Tuition-free Universities in Germany taught in English

If you have been honing your German skills for some time and are not limiting your search to English-language programs, then you have more options open to you as Germany has 537 universities in total! There is a great range of universities from large universities to smaller ones, should you be looking for a more one-on-one style approach to learning with your academic adviser. However, for those of us who haven’t quite mastered (or even started to learn) the wonderful and complex German language, there is no need to worry because there is something for you in Germany!

Over 280 universities in Germany offer English-language study programs to give international students opportunities to pursue a postgraduate degree though they don't speak German. The English degree programs available all have English-speaking faculty and staff as well. A variety of study programs are available to you, from film studies to political science to chemistry! Universities in Germany are aware that being able to study in a German-language program requires a lot of work and is near impossible for international students to achieve outside of Europe. So don't be discouraged in thinking you need to be fluent in German to study at these great programs. Additionally, once here, there are German-language courses available to you which you can take alongside your studies.

In Germany, public universities are tuition-free, and not just for German or EU citizens! You don't need to have been to Germany or speak German to apply to German universities. International students are welcome and encouraged to apply to universities in Germany, and with so many tuition-free English programmes, there is plenty to choose from.

Why would Germany do such a crazy thing you ask?

Well, the general idea is that international students come to Germany to study, integrate into German society during their studies and then join the German workforce after graduation, creating a cultural bridge between their home country and Germany. As Germany has the strongest economy in the EU, it's safe to say they might be onto something!

However, this is not a specialized fee directed at international students, but rather a general fee for ALL students who wish to apply to these specialized study programs.

Our helpful StudyFinder can filter these programs out for you so that you can make sure you find the perfect program for you.

• If you are interested in checking out some of these specialized degree programs, you can use special filters, e.g. for MBA or LL.M. programs or double-degrees.
• Otherwise, just keep your eye on those tuition-free programs which are always offered at public universities by filtering for "no tuition fees".

In Germany, all public higher education institutions are free, even the country's top universities! Unlike other countries that charge crazy tuition fees due to the high demand of students who want to attend them, Germany's top universities charge the same tuition price as the rest: nothing. That's right, you don't have to limit your university search based on tuition fees alone, as even the most prestigious German universities are free, e.g.

• Freie Universität Berlin (Free University of Berlin),
• Heidelberg University (Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg)*,
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Humboldt University in Berlin),
• LMU - Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (University of Munich),
• RWTH Aachen University (Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen),
• Technical University of Munich (Technische Universität München),
• University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn),
• University of Freiburg (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg)*,
  
  *except for Non-EU students (cf. "Special case: Baden-Württemberg").

While these are some of the many top-ranked universities in Germany, there are other well-known institutions with great programmes that are also public and therefore do not charge tuition fees.

In addition to public universities, Germany has a wide range of private universities with great study programmes. You may have heard of one of these private universities offering degrees taught in English:

• Bucerius Law School,
• Frankfurt School of Finance and Management,
• Hochschule Fresenius - University of Applied Sciences,
• IUBH University of Applied Sciences,
• Constructor University,
• Kühne Logistics University,
• WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management,
• Witten/Herdecke University,

Although private universities charge tuition fees at their own discretion, the fees are still significantly lower (on average €5,000-7,000 per semester) than at private universities in other countries.

Private universities charge a tuition fee to all students, not just international students.

Despite these fees, private institutions are still very popular in Germany and many students prefer to attend them, sometimes looking for a very specialised programme or the option of smaller classes. Whatever the reason may be, should you be interested in looking at the different private universities which Germany has to offer, click here to view the programs and institutions that our StudyFinder has for you.

Not fluent in German? No problem! There are plenty of English-language study programmes. You know that studying in Germany doesn't mean studying in German. If you are looking for a study abroad programme that is affordable and in a language you are comfortable with, then Germany is the place for you. There is a study programme for everyone!

These universities also have English-speaking staff and lecturers who can answer any questions you may have. This can be particularly useful during the application process. MyGermanUniversity can also advise you on the ins and outs of applying to university once you have found your dream course. Sign up for our email list to receive tips and information, or join one of our weekly webinars to have your questions answered by one of our study advisors!