Skip to main content

Universities in Germany

Germany is internationally recognised for its outstanding universities. Here you will find everything you need to know on the subject.

Klaus LüberKlaus Lüber, 01.02.2024
Students at the Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Students at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) © Esther Stärcke/TUM

Germany is the most popular non-English-speaking host country among international students. Around one in ten of Germany’s approximately three million students come from abroad. Often referred to in German as “Unis” for short, universities in Germany are popular because of their exemplary research, excellent teaching and close links with industry. This ensures students gain valuable practical experience as well as helping graduates find a good job quickly.

Which German universities are the best rated?

The current top performers in the annual international ranking published by Times Higher Education (THE) are as follows: Technical University of Munich (TUM, 30th), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU, 38th), Humboldt University of Berlin (HU, 87th) and RWTH Aachen University (90th). They are all funded under the Excellence Strategy, i.e. in the area of top-level research.

What types of universities are there in Germany?

There are 422 universities in Germany, including a number of different types: in addition to regular universities, there are universities of applied sciences (“Hochschulen für angewandte Wissenschaften” – HAW, and “Fachhochschulen” – FH), art and music colleges, and vocational academies. Universities and HAW count as higher education institutions.

Regular universities primarily teach theoretical knowledge and attach great importance to research, while universities of applied sciences are geared more towards practical training in areas such as engineering, economics or the social sciences. Art and music colleges offer subjects such as music, architecture, art and design. Vocational academies offer dual study programmes where students spend a certain period of time in a company, although this type of programme is available at numerous universities and HAW, too.

How much does it cost to study in Germany?

60 percent of universities in Germany are financed by the state. These are also known as “public” universities and do not charge tuition fees. Baden-Württemberg is the only federal state in Germany in which international students have to pay 1,500 euros per semester. Around 30 percent of German universities are state-recognised but privately run: most of these are HAW. Some of them charge high tuition fees. Students should expect to spend between 800 and 1,200 euros a month on living expenses.