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Public Universities in Germany for International Students
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Public Universities in Germany: Top Universities, Benefits & More

Public Universities in Germany: Top Universities, Benefits & More

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There are many public universities in Germany that provide free education to both international and domestic students. Explore the blog to get your ideal university.

GyanDhan
BIPASHA GOSWAMI
Updated on:  15 Jan 2025  | Reviewed By:  Aman  | 10.1K | 21  min read

A country where life flows with distinct seasons, unique ideas, continuous revolutions, the latest automobile technologies, and a free education system. Sounds like an ideal country?

It's all real in Germany! Make your dreams come true, study at famous universities, go for outdoor activities like hiking and cycling, and explore the capital city of Berlin. On top of the cherry, the free education system in Germany lets you enjoy everything without any overburden. You can easily manage living expenses by working around 15-20 hours a week.

Get ready for the most exciting part of this blog!

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Why is Germany preferred for studies?

  • list items Education System Germany's education system is recognized worldwide for its quality of education. Students like studying in Germany because of the research and innovative teaching methodology. German universities focus on the holistic development of students by preparing them for communication skills, networking skills, and job interviews. Universities continuously evolve around technology and innovation.  
  • list items Outstanding Courses Germany is one of the leading countries with born leaders. Their courses, like automobile engineering, business and economics, mathematics, and industrial engineering, are the most popular among students.  
  • list items Focus on professional development The best part of the German education system is that the syllabus throughout the semesters focuses on the practical development of a student. Their studying pattern dynamically evolves around the real-world experience that prepares a student to enter the professional world once they graduate.  
  • list items A holistic approach to learning Public universities in Germany prepare a syllabus that is advanced and integrated with various subjects. Due to the free education system, students from different cultural backgrounds enroll themselves in public universities. Thus, universities promote and support cultural diversity, which makes universities holistically developed in a coherent method.

So, now that we know the reasons why Germany is an ideal country to study, let's look at the various tables for a better understanding of public universities.

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List of Public Universities in Germany

These tables are according to the QS ranking data:

Top 35 Universities

Freie Universität Berlin 

Heidelberg University 

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

LMU - Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München 

RWTH Aachen University

Technical University of Munich 

University of Bonn 

University of Freiburg

Aalen University

Academy of Fine Arts in Nuremberg

Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin

Anhalt University of Applied Sciences

Ansbach University of Applied Sciences

Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences

Augsburg University of Applied Sciences

Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

Berlin University of the Arts

Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT)

Free University of Berlin

Humboldt University of Berlin

Technical University of Berlin

Heidelberg University – Germany

University of Mannheim

University of Stuttgart

University of Hamburg

Berlin School of Business & Innovation

Reutlingen University

Leipzig University

University of Bayreuth

Braunschweig University of Technology

SRH Hochschule Berlin

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

Johannes Gutenberg University

University of Cologne

Arden University Berlin

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Top 10 Best Public Universities in Germany 

This table is according to the QS ranking data:

1. The Techincal University of Munich

The Technical University of Munich ranks as the top university in Europe. The university is excellent in terms of its research and teaching styles, extracurricular activities, and active promotion of students. Moreover, TUM is the first university in Germany that has been named a University of Excellence. TUM consistently ranks among the top universities in Europe.

Popular Courses
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    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
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    Master of Arts (M.A.)
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    Master of Business Administration (MBA)
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    Master of Education (M. Ed.)
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    Master of Science with honors (M.Sc. with honors)

 

2. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München is one of the best universities. Almost every year, students from across the globe participate in its advanced approach study model.

Popular Courses
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    Data Science
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    Honors Degree Technology Management
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    Human Biology — Principles of Health and Disease
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    Neuro-Cognitive Psychology
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    Osteuropastudien
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    Quantitative Economics
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    Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

3. Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, also known as Ruperto Carola, is one of the oldest universities in Germany. It ranks well due to its excellent planning and strategies.

Popular Courses
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    American Studies
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    Ancient History
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    Anthropology
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    Assyriology
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    Biochemistry
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    Biology
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    Biomedical Engineering

4. Freie Universität Berlin

The Freie Universität Berlin was inaugurated in the year 2007. It is continuously improving its research and teaching systems with the help of its regional and international partners.

Popular Courses
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    Biochemistry (Master of Science)
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    Bioinformatics (Master of Science)
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    Chemistry (Master of Science)
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    Cognitive Neuroscience (Master of Science)
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    Computational Sciences (Master of Science)
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    Data Science (Master of Science)
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    English Studies: Literature, Language, Culture (Master of Arts)

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5. Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin

It is a renowned university, established in 1810. The university is mostly known for its economics, business, and law courses.

Popular Courses
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    Mass Communication & Media.

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    Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing )

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    Medicine & Health Sciences

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    Design

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    Law

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    Teaching & Education.

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    Humanities & Social Sciences.

6. KIT, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

It is a research-based university in the Helmholtz Association. The university prepares its students with deep knowledge and understanding. So, that they can create and apply their knowledge and make society a better place to live.

Popular Courses
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    Master of Science [M.S] Computer science
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    Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] Mechanical Engineering
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    Master of Science [M.Sc] Mechanical engineering
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    Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.]
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    Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] Computer Science

7. RWTH Aachen University

In 1870, the first academic class at RWTH Aachen University was held. Around 201 students, listeners, and guest students attended it. In terms of students, it is one of the largest universities in Germany.

Popular Courses
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    General Mechanical Engineering M.Sc.
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    Applied Geography B.Sc.
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    Applied Geography M.Sc
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    Applied Geosciences B.Sc.

8. Technische Universität Berlin

The Technical University of Berlin was founded in the year 1770. One of the prestigious institutions in Berlin that focuses on academic activities for students. The university strives to provide undergraduates with excellent academic and study approaches.

Popular Courses
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    Computer science
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    Economics and management
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    Mathematics
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    Human sciences
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    Process science
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    Mechanical engineering

9. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen

The University of Tübingen was established in the year 1477 and is quite popular for its prime location and academic research curriculum. The popular courses at this university consist of science and humanities streams.

Popular Courses
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    Algebra
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    Analysis
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    Didactics
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    Geometry
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    Mathematical Physics
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    Mathematical Optimisation

10. Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg

It is the fifth oldest university in Germany with a high academic reputation. The university was established in 1457 and consists of 18 research centers.

Popular Courses
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    Ancient Civilization Studies Master of Arts (M.A.)
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    Ancient Near Eastern Studies - Living Environments in Past and Present. Master of Arts (M.A.)
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    Applied Physics. Master of Science (M.Sc.)
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    Applied Political Science Master of Arts (M.A.)
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    Archaeological Sciences Master of Arts (M.A.)
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 Top 10 Public Universities in Germany for International Students 

  1. list items Technical University of Munich
  2. list items Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
  3. list items University of Freiburg
  4. list items Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
  5. list items Hochschule Furtwangen University
  6. list items Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
  7. list items Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
  8. list items Humboldt University of Berlin
  9. list items University of Tübingen
  10. list items Berlin Institute of Technology
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Top 10 Public Universities in Germany for Master's 

  1. list items Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich 
  2. list items The Technical University of Munich 
  3. list items Heidelberg University
  4. list items Humboldt University Berlin
  5. list items Charite Universitatmedizin Berlin
  6. list items University of Freiburg 
  7. list items The University of Tubingen
  8. list items RWTH Aachen
  9. list items The University of Bonn
  10. list items Schiller International University

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How Do I Apply To Study College In Germany?

  • list items In the initial step, it is important to select the course and university. Be prepared with all the required documents. 
  • list items The application for a public university in Germany needs to be submitted through the uni-assist platform. For this, you need to create an account, select your course and university, and upload all the required scanned documents.
  • list items  There are a few universities that require you to apply through their website. 
  • list items Once all the documentation work is done, wait for a response from the university. 
  • list items After you secure a seat, you can apply for health insurance and other.
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The Benefits of Public Universities

Students often get confused about whether they should go to private or public universities in Germany. So, the following points focus on the benefits of studying at public universities:

  • list items Free tuition fees In 2014, around 16 states in Germany announced free tuition for their undergraduate students. This rule applies to domestic as well as international students so that they can incur the remaining amount to cover other expenditures.
  • list items Veteran Teachers with Practical World Knowledge The best advantage of studying in Germany is that you learn from veteran teachers with vast experience in their careers. The German education system is quite well-known for its technologically-based teaching style as well as for its diversified professional staff.
  • list items Diversity of students  The diversity of students is beneficial for undergraduate students as they learn about different cultures and beliefs. This allows students to socialize, respect one another, and gain a broad perspective on their classmates.
  • list items Variety of academic programs Most of the public universities in Germany offer a wide range of academic programs. Students can easily choose the program they are interested in and enjoy. The German government strongly believes education is not a commercial way to earn money. They not only motivate European students but also International students to participate in various activities. Therefore, if you plan to study abroad at a nominal cost, Germany should most definitely be the best choice. 

 

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