If you want to study for free at the best universities in the world and want to be part of the international students, it is best that you set your sights on Germany. Whether you are from Europe or any other continent, it is possible to complete your undergraduate or postgraduate studies at German public universities for free.
Due to the high demand for free education, international students have to obtain a residence permit before they can study in Germany. Although the process of doing so can be laborious, the rewards of studying at free universities in Germany are great.
Another option is to study with impressive scholarships in Germany. The International University of Applied Sciences offers up to 80% tuition scholarships to students from Asia, Africa, South and Central America, India and the Middle East. If you are from these countries, you should consider applying for them!
What is the application process like? And what are the requirements?
To be able to study in Germany, you need to have a good GPA, good IELTS or TOEFL scores, and proof of German knowledge if your degree requires it. You will then have to apply by filling out the application form, submitting the required documents and meeting the eligibility criteria.
To help you in the process, we offer you a complete guide on How to apply for a university place in Germany. If you are not sure, you should consult the guide.
Apply to as many colleges as possible to increase your chances, but don’t apply to too many or you won’t be careful with your application. Around 10-15 is enough for the bachelor’s degree, and around 5-10 is enough for the master’s and PhD.
Are these free universities in Germany competitive?
The answer is no, compared to prestigious universities in Canada and the United States. To increase your chances of attending these universities, you need to research their acceptance rates.
This resource on universities in Germany with the highest acceptance rates is useful for prospective international students wishing to study in Germany. These universities are the ones that accept the highest percentage of international students each year, so if you apply to them, you will undoubtedly have a great opportunity to get a free education in Germany.
How can I finance my studies in Germany?
As you will see below, the German universities on this list have free tuition for international students. However, the downside is that they do not cover living expenses.
To help you with living expenses, I strongly suggest you look into the DAAD scholarships , which are the German Government’s scholarships for international students. This scholarship provides a generous living stipend, so we recommend that you apply for this scholarship. Additionally, you should apply for other scholarships in Germany for international students, as well as DAAD scholarships.
1. Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Free Tuition Page
Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, also known as LMU, is the highest-ranked institution in all of Germany. Its programs are considered some of the best in the world, with its Arts and Humanities and Physical Sciences courses respectively ranking 18th and 21st internationally.
Founded in 1472, the LMU was inaugurated in Ingolstadt by Duke Louis IX. It is now based in Munich and is considered the sixth oldest university in the country.
As one of the largest institutions in Germany, LMU has more than 34,000 students, 17% of whom come from outside the country. These students are enrolled in the university’s 20 faculties, which cover the disciplines of Catholic Theology, Protestant Theology, Law, Economics, Business Administration, Veterinary Medicine, History and Arts, Psychology, Philosophy, Culture, Language and Literature, Sciences Social, Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Biology and Geoscience and Environmental Sciences.
LMU, which has been a free university in Germnay since 2013, only charges a nominal fee for certain professional or postgraduate degrees and certificates.
2. Technical University of Munich
Free tuition page
The Technical University of Munich or TUM is the second most important institution in all of Germany. Founded in 1868, it has a main campus in Munich – and branches in Heilbronn, Freising, Garching and Singapore.
As a technical university, TUM is specialized in the studies of Architecture, Aerospace, Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, Sports and Health Sciences, Education, Governance, Management and Life Sciences.
Like most public universities, this free university in Germany is publicly funded to serve its more than 32,000 students, a third of whom are international students.
Although TUM does not charge tuition, students will have to pay a semester fee ranging from 62 euros (in Straubing) to 144.40 euros (in Munich, Weihenstephan and Garching).
3. Humboldt University of Berlin
Free Tuition Page
Humboldt University Berlin (HU Berlin) is a free public research institution based in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin, thanks to the efforts of its namesake Wilhelm von Humboldt, Johann Gottlieb Fichte and Friedrich Schleiermacher.
The university, which follows the Humboldtian educational model, is organized into nine faculties. These are Law, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Philosophy (I and II), Humanities and Social Sciences, Theology and Economics and Business.
Formerly known as Friedrich Wilhelm University, HU Berlin is ranked the sixth best university in Germany. Many of its programs are ranked in the world, with the Arts and Humanities programs at number 20 and the Law program at number 25. This reputation has helped attract many international students, representing 18% of the most of 33,000 university students.
Like other free universities in Germany, HU Berlin only charges a semester fee of 300 euros. This covers a season transportation pass and certain dues for student organizations.
4. RWTH Aachen University
Free Tuition Page
RWTH Aachen University is one of the public research institutions in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Founded in 1870, it is one of the largest in the country. To date, it has more than 45,000 students, of which 23% come from outside Germany and are international students.
As the eighth largest university in Germany, RWTH Aachen is famous for its programs in Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Computer Science, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, and Medicine.
As a tuition-free university in Germany, RWTH Aachen only requires a semester contribution of 500 euros. This is apart from the 1,000 euros that each student needs to allocate monthly to live comfortably in Aachen.
5. University of Bonn
Free Tuition Page
Officially known as the Friedrich Wilhelm Rhenish University of Bonn, this free German public institution is ranked ninth in all of Germany. It was founded in 1818 and is currently located on an urban campus in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
The university has more than 37,000 students, 13% of whom come from outside Germany. They are enrolled in the 7 faculties of the university, which are organized into the studies of Catholic Theology, Protestant Theology, Law and Economics, Medicine, Arts, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Agriculture.
Although the university is subsidized by the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it charges a small contribution fee. This payment, which costs 300 euros per month, also covers transportation in Bonn, Cologne and the rest of the region.
6. Free University of Berlin
Free Tuition Page
The Free University of Berlin or FU Berlin is the tenth best university in Germany. Founded in 1948, it began as the West Berlin section of the Federico Guillermo University. He is currently in the capital. To date, it has more than 36,000 students, of which 22% come from outside Germany.
The FU Berlin is organized academically into the departments of Biology and Chemistry, Earth Sciences, History and Cultural Studies, Law, Business and Economics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Education and Psychology, Philosophy and Humanities, Physics, Political and Social Sciences, Medicine and Veterinary.
Living up to its name, the Free University of Berlin does not charge tuition, except for some graduate programs. However, it requires a contribution of about $313. This covers the registration/registration fee, student support service, student union and transport tickets.
7. Georg August University of Göttingen
Free Tuition Page
Colloquially known as the University of Göttingen and Georgia Augusta, this eleventh university first opened its doors in the year 1734. It was founded by King George II of Great Britain to promote the paragon of enlightenment.
This free university in Germany, famous for its Life Sciences and Natural Sciences programs, also offers degrees in the fields of Agriculture, Biology and Psychology, Chemistry, Forestry and Ecology, Geoscience and Geography, Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Law , Social Sciences, Economics, Humanities, Medicine and Theology.
The university currently has more than 30,000 students and a foreign enrollment rate of 13%. Like most students at public universities in Germany, they only pay a contribution fee that amounts to 344.25 euros per semester.
8. University of Hamburg
Free registration page
The University of Hamburg or UHH is ranked as the 12th best university in Germany. It is especially known for its Arts and Humanities programs, as well as its Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Social Sciences and Business programs.
Founded in 1919, the UHH has more than 30,000 students, of which 12% are international. These students enroll in the university’s various offerings, including Law, Business Administration, Economics and Social Sciences, Medicine, Education and Psychology, Humanities, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Engineering.
In addition to the necessary living expenses, UHH students have to pay a contributory fee of 332 euros each semester. This covers the transport pass, the aid fund, administration costs and the Studierendenwerk.
9. University of Cologne
Free Tuition Page
Founded in 1798, the University of Cologne was established as the fourth university in the Holy Roman Empire, making it the sixth oldest in Central Europe. It is also one of the largest, with a total of more than 34,500 students, of which 18% are international students.
The university, managed by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, is organized into 6 faculties. Those with the largest number of students are the faculties of Arts and Humanities and Management and Social Sciences, followed by Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Law, Medicine and Human Sciences.
As one of the best universities in Germany, it is ranked in the top 100 in Life Sciences and in the top 150 in Arts and Humanities and Psychology.
Like most public universities, the University of Cologne is free. However, it is necessary for students to contribute an annual amount of 500 euros. This covers the public transport pass and administrative fees, for example.
10. Goethe University
Free Tuition Page
Goethe University, one of Germany’s free universities, was founded in 1914 as a citizen university. It was initially named after its location in Frankfurt am Main, but was eventually dedicated in honor of Frankfurt native Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Goethe University has one of the largest student populations in all of Germany, with more than 46,000 enrolled, 16% of whom come from outside the continent. These students are distributed among the 16 faculties of Law, Business, Social Sciences, Pedagogy, Psychology, Theology, Philosophy and History, Linguistics, Modern Languages, Geosciences, Computer Science, Physics, Biochemistry, Biology and Medicine.
This high number of students is attributed to the prestige of the university, as well as the free tuition. Here, as in most German universities, both local and foreign students can study for free. The only fee you have to pay per semester is about 370 euros, which covers administrative fees and certain funds.
I hope this article about free universities in Germany has been useful.
