Germany is one of the most popular countries for studying abroad, and with good reason. Germany is one of the best and most inviting places for international students to study because of its approach to higher education and dedication to internationalism within the German educational system.
Additionally, Germany has a reasonable cost of living, and international students pay the same tuition fees as local students, while public universities do not charge any tuition fees.
Furthermore, English is increasingly used as the main language of instruction in German universities, to the point where it is possible to complete your course or earn your entire degree without taking a single German-language class.
However, if you are a German student, there are still plenty of classes offered in the local language. Additionally, you can even find programs specific to German language immersion if you’re up for it!
Germany is home to hundreds of universities, more than ten of which are ranked among the top 200 in the world. You can probably find a university that is a good fit wherever you want to study abroad in Germany and whatever you want to learn.
To help you out in your selection, here’s a list of eight of the best universities in Germany for international students.
Best Universities in Berlin
A wide range of different course options is available to students who study abroad in Berlin, which is home to some of the most highly regarded universities in all of Europe. The good news is that many courses are taught in both German and English, which is great for our friends who don’t speak German.
Freie University of Berlin
A top-ranking research university and the largest of four research universities in Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin expects one-third of its student population to consist of overseas students in the future.
The university ranked 130th on the QS World University Rankings in 2021 and is particularly strong in arts and humanities, and social sciences. The university has regional offices in the US, Belgium, Russia, China, Egypt, and India, which enables it to establish reliable collaborations with numerous universities and provide better services to students from those nations.
Technical University Munich
Germany’s highest-ranking university, Technische Universität München, or TUM, comes in 50th on the World University Rankings in 2021. TUM excels in the more technical disciplines, like engineering. The university hosts over 15,000 international students, making up about 34% of its total student population.
Over 160 international partnerships, including those with prestigious universities like MIT, Stanford, Cornell, and Georgia Tech, have resulted from the university’s strength in research and engineering. The university also has effective alliances in Asia and Europe.
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
One of Germany’s oldest universities, LMU ranks 63rd in the 2021 QS World University Rankings, falling in between rivals TUM and Heidelberg.International students are almost 15% of the student population. In order to accommodate international students, the university offers more than 100 areas of study, with an increasing number of those classes being taught in English, particularly in the fields of business, management, psychology, and physics.
Best Universities in Smaller German Cities
Baden-Württemberg, a state located in southwest Germany, is a popular destination for international students due to its highly renowned universities and beautiful landscapes. As universities here are in smaller cities with fewer expats, students in this area are often looking for a more immersive study abroad experience.
Best Universities in Munich
Munich (or Munchen as the locals call it) is the largest city in the state of Bavaria and is a city rich in German culture and history. Munich offers many excellent German universities, making it a simple decision for international students to study abroad there.
Leuphana University Lüneburg
If you want to immerse yourself in German history and language, head to historic Lüneburg and Leuphana University. The university may not draw as many international students as more popular German study abroad destinations, but you’ll have the chance to practice your German skills, continue taking classes in subjects of interest, and experience north-central Germany in the process. Lüneburg is also an easy train ride away from Hamburg if you start to crave the big city for a weekend trip.
Heidelberg University
Founded in 1386 and ranking 64th in the 2021 World University Rankings, Heidelberg University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Western Europe. It performs best in the sciences. More than 20% of the student body consists of international students from around 130 countries.
Also, more than one-third of its doctoral students are international students. Many of the university’s classes are in German, so this is a better option for international students with prior German experience looking for language immersion.
Hochschule Furtwangen University
HFU is a small university located in Baden-Württemberg, focused on the applied sciences. Despite its size, Furtwangen University is highly regarded as one of the best universities in Germany for international students. The university, which is comprised of about 16% international students, ranked first among all universities in Germany in one survey of international student satisfaction, and it has more than 100 partner universities.
University of Freiburg
With 18% of its student body coming from 120 nations besides Germany, University of Freiburg in Baden-Württemberg aims to please international students. The university also offers popular intensive German language courses at its Language Teaching Center, which draws students from more than 50 countries during semester breaks to learn German. The Global Studies Program, a distinguished international master’s program in English, is also a big draw for international students.
Schiller International University
Schiller International University is a true international university, with campuses in the US and Europe. The main campus is actually in Florida, but the first and largest campus is in Heidelberg, Germany and originally began as a study abroad program in Germany for Americans.
More than 100 nations now send students to Schiller International University. Because the university is accredited in the United States and is based on the American educational system, many study abroad programmes use it. On all campuses, English is the language of instruction. The offered programs, which include two-year and four-year programs, are typically more career-based.