Best universities in Berlin for international students

Want to study in Berlin but don’t know which universities offer degrees in English? Here’re the best Berlin universities for international students.

Ivandzhelin

5 minute read

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16 Mar 2023

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Studying

Universities in Berlin are popular among international students as they offer courses in English, are free or affordable and are one of the highest-ranked universities in Germany. But with 38 universities to choose from, how do you decide where to study in Berlin?

To help you narrow your options, here’s a list of the 9 best universities in Berlin based on their ranking, tuition fees and the number of English-taught programs they offer.

There’re 2 types of universities in Germany: public and private.

Public universities in Berlin have no tuition fees. Instead, you pay a contribution fee of €200–€300 per semester towards things like the student union, registration, and a semester ticket. As an exception, you’ll need to pay a semester contribution and tuition fees if you’re enrolling for an executive, specialised or Master’s degree that requires work experience.

Private universities in Berlin tend to offer more specialised courses, often in English, and charge tuition fees. The tuition cost varies between universities and degrees.

While going through the universities and the courses linked below, pay special attention to the admission criteria. If the course has “NC” (numerus clausus) or “restricted admission”, it means that there’re fewer spots available and you need to meet certain requirements to gain admission.

Founded in 1810, Humboldt University of Berlin is one of the most-renowned universities in Germany today. They offer courses in English at a Master’s level in areas such as business studies, social sciences, agriculture, and medicine.

• Public university
• Ranking: 131st (QS) and 80th (THE) worldwide ranking
• 6,494 international students
• 21 English-taught programs at Master’s level
• Semester contribution of €315.64 (2023)

The Freie Universität Berlin was founded in 1948. Today, it’s part of the institutions funded by the Government’s Excellence Strategy. Its programs are focused on humanities, social and natural sciences and medicine.

• Public university
• Ranking: 118th (QS) and 91st (THE) worldwide ranking
• 13% of Bachelor’s and 29% of Master’s students are international
• 21 English-taught programs (Bachelor’s: 1 and Master’s: 20)
• Semester contribution of €237.89 (upcoming 2023 semester)

Technische Universität Berlin is a recognised research university whose work aims to improve the fields of science and technology. The university focuses its research and teaching in 6 areas: digital transformation, sustainability, human health, urban/environmental systems, photonics, and design.

• Public university
• Ranking: 158th (QS) and 156th (THE) worldwide ranking
• 10,169 international students
• 19 English-taught programs at Master’s level
• Semester contribution of €307.54 (2023). Some Master’s programs have a tuition fee varying between €11,000 and €24,990.

The Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the home of the medical faculty of the Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin. It’s one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. The courses offered are updated yearly to keep up with the newest developments in the field of medicine and dentistry.

• Public university
• Ranking: 68th (QS) for Medicine and 73rd (THE) worldwide ranking
• 1,697 international students
• 4 fully English-taught programs at Master’s level
• Semester contribution of €315 (2023) and tuition fees of around €2,500 per semester.

Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin (HTW) was founded in 2014 and is currently the largest university of applied sciences in the city. Subjects are in the fields of mechanical engineering, business administration, facility management, economic policy and game design.

• Public university
• Ranking: 616th in Europe and 84th in Germany (EduRank)
• 26.4% international students
• 8 English-taught programs (Bachelor’s: 1 and Master’s: 7)
• Semester contribution of €310 (2023). Some Master's degrees have tuition fees between €12,500 and €16,000.

The Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR) is one of Berlin’s largest universities of applied sciences. The university combines theoretical and practical knowledge in its teaching methods to prepare its graduates. HWR Berlin offers programs in business, economics, legal management, security management, and engineering.

• Public university
• Ranking: 750th in Europe (EduRank)
• 1,531 international students from over 110 countries
• 26 Bachelor’s and Master’s English-taught programs (16 fully English-taught)
• Semester contribution of €300 (2023). Tuition fee for MBA is €19,800 for the whole program.

The highest-ranked business school in Germany offers Master’s, MBA and PhD programs at its campus in Berlin. The structural and course organisation of ESMT focus on leadership, innovation and analytics.

• Private university
• Ranking: 8th (FT’s European Business Schools) and 75th (QS Masters in Management)
• 694 students from over 88 countries
• 3 English-taught programs at Master’s level and 1 full-time MBA program
• Tuition fee: €32,000 (Master’s) and €49,000 (MBA)

The SRH campus in Berlin has lecturers and students from over 100 countries. SRH offers 70 programs in total taught in German or English. The programs at the university are in the fields of media, entrepreneurship, management, technology, creative industries, design, IT, film and text.

• Private university
• Ranking: 175th in Germany (EduRank)
• 2,446 students from over 90 nationalities
• 44 English-taught programs (Bachelor’s: 26, Master’s: 15, and MBAs: 3)
• Enrolment fee of €500-€900. Tuition fee for Bachelor's degree is €650 per month for EU students and €4,500 per semester for non-EU students. Tuition for Master's degree is €800 per month for EU students and between €5,400 and €6,450 for non-EU students.

Berlin University of Arts is the highest-ranked art university in Germany. The university has over 70 programs divided between 4 colleges: Fine Arts, Design, Music and Performing Arts.

• Public university
• Ranking: 33rd in Art and Design, and 44th in Performing Arts worldwide (QS)
• 33% international students)
• 4 English-taught programs at Master’s level
• No tuition fee and a €30 registration fee. But for the Sound Studies and Sonic Arts (Master of Arts), the tuition fee is €2,700 per semester plus a semester fee of €313.49.

The application requirements will vary depending on the degree and your country of origin. Some specialised degrees require portfolios or video recordings to complete your application, so we recommend checking out the specific requirements.

In general, to apply for a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree in Berlin, you’ll need:

• Completed application form (if necessary)
• High school diploma (Bachelor’s) or a University diploma (Master’s)
• Course transcripts
• Proof of language proficiency
• Valid ID or passport (copies)
• German student visa (if necessary)
• Passport photo
• Payment receipt of application fee (if necessary)
• Letter of motivation and CV (if necessary)
• Letter(s) of recommendation (if necessary)

If you completed your previous level of education outside of Germany, you should check whether your diploma is recognised.

As you compare all the universities to make your decision, one thing is certain — Berlin is a great city for international students. It’s even ranked as the 6th best student city in the world! Here’re the top 3 reasons why:

1. Berlin’s diversity makes international students feel at home quickly.
2. The affordable cost of living for students makes it possible to have a great student life.
3. The career prospects are plenty, thanks to Berlin being host to international companies and a bubbling start-up scene.

Did you find your dream university on our list? All you need to do now is apply and start planning your move to Berlin.

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