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- Do German universities teach in English?
- Do I Need to Speak German to Study in Germany?
- Is University in Germany free for international students?
- Popular Universities in Germany that teach in English
- Universities from English-speaking countries with campuses in Germany
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Germany has 536 universities which offer degree programs in all different types of subjects. As an international student, you may be wondering if any of these programs are taught in English. To put you at ease, yes! About 290 universities in Germany offer programs in English that are open to all students, including non-EU students! Most of these universities are public and are free of tuition. Yes, you read that correctly: tuition-free! Additionally, if you speak German, international students are also welcome to apply to German-taught language programs.
German Universities that offer ALL programs in English
Most universities have programs that are taught in German and programs that are taught in English. However, there are some German universities whose main language is exclusively English. These are private universities and offer all programs in English. They are not the norm but if these interest you then it’s worth a look:
- Jacobs University Bremen,
- Hertie School of Governance in Berlin,
- Munich Intellectual Property Law Center in Munich,
- Bard College Berlin (bachelor’s only),
- CODE University of Applied Sciences in Berlin (bachelor’s only).
At MyGermanUniversity, we know that international students are eager to come and study in Germany but may not have all of the resources and information about how it works and which programs are available to them. That’s why we have taken the work out of the research process for you and compiled the largest database of English-taught study programs on our StudyFinder which has 24171 bachelors and masters programs!
Whether you prefer to browse these programmes by subject, city or university, we have taken the guesswork out of finding your dream study programme in Germany. This article serves as an introduction to universities in Germany that offer English language programmes.
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Go to the video courseDo German universities teach in English?
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Yes, you can study at a German university in English. This is not a rumor, it’s not a myth, it’s a fact! Some of our study counselors at MyGermanUniversity have studied in Germany as international students from Peru, the United States, Brazil and Georgia and have first-hand experience at universities in Germany which teach in English.
German universities are well aware of the fact that if they want to attract international students, offering programs in English is a must. While international students are also welcome to apply to German-taught programs, it’s rare that students from abroad are fluent in German at an academic level. Moreover, universities that offer English-taught programs also usually have English-speaking staff at admissions offices, registration offices, and all appropriate and important facilities on campus.
English-taught programs at German universities are a standard and offered even at Germany’s internationally top-ranked universities. Because all of these universities are public, it means that they do not charge tuition fees, even for non-EU students! So don’t think you are settling for a second-class degree, Germany ranks third in the world for top-ranked universities, so be sure to check them out and see if one of them is right for you. For more information on tuition fees at German universities, read our article about “Tuition-free Universities in Germany taught in English”.
Do I Need to Speak German to Study in Germany?
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Simply put, no! You don't need to speak German to study at a German university, as long as you meet the minimum language requirements for your chosen course. However, you will have more options if you consider programmes that are taught in English AND German. Therefore, speaking German will give you a wider choice of programmes available to you. You will also be better integrated into everyday life and have more options on the job market.
In general, you should be able to get by with little or no German. However, we encourage students who are planning to come to Germany to check out some free online German courses to get a basic grounding in the language. Depending on the city you are planning to study in, you may need more German language skills. In addition, if you plan to share a flat with other students off campus or communicate with doctors and locals, some basic German will be very helpful.
We strongly encourage international students to seek out some resources to learn a little German, but know that if you are applying to an English-taught programme, your university will have resources available to you in English regarding admissions, registration, visa details and more. Many German universities also offer German courses that you can enrol in once you are in Germany. Alternatively, you can look for courses at a German language school.
Is University in Germany free for international students?
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Simply put, yes, there are free universities in Germany. There are no tricks or hidden fees, public universities in Germany are FREE. This applies to all students, including non-EU students, who choose to attend a public university. As mentioned above, even the top universities in Germany are tuition-free.
Every university in Germany charges a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag), which averages between €200 and €300 per semester (there are a few universities that charge more or less). This fee covers administrative costs, social services and your public transport ticket, which gives you unlimited use of the local public transport system.
There are some important exceptions to the free tuition rule that you should be aware of:
1
Professional/Executive Programs:
Executive study programs are professional degree programs that are offered at many universities in Germany may charge a marginal tuition fee, some examples being an L.LM, MBA, MPA, or the Erasmus Mundus joint master’s degree.
2
The state of Baden-Württemberg:
The state of Baden-Württemberg in the south of Germany has a mandatory tuition fee of 1,500 € per semester to all non-EU students. Some of the state’s more well known cities such as Heidelberg, Freiburg, Stuttgart, and Constance, will all charge this non-EU tuition fee at their universities.
3
Private Universities:
Germany has a great selection of private universities to choose from. It is important to note that private universities charge tuition to all of their students (not just non-EU students), though the tuition cost is generally lower than tuition fees at other private universities abroad, averaging between 5,000 and 7,000 € per semester.
Popular Universities in Germany that teach in English
While more than 280 universities in Germany offer degree programs taught in English, there are some which are more popular among international students. This can be due to their location in large cities or their top-ranking status. Regardless, we have compiled just a few universities that students from abroad show great interest in and listed them below. Keep in mind that this list is not comprehensive and does not include all universities with English-taught programs.
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU)
© Gryffindor.
Located in the heart of Munich, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) is Germany's second largest university (in terms of student numbers) and dates back to 1472. LMU has one of the largest medical complexes in Europe with 46 clinics, institutes and departments as well as 46 interdisciplinary centres covering all branches of medicine.
Technical University of Munich (TUM)
© TobiasK. Type of license: CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Technische Universität München (TUM) is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, Freising-Weihenstephan, Heilbronn and Singapore. It is a member of the TU9, an association of the largest and most prestigious German technical universities, and has been a "University of Excellence" since 2006. TUM offers more than 60 English-taught degree programmes, making it an ideal destination for international students, with around 20% of the student body coming from abroad.
Humboldt University of Berlin
© Christian Wolf. Type of license: CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.
Founded in 1806, Humboldt-Universität (HU) is Berlin's oldest university and was known as Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität until 1949. Humboldt University has many famous alumni, including Max Weber, Friedrich Engels, Max Planck, Albert Einstein and 55 Nobel Prize winners. Humboldt University is considered one of the most prestigious universities in Germany and Europe.
Free University of Berlin
© Torinberl. Type of license: CC BY-SA 3.0.
Founded in 1948 at the beginning of the Cold War, Freie Universität has quickly become one of the most prestigious universities in Germany and Europe, and was the first university in Berlin to be designated a "University of Excellence", a title it has held since 2007. Freie Universität maintains strategic partnerships with many universities abroad, including UC Berkeley, Oxford University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Peking University.
Technical University of Berlin
© Gunnar Klack. Type of license: CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Technische Universität Berlin (TU) is one of the largest technical universities in Germany. The TU offers a full range of engineering and science programmes, as well as a renowned faculty of humanities, which includes top institutions such as the Centre for Research on Anti-Semitism and the Centre for Gender Studies. TU Berlin is a member of TU9, an association of Germany's largest and most prestigious technical universities, and was awarded the title of "University of Excellence" for the first time in 2019 (as part of the Berlin University Alliance, together with Freie Universität and Humboldt Universität).
Universities from English-speaking countries with campuses in Germany
There are now a number of foreign (private) universities that have a campus in Germany and award foreign degrees. Here are some of them:
- Arden University - Berlin Study Centre
Arden University is a private teaching university based in the UK. Arden offers a variety of bachelor’s and master’s programs with blended online distance learning options. They have study centers across the UK and one in Berlin as well. They offer degrees in various topics from data analytics to finance, and psychology.
- Lancaster University Leipzig
Students can now receive a degree from a highly ranked UK university while in Germany! In January 2020, Lancaster University welcomed its first students to the new campus in Leipzig, Germany. LU Leipzig offers a range of degree programs, encouraging mobility between the UK and Germany for their students. They also will have the opportunity to apply for internships, placement, and graduate employment in both Lancaster and Leipzig.
- SAE Institute Berlin
The SAE Institute was founded in 1976 and is the largest, industry-focussed creative media program with more than 50 campuses over 28 different countries. SAE offers bachelor’s and master’s in various fields in creative media (audio, film, animation, music, etc.). Some campuses are in global hubs such as London, Munich, Paris, New York, and of course, Berlin. Programs in Berlin are taught in English as well as German.
- Schiller International University - Heidelberg Campus
Schiller International University is a private US-American university for four campuses in four different locations around the globe: Paris (France), Madrid (Spain), Largo (USA), and Heidelberg (Germany). The German campus in Heidelberg dates back to the late 1960s. The Schiller International University offers bachelor's and master’s degrees in several topics from tourism and management to international relations and diplomacy.
