Universities in Germany
Universities in Germany date back to 14th Century and Germany has some of the oldest universities in Europe. Universities in Germany are distributed all over Germany from large cities to small rural settings. Some large cities in Germany may have many universities whereas even moderate towns may also have two to three universities. The number of students at German universities can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands. The biggest university in Germany is the University of Hagen, which has an enrollment of a whopping 86,889 students. The University of Munich ranks as the second largest, with 51,025 students, while the University of Cologne has 48,962 enrolled students.
Unlike other countries, colleges are not very common in Germany, however there are few colleges which offer programs for international students. These colleges are mostly private and offer short or full degree programs in Germany usually affiliated with universities in or outside Germany. However, the higher education landscape is usually dominated by universities.
Types of Higher Education Institutions in Germany
The more choices you have, the harder it is to choose. This especially applies to your situation, as there are so many opportunities to study in Germany. There are 400 officially recognised institutions of higher education in 165 towns and cities throughout Germany. In total, German universities and colleges offer more than 13,500 degree programmes. And from all of these, you will have to choose one. To help you better understanding of the types of universities and the type of university you should choose for your higher education, we have compiled the following information.
What kinds of colleges and universities are there in Germany?
Deciding on a college or university is somewhat easier as there are only five types to choose from in Germany:
- Universities
- University of Technology
- Universities of Applied Sciences
- Colleges of art, film and music
- Private universities
1.Universities
Studying at a university is a good idea if you are interested in a scientifically-oriented education. Universities offer a broad range of courses and subjects. Some schools specialise in certain disciplines, such as advanced technology, medicine and education. If you would like to enter a doctoral programme in Germany, then a university is the perfect place for you. Universities in Germany are mostly focussed on theoretical subjects and pure and applied research and offer a broad range of programs from Bachelor to Doctoral studies.
2. University of Technology
If you want to study a highly technical subject in Engineering or Management, studying at one of the many University of Technologys is one of the best option. Students are able to choose from a wide range of programs related to engineering in Bachelor, Master or doctorate level. These types of universities prepare students for a highly technical or research career in the field of science and technology in Germany but the programs are not limited only to Science and technology. Normally university of technologies do not offer medicine programs but there are two exceptions such as RWTH Aachen and TU Munich where a student can also study medicine. TU9 German Universities of Technology e. V. is the alliance of nine leading Technical Universities in Germany.
- RWTH Aachen
- TU Berlin
- TU Braunschweig
- TU Darmstadt
- TU Dresden
- Leibniz University Hannover
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- TU Munich
- University of Stuttgart
3. University of Applied Sciences
Universities of applied sciences are ideal if you are looking for a more praxis-oriented education. These institutions provide students with a scientifically based education, tailored to the demands of professional life. The degree programmes generally include internships and a practical module. This enables students to apply their knowledge on the job at companies and businesses.
4. Colleges of art, film and music
If you wish to study an artistic or design-oriented subject, you may be the perfect candidate for a college of art, film or music. At such colleges you will find courses in the Fine Arts, Industrial and Fashion Design, Graphic Arts, Instrumental Music, Voice, etc. Colleges of modern media train students to become directors, camera operators, screenwriters, technicians and producers for film and television. To be eligible for such a programme, candidates must possess a high degree of artistic talent which they are asked to demonstrate in an aptitude test. Therefore, you can expect special admission requirements if you wish to apply to a college of art, film or music.
5. Private universities in Germany
Private universities have been becoming popular these days in Germany and at the moment there are 120 private universities which is constantly changing the international student landscape in Germany. Private universities in Germany mostly offer programs in business administration and other related subjects. Some private universities are also specially for arts and fashion for International students and offer programs in English language. Either you choose to study at a public university of private university, the quality of education in Germany is very high. Studying at a private university also saves time and admission is comparatively less competitive at private universities.
Some of the private universities where you can study in Germany are:
- University of Europe for Applied Sciences
- IUBH University of Applied Sciences
- Berlin International University of Applied Sciences
Tuition fees in Germany
The tuition cost is one of the lowest among the developed countries. Most of the universities do not charge tuition fees except the semester contribution and the student union fees. Currently fees of up to 500 Euro per semester are being charged at some universities. And the fees can be very high in private universities. Nevertheless, the quality of education is very at both the types of universities
Degrees and Courses
German universities offer Bachelor, Master, doctorate and postdoctrate degrees. At the moment there are more than 4600 B.A. and 3000 M.A. courses on offer at state universities, many of which are taught through the medium of English. In general, B.A. and M.A. degree courses accounted for 60 % of all courses taught at German universities. From Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering to Zoology – study courses at German universities are legion and international students can chose from a variety of over 13500 different degree courses.
Ranking of universities in Germany
German universities are often ranked in international ranking across the world. German universities occupy nearly a third of the top 200 universities in different rankings. Apart from the international universities, there are three national ranking in Germany
1. Humboldt Ranking
2. CHE Ranking
3. DFG Ranking
Top-Rated Universities for studying Engineering in Germany
- Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
- Technische Universität Berlin
- Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- Technische Universität Dresden
- Leibniz Universität Hannover
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
- Technische Universität München
- Universität Stuttgart
- Technische Universität Hamburg Harburg
Top Rated Universities for studying Medicine in Germany
- University of Heidelberg
- Goethe University Frankfurt am Main
- University of Gottingen
- University of Munich
- Universitat zu Koln
- Charite Medical University
- MH Hanover
- University of Bonn
- University of Leipzig
- University of Wurzburg
Top-Rated Universities for studying Business Administration in Germany
- University of Mannheim
- LMU Munich
- University of Bonn
- TU Munich
- TU Berlin
- University of Bayreuth
- Free University of Berlin
- University of Hamburg
- University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
- Goethe University Frankfurt am Main
