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About Cost Of Studying Architecture In Germany
Germany is a popular choice for international students looking to study architecture. This is thanks to the country’s highly regarded technical universities and lack of tuition fees. Both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from Germany are highly regarded by worldwide employees.
Let’s have a look at the top German Universities for architecture.
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Table of contents
Study Architecture in Germany
Bauhaus-Weimar University
RWTH Aachen
Technical University Berlin
Leibniz University Hannover
Technical University Dortmund
Study Architecture in Germany
Becoming an architect in Germany is a little different than in other countries
There is no specific professional exam, but you will need to complete at least three years of undergraduate study, followed by a masters degree and then undertake employment working alongside a certified architect before you can register with the Chamber of Architects.
German architectural degrees are generally taught at Applied Sciences (technical) universities, although some are also taught at Art universities.
Choosing a bachelors or masters degree in architecture in Germany for international students is a sensible choice, as students are able to study without tuition fees, just like German nationals.
Prospective students will need to apply directly to the university online, or via its international office, depending on the specific process preferred by a given university.
Those from non-EU certain countries will need to secure a Student Visa before they begin. Expatrio can also help with securing your health insurance and a blocked account, both of which will be required to study in Germany.
It is possible to do an architecture bachelor degree in Germany in English followed by an architecture master degree in Germany in English, but the majority of these degree courses are delivered in German.
The best German architectural degrees are taught at the country’s leading technical universities such as Berlin and Leibniz as well as the globally renowned art school, Bauhaus-Weimar.
You can find out more about university programs on our Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Germany page.
Bauhaus-Weimar University
The Bauhaus-Weimar University is one of the most famous art and architecture institutions in Europe. Founded in 1860 as the Great Ducal Art School, it was here that the Bauhaus movement began in 1919. The university was renamed in 1996 to reflect this significance.
This prestigious university is home to just 4000 students, including 1000 international students. However, the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism is one of the largest of its kind in Germany. Students can undertake a three-year B.Sc. in Architecture or a B.Sc. in Urbanism, as well as M.Sc. in each of these.
There is also a choice of M.Sc. in either Media Architecture, European Urban Studies or Advanced Urbanism. For courses in Architecture and Urbanism, prospective students are required to undertake an aptitude assessment before they are able to apply. Enrolment for courses is at the start of the winter semester.
RWTH Aachen
RWTH Aachen is the largest technical university in Germany with a total of 42,000 students, 10,000 of which are foreign nationals.
The university was founded in 1870. Those looking to study architecture at the RWTH Aachen University in Germany will find that all courses are taught in German.
The B.Sc. in Architecture has many more applicants than places and therefore has restricted admission. Enrolment is at the start of the Winter Semester. Students can progress to an M.Sc. in either Architecture or Urban Planning.
The deadline for international students applying for a bachelor degree in architecture is the 15th of July.
Technical University Berlin
Berlin’s Technical University was founded in 1879. It is one of Germany’s leading universities for engineering. It has the highest proportion of international students in Germany (8,000 out of 34,000 students in total).
The architecture programs are under the remit of the Planning, Building and Environment Faculty. This includes a three-year B.Sc. of Architecture which can lead to one of many M.Sc. including Architecture, Urban Design, Heritage Conservation or the English-taught M-Arch-T.
International bachelor applicants must apply via Uni-assist e.V. before the 15th July if they wish to enroll in the Winter Semester that same year.
Leibniz University Hannover
Founded in 1830, Leibniz is one of the oldest and largest Applied Sciences universities in Germany.
The three-year B.Sc. in Architecture and the B.Sc. in Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning are both administered by the Faculty of Architecture and Landscape Sciences. They are both three-year, restricted admission courses commencing in the Winter Semester.
This follows onto a choice of Masters degrees including Architecture and Urban Design, Environmental Planning or the European Master in Landscape Architecture (EMiLA).
Technical University Dortmund
Dortmund’s Technical University is of one of Germany’s youngest institutions, having been founded in 2014. With 34,000 students, including 4000 foreign students, it’s quickly grown to become a large and also highly regarded institution.
The Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering offers both a German-taught B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Architecture and Urban Design.
Applications for international students can be made online, the deadline for degrees commencing in the Winter Semester is the 15th July.
Universities In Germany
Recent years have seen a surge in the number of international students wanting to study in Germany. It’s already surpassed its goal of hosting 350,000 international students by 2020, with a whopping 359,000 international students enrolled in 2017. Factors behind this surge include the solid reputation of Germany’s universities, living standards and economy, combined with the fact that many students are able to study for free – although non-EU students are now required to pay tuition fees to study in Baden-Württemberg.
While most programs are taught in German, there are opportunities to study in Germany in English, with a growing selection of English-language programs designed for international students.
English-language programs are already fairly common at master’s level, particularly within the social sciences and business-related subjects. They’re now also becoming more widely available at undergraduate level – so with a bit of patience and research, you too might get the chance to study in Germany in English.
How to study in Germany in English…
International students who do not sprechen Deutsch may find it hard to gather the right information on how to study in Germany in English, particularly at undergraduate level. Although many students attracted to study in Germany are motivated by the free tuition, finding free English-language programs at public universities is not easy. This is because the majority of undergraduate courses at German universities are taught in German.
The International Program search tool from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) currently finds 116 bachelor programs taught completely in English, many of which have international in their title. When the search is narrowed down to show only bachelor’s degrees with no tuition fees, only 60 programs remain.
So, you may need to pay tuition fees at a private university in order to study your chosen course in Germany in English. This is not necessarily a catastrophe – the fees may still be lower than those in other popular study destinations.
Another search tool, offered by Study-in.de, currently finds 231 English-taught bachelor’s degrees in Germany. Again, some of these are offered by private universities who set their own fees, many of which are below €10,000 (~US$11,200) per semester.
You can now also easily search for English-taught courses in Germany with our free matching tool, which features more than 900 programs in Europe.
As an example, the private Jacobs University Bremen is the only German university to appear in the search tools offering an English-taught bachelor in mathematics program, with tuition fees of €20,000 (~US$22,200) per year. The university also offers the only English-taught undergraduate psychology degree to appear in the search, again at €20,000 per year – although you can study a business management and psychology degree for free at Furtwangen University.
You’ll notice than some subjects are more often offered in English than others. For instance, there are a good number of English-taught options in subjects such as business, English/American studies and engineering.
Other options to study in Germany in English
There are alternative options. For example, the pan-European business school ESCP Europe offers the chance to study in the capital cities of three countries (London, Paris/Madrid and Berlin) on its Bachelor in Management program for €14,000 per year for EU students, or €19,000 (~US$21,280) per year for non-EU students.
ESCP Europe also offers graduate programs taught in English across all five of its European campuses (in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw), including the Master in Management program.
To study in Germany in English for free, you might want to look beyond the most famous universities in Germany, to consider institutions which are perhaps smaller, specialized or vocational in focus. For instance, you may consider Germany’s Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen), which offer more specialized pathways of learning to create highly skilled graduates in the science and technology sectors. This option can be good for those who already have a career path mapped out and wish to get practical skills in their field alongside a recognized degree.
Before applying, make sure to do some research regarding the institution’s reputation in your chosen field. You should also ensure that the institution offers the right qualifications for your career, as some only offer diplomas, rather than full degrees.
German universities offering undergraduate English-language programs
There are currently only a limited number of undergraduate English-language programs at top universities in Germany. Due to the scarce nature of these programs, if you really want to study at a leading university, you may have to be a little bit flexible on your choice of program.
Below is a short list of the opportunities available for undergraduates to study in English in Germany at universities featured in the QS World University Rankings®. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and new courses are being developed continuously, so it is important to conduct additional research yourself – using online searches, the DAAD, rankings, student sites/forums and other organizations offering advice and guidance.
Universität Freiburg
As well as offering a range of English-language master’s programs, Universität Freiburg is also one of few German universities to offer a bachelor-level degree program taught in English, allowing international students to study for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc), depending on their major. Universität Freiburg has a strong international reputation, ranked joint 169th in the QS World University Rankings® 2020.
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, at 181st in the world rankings, offers a BSc in Molecular Ecosystem Sciences which is taught in English. The school also offers a number of international graduate programs.
Universitat Leipzig
You can study for a BA in American Studies and a BSc in International Physics Studies in English at Universitat Leipzig, which is currently ranked 531-540 in the world rankings.
Berlin International University of Applied Sciences
All programs are taught in English at this University of Applied Sciences. However, you will need to pay tuition fees of €7,200 (~US$8,050). They offer programs in two faculties, Architecture and Design, plus Business Administration. The English-taught programs are: Master of Business Administration (MBA), MA Interior Design, BA Interior Design, BA Architecture, BA Product Design, BA Graphic Design & Visual Communication as well as BA Business Administration with either focus on International Management and Marketing or Organizational Psychology and Digital Business & Management as a separate program.
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences
A public university with an international orientation, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences offers various English-taught bachelors degrees, including International Relations, Sustainable Tourism and Gender Diversity. There are no tuition fees, so students only need to pay the semester fee, which currently amounts to €302.88 (~US$340).
Universities in Germany offering international graduate programs
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg – International master’s programs in English
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München – Graduate ‘English-taught courses’ (ETC)
Technische Universität München (TUM) – International graduate programs in English
Universität Freiburg – English-language master’s programs
Frankfurt School of Finance & Management – Range of programs taught in English
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) – English-language graduate programs
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin – International master’s programs in English
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen – International graduate programs in English
RWTH Aachen University – International master’s programs in English
Freie Universität Berlin – International master’s programs in English
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn – International master’s programs in English
Universität Hamburg – Bilingual and English-language master’s programs
ESCP Europe – International business and management master’s programs in English (based across ESCP campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw)
Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg – A range of master’s programs taught fully or partly in English
Please note that this is not a comprehensive list. For the full list of German universities featured in the QS World University Rankings 2020, visit this page. You can also find more information on international graduate programs offered at Germany’s leading institutions on the TU9 website, which has a list of courses available at the nine engineering and technology-focused universities which comprise the TU9 group.
For answers to all your queries about studying abroad in Germany, see our list of Frequently Asked Questions About Studying in Germany.
This article was originally published in February 2015. It is updated regularly, most recently in June 2019.
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This article was originally published in June 2019 . It was last updated in March 2021
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Public Universities In Germany
Germany is a popular choice for international students looking to study architecture. This is thanks to the country’s highly regarded technical universities and lack of tuition fees. Both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from Germany are highly regarded by worldwide employees.
Study Architecture in Germany
Prep Courses & Foundation Courses – Study in Germany – Land of Ideas
Becoming an architect in Germany is a little different than in other countries
There is no specific professional exam, but you will need to complete at least three years of undergraduate study, followed by a masters degree and then undertake employment working alongside a certified architect before you can register with the Chamber of Architects.
German architectural degrees are generally taught at Applied Sciences (technical) universities, although some are also taught at Art universities.
Choosing a bachelors or masters degree in architecture in Germany for international students is a sensible choice, as students are able to study without tuition fees, just like German nationals.
Prospective students will need to apply directly to the university online, or via its international office, depending on the specific process preferred by a given university.
Those from non-EU certain countries will need to secure a Student Visa before they begin. Expatrio can also help with securing your health insurance and a blocked account, both of which will be required to study in Germany.
It is possible to do an architecture bachelor degree in Germany in English followed by an architecture master degree in Germany in English, but the majority of these degree courses are delivered in German.
The best German architectural degrees are taught at the country’s leading technical universities such as Berlin and Leibniz as well as the globally renowned art school, Bauhaus-Weimar.
You can find out more about university programs on our Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Germany page.
Regarding the certain conditions in the following section, certain Universities provide the best match.
IT – Infrastructure – Students assessed the hard and software equipment, maintenance and care and the access times as well as the availability of computer workstations that they can use in their studies
International orientation of the master program (the result of the best master program is shown) – Composition of different facts: obligatory stays abroad/joint degree program; percentage of international students; internationality of the scientific staff; percentage of classes given in foreign language. A certain number of points can be gathered from the four areas, with a maximum of 14 points (10 for German language and literature). The top-group is reached with 6 points (4 for German language and literature), the middle group with at least 2 points. With less than 2 points a course assigned to the bottom group. On the faculty/department-level, the result of the best course of the faculty/department is displayed.
The average rent per square meter living area that is paid by the students questioned for private living accommodation (incl. extras).
Job Market Preparation – Students assessed the programs offered by their college to promote the relevance to the professional field and jobs market. This includes information events on professional fields and the jobs market, specific programs and lectures to provide job relevant and subject comprehensive qualifications, support in looking for work placements, arranging Diplom work subjects in co-operation with the world of work help when looking for a job after completing studies.
Students rated the performance of teaching evaluations, the participation of students in this process, and the implementation of the results. The evaluation of courses and lectures is a popular instrument for checking and improving the quality of courses and teaching.
In attempt to narrow down the broad range of choices for the interested students, in the following section you can find the ten best Universities to study architecture in the state of Germany. The predetermined standards are taken by Zeit Online based on students’ judgments, professors’ judgments, alumni judgments, or common facts.
Degree programs and student advising – TUM
Bauhaus-Weimar University
The Bauhaus-Weimar University is one of the most famous art and architecture institutions in Europe. Founded in 1860 as the Great Ducal Art School, it was here that the Bauhaus movement began in 1919. The university was renamed in 1996 to reflect this significance.
This prestigious university is home to just 4000 students, including 1000 international students. However, the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism is one of the largest of its kind in Germany. Students can undertake a three-year B.Sc. in Architecture or a B.Sc. in Urbanism, as well as M.Sc. in each of these.
There is also a choice of M.Sc. in either Media Architecture, European Urban Studies or Advanced Urbanism. For courses in Architecture and Urbanism, prospective students are required to undertake an aptitude assessment before they are able to apply. Enrolment for courses is at the start of the winter semester.
RWTH Aachen
RWTH Aachen is the largest technical university in Germany with a total of 42,000 students, 10,000 of which are foreign nationals.
The university was founded in 1870. Those looking to study architecture at the RWTH Aachen University in Germany will find that all courses are taught in German.
The B.Sc. in Architecture has many more applicants than places and therefore has restricted admission. Enrolment is at the start of the Winter Semester. Students can progress to an M.Sc. in either Architecture or Urban Planning.
The deadline for international students applying for a bachelor degree in architecture is the 15th of July.
Technical University Berlin
Berlin’s Technical University was founded in 1879. It is one of Germany’s leading universities for engineering. It has the highest proportion of international students in Germany (8,000 out of 34,000 students in total).
The architecture programs are under the remit of the Planning, Building and Environment Faculty. This includes a three-year B.Sc. of Architecture which can lead to one of many M.Sc. including Architecture, Urban Design, Heritage Conservation or the English-taught M-Arch-T.
International bachelor applicants must apply via Uni-assist e.V. before the 15th July if they wish to enroll in the Winter Semester that same year.
Leibniz University Hannover
Founded in 1830, Leibniz is one of the oldest and largest Applied Sciences universities in Germany.
The three-year B.Sc. in Architecture and the B.Sc. in Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning are both administered by the Faculty of Architecture and Landscape Sciences. They are both three-year, restricted admission courses commencing in the Winter Semester.
This follows onto a choice of Masters degrees including Architecture and Urban Design, Environmental Planning or the European Master in Landscape Architecture (EMiLA).
Why study in Germany?
Technical University Dortmund
Dortmund’s Technical University is of one of Germany’s youngest institutions, having been founded in 2014. With 34,000 students, including 4000 foreign students, it’s quickly grown to become a large and also highly regarded institution.
The Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering offers both a German-taught B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Architecture and Urban Design.
Applications for international students can be made online, the deadline for degrees commencing in the Winter Semester is the 15th July.
BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg
This University is rather quality oriented with its 1600 international students wandering round the campus to prove that. Education wise, it incorporates a combination of research orientation of a traditional Technical University and the more advanced application oriented programs in engineering, social science, economics and health care. Overall, the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg offers an excellent opportunity for students willing to achieve more in life. The Faculty of Architecture has been offering ZEFA-accredited Bachelor’s (BA) and Master’s (MA) degrees since 2002, and was subsequently approved as a course provider by the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (MFWK) in Brandenburg. The great thing about the way the university operates lies in that the department collaborate closely into coming up with all field activities and structural planning. This way, students get to practice what they’re preached in various fields.
ABK Stuttgart
Founded in the 1761, the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design (Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart) has a venerable tradition in academic excellence regarding the fields of fine arts and design. A modest number of students, around 850 overall, it is however recognized not only as an academy but also a University. In the State of Baden-Württemberg it is a prominent institution and an education center for both fine (e.g. painting, sculpture) and applied arts (e.g. architecture, design). This dualistic approach to arts is the pride of this institution, which will continue to cultivate and develop in the future.
RWTH Aachen
Of what used to be a museum serves now for its purpose and as a facility to educate the prospective students of Architecture. The RWTH Aachen found in 1880, has a long lasting tradition of excellent education comprised of nine faculties among which, the Faculty of Architecture. It comprises 22 chairs and institutes including art history, structural design or load carrying construction. The University aims for quality over quantity therefore its relatively low number of around 1,500 students enrolled in the faculty.
TUM Munich
In the Bavarian region, the TUM Munich’s Department of Architecture is the only University level educational institution. The Faculty hosts over 1200 students segregated in over 26 Departments offering a broad range of subjects lectured by over 170 professionals relevant to the field. There is a close collaboration between the research oriented University and the wide spread High tech industrial partners over Munich. With this being said, this Faculty not only offers and exquisite road to education but also potential lob opportunities for their students in the future. The University owns merit prizes on the field of Architecture such as:
Deutscher Architekturpreis – German Prize for Architecture
Deutscher Städtebaupreis – German Urban Planning Prize
European Architecture + Technology Award
Mies-van-der-Rohe Prize
RIBA Award
Stuttgart University
The Faculty of Architecture as part of the Stuttgart University goes way back withholding 19 centuries of tradition. Reforms and revolutionary standards started being applied started in the beginning of the 20 Century. Under the patronage of the Professors Richard Döcker and Rolf Gutbrod, the facility was redone under the modern architecture spirit followed by a new subject, the field of Urban Planning, essential in the educational and research domain. With over 16 institutions nowadays as well as expert lecturers German and international, the University of Stuttgart is recognized as one of the top Universities in the state. In fact, it’s widely known for the extraordinary combination of architecture and Urbanism as a whole field, offering students the opportunity a broader and contemporary outlook on this certain field.
Hannover University
Back in the 18 century, the “Higher Trade School of Hannover” which started with 64 students, today is a University of over 22 000 students enrolled in economics, law, humanities, natural sciences and engineering. In becoming an architect, one needs to be a bit of everything, an engineer, a historian an artist and sociologists, as the Faculty motto suggests. The main focus of this Faculty’s program is urban planning, cultural landscape and design planning. Leibniz Universität Hannover is the only university in the North of Germany offering training and research in landscape architecture and environmental planning.
TU Dortmund
Since its foundation in 1968, TU Dortmund University has been the correlation between nature and technology, the endless war towards progression of the humanity. It has established a unique combination of fields in the natural sciences and engineering, the social sciences and the humanities with a broad ranged curriculum taught by experts, German and foreign. The international character of the university is a huge priority. Apart from the German student that have enjoyed its benefits for decades, there are over 3200 international students currently enrolled in the University from over 100 different countries.
Bauhaus – Weimar University
The faculty of Architecture, together with the faculties of Art and Design, Civil Engineering and Media, provides a platform for inter-disciplinary discourse on matters involving design and construction. The main goal of this institution is to create conceptual and open-minded architects, creative designers and skilled managers who will make their way out on the harsh nowadays market. The faculty maintains an active student exchange program with more than 30 international partner institutes within the framework of European higher education and beyond. “Weimar” and “Bauhaus” are essential milestones in the course of modern architecture and the development of contemporary architectural teaching. Numerous symposiums and conferences, among which the International Bauhaus Colloquium, are organized by the faculty in elaborating contemporary architectural matters.
Wupperthal University
The Wupperthal University looks back on 100 years of tradition and history. Localized in a metropolitan area, the University campus is sited right in the middle of the city. Apart from offering superb educational alternatives, in all the fields as well as architecture, it provides also for a vibrant and dynamic lifestyle for the youth. Regarding research and innovations, the University is highly ranked promising not to break the tradition. The University is also very well connected, another true benefit for its dear students.
TU Dresden
The symbiosis of Architecture and Landscape, commonly very rare around the state of Germany is the trade-mark of the University of Dresden, moreover the Faculty of Architecture. The University of Dresden in internationally known for its practice oriented teaching and genuine research. Balancing of the theoretical, artistic, technical and ecological aspects of our living environment is the basis for all work at the faculty.
The University policy is careful enough not to concentrate only on the theoretical course but also convey several excursions in order for their students to have the chance to rehearse their competence in small group projects, just like any other professional does in the real world.
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