Public Universities In Berlin For International Students

Last Updated on May 27, 2023 by

Looking for public universities in berlin for international students, choosing the right institution is just as important as finding the right degree program. If you’re seeking the best masters programs for international students, look no further as this article will provide you with the information you’re looking for

Keep reading for the latest information about berlin university of arts, tuition free universities in berlin, community colleges in germany, german colleges for masters, and heidelberg university germany in english on Collegelearners.

What are the benefits of studying at Berlin Colleges?

A scientific, philosophical, cultural and political centre through the ages, Berlin is steadily rising in ranks as an international study destination. A hub of education and a core member of the European Union’s Erasmus, universities in Berlin are becoming top choices for students from around the globe, especially if STEM is what they are considering. What are the benefits of studying in this capital city, let’s take a look.

1. World renowned universities:

Three of the top ten universities in Germany (Freie Universität, Humboldt Universität and Technische Universität) are located in Berlin. These universities are also ranked in the top 100 in the world, according to both QS and Times Higher Education rankings. They are inclusive, internationally recognised and have produced around 43 Nobel laureates. German universities are research intensive, emphasise innovation and are deep rooted in industry requirements.

2. Affordable education:

Public universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees for both domestic and foreign students. The administrative fee that these universities charge range from €150 – €500 per semester. Even if you are looking at private universities, their tuition fees are far more affordable than the U.S. or the U.K.

In addition to the governmental stance to not commercialise education, there are a number of scholarship options that you can also access to further ease the cost of international education. One such example is the Deutschlandstipendium. These awards are given out as monthly stipends to help with the cost of living, books, travel and other expenses. Furthermore, as a student with a valid student visa, you are permitted to work up to 120 full days or 240 half days a year. Even if you account for the minimum wage rate of €12 per hour, you can earn a decent sum to contribute to your living expenses.

3. Europe’s Silicon Valley:

In the last decade, Germany has generated one of the highest amounts of venture capital for startups in Europe. Due to the emphasis the nation places on technological advancements and innovation, the city of Berlin has earned the nickname ‘the Silicon Valley’ of Europe. It is a hub of tech startups and international corporations, making room for more skilled workers.

4. Global networking opportunities:

With more international students choosing this city as their study destination and the place to build their careers, you will have the chance to build networks with students and professionals from different parts of the globe.

5. Exploring Europe in all its richness:

Ripe with history (the Holocaust Museum, the Berlin Wall), art and an underground music scene, your life, outside of academics, in the city will prove to be enthralling. Moreover, with a valid student permit, you can also travel and explore the Schengen area.

How much does it cost to study in Berlin?

For an international student, the cost of higher education here is considerably lower than the cities in the U.S. or the U.K. So let us take a look at some of the indicative figures that will help you budget your education.

Tuition fee: As mentioned earlier, if you are enrolled in a public university, then your tuition fee is zero. In a private university, the tuition can range anywhere from €8,000 – €45,000 depending on the subjects and the level of your course.

Other institutional fees: State-funded universities charge an administrative fee and a student union fee ranging from €150 – €500 per semester. In the privately owned institutions, there is also a one-time enrolment fee that varies with each college.

Cost of living: On an average, you can get by with about €1,300 per month in the city. Here is a rough break-up of that estimate. Note that these figures are more indicative than actual. Your lifestyle choices will determine a majority of this section.

• Rent €400
• Food €300 – €400
• Transport €45 – €75
• Phone/ Internet €60 – €80
• Health insurance €45 – €80
• Other expenses €200

Public Universities In Berlin For International Students

Universities in Berlin are home to over 27,000 international students who choose Germany as their global education destination. A city steeped in history and culture, the capital and the country as a whole, is steadily seeing an increase in the number of overseas students.

The growing appeal can be dedicated to a large number of courses, especially at the postgraduate level, offered in English, world class public universities that do not charge tuition fee, and the country’s attitude to technology, research and innovation. If you are looking at Germany as a study destination, why not look at the capital?

Humboldt University of Berlin

Located in the center of Berlin, the Humboldt University of Berlin is a public research university. The university was established in 1809. The university is divided into 9 faculties which offer undergraduate and graduate degrees and courses in more than 190 disciplines. In addition, it also has a medical school. Currently more than 33,000 students are enrolled at the university from more than 150 countries of the world. The Humboldt University is famous worldwide and is known as the mother of all modern universities. It attracts students from all over the world.

The main reason why students prefer Humboldt University is because of free education. It is one of the tuition-free universities in Berlin. In addition to providing high-quality education without a tuition fee, the university also provides a stipend to the students so that they can bear the cost of living.

2. Free University of Berlin

The Free University of Berlin (also known as FU Berlin or FU) is a public research university in Berlin. It was founded in 1948. The university has developed over a period of time and is now regarded as one of the top-ranked universities in Germany. The university is best known for its high research activity. The university comprises of four campuses.  With four centers of excellence and more than 12 schools, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in various fields ranging from medicine to law and natural sciences. It is best known for its programs in natural sciences, life sciences and social sciences. The university is regarded as Germany’s top university for research in social sciences. It is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world as well as top 50 universities in Europe.

The Free University of Berlin is one of the top choice of international students willing to study in Berlin. It is because of the university being tuition-free. Like other universities, the Free University of Berlin also provides scholarships to the students so that they can meet their expenses without any financial problem.

Technical University of Berlin

Technical University of Berlin (also known as Technical Institute of Berlin or TU Berlin) is a public research university located in Berlin. It was established in 1879 as an engineering university. The university is divided into seven faculties which offer degree programs in the fields of engineering, life sciences, law and philosophy. The university is well known for its faculty of engineering and engineering programs especially mechanical engineering. The university has contributed a lot in the development of technology worldwide. It has produced ten Nobel Prize laureates and various other researchers and scientists. The architecture programs of the university are also very famous worldwide. According to the QS ranking, it is included among the top 150 universities in the world.

Students from all over the world come to join the Technical University of Berlin because of free education. They get a chance to get high-quality education form the leading university of the world without paying any tuition fee. The students can also get merit-based scholarships and research opportunities if they perform well at the university. Although Technical Univeristy of Berlin is a free tuition university in Berlin, the students may be required to pay some dues in terms of administration charges.

4. Berlin University of Arts

Berlin University of Arts is a public art school in Berlin. It was established in 1696 and is regarded as the oldest and the biggest art school in Europe. The university is divided into four schools which offer degrees in art, architecture, music and design and fine arts. The Berlin University of Arts is known worldwide for the highly skilled academic faculty. The students can learn from the world’s top artists and designers at this university. The fine arts department offers a degree in visual arts. The selection of students for the visual arts degree is highly competitive and only a small number of students are selected after taking entry test and interview. The graduates of Berlin University of Arts are performing their skills worldwide and benefiting humans.

The students with an interest in arts and architecture are attracted to the Berlin University of Arts from all over the world. It is because this tuition free university in Berlin provides high-quality education facilities to the students coming from all over the world free of cost. The students are also given annual scholarship by the university depending on their academic performance. The employment rate of the university is also very high.

 University of Potsdam

The University of Potsdam is another public research university located in Berlin. It was established in 1991. As of now, the University of Potsdam consists of four campuses. The university is divided into five faculties. It offers degrees in law, philosophy, human sciences and humanities etc. The university is best known for its philosophy programs. A large number of programs are offered by the university in English, especially the doctoral level degrees. It attracts students from all over the world. The university has a total of 20,000+ enrolled students from over 70 countries of the world. It has more than 1900 highly qualified faculty members.

The University of Potsdam is the fifth university in our list of tuition-free universities. It also provides scholarships to the students in addition to the tuition fee waiver. Students from all over the world apply to get admission at the University of Potsdam every year.

the best universities in Berlin for international students

The best universities in Berlin for international students are

1. Freie Universität Berlin 2. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin 3. Technische Universität Berlin 4. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin 5. ESMT Berlin 6. SRH Hochschule Berlin 7. Universität der Künste Berlin (University of the Arts) 8. HTW Berlin University of Applied Sciences 9. Steinbeis University 10. Berlin International University of Applied Sciences

1. Freie Universität Berlin

Source: Wikipedia

The Free University of Berlin (although the university does not translate its name, it is simply referred to as FU Berlin) is a public research university with special focus on the social sciences, political science and the humanities. With twelve departments and three central institutes, FU Berlin offers more than 150 different academic courses to its students.

Why is it good to study here?

• Ranked 118 in the world and 4 in Germany, according to QS World university rankings
• Repeatedly selected as a University of Excellence
• One of the pioneering research institutes in social sciences and humanities
• Also renowned for cutting edge research in natural and Earth sciences as well as computer sciences and mathematics
• Encourages interdisciplinary research

Fees

As a public university, FU Berlin does not charge any tuition fee. There is a basic enrollment/ semester fee of about €300.

Eligibility

Here are some of the common admissions criteria at the bachelor’s level. Please check the university website for course specific requirements.

• School leaving certificate evaluated by the Academic evaluation Centre
• Proof of German proficiency DSH 2/ Telc C1 / C2 Zertifikat des Goethe-Instituts / TestDaF

Note: Except B.A. in North American Studies, all the other undergraduate programmes are taught in German and therefore need a professional knowledge of the language.

For master’s application:

• A bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in a relevant field
• Proof of work experience, if required for your course
• If the course is taught entirely in English, then a minimum IELTS score of 5.0 or a TOEFL iBT score of 80 is required.

Courses offered & admission process

The following are the postgraduate courses offered in English: Master of Arts

• Archaeology of the Ancient World
• English Studies: Literature, Language, Culture
• Global History
• Global East Asia
• Interdisciplinary Studies of the Middle East
• Iranian Studies
• North American Studies
• Sociology – European Societies

Master of Science

• Biochemistry
• Bioinformatics
• Chemistry
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Computational Sciences
• Data Science
• Mathematics
• Pharmaceutical Research
• Physics
• Planetary Sciences and Space Explorations
• Polymer Science

You are required to submit your application to Freie Universität Berlin via uni-assist. On an average, the application processing time is six weeks. So, overseas students are advised to apply well in advance to have enough time for visa application.

2. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Source: Wikimedia Commons​​Opening in 1810, Humboldt University or HU Berlin is a public research university. Offering courses from the undergraduate to the post-doctoral level, HU Berlin is divided into nine faculties and has a student enrolment of around 32,000.

Why is it good to study here?

• Ranked 131 in the world and 5 in Germany, according to QS World University Rankings
• As of 2020, 57 Nobel prize winners can be associated with HU, including Einstein and Shrodinger.
• HU students can study abroad for a semester or a year at partner institutions such as the University of Warwick, Princeton University, and the University of Vienna.
• Explore research-based teaching right from the undergraduate level
• You can make use of the various internship boards and the career centre to find job opportunities

Fees

Every semester, an administrative fee of €315.16 must be paid.

Eligibility

For undergraduate courses:

• School leaving certificate
• All undergraduate programmes are taught in German. So a minimum qualifying level of B2 for the preparatory courses or C1 for the undergraduate course is required.

For master’s programs: Compared to the UG level, the graduate school offers a number of English-taught courses. The basic eligibility criteria is as follows:

• A recognised undergraduate degree
• Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL iBT of 100

Courses offered & admission process

From European law to Molecular medicine, you can access the list of programmes taught in English here. For those applying from outside of the EU, your application must be submitted through uni-assist. After a preliminary evaluation by this centralised portal, it goes to the university.

3. Technische Universität Berlin

Source: Wikidata

Also known as the Technical University of Berlin or TU Berlin is a member of TU9 and T.I.M.E (Top International Managers in Engineering). The university is known for offering the first degree programf in Industrial Engineering and Management in 1926-27.

Why is it good to study here?

• Ranked 158 in the world and 8 in Germany
• Has one of the highest percentages of foreign students at around 27%.
• Is a University of Excellence
• Global recognition for its science and engineering programmes

Fees

University fees of €231 are charged every semester. The only exception is the continuing education master’s programmes.

Eligibility

• University entrance qualification / undergraduate degree for a bachelor’s and a master’s programme respectively
• Telc Deutsch C1/ SDH II /  TestDaF at level 4 minimum or equivalent
• IELTS/ TOEFL iBT scores for the Master’s degrees in English

Courses offered & admission process

There are 19 Master’s programmes that are taught in English from Architecture typology to Urban management. You can access the entire list here. The applications are made online with uni-assist to ensure validity of the qualifications submitted.

4. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Source: Charité

Established in 1710, Charité – University of Medicine is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. It is Germany’s most intensive medical research institution. In 2011, the medical schools of both Humboldt University and Freie Universität Berlin were united under Charité, which now serves as a single medical faculty for both universities.

Why is it good to study here?

• Ranked 68th in the world for medicine by QS ranking and 73rd by Times Higher Education
• Is affiliated with 11 Nobel laureates. More than half the Nobel prize winners in physiology/ medicine from Germany can be associated with this university.
• It is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe emphasising on medical research.
• Renowned for providing outstanding medical and healthcare related teaching and training.
• It is also partnered with the University of Oxford, University of Melbourne and the National University of Singapore.

Fees

Depending on the course, the tuition fee can range from €0 – €42,500 per year.

Eligibility

• Complete certificates of previous education (in the case of admission to higher education with periods of study – overview of subjects and grades)
• Proof of German language skills (the relevant German language skills must be proven by the application deadline)
• Translations of all certificates into German or English
• Passport
• If your qualifications are deemed insufficient, then you will be invited to take an assessment test or sign up for the studienkolleg (preparatory college course)

Courses offered & admission process

• Medicine (state examination)
• Dentistry (state examination)
• Health Care Sciences (BSc, MSc)
• Public Health (MSc)
• Epidemiology (MSc)
• International Health (MSc) – English
• Medical Neurosciences (MSc) – English
• Molecular Medicine (MSc) – English

Note: Except for the last three, all the other courses are taught entirely in German. All international admissions take place through Uni-Assist which takes a few weeks to process and evaluate your application.The medicine programme has restricted admission where only about 5% of seats are reserved for international students.

5. ESMT Berlin

Source: ESMT

One of the most prestigious business schools in all of Europe, the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) is a graduate school that offers specialisations in business administration, entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence.

Why is it good to study here?

• Ranked 75th in the world for its management programmes by QS Rankings
• The school was founded by 25 global companies including McKinsey & Co, KPMG, The Boston Consulting Group and Siemens. It indicates how deeply the programme is rooted in industry and has unlimited access to the global economy.
• It is one of the four b-schools in Germany with triple accreditation: Association of MBAs (AMBA), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).

Fees

As a private university, ESMT charges tuition fees ranging from €28,000 – €49,000.

Eligibility

• At least three years of consecutive postgraduate, professional experience
• An undergraduate, or first university, degree of minimum 3 years (bachelor)
• Strong GMAT, GRE, or BAT scores (the average GMAT score is 640)
• English proficiency test scores: TOEFL scores (95 minimum), PTE scores (64 minimum), IELTS scores (7 minimum), or other English proficiency tests are accepted).
• Knowledge of German is not mandatory but is advantageous.

Courses offered & admission process

The courses offered are

• Masters in Global Management
• Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Masters in Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
• Global MBA (Online)
• Part-time MBA
• Full-time MBA
• Executive MBA
• Doctoral programme

All these courses are offered in English. The admission process begins with an online application and screening, followed by an interview, a decision and acceptance or rejection of the offer.

6. SRH Hochschule Berlin

Source: Wikidata

SRH University of Applied Sciences, also called SRH Hochschule is a private state-accredited university. As a Hochschule, it offers post-secondary education with more emphasis on practical learning and training when compared to a traditional university.

Why is it good to study here?

• With 5 schools in 3 different cities in Germany, SRH provides a diverse, multicultural global ed experience.
• You have the choice of over 70 accredited German and English language programmes
• On average, around 50% of your course is dedicated to practical learning.

Fees

The average fee for a bachelor’s programme for a non-EU student is about €9,000 per year and €12,900 per year for a master’s programme.

Eligibility

For bachelor’s programmes

• Higher education entrance qualification or an equivalent foreign degree
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of your passport/ID
• Further requirements for some programmes (e.g. text or work samples, letter of motivation etc.) can be found on the respective study programme pages
• For courses taught in English: TOEFL (Minimum 87), IELTS (Minimum 6.5) or PTE (Minimum 59)
• For courses taught in German: DSH-Prüfung (level 2) / TestDaF 4 / Goethe-Zertifikat C1 or C2 or Telc C1 or C2 or equivalent

For master’s programmes

• Bachelor’s degree including transcript
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of your passport / ID
• Letter of motivation
• Further requirements for some programmes (portfolios, work experience, specific required degrees, as required by the specific course)
• Language requirements are the same as bachelor’s.

Courses offered & admission process

Ranging from computer science, and design to engineering and supply chain management, the different courses at SRH are offered under the 4 schools.

• School of Design and Communication
• School of Management
• School of Popular Arts
• School of Technology

You can access the entire list of courses here.

The application deadline for the winter semester beginning October 1 is August 15 and the summer semester beginning 1 April is 1 February. While these are the deadlines, it is recommended that foreign students, especially from non-EU/ non-EEA nations apply well in advance to give enough time for student visa processing. In addition to the tuition, a one-time enrollment fee of €3,000 must be paid to secure your admission.

7. Universität der Künste Berlin (University of the Arts)

Source: Wikipedia

A public art and design school, Berlin University of the Arts is the largest art school in Europe. One of the few art colleges in Germany to attain a full university status, the history of this institution can be traced back to 1696.

Why is it good to study here?

• Ranked 33 in the world and 1 in Germany for Art and Design by QS world rankings
• Access to over 40 different courses offered through four colleges specialising in fine arts, architecture, media and design, and music and performing arts.
• Renowned for its cutting-edge research in industrial and fashion design.
• Has been associated with industry greats such as Günter Grass, Vivienne Westwood, Norbert Bisky, Ali Kaaf and SEO to name a few.

Fees

Except for a few select postgraduate programmes (Cultural Journalism, Music Therapy Digital Communication and Sonic Arts), UdK does not charge any tuition fee. However, all students pay an enrolment charge of about €320 per semester.

Eligibility

For undergraduate admissions:

• University entrance qualification (“Abitur” equivalent). The university entrance qualification is not essential if applicants demonstrate outstanding artistic talent.
• Creative talent
• Sufficient knowledge of German. (C1 level at the time of enrolment)
• 6 weeks of preparatory practical experience (internship)
• IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL iBT score of 95 for the English-taught programmes
• Art portfolio and resume

For master’s admissions:

• 4-year B.A. degree or a comparable degree
• Artistic talent
• Sufficient knowledge of German (Language certificate German B1 for application and Language certificate German C1 for enrolment)
• IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL iBT score of 95 for the English-taught programmes
• Art portfolio and resume

Courses offered & admission process

While the university has a wide variety of courses to choose from, the following programmes are taught in English

• Master of Arts in Dance
• Master of Arts in Sound Studies and Sonic Arts
• Master of Arts in Jazz Arrangement and Composition
• Master of Music in European Jazz

You can access the entire list of programmes here. The application process is online, where you can register with the UdK website. The necessary documents, transcripts, bank statements and a processing fee of €30 must be uploaded/ paid via the university portal. The application period for the winter semester is between February and March.

8. HTW Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Source: HTW

Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft (HTW) is the largest university for applied sciences in Berlin. Offering over 70 different programmes in the fields of technology, computing, business, culture and design, this school has one of the highest percentages of international students in Germany.

Why is it good to study here?

• Offers an extensive range of programmes from mechanical engineering to modern study programs such as facility management, game design or economic policy
• About 26.4% of the student population at HTW are international students
• Has a network of cooperation partnerships with about 150 universities of which around 120 of them are located in the EU.
• The university focuses on practice-oriented research

Fees

The MBA and Engineering in Life Science Management is a paid international programme which has a tuition of €16,000, in addition to semester fees of €305. For all the other programmes, only a semester fee of about €225 is charged.

Eligibility

• a university entrance qualification or a recognised undergraduate degree
• Proof of German proficiency: DSH 2/ TestDaF 4/ Goethe Zertifikat C2  or equivalent
• Proof of English proficiency: TOEFL iBT of 95/ IELTS of 7.0 or equivalent
• Some programmes also have a numerus clausus (minimum GPA to even apply)/ an aptitude test/ pre-study work experience / a portfolio.

Courses offered & admission process

While the university does offer over 70 study programs, the following ones are taught in English

• B.A. and M.A. International Business
• MBA
• M.Sc. Construction and Real Estate Management
• M.Sc. Professional IT Business and Digitalization
• M.Sc. Project Management and Data Science

The application process is online and goes via uni-assist. The application period for the winter semester is 1 April to 30 June and the summer semester is 1 October to 31 December.

9. Steinbeis University

Source: Steinbeis University

A private university of applied sciences founded in 1998, Steinbeis University is renowned for its courses in engineering and economics.

Why is it good to study here?

• Most known for its ‘project competence study’. This ensures that the students produce not only academic or theoretical research insights but also show relevant outcomes that drive innovations in reality
• The university works in close connection with industry partners to simultaneously build entrepreneurial skills among its students.

Fees

The fee ranges from €700 to €13,000, depending on the course.

Eligibility

• General university entrance qualification (Abitur) or equivalent / a recognised bachelor’s degree
• Proof of English / German competency

Courses offered & admission process

The following programmes are taught in English

• B.Sc in IT Management
• B.Sc and M.Sc in Business Informatics
• M.Sc in Industrial Engineering
• M.Sc in Business Management
• M.Sc in International Management
• M.Sc in IT Systems Engineering
• Master of Business Engineering MBE
• MBA
• M.A. in Economics and Organisational Psychology

10. Berlin International University of Applied Sciences

Source: Berlin International University of Applied Sciences

A private not-for-profit institution, this school offers bachelor’s and master’s programs in architecture, design and business administration. It is one of the very few schools in Germany where all courses are taught in English.

Why is it good to study here?

• All programs are taught in English
• One of the leading institutions in terms of intercultural and interdisciplinary teaching and applied research.

Fees

The tuition fee ranges from €4,190 – €4,640 per semester plus a one-time registration fee of €600.

Eligibility

For bachelor’s admission

• German Abitur/ IB Diploma or equivalent
• TOEFL IBT of 74 / IELTS of 6.0 or equivalent
• Portfolio for the design programmes

For master’s admission

• A recognised undergraduate degree from a relevant field along with a certificate of the academic evaluation centre (APS)
• A minimum of one year of work experience, especially for a course like an MBA.
• TOEFL IBT of 74 / IELTS of 6.0 or equivalent
• Portfolio for the design programmes

Courses offered & admission process

• BA Graphic Design and Visual Communication
• BA Interior Design
• BA Architecture
• BA Business Administration
• BA Data Science and Business
• MA Interior Architecture
• MBA

The application process is online where the necessary documents in the original language and the translations are uploaded. The university usually takes about 4 weeks to process the application.