This list of free universities in Germany for international students might just help you get a Master’s without the crazy high tuition costs found in the states.
I’ve always toyed with the idea of one day getting my Master’s degree. However, I fit the cliche of an in-debted American burdened with student loans from my Bachelor’s. So the thought of spending thousands more on school was by no means appealing.
But when my boyfriend moved to Germany for work, I immediately started brainstorming how I could get my booty in Europe too. That’s when I found that not only is there free education in Germany but that it extended to international students as well!
And on top of free tuition, many universities have Master’s taught in English. How incredible is that? Thus started my new journey of pursuing my Master’s in Germany! If you’ve ever dreamed of earning a college degree, but money is an issue, the opportunity to study in Germany for free could be just the ticket.
Read on for an ultimate list of free universities in Germany for international students and where to find English taught master programs in Germany.
»Read more: 22 Pros and Cons of Living in Germany for Immigrants + Expats
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!
Are German universities actually free?
Yes and no. Most German universities are tuition-free but do charge administrative fees each semester. These enrollment fees typically cost around €200-€400 each semester and depend entirely on the university and the program. They help cover small dues like student bus passes, student cafes, and other administrative fees.
In the eyes of the world, I’d say that a few hundred dollars a year for a Master’s degree is essentially free! For even more info on how much it costs to study in Germany, check out my checklist.
Are there English taught Bachelor’s in Germany?
I’m a Master’s student, so I can’t speak from personal experience, but from my research, it appears the answer is mostly no. While I did stumble upon some articles mentioning a few particular Bachelor’s programs in Germany taught in English, it seems most require proof of a higher level of German ability.
But if you’re a high school graduate seeking a way to earn a bachelors in Germany, here are some resources that may prove helpful:
- DAAD: German Academic Exchange Service
- Study Portals: Generic website with resources for students
- Facebook Groups + Toytown Germany: you can find a lot of random info on public forums as well as other people’s personal experiences that may prove helpful
General Entry Requirements for German Universities
First things first, let’s cover the entry requirements for most master programs at German universities. Sadly, not everyone can be admitted to these programs, and you must possess a related Bachelor’s degree and background in the field you wish to study.
If you do find a Masters program in Germany that fits your background, the basic requirements for English programs tend to be:
- Proof of high proficiency of English via a high IELTS score or citizenship from a native English speaking country
- A high school diploma or certificate of secondary education completion plus transcripts
- A Bachelor’s degree and college transcripts
- Adequate number of required course credits for a specific field of study
- Professional resume in the German format
- A motivation letter (not always)
- Application + enrollment fees
- German-sized passport photos
The exact entry requirements depend entirely on the specific university you’re applying to as well as the program. If you come from a country with a vastly different educational system from Germany, you may also need to provide extra documentation or even take a preparatory class.
When it comes time to apply, you’ll need to get notarized or apostilled copies of your original documents, and you may also need to have them officially translated into German. Universities may also ask to see the originals once you arrive in the country – again, it just depends.
For my application to Trier University, they accepted notarized copies of my documents without German translations, didn’t ask for a motivation letter, and didn’t need to see the official copies after arriving. But it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for this expectation.
The “Tuition” Fees in Germany for International Students
Education in Germany is tuition-free, but there are still necessary costs to keep in mind when applying for a Master’s. These numbers are what I paid for my Trier University experience and may vary slightly – but I hope it gives you a general idea.
- Application fee: €50
- First-semester enrollment fee: ~€300 + mailing cost for documents (varies by school)
- Enrollment Fee for Subsequent Semester: ~€300 (varies by school)
- Student Blocked Account: €934/month, €11,208 total, about $12,500 USD
- Mandatory Health Insurance: €106/month for under 30 year olds, about €640 yearly
- Residence Permit: €110 per renewal
What is the German blocked account for students?
The significant cost associated with studying abroad in Germany is the blocked account. It’s mandatory for all visiting students to have €11,208 for the school year in a specialized bank account.
The money is yours, but it’s in an account that allows only €934 to be taken out each month to cover your estimated cost of living. The German government wants to ensure that students arrive in the country with enough funds to support themselves during their stay for rent, food, school supplies, etc.
Having $12,500+ on hand at one time is a challenge for many people, but there are exemptions and scholarships available. I got my blocked account with Expatrio, but other popular banks include Deutsche Bank and Coracle (or Fintiba if you’re not American).
↠ Read More: A Review of the Expatrio Blocked Account
15 Free Universities in Germany for International Students With Master’s Programs in English
This list includes some of the best free universities in Germany for international students. What makes them great for non-German students? They have numerous Master’s programs taught in English and are essentially tuition-free.
Here is an ultimate list of 15 German universities in English to help you start planning your future.
1. Free University of Berlin
The Free University of Berlin is consistently ranked as one of Germany’s best universities. It offers programs predominantly focused on arts, humanities, and social sciences – although they have other programs too. The university campus can be found in the garden district of Dahlem in southwestern Berlin.
2. Technical University of Berlin
Also known as TU, this uni is regarded as one of Germany’s top institutes for technology and engineering. The campus is spread out throughout Berlin, but the main buildings can be found in the borough of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf.
3. Humboldt University Berlin
Humboldt is a public research university offering degree programs in nearly 200 different disciplines. Their list of notable alumni and faculty is quite impressive and was once the workplace of Albert Einstein. The university is located in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin.
4. University of Hamburg
You can find the main buildings of the University of Hamburg in the city’s neighborhood of Rotherbaum. It’s consistently ranked in the top listings of global universities and has programs in about 150 different subjects.
5. Ludwig Maximilian Munich University
Ludwig Maximilian Munich University is currently Germany’s second-largest uni and has a large number of international students accounting for about 17% of the total student body. There are a wide variety of areas of study offered. Plus, it’s in one of Germany’s coolest cities and there are so many exciting places to visit in Munich that can make your studies extra fun.
6. The Munich University of Technology
This university offers studies in five main focuses: health and nutrition, natural resources, the environment, information and communications, and infrastructure. The campus is predominantly in Munich, but also has other sites across Bavaria.
7. University of Cologne
At the University of Cologne, there are various degree programs ranging from economics, social sciences, natural sciences, law, medicine, mathematics, and art and humanities. The city of Cologne offers many things to do is situated in the center of Germany, where the Rhine River passes through.
8. Goethe University Frankfurt
This university in Frankfurt is home to 16 different faculties and offers numerous various Master’s programs in English for international students. The cost of living in Frankfurt is quite reasonable for being a large city and the semester fees come out to be about 369,89 EUR.
9. University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is an exception and does have tuition fees for international students, however, they are still quite reasonable. At the time of writing, their tuition fee per semester is about €1,500 plus administration fees. They offer limited English master programs, predominantly science-focused, as well as engineering, city planning, and computational linguistics.
10. Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
The website for Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf is difficult to navigate, but they have an entire course catalog of their degree programs you can check out, with a note about which language it’s taught in. There are programs in the fields of business, humanities, law, natural sciences, and medicine.
11. University of Duisburg-Essen
This university in Essen has a sizable student body of 40,000 students and ranks in Germany’s top ten unis for size. It specializes in 12 departments of study with about 15 master’s programs taught in English.
12. University of Bonn
The University of Bonn offers various English programs, although it’s important to note that a few of them do require german proficiency. Bonn is a lovely german city conveniently located close to Cologne and is the birthplace of Mozart. Its population is over 325,000.
13. University of Heidelberg
Another public research university in Heidelberg offers international students an opportunity to study in a beautiful and classically German town. At the time of writing, there are about 12 English Master’s programs focused on topics such as international health, international studies, economics, literature, and more.
14. RWTH Aachen University
This campus is located in the north-western part of the city Aachen, a German city of about 245,000 people. The university itself is one of the country’s largest technical colleges with 20+ English Master’s programs. The city is best known for being Germany’s most westerly city near the Dutch and Belgian borders.
15. Trier University
This is my university! Trier is Germany’s oldest city and features some cool ancient Roman ruins. It’s pretty small by German standards but still decently sized with a population of 110,000, and the university offers only nine Master’s programs taught in English as of 2020/2021.
There you have it – tuition free universities in Germany taught in English. While not everyone will have a background that fulfills German university entrance requirements, I hope this inspires you to find an opportunity that does work with your background.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!
I hope you enjoyed this list of the best free Universities in Germany for international students! Comment below if you’re planning to head to Germany in the future.
My name is Loy Kyarimpa from Uganda. Thank you for this information. It has answered all my questions. Now preparing to come to Germany to study Masters in Human Resource /Project Management.
That’s great!! I’m glad to hear it. Good luck with your next chapter!!
Can I know about bachelor degree for international students and tuition fee please?
Hi! I can’t speak on personal experience, but it’s my understanding that bachelor programs tuition for international students is the same as for German students (and comparable to what you must pay for masters degree). However, it’s much more difficult for international students to be accepted to German bachelor degrees as you need proof of fluent German ability and class credits that translate and meet the program requirements.
Thank you for this information.im planning on embarking on a journey to Germany for master’s studies in human resources Management or a business program In the 2023 academic year.
Hi, I’m exactly looking for my English master in Germany. This page helped me a lot, thank you so much 🙂
Hi, Do I need the proof of German Language skills if I will be enrolling in a English medium uni?
It completely depends on the university and program requirements! Some do require proof of German ability (usually B1 level) while others do not. My program used to require international students to show proof of German the year prior before I arrived but the opened it up to non-German speakers(I got lucky!) Once you find programs you’re interested in, it’s best to reach out and ask the university directly.
this page has helped me a lot as I’m looking for tuition free university which offers masters in english language
Thank you!! I’m glad you found it helpful 😊
My name is Eromosele Emma, from Nigeria. I am so elated to this privy information made available. Thank you. I am already seeing myself in Germany. But I hope I can come with my family.
Thank you for your kind words! I hope you can make it to Germany soon too!
Thank you for your help I hope you can make my decision come true, please help me to further my education in Germany
Hi, I’m working on my German admission, Thanks for the info… I was worried about the block account issue, Thanks for simplifying…
Hi I am still a student in grade 10 and I very curious about my Uni and I have relatives who schooled in Germany and they are very good and proficient in Architecture.
So firstly I want to say I did not see any ongoing addmision for Architectural students.
And Secondly.
I still have 2 more years to finish my secondary school,even though it might be too early to start seeking for addmision but I am just curious.
Thanks though the sight was very useful and I appreciate.
But it is said “It is never too early to start working for your salvation”
Thanks once again and I hope to be responded to.
Hi Jacob! Thank you for your comment!! I don’t personally know of any architecture programs and if you weren’t able to find any they may not be an option here :/ But the good news is that since you’re starting early, there’s time for that to change! Universities are always adding and changing programs so I recommend periodically checking back in to see if somewhere does eventually add an architecture focused degree. Secondly, as far as I know, you can’t apply for a program in advance. You must apply during the specified time period to begin in the next semester. Good luck with your studies!!
I’m Tehami from Pakistan.
I want to do my MS Computer Science from Germany.
Very useful and informative specially for me..
Thank you..
I want to come and training for building construction
It’s great
Would I need to learn German language before getting admission and can someone with diploma apply for masters or postgraduate in the above institutions mentioned.
Hi Gideon! It depends on the requirements for the specific university and the program. For my program, I did not need to show any German ability because it was open to international students. But even if a Master’s program is taught in English, if the university doesn’t have it open to international students, you may be required to show German ability.
Hi,my name is Muhammad and I come from pakistan and I’m willing to apply for bachelor programs in business field I’m married and wanna come to Germany with my wife and she want to study bs english or relevant field but we didn’t found any university until now which offer these both programs in English language😕
Hi Muhammad! I’m sorry, from what I know personally, there aren’t many bachelor programs in English here in Germany. But you could see if you’re eligible for any of Germany’s other visa options! I think the “language learner visa” for those who come to study German could be a nice option for you or or wife while the other goes to school. Having German ability could then help you get into a bachelor’s program or find work even. But you have to check the requirements based on your citizenship. I hope this helps, Good luck!
Hi, Nancy from Ghana, i want to apply for masters in environmental studies in Germany.
I need assistance.
Hi Nancy! I’m just a blogger sharing info so unfortunately can only suggest finding a university in Germany with your desired program and reaching out directly to them! Good luck!
Hi Brit, how did you apply to Trier University?
Hi! The application process for Trier University required that I submit online transcripts and copies of my high school diploma and bachelors degree, a resume, proof of insurance and other docs, plus an application fee. When i made it to the next step, i had to mail my documents notarized to the university. You can read more about everything that’s required for the specific degree program you’re interested in on that problem’s page on the Uni Trier website! Here’s a great starting point: https://www.uni-trier.de/en/studies/application-admission/application-english-taught-master-programmes
Thanks so much Britt. I got just the info I needed. I am about to start applying, and I hope I do find both admission and scholarship in one of these universities.
Hi Brit, thanks for sharing. Please is there any provision for dependants to come with you to Germany while you study, say your spouse and kids
Hi there! It’s my understanding that Germany does allow dependents to come with people on a student residence permit, but there are conditions that must be met (like age of kids, finances etc). I don’t have personal experience though, and exact requirements depend on your unique circumstances so I recommend reaching out to the German consulate/embassy in your home country to learn more!
Hi Brit! This was an awesome post, it really helped clear things up (very much appreciate the links to English speaking majors at each institution those have been tricky to find jumping around from website to website). If you don’t mind sharing, how many universities did you apply to and how many were you accepted at? You alluded to it being quite competitive, curious where you ranked as an undergrad student in the US and how that translated to acceptance in these universities. Thanks again!
Hi Ben! Thanks for reading! I actually only applied to one program at Trier University, but worked hard to make a connection with the head professor and even visited to meet in person before applying. I purposefully chose a program that was smaller and not so competitive, as well as at a university that is small. For example, my entire intake for my degree program was only six people. For reference, my undergrad GPA was 3.6 and my resume featured related work experience to the degree program I chose (English Literature and Media). I hope that helps! I always find reaching out to a point of contact for any new opportunity is a good place to learn more about how to stand out and as a way to network. Good luck 🙂
What a great work,this is a fantastic job. I want to study in Germany and I need schools that accept waec results as proof of English language proficiency. Thanks
Are international students allowed to work while studying? If so, how many hours per week?
Yes! International students are allowed to work while studying, however there are limitations. On a student residence permit, you’re only allowed to work 20 hours a week or 120 full days (240 half days) a year. Those who’d like to work more hours need special permission.