Tuition Free Universities in Germany for International Students

Free Universities In Germany and their requirements: Looking for tuition Free Universities In Germany to attend? Then this article will open your eyes to opportunities for studying for free in Germany.

No doubts, Germany is one of the best places to study abroad for international students because of the high quality of living couple with great Universities and colleges that accepts international applicants.

One of the reasons why Germany has been the first choice among more than 370,000 foreign students is the opportunity to study in English in Germany with the list of Universities in Germany that teach in English. So, if a German degree has always been your dream, but your enthusiasm has decreased when you think you have to learn the German language from scratch, do not worry. You still have other alternatives.

List of Tuition-free universities in Germany for International Students*

  • Humboldt University of Berlin
  • Technical University of Munich
  • Ludwig Maximilians University
  • Karlsruher Institute of Technology
  • University of Hamburg
  • Heidelberg University
  • Free University of Berlin
  • Technical University of Berlin
  • Darmstadt University of Technology
  • University of Stuttgart

*The list on this page does not, in any way, give a ranking of the universities in any order.

Description of the listed Tuition-free universities in Germany for International Students:

1.  HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN

Humboldt University is one of such tuition free universities in Germany famous in its wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses spanning across natural sciences, arts, and humanities – being one of the best universities in the world. The Humboldt University of Berlin was established in 1810 and located in the borough of Mitte, Berlin with a student population that numbers up to 32,000.

The school has made a lot of mark with over 50 Nobel laureates counted among the alumni of the university and is further associated with critical breakthroughs in science, including findings by Albert Einstein himself.

2. TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH

This university was established in the year 1868 and has since produced about 17 Nobel Laureates as a demonstration of its research strength and excellent education it provides. One of its expertise areas is the STEM fields, International students with interested in such areas can apply to study tuition-free.

3. LUDWIG MAXIMILIAN’S UNIVERSITY

It has been ranked among the top 100 universities in the world and has produced over 40 Nobel laureates. The university is one of the oldest in Germany and currently, also, one of the largest in terms of the student population with over 50,000 students. It offers courses spanning across Physical Sciences, Law, and Medicine to Business. As a public research university, it offers tuition-free education to both domestic and international students.

4. KARLSRUHE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

The Karlsruher Institute of Technology (KIT) is a young public research university that was established only recently in 2009 and located in Karlsruhe in Southern Germany. Despite its age, the institution has grown to be among the largest institutes of higher education in Germany and has also evolved into becoming one of Europe’s leading centers in engineering and natural science.

5. UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG

The University of Hamburg was established since 1919 and has so far educated thousands of scholars, producing prominent people around the world and has enriched lives through her graduands. The university is considered one of the best schools in German for international students to study and has an endowment of over 600 million euros.

6. HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY

Heidelberg University, officially known as Ruprecht Karls Universitat Heidelberg, is a renowned public research university based in the Heidelberg province of Germany. It was established in the year 1386 which puts her among the oldest existing universities in the world. It is also one of the top-ranking universities in the world as well in Germany.

7. FREE UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN

The Free University of Berlin was established during the Cold War Era and represented the Freedom of West Berlin, which was the stark contrast to the lack of freedom in East Berlin. The university is recognized internationally and offers free tuition programmes for International students.

8. TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN

Established in 1879 as a research university, the university has grown to a current population of 34,000 students studying around 200 different courses and programmes. The university focuses on technology-based programmes and it’s a member of the TU9 – technology focus institutes in Germany.

9. DARMSTADT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

The Darmstadt University of Technology (formally known as Technical University Of Darmstadt -TU Darmstadt) is a prestigious research institution located in central Germany in the city of Darmstadt. The university was founded in 1877; known for its Engineering expertise was recommended for Albert Einstein himself! TU Darmstadt is also a member of the reputed TU9 network in Germany and it’s a powerhouse for education in computer science and information technology studies. The school, so far, has grown to become one of the leading universities in both Germany and even Europe at large.

10. UNIVERSITY OF STUTTGART

The University of Stuttgart was ranked 263rd in QS World University Rankings 2016-17. It was established in 1829 and currently offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in a broad range of subjects gaining a worldwide reputation for its excellent education in the fields of technology, engineering, and natural sciences. The school offers tuition-free education except for a few mandatory fees charge per student, which is no tuition fee.

In case you have interested to study in Germany, you can look into applying to any of the above tuition free universities in Germany. Although the list is not exhaustive, we can say you will like it to explore more information for the list we have made available to you.

Student Living Costs in Germany

The cost of living in Germany is not high. Students may require about 630 – 1,000 EUR/month to cater for accommodation, which is the major expense they will make.

However, if you wish to stay in metropolitan cities like Berlin, Frankfurt or Dusseldorf, you may have to budget about 1400EUR/month for accommodation.

But for smaller towns and suburban regions, you may need about 1100EUR/month.

Here is an estimate of monthly living costs and more about expenses for students in Germany.

Accommodation costs in Germany

In your expenses, accommodation is the major expense to make. There are more affordable options for foreign students which is, to live in the halls of residence or single or shared private rented rooms. Here is a brief cost of an average living cost for a student.

  • Living alone: 360 EUR/month
  • Living with partner/child: 400/month
  • On-campus: 150-240 EUR/month

Most times, securing accommodation in the student hall of residence can be a hard nut to crack, according to a European study.

Furthermore, if you rent an apartment in Germany, you will also have to pay for:

  • Utilities: around 200 EUR/month
  • Internet pass: around 27 EUR/month.

Food costs

As a student in Germany, you will pay about 170 EUR/month on food. Some of the cheapest supermarkets you will find around the country are Aldi, Lidl, and Netto.

If you wish to have dinner in a restaurant once in a while you will pay 10 EUR for food in a cheap one. A three-course meal for two in an average restaurant costs 45 EUR and an additional light drink will be 3 EUR.

Transportation costs

Transportation cost is the next expense to consider as it consists of about 10% of monthly expenses.  Moving around on public transport is about 60EUR/month, with regards to the city; renting a bicycle can be around 20EUR/daily; using Germany’s Deutsche Bahn train system is around 20-70EUR.

Visa Fee

Another factor of crucial consideration is how to apply and obtain a student visa. The application for visa is strictly dependent on the country of origin. If you are from EU/EE, you may just require an identity card.

However, if you are from a nation like Japan, the UK, or the US, you can apply for a student visa when you are already in Germany. Every other person from other nations, especially from developing nations, will be required to apply in their country before they come to Germany. You can find out more German student visa requirements.

The German student visa fee is about 60 EUR.

What Documents do You Need to Apply for a Visa?

If you are coming from non-EU/EE nations, it would be better for you to inquire about and apply for the student visa in the German embassy in your home country. You will be required to present the following documents;

  • Evidence of adequate funds
  • Statement of accounts by parents
  • A letter of sponsorship from a person residing in Germany.

How to find an English course in Germany?

The information on this query is easily accessible, but it is scattered on the web and it seems to take time to complete the puzzle. If you have decided which university you want to graduate from, you just have to open your website and verify if there is an English course at this university.

On the other hand, if you have not yet decided which university you wish to enroll, we have compiled a complete list of degree courses in which you can study in English in Germany to facilitate your online research.

This list is easy to navigate because it allows you to limit the list of study programs according to the academic level. Once you have found the right courses, you can review their modules and assess if they seem to be particularly interesting and finally decide which ones fit your long-term academic goals and budget constraints.

Important note: there are more than 380 higher education institutions in Germany. To help you save time, keep in mind that if you want to apply for a university degree, concentrate more on private universities since few public courses are offered at public universities in the English language.

Tuition-free-universities-in-germany
Germany

Here are some of the best list of universities in Germany that teach in English:

  • Hochschule Mannheim –University of Applied Sciences
  • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
  • Berlin International University of Applied Sciences
  • Bremen University of Applied Sciences
  • Jacobs University
  • Technische Universitat Munchen
  • University of Gottingen
  • Max Planck Institute
  • Freie Universitat Berlin
  • University of Freiburg
  • Technische Universitat Dresden
  • Munich University of Applied Sciences
  • University of Bonn
  • Saarland University
  • University of Hohenheim
  • Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
  • Technische Universitat Kaiserslautern
  • Universitat Hamburg
  • ULM University
  • HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management
  • University of Bayreuth
  • WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management
  • University of Stuttgart
  • RWTH Aachen University
  • HTW Berlin
  • Technische Universitat Berlin
  • TU Darmstadt
  • University of Erfurt

FAQs On Tuition-Free Universities In Germany

Are universities free in Germany?

Yes, most public universities in Germany are free for both German and international students. However, you may have to pay a little fee called “semester fee” every semester to cover some student service charges. Meanwhile, some public university in Germany, like universities in Stuttgart, charges a low tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students.

Do you need to know German to study in Germany?

It is important to understand the German Language to study in Germany as it is the language mostly spoken in Germany. However, there are many universities in Germany that offer their programs in English, and coupled with their large international student population, you will not have any problem communicating in the English language.

Is law school in Germany free?

If you attend a free public university in Germany, a law program is also free. However, before you go to study Law in Germany, consider (1) the language barrier, and (2) where to work after your program. In Germany, Law is taught in German, so you must understand the language to study law. Also, since German law is not practiced in every part of the world, your degree may be irrelevant if you take it back to your home country.

How much does it cost to study medicine in Germany?

If you attend a free public university in Germany, you will not need to pay tuition fees to study medicine. You will only need to pay “semester fees” in addition to costs like accommodation and feeding.

What are the requirements to study in Germany?

To study in Germany, you’ll need your passport with visa or residence permit, proof of higher education entrance qualification – either original certificates or officially certified copies and translations, a notice of admission, and proof of language proficiency.

Does Germany have universal health care?

Yes, Germany has a universal multi-payer health care system paid for by a combination of statutory health insurance and private health insurance. However, you need a purchase a health insurance cover in your home country that covers your stay in Germany before going to study in the country. Most times, you’ll need to fulfill this requirement before getting your student Visa. However, if your health insurance plan is not valid in Germany, you’ll have to pay between €80 to €160 monthly to cover you.

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