For a variety of reasons, German universities provide excellent study abroad opportunities to international students. Were you aware that there are no tuition costs at German public universities? This is combined with the fact that most German institutions offer highly regarded education. Germany is home to more than 300 public universities that offer top-notch instruction. The world comes to these colleges to study because of their world-class facilities, friendly culture, and stellar academic reputation. Furthermore, Germany has a 91.3% graduate employment rate, which puts it far and away the most appealing study destination in Europe when compared to other states. Germany is a popular study destination for international students for a variety of reasons.
The top ten universities in Germany for international students will be discussed in this blog. These universities provide some of the greatest programs in Germany, whether you want to study business, engineering, or the humanities.
Advantages of studying at German universities for international students
For international students, these are the top 5 advantages of attending German universities:
- Minimal/No tuition fees
Tuition in Germany is comparatively inexpensive when compared to other nations like the US and the UK. Even for international students, tuition at public universities in Germany is completely free. However, if you are not a citizen of the EU, you will need to obtain a residence permit prior to enrolment, which is manageable provided you are aware of the procedures.
- High-quality education
German institutions are highly regarded in international university rankings and are known for offering top-notch instruction. Due to the great emphasis on research and innovation in German universities, students gain from receiving instruction from professionals in their fields.
- Funding sources and scholarships
International students who want to study in Germany have access to a wide range of fully financed scholarships and funding options. The German government, academic institutions, and other organisations may provide these.
- Multicultural environment
Germany is a very diverse nation, and this is reflected in its colleges. Considering that there are currently over 4,00000 international students studying in Germany, international students can anticipate learning with students from all over the world. Additionally, this may result in a fruitful cross-cultural interchange and offer beneficial networking chances.
- A robust economy and ample work possibilities
Germany boasts one of the most robust economies in Europe, providing enough prospects for graduates seeking jobs upon graduation. Additionally, Germany provides a job seeker visa that enables international students to remain in the nation for up to 18 months following graduation in order to look for employment.
Best universities in Germany for international students
Finding the top colleges in the area that provide excellent facilities and programs is crucial for any student wishing to study in Germany. The top 10 universities in Germany for international students according to the QS World University Ranking 2024 are shown below:
1- Technical University of Munich
One of the oldest and most prominent technical universities in Germany for international students is the Technical University of Munich (TUM), which was established in 1868. TUM is well-known for its brilliance in engineering, the natural sciences, and technology, and is frequently placed among the best institutions in Germany. Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan are the three campuses of the Technical University of Munich.
Fees
The Technical University of Munich’s (TUM) tuition costs can change based on a number of variables, including the student’s nationality, degree program, and level of study. Nonetheless, there is a semester charge that students must pay, which ranges from about €130 to €150. The following are a few of the scholarships available to help with the costs:
International student scholarships offering one-time financial assistance ranging from €500 to €1500 per semester
Monthly Scholarship Deutschlandstipendium of €300
Eligibility
It is required to be proficient in both German and English since the course is given in both of those languages.
Completed higher education from a recognized secondary school
A minimum of 65 points on the PTE, an IELTS score of 6.5, or an 88 on the TOEFL
Certifications for German language proficiency, including DSH-2/DSD II/Telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule/Goethe certificate C2
Exams like the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the Test for Academic Studies (TestAS) may be required of you, depending on the program you are applying to.
Courses offered & admission process
- Engineering
- Natural Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Medicine
- Political And Social Sciences
- Management etc.,
The first step is to make sure you meet all the qualifying standards and get the required paperwork ready, like a resume, motivational letter, credentials, etc. Students must first submit their online applications through the TUM Portal in order to be admitted to TUM. The competition’s intensity causes a few-week delay in the results’ release. You can use your online account to monitor your admissions status.
2- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Munich, Germany is home to Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich), a research institution. It is one of Europe’s oldest and most esteemed colleges, having been founded in 1472. LMU has two more campuses: the Grosshadern Campus for medical studies and the Martinsried Campus for natural sciences, in addition to the City Campus.
Fees
International students at LMU Munich are not required to pay tuition for the majority of degrees, including undergraduate and graduate programs. All students must, however, pay a semester fee of about 130 euros, which covers all administrative expenses as well as student services and public transit.
Eligibility
- Equivalent to a high school graduation certificate, a university entry qualification.
- Completing an accredited German language exam.
- An 80-point TOEFL total score or 6.5 IELTS points overall.
Courses offered & admission process
LMU provides double degree programs, an international doctorate program, and a master’s program taught in English. LMU offers almost 300 programs, including 33-degree programs offered internationally.
- American History, Culture, and Society
- Astrophysics
- Biochemistry
- Data Science
- Economics
- English Studies
- Human Biology
- Insurance, Executive Master
- International Health
- Journalism, Media & Globalization
Applications for LMU courses are accepted from May through July. In order to prevent any last-minute blunders, it is advised to apply as soon as feasible. Students must confirm that they meet the requirements for their courses of study’s eligibility before applying. In order to determine their eligibility, students must also apply to the international office. The application portal must be used to submit all of the required paperwork. After the application deadline, the selection committee will evaluate your application and send you an email with the admissions decision in about two weeks.
3- Universität Heidelberg
Founded in 1386, Universität Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany and is frequently recognised as one of the best in all of Europe. The university has a strong history of academic achievement; among its staff and alumni are numerous notable intellectuals, including a Nobel laureate and 55 Leibniz Prize recipients.
Fees
The tuition charge for international students is €1500 each semester. Students can apply for a German scholarship worth €300 per month to help with the cost. Students may also be eligible for further government and private scholarships.
Eligibility
The Central Office for Foreign Education’s framework will be used to evaluate the university entrance qualification.
Since German is the language of instruction for all bachelor’s degrees, passing the DSH-2 minimum level of competency in the language is required.
Courses offered & admission process
Universität Heidelberg is an interdisciplinary university with more than 180 programs in the social sciences, scientific sciences, humanities, and medicine. The common app is an online site used to submit applications to study at Universität Heidelberg. During the application procedure, official transcripts, motivational letters, and certifications of language proficiency must be uploaded. Once the necessary paperwork is submitted, students usually hear back within a week regarding their admission status.
4- Freie Universität Berlin
FU Berlin, also referred to as Freie Universität Berlin, is a German public research university situated in the Dahlem district. In 1948, it was established in reaction to the limitations imposed on academic liberty in East Germany under Soviet occupation. There are four campuses in total: Dahlem, Düppel, Benjamin Franklin, and Lankwitz.
Fees
For international students, there is no tuition price at FU Berlin. There may only be semester fees ranging between €239 and €300. Consequently, this university does not award any internal scholarships to its students.
Eligibility
A certificate of secondary school graduation is required for all bachelor’s degrees. A proficiency certificate in German is also required by FU Berlin because all bachelor’s degree courses are taught mostly in German.
- DSH 2 or
- Telc C1 or
- C2 Certificate des Goethe-Institutes or
- DSD II or
- TestDaF
Courses offered & admission process
At FU Berlin, there are more than 150 bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degree programs offered. Of these, 73 bachelor’s, 105 master’s, and 52 doctoral degree programs are in
- Computer Science
- Physics
- Psychology
- Mathematics
- Business Administration
- Digital Media and Technology
- Economics, etc.
Applications can be submitted through the Uni-Assist online platform. Before the deadlines, students must turn in the supporting documentation for their initial certification from an Academic Evaluation Centre. For the fall and spring semesters, the application deadlines are April 1 and November 1, respectively. The admission committee needs at least six weeks to evaluate your application and send you an email with their verdict.
5- RWTH Aachen University
Situated in Aachen, Germany, the RWTH Aachen University is well-known for its research skills. One of the oldest and most prominent technical colleges in Europe, it was established in 1870 and places a heavy emphasis on engineering, the natural sciences, and medicine.
Fees
There is no tuition at RWTH Aachen University for students who are not German. However, additional living expenses, travel, etc., will cost foreign students about 1,132 euros a month.
Eligibility
- A certificate of university entry qualification or its equivalent
- Telc Deutsche C1/SDH II / TestDaF at least at level 4 or comparable
Courses offered & admission process
The 9 colleges of RWTH Aachen provide a wide range of engineering disciplines, natural sciences, geosciences, business and economics, humanities, and medical subjects in more than 100 courses. Prior to submitting an application to study at RWTH Aachen University, students must first register on RWTH online. Through that portal, they must register, apply for the courses they want, and upload the necessary files. Following examination of the application, admission decisions will be made public soon. You can check the progress of your application via the web portal.
6. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Situated in Karlsruhe, Germany, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is a renowned research institution. The University of Karlsruhe and the Karlsruhe academic Centre, two illustrious academic organisations with storied histories in science and engineering, merged to form the new organisation in 2009.
Fees
Non-EU students must pay a tuition charge of 1500 euros per semester in addition to an administrative contribution of 70 euros. One of the greatest scholarship opportunities for students is the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship for Overseas-Incoming students.
Eligibility
In order to apply for a bachelor’s degree, a student need to
- Secondary School Certificate
- You must have an IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 88.
If the course is only available in German, then German language proficiency of B1 is required. Test results from authorised German language competency exams can be submitted by students.
Courses offered & admission process
The university grants bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees with a primary emphasis on financial engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and mathematics. There are German and English versions of these programs available. International applicants must submit their applications online at KIT. The winter term deadline is July 15. All paperwork needs to be sent via the KIT application page.
7- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
The Adlershof Campus, Mitte Campus, Buch Campus, and Nord Campus are the four enormous campuses that make up the Humboldt University of Berlin. The university was founded in 1810.
Fees
For both bachelor’s and master’s programs, the administrative cost is €2863.70–€315.64 every semester. Students seeking financial assistance can apply for scholarships such as the Heinrich Böll scholarship, DAAD award, ERASMUS scholarship, PROMOS scholarship, etc.
Eligibility
The following criteria must be met in order to apply to a bachelor’s program:
- School leaving certificate
- German language certifications, such as the Goethe-Certificate C2, DSH, TestDaF, and C-Test or Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung results
Courses offered & admission process
There are more than 150 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs available in the following fields: business administration, computer science, physics, history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology. Online applications are sent to uni-Assist with the required application materials. For the winter semester, applications must be submitted by May 31st; for the summer semester, they must be submitted by October 30th. After reviewing your application, you will soon get an email with the admissions decision.
8- Technische Universität Berlin
Originally named the Royal Technical College of Charlottenburg, TU Berlin was established in 1879. Since then, it has undergone multiple name changes; Technische Universität Berlin is the current moniker. Its campuses are called Campus Charlottenburg, Campus EUREF, Campus El Gouna, and Campus Salzufer.
Fees
Apart from the semester fee, which varies between €231.89 and €380, there are no tuition costs to pay. To help with extra expenses, students can apply for international government scholarships, scholarships from various German foundations, and scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Eligibility
For an undergraduate degree, documentation of university admission requirements is needed. International students must further demonstrate their competency in English or German, as measured by the program’s language of instruction, using tests such as Telc Deutsch C1/ SDH II / TestDaF at level 4 minimum or equivalent for German, and IELTS/TOEFL iBT scores for English master’s programs.
Courses offered & admission process
Over 10 graduate and undergraduate programs are available at TU Berlin. Germany’s single application processing site, Uni-Assist, is where international students must apply to universities. On the Uni-Assist website, they must register, upload their supporting documentation, and pay the €75 application charge. After a few weeks of the application deadline, you can receive the results, depending on how quickly Uni-assist processes your paperwork.
9- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
The University of Freiburg, also called Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, is a public research university situated in the German city of Freiburg. It is one among the oldest universities in Germany for international students, having been established in 1457. Its five primary campuses are located in Herdern, Littenweiler, Institutsviertel, Stadtmitte, and Zahnmedizin.
Fees
International students must pay 1,500 euros every semester. In addition, there is the standard semester cost that needs to be paid, which is now 161 euros. Furthermore, overseas students can apply for a 300-euro Deutschlandstipendium grant at Freiburg University. The university doesn’t offer any scholarships in addition to this.
Eligibility
The minimal qualification is high school graduation with a secondary school leaving certificate. All undergraduate degree programs, with the exception of the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences, require teaching in German. Therefore, it is necessary to pass the DSH-2 or -3 Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) and obtain a Goethe-Certificate C2, SDH II, level 4 or 5.
Courses offered & admission process
Medicine, law, economics, philosophy, history, political science, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and many other fields are covered in more than 160 undergraduate and graduate programs. The university website is the place where applications must be submitted online. The website opens on June 1st for applications for the winter semester and on December 1st for applications for the summer semester. Based on your academic record and desire to study at the University of Freiburg, you will be chosen.
10- Universität Hamburg
Founded in 1919 by the merger of multiple educational institutions, the University of Hamburg, usually referred to as UHH, is a public research university located in Hamburg, Germany. With research facilities spread over the city-state, its primary campus is located in Rotherbaum. UHH is honoured to have connections to one Wolf Prize winner and seven Nobel laureates.
Fees
There are no tuition expenses for international students. The semester contribution is required, though. The semester contribution for the winter semester of 2023–2024 is €340. It is required that this charge be paid, even when taking an academic absence. However, the reduced payment is €290 if you are enrolled in a special program (excluding Europa-Kolleg Hamburg) or are applying for numerous consecutive semesters of academic vacation.
Eligibility and Duration
Foreign students wishing to enrol in two-year Master’s programs need to have:
- A Bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) in a subject that is closely related to or the same as the intended Master’s program.
- Proof of German or English language competency (language exam or specialised language course as required by the selected course).
- There will be additional specific prerequisites for each course.
Courses offered & admission process
For the relevant courses, students can apply online. The institution provides courses in a variety of subjects, including social sciences, natural sciences, medicine, and information technology.
Conclusion
International students can find extremely reduced living expenditures in Germany compared to other famous European nations. With this, you may anticipate a pleasant life as a student in Germany together with first-rate housing, first-rate facilities, and a vibrant food scene. In contrast to other well-liked European locations for studying abroad, the cost of living is extremely inexpensive. All of it ensures that your stay as a student in Germany will be delightful, in addition to first-rate accommodations, first-rate infrastructure, and a vibrant food scene. Germany is a great place to study in many respects, its outstanding universities being among them. This friendly, multicultural community will make international students feel at home as they receive an affordable, top-notch education.
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