Universities in Germany

Located in Western Europe, Germany is a key player in the EU and an attractive destination for international students due to low or non-existent tuition fees, affordable costs of living, its multicultural environment and high quality education.

See also: Study in Germany

The types of university

There are three main types of university in Germany:

• Universities (Universität): These universities mainly focus on theory based studies with a focus on research output, are publicly funded and as such can be called public research universities. Examples include Heidelberg University, University of Freiburg and the University of Hamburg.
• Academies of the arts: These types of universities have a focus on the study of arts, film and music (Kunsthochschule, Filmhochschule and Musikhochschule). Examples include Berlin University of the Arts, University of the Arts Bremen and the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich.
• Universities of Applied Sciences: These types of universities have a focus on practical studies, to prepare their students for a professional career

In Germany, most universities are government funded, public universities. There are also many private universities to choose from.

See also: Public vs Private Universities in Germany

Popular German cities for students

There are a variety of interesting and exciting cities in Germany for international students to choose to study in, each with its own rich history and culture. These include:

• Berlin – Situated in the North East of Germany, Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is a popular destination for both tourists and students alike, with over 30 universities.
• Bremen – Located in the North of Germany on the Weser river, Bremen has long been an important hub of trade and commerce in Germany. International students have a choice of over 5 universities in Bremen.
• Dortmund – Situated in the Ruhr region in the West of Germany, Dortmund has a strong industrial heritage and is now a modern thriving city with several public and private universities for students to choose from.
• Frankfurt – Frankfurt is home to several prestigious universities and is seen as the financial hub of Europe.
• Hamburg – A port city on the river Elbe in the North of Germany, Hamburg is a bustling city with lots of employment prospects and home to several universities.
• Munich – The capital city of the southern German state of Bavaria, Munich enjoys rich history and traditions and is host to some of Germany’s top universities.

See also: Top 8 German Student Cities

The top universities in Germany

Germany can boast of having some of the best universities in the world, with 10 of its universities featuring in the top 150 in the Times Higher Education university rankings, including the Technical University of Munich, LMU Munich, Universität Heidelberg and Humboldt University of Berlin.

See also: Top 10 Universities in Germany, 

Table of the top ranked universities in Germany

We have compiled a list of some of the top universities and higher education providers in Germany to browse below. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see what courses are available for international students.