Few countries in Europe are as attractive as Germany for international Bachelor’s students. The country boasts top study programmes, low tuition fees, affordable living costs, and excellent quality of life. Let’s have a look at what are the best universities in Germany for international students?
Germany is extremely popular among international students even if German is not that easy to learn. That’s because even if you don’t speak any German you can still go for a Bachelor’s here thanks to the numerous English-taught Bachelor’s. There are300 programmes listed on our portal alone, some of them at the best universities in Germany for international students.
Popular English-taught degrees in Germany
You can study almost any discipline you want in Germany, but some are more popular than others. Local universities are renowned and highly appraised for shining in academic areas like:
- Bachelors in Engineering
- Bachelors in Business & Management
- Bachelors in Natural Sciences
- Bachelors in Computer Science
- Bachelors in Social Sciences
Best universities in Germany for international students
Based on the latest QS and ARWU World University Rankings, the following are the best German universities that offer degrees taught in English:
>> Learn more about the QS World Ranking system here.
Technical University of Munich (TUM)
The Technical University of Munich is the best university in Germany according to both QS World University Ranking and Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities. It has a strong focus on research that is of world top quality and led to no less than 13 Nobel Prizes. As you can tell from its name, TUM offers mostly programmes in science and technology.
As for the city of Munich, is hard not to be charmed by its beauty. Looking like the perfect postcard of central Europe, the capital of Bavaria is a centre of art and technology. Besides, it has delicious beer and the famous Oktoberfest.
Heidelberg University
If you choose Heidelberg University, you’ll be studying at the oldest university in Germany, founded as early as the 14th century. Heidelberg doesn’t offer Bachelor’s that are delivered in English alone, so you need to know German as well, but it will be worth it.
The university has the best library in 211815 of Germany with over a million books and that’s no wonder considering its researchers won 33 Nobel prizes.
The Free University of Berlin
At the Free University of Berlin, you can study for a Bachelor’s in North American Studies, which is fully taught in English.
Berlin is one of the most vibrant cities in the world, keeping up with all that the 21st century has to offer, and will give you plenty of opportunities if you want to stay on in Germany after you graduate. But of course, you must be willing to embrace the busy life a large capital city has to offer.
University of Bonn
University of Bonn is an international institution with 4,500 students coming from abroad currently enrolled at the university. Bonn’s preoccupation with its international community can be seen in the 23 English-taught Bachelor’s programmes they offer, and this makes it one of the best universities in Germany for international students.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is undoubtedly one of the best universities in Germany for international students. Ideally, you should speak German to fully take advantage of education in Germany, but if you don’t, you have the chance to study a BSC in Mechanical Engineering at KIT that is fully taught in English.
University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg is an excellent choice for students interested in Humanities subjects as it offers four Bachelor’s in this area of study delivered in English. However, by the end of your studies, you’ll need to acquire an A2 level of German as well, so keep that in mind.
As a plus, if you enjoy doing activities in nature, Freiburg is an excellent location for hiking, skiing, or cycling. Plus, you’re less than an hour away from Switzerland and France, so you’ll get a triple experience abroad.
University of Tübingen
Another good choice is the University of Tübingen, especially if you’re interested in AI as the university has some intense research projects in this area.
As an extra, you’ll be staying in a university city with a predominantly young population, known for its many vegan food options and environmental preoccupations.
To complete our list of best universities in Germany for international students, we also recommend checking out these institutions:
- CBS International Business School
- SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences
- IU International University of Applied Sciences
- Karlshochschule International University
- MetFilm School
And if you’re already considering a Master’s after you graduate, learn more about your options in Germany for an English-taught MA:
Free English-taught universities in Germany
As long as you plan to enrol at a public higher education institution in Germany — either a regular university or a university of applied sciences (UAS) — we have excellent news for you:
All public universities in Germany are free for all international students, regardless of their nationality. The only exception is the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg, which reintroduced tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students at the end of 2017.
At all the other public universities, you’ll only pay an administration fee of 100–350 EUR per semester. Of course, you should also think about living costs, which usually range between 700 and 1,000 EUR per month. To handle their finances, many students consider taking a job during their studies. See here what your job options are if you want to study a Bachelor’s in Germany.
>> Learn more about tuition and living costs in Germany.
English-taught Bachelor’s don’t mean you won’t need German at all
Enrolling at one of the best universities in Germany for international students that offers English-taught Bachelor’s available will make your academic life easier. Plus, you will meet and hang out with other international students like you.
However, when it comes to everyday life, knowing a little German really makes a difference. Just like in most other places in the world, local people often prefer speaking their native language.
So, if you want to make Germany your home, you should consider taking some German-language courses while studying abroad. This will also help you if you decide to stay in Germany and apply for a Master’s degree as well.
>> Curious to know more about life in Germany as a student? Read this article: 5 Top Questions About International Student Life in Germany
Learning German is not a bad way of spending your time; you will know the language of one of the most developed countries in the world, and many job-related opportunities will open up for you if you plan to stay in Germany after graduation.
In the meantime, relax. If you want to experience the best universities in Germany for international students, you can still do it thanks to the English-taught Bachelor’s they offer and the various available scholarships.