU is also visibly positioned in national and international rankings. In the Times Higher Education World University Ranking it is listed in the 251–300 rank range. In addition, according to the WiWo‑Ranking, Heinrich‑Heine‑Universität is among the top 10 universities in Germany in the subject areas of economics and law.

Image credit: By Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
HSD Hochschule Düsseldorf.
Die Hochschule Düsseldorf (HSD) has been a central pillar of Düsseldorf’s higher education landscape since its founding in 1971. As a state university of applied sciences with a single campus location in the city, the Derendorf, it combines practice-oriented teaching with a clear academic profile. For companies, institutions, and organizations, HSD offers direct access to a student body trained in a highly application-oriented manner and focused on professional fields.
With 10,820 enrolled students, Hochschule Düsseldorf is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in the region. Each year, 1,497 first-year students begin their studies at HSD, while 1,777 graduates earn their degrees. These figures underscore the university’s role as a continuous qualification engine for the regional labor market.
In terms of content, the focus of Hochschule Düsseldorf is clearly on technical and business-oriented degree programs. With 4,325 students, the engineering sciences form the largest department of HSD. In addition, there are the business sciences with 1,663 students as well as computer science with 697 students.
In terms of staff, Hochschule Düsseldorf is also well positioned. A total of 866 employees work at HSD, including 199 professors. This structure allows for comparatively close supervision of students and supports the practice-oriented approach in teaching and studies.
Overall, Hochschule Düsseldorf presents itself as a compact, practice-oriented university of applied sciences with clear quantitative focal points. Its student numbers, disciplinary profiles, and number of graduates make it an important part of Düsseldorf’s higher-education landscape, especially for technical and business degree programs and application-oriented academic training.

Image credit: By Jula2812 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Impressions from the universities in Düsseldorf






Reach students in Düsseldorf with us!
Would you like to advertise at the universities in Düsseldorf? Then the best way to do that is with us! Because we are the exclusive marketer of Heinrich-Heine Universität and therefore offer attractive advertising opportunities at the city’s largest university.
Feel free to contact us for further information!
Do you have any more questions about university advertising in Düsseldorf?
Would you like to advertise at the universities in Düsseldorf? Then you will find all the most important information in our FAQs, compiled in a compact and easy-to-understand way so you can get started in a targeted manner. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly.
At which universities in Düsseldorf can I place advertisements?
Advertising is possible at the major academic institutions in Düsseldorf, above all at Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf (HHU) and Hochschule Düsseldorf (HSD). In addition, the renowned Kunstakademie Düsseldorf as well as specialized private universities such as AMD Akademie Mode und Design offer attractive advertising spaces.
Can I also implement university advertising in Düsseldorf digitally?
Absolutely. Digital out-of-home advertising (DOOH) on campus screens is a key element at the Düsseldorf locations. This is often supplemented by mobile advertising and targeted social media campaigns in order to reach students directly in their digital everyday lives.
Warum ist Hochschulwerbung in Düsseldorf besonders effektiv?
Düsseldorf ist ein führender Wirtschafts- und Medienstandort. Durch Hochschulwerbung erreichen Unternehmen eine besonders karriereorientierte und lifestyle-affine Zielgruppe genau dort, wo Trends entstehen. Studierende in Düsseldorf befinden sich in einer prägenden Lebensphase, was sie für langfristige Markenbindungen empfänglich macht.
Welche Vorteile bietet Hochschulwerbung in Düsseldorf?
Mit über 50.000 Studierenden bietet die Landeshauptstadt Zugang zu hochqualifizierten Nachwuchskräften und einer kaufkräftigen jungen Klientel. Unternehmen profitieren von einer geringen Streuverlusten, einer hohen Kontaktdichte am Campus und der Möglichkeit, das innovative Image der Stadt für die eigene Marke zu nutzen.
Welche Werbeformate eignen sich für Hochschulwerbung in Düsseldorf?
Besonders effektiv sind großformatige Plakate in Mensen, digitale Informationsstelen, Promotion-Aktionen auf dem Campus sowie Flyer-Auslagen. Auch Sponsoring-Möglichkeiten bei studentischen Events oder Online-Ads in Campus-Apps sind beliebte Formate, um die Sichtbarkeit zu erhöhen.
Wie groß ist die Reichweite von Hochschulwerbung in Düsseldorf?
Die Gesamtreichweite liegt bei über 50.000 Studierenden. Die Heinrich-Heine-Universität bildet mit rund 29.000 Studierenden das Herzstück, gefolgt von der Hochschule Düsseldorf mit etwa 11.000 Studierenden. Hinzu kommen tausende Lernende an kleineren Fachhochschulen und Akademien im gesamten Stadtgebiet.

