Top Universities in Germany for International Students

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Germany is the top student destination and choice for international students to study in Europe. It is home to 49 universities featured in the QS World University Rankings 2024.

According to Erudera, Germany is home to 458 210 international students. The enrollment has increased by 52% from 2013-2026. Most international students come from India (42,578) and China (39,137).

The factors behind the growth are not motivated only by free tuition fees but also by studying English language programs in Germany. It was never easy to find English language programs as expected in the bachelor’s program. However, according to the International Program search tool from the DAAD, they found 116 bachelors taught in English.

How much does it cost to study in Germany as an international student?

While in 2014, about 16 states in Germany abolished tuition fees for students studying at public universities, this did not last long before the southwest state of Baden-Württemberg reintroduced the tuition fees. From 2017, the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg has changed its laws charging non-Eu students EUR 1,500 per semester for all degree programs, especially for doctorate.

Nevertheless, you can still apply to some of the top universities in Germany that offer free tuition fees.

The cost of living in Munich is €1,020, excluding the tuition fees. Despite being an expensive city, you can find affordable student accommodation in Munich near universities.

Top tuition-free universities in Germany for international students 2024

Choosing from a comprehensive list of many universities can be daunting. Therefore, we’ve curated a list for you. Below is the tuition-free university in Germany that holds the top ranking in Germany and the world.

Technische Universität München (Technical University of Munich)

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Campuses: Main Campus, Garching Campus, Straubing Campus
International Students: 13,000
Location: Munich, Bavaria

It is on the top 10 QS Rankings Universities in Germany for international students ranking #1 in Germany and #37 Globally as per QS World University Rankings 2024.

The Technical University of Munich is a public university founded in 1868. It is a member of the TU9- the alliance of only the top technology universities in Germany. TUM is the best free tuition university in Germany and one of the universities in Germany that teaches English with popular courses in Business and Management.

There are about 200 degree programs with many English-taught courses. The Technical University of Munich will not charge students enrolled before winter 2024/25. However, students from third-world countries who enroll after winter 2024/25 will be charged.

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich)

Acceptance Rate: 42.5%
Campuses: Main Campus, Großhadern Campus, Martinsried Campus, Nymphenburg Campus, Weihenstephan Campus
International Students: 14,000
Location: Munich, Bavaria

LMU is on the top 10 QS Rankings Universities in Germany for international students ranking #2 in Germany and #54 Globally as per QS World University Rankings 2024.
LMU was founded in 1472 holding 500 years of experience in research and teaching. It is one of Europe’s leading public research universities and the top-ranking free education universities in Germany.

The education for all students. Students only have to pay a semester fee of 246 USD per year. There are over 300 programs ranging from management, medicine, history, and many others. There are English-taught master’s degree programs offered at LMU.

Universität Heidelberg (Heidelberg University)

Acceptance Rate: 29.3%
Campuses: Neuenheimer Feld Campus, International Campus, Main Campus
International Students: 5,546
Location: Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg

Universität Heidelberg is on the top 10 QS Rankings Universities in Germany for international students ranking #3 in Germany and =87 Globally as per QS World University Rankings 2024.

Heidelberg University is one of the oldest universities in Germany, founded in 1386. The university offers tuition-free education to students with a German university entrance qualification but pays a standard fee of 171 euros. At the same time, the non-EU/EEA countries pay tuition fees of 1,500 euros per semester. The university is home to about 30,000 students, 5,546 international students, and offers 150 programs. English language courses are also offered at this university.

Freie Universität Berlin (Free University of Berlin)

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Campuses: Dahlem, Lankwitz, Düppel, Virchow
International Students: 33,500
Location: Berlin, Germany

Freie Universität Berlin is on the top 10 QS Rankings Universities in Germany for international students ranking #4 in Germany and 98 Globally as per QS World University Rankings 2024.

Free University of Berlin is a public research university tracing its history to 1948. Today, it is one of Germany’s most prestigious universities, with a strong emphasis on political science and humanities . Free University of Berlin is one of the top universities with no tuition fee for all nationalities.

The university offers over 150 academic programs. The price is free for students pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s, except for those continuing education programs in different subjects. It is also one of the best English-taught universities in Germany.

Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen University)

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Campuses: Aachen, Jülich, Meschede
International Students: 20,000
Location: Aachen, Germany

RWTH Aachen University is on the top 10 QS Rankings Universities in Germany for international students ranking #5 in Germany and 106 Globally as per QS World University Rankings 2024.

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (The Humboldt University of Berlin)

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Campuses: Main, Charité, Adlershof, Buch
International Students: 36,000
Location: Berlin, Germany

The Humboldt University of Berlin Is on the top 10 QS Rankings Universities in Germany for international students ranking 7 in Germany and 120 Globally as per QS World University Rankings 2024.

The Humboldt University of Berlin is a public research university. It was founded in 1810 and brought many changes over 200 years. The university is the Mother of all universities and holds an outstanding place in research and teaching. Albert Einstein was the chair of the university board from 1914 to 1933.

Students only have to pay 639 USD per semester, which is available for local and international students. There are also English-taught courses at the Humboldt University of Berlin, explicitly designed for German art, history, and culture.

Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Campuses: Main, Charlottenburg, Adlershof
International Students: 37,000
Location: Berlin, Germany

TU Berlin Is on the top 10 QS Rankings Universities in Germany for international students ranking 8 in Germany and =154 Globally as per QS World University Rankings 2024.

TU Berlin is a public research university founded in 1879. It is a member of the TU9- the alliance of only the top technology universities in Germany. It came into existence through merging the Royal Trade and Building Academies. The university offers tuition fees free in Berlin unless you are continuing master’s programs. There’s a small semester fee. The fee can vary from semester to semester.

TU Berlin holds exceptions for research and teaching. They use a modern approach to science and its industry. They offer about 100 courses and 40 institutes.Most of the master’s degrees are taught in German, but some English-taught courses are in these programs.

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg ( University of Freiburg)

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Campuses: Main, Großhadern, Martinsried, Nymphenburg, Weihenstephan
International Students: 14,000
Location: Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

University of Freiburg is on the top 10 QS Rankings Universities in Germany for international students ranking =192 in Germany and 106 Globally as per QS World University Rankings 2024.

The University of Freiburg is a public research university founded in 1457. The Habsburg dynasty founded the university as the second after the University of Vienna. It is one of the 5th oldest universities in Germany and the most significant contributor to academic research globally. The University of Freiburg is a League of European Research Universities and U15 research group member.

The University of Freiburg offers free tuition fees for all programs, regardless of whether they are EU or non-EU. There will be only a small charge of the semester fee of 155 EUR. The university received an excellent teaching award, state teaching award, 550-year anniversary award, and many others. There are English-taught bachelor programs at the University of Freiburg.

Universität Hamburg (University of Hamburg)

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Campuses:Main, Großhadern, Martinsried, Nymphenburg, Weihenstephan
International Students: 14,000+
Location: Hamburg, Germany

The University of Hamburg was founded in 1919. It started by combining the Hamburg Colonial Institute, the General lecture system, and the Academia College. This is the first university built under the democratic government. The university has won 7 Nobel Prizes and Wolf Prize awards. Being a diverse research institute in the Northern part of the country, it supports 7 collaborative research centers.
The university offers 150 courses in all programs. For those seeking English-taught programs, it offers over 100 master’s programs partially taught in English.

What is the easiest university to get into for international students in Germany?

Some of the easiest universities to get into for international students are University of Potsdam, University of Hildesheim, University of Siegen, University of Kassel, University of Vechta, Fulda University of Applied Science, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen and University of Applied Sciences Bielefeld.