List of 10 Tuition-Free Universities in Germany for International Students

Many students who want to study in Germany often ask if there are tuition-free or free-tuition universities in Germany for international students to study for free. The reason is that these universities allow students to study at little or no cost.

Germany for one is a study-abroad destination that affords international students the opportunity to study almost for free through scholarships and in tuition-free universities.

If you’re looking to Germany almost for free, then this piece is for you.

As we stated, Germany is one of the study abroad destinations that do not require students to rob a bank before they can get an educational degree.

Whether you want to study an undergraduate or graduate course in Germany, you can earn that degree for free. And the fact is, you can is that the degree is you get is valid and internationally recognized.

In this guide, we have come up with a list based on research and facts on the free tuition universities international students can study in Germany.

Before we venture into that, you might want to find out the 5 Reasons Why International Students Choose To Study In Germany

About Studying In Germany

Germany is a country in Western Europe whose capital is Berlin. it has a landscape of forests, rivers, mountain ranges, and North Sea beaches. Berlin, itself, is home to art and nightlife scenes, the Brandenburg Gate, and many sites relating to WWII. 

besides good scenery and welcoming tradition, Germany is home to some of the world’s elite universities. offering high standard and quality education is the priority of most german institutions.

in addition to that, the German government has approved free tuition for international students. Therefore, students get to get standard education which prepares them to be professionals for free.

Can I Study in Germany for Free?

Yes, international students can study in Germany for free or almost at no cost. Therefore, the assertion you heard about free education in Germany is true.

But to do that, you have to take advantage of any of the two options available for you. The options to study in Germany for free are:

• Studying in tuition-free universities
• Securing a fully-funded scholarship such as the DAAD Scholarship.

What Are the Requirements I Need to Study in Free-tuition Universities in Germany?

Applying to German schools requires you to have the right requirements. There is no one-size-fits requirement to study in German universities.

However, different universities have their own admission requirement. Therefore we recommend that once you’ve made a choice of any school you want to study in Germany, visit the university’s website for details on the admission requirement.

To be able to study in Germany, you need to have these general requirements;

• Good GPA
• Completely filled application form
• High test scores in IELTS or TOEFL
• Proof of German proficiency (if your degree requires it)

Also, check out other requirements from your university of choice.  Then apply to as many universities as possible. 

What You Should Know About Tuition-free Universities in Germany for International Students

Although Germany is home to many academies which you can study for free, most courses and programs are not completely free.

Yes, you will not pay tuition but you’re required to pay administrative and semester contributions per semester. Also, know that the cost of these nominal dues is school-dependent.

Furthermore, you should know that tuition-free universities are majorly public schools.

It’s rare to find a private university that proposes free tuition in Germany unless students are studying on scholarship.

In addition, before you study in any of these free-tuition universities in Germany for international students, you must first reserve a residence permit. 

Does Tuition-free Universities in Germany Difficult to Get Admission?

Simply put, free-tuition universities in Germany for international students are not competitive. Most of these universities have a high acceptance rate.

Also, these free-tuition universities in Germany accept the most percentage of international students every year.

So chances are that if you apply to these, you will certainly have a great chance of getting a free schooling in Germany.

Are all Schools in Germany Free-tuition Universities?

No, not all schools in Germany are free tuition universities.

However, tuition-free universities in Germany are public universities except for the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg.

The Federal State of Baden-Württemberg reintroduced tuition fees of 3,000 EUR/year for non-EU/EEA students.

Read Also: 20 Cheapest Universities in Germany for International Students

List of 10 Tuition-Free Universities in Germany for International Students

Without further ado, we bring you the list of the universities in Germany where both international and local students can study for free.

Here they are;

Read Also: Tuition-Free Universities for Masters Degree

#1. RWTH Aachen University

• Founded: 1870
• Location: North Rhine-Westphalia 
• Student Population:  45,000+
• No of Foreign Students: 23% of the student population

RWTH Aachen University is one of the largest public research institutions in Germany. Not just that, it is among the top 8 universities in Germany.

Top courses in RWTH Aachen are mathematics, natural and computer science, architecture, civil, mechanical, materials, and electrical engineering and medicine.

Students studying at RWTH pay a semester contribution worth 500 Euros per semester. 

#2. University of Bonn

• Founded: 1818
• Location: North Rhine-Westphalia
• Student Population:  37,000+  
• No of Foreign Students: 13% of the student population

What many do not know is that the University of Bonn is officially known as the Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn. The University of Bonn is a free-tuition German university that ranks 9th in all of Germany. 

Bonn has 7 faculties; catholic theology, protestant theology, law & economics, medicine, arts, mathematics & Natural Science, and Agriculture.

All students at the University of Bonn pay a small fee of 300 Euros per month.

Read Also: List of Germany Scholarships

#3. Free University of Berlin

• Founded: 1948
• Location: Berlin 
• Student Population:  36,000+
• No of Foreign Students: 22% of the student population

Next on our list of tuition-free universities in Germany for international students is the Free University of Berlin which is the tenth-best German university. 

FU Berlin offers courses such as biology & chemistry, history & cultural studies, law, business & economics, mathematics & computer science, physics, political & social science, medicine, and veterinary medicine.

All courses at the Free University of Berlin are free. However, certain graduate programs require small charges worth about $313. 

#4. Georg August University of Göttingen

• Founded: 1734
• Location: Göttingen 
• Student Population:  30,000+ 
• No of Foreign Students: 13% of the student population

The Georg August University of Göttingen is the eleventh best university in Germany for international students. This university offers many disciplines across many course specialties.

Also, this college is a good place for international students. Because the Georg August University of Göttingen is a public university, it’s tuition-free.

However, her students get to pay 376 Euros per semester.

#5. Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

• Founded: 1472
• Location: Munich 
• Student Population: 34,000+
• No of Foreign Students: 17% of the student population

LMU as it’s popularly known is a top-ranked university in all of Germany because it offers programs considered as some of the best in the world. 

Her Arts & Humanities and Physical Science courses rate 18th and 21st respectively globally.

Through its 20 faculties, LMU offers many specializations ranging from Catholic and Protestant Theology, Law, Business Administration, Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, Psychology, etc

Even though it’s one of the tuition-free universities in Germany, international students have to pay for particular professional or graduate degrees and certificates.

#6. Technical University of Munich

• Founded: 1868
• Location: Munich (Branches are in Heilbronn, Freising, Garching, and Singapore)
• Student Population: 32,000+ 
• No of Foreign Students: ⅓ of the student population

In the list of German Schools, the Technical University of Munich is number 2.  Like most public German universities, TUM is a tuition-free university that pulls funds from public capital.

Although TUM does not collect tuition, her students will pay 62 Euros – 144.40 Euros for semester dues and the exact cost of tuition will rely on the campus.

Because TUM is a technical school, most of her major courses are Architecture, Aerospace, Engineering, Mathematics, Sports & Health Science, Life Science among others.

#7. Humboldt University of Berlin

• Founded: 1810
• Location: Berlin 
• Student Population:  33,000+ 
• No of Foreign Students: 18% of the student population

The Humboldt University of Berlin (HU Berlin) is a free public research institution. A unique feature of this college is its Humboldtian model of the teaching curriculum.

At Hu Berlin, the faculties are categorized into nine faculties which include Law, Mathematics & Natural Science, Life Science, Philosophy (I & II), Humanities & Social Science, Theology, and Economics & Business.

Hu Berlin programs rank highest in the world ranking of universities. This attracts many international enrollees to the school.

Even though Hu Berlin is one of the tuition-free universities in Germany, international students pay semester charges of 300 Euros. 

#8. University of Hamburg

• Founded: 1919
• Location: Hamburg 
• Student Population:  30,000+ 
• No of Foreign Students: 12% of the student population

If your course of choice is Arts & Humanities, Physical Science, Life Science, Social Science, and Business related, then the University of Hamburg is a good consideration.

UHH is the 12th best university in Germany. The world recognizes the University of Hamburg particularly for its degrees.

Per semester donation at the University of Hamburg costs about 332 Euros.

#9. University of Cologne

• Founded: 1798
• Location: North Rhine-Westphalia 
• Student Population:   34,500+ 
• No of Foreign Students: 18% of the student population

Another university in our list of tuition-free universities is the University of Cologne. This college is one of the largest and sixth-oldest universities in Central Europe.

Most students that study at the University of Cologne study in either of her six faculties covering courses in professions such as Arts & Humanities, Management & Social Sciences, Mathematics & Natural Science, Law, Medicine, and Human Science.

As with public universities in Germany, the University of Cologne is tuition-free. However, students contribute an annual amount of 500 Euros. 

#10. Goethe University

• Founded: 1914
• Location: Frankfurt am Main 
• Student Population:  46,000+
• No of Foreign Students: 16% of the student population

Goethe University is one of the tuition-free universities in Germany for international students.

Students at Goethe University are spread throughout the university’s 16 Faculties. As a free-tuition university in Germany, international and local students can study for free. 

However, a semester due of about 370 Euros Is mandated for administration.

Summary: Tuition-Free Universities in Germany for International Students

We believe you’ve come to the term that studying in Germany for free or at little or no cost is possible. All you have to do is go through this article again and make a choice of which institution suits your academic needs.

Hope this few minutes read has given you insight into the tuition free universities for international students in Germany.

References

• https://www.mastersportal.com/articles/358/university-tuition-fees-and-living-costs-in-germany-low-cost-german-degrees.html

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