Public Universities in Germany: Rankings, Courses & Cost
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The education system in Germany is broadly divided into public and private universities. The public universities in Germany clearly dominate the education market in the country with over 240 functional public universities offering programmes for everyone. The private universities are much smaller in number and offer specialized programmes.
Germany is famous for offering high-quality education at low or no cost. This thing makes Germany one of the best countries to study abroad for Indian students. The education system in Germany is broadly divided into public and private universities. The German public universities are highly preferred by international students. The total number of public universities in Germany is 313 out of a total of 428 institutions in German higher education
Apart from zero tuition fees, Public universities in Germany offer better research opportunities, government support, and a strong academic reputation. The number of Indian students studying in Germany has increased three-fold over the years. Indians make up the second-largest group of international students enrolled at German universities, with around 42,997 students from India currently enrolled in Germany (2024).
Public universities in Germany are funded by the government and form the major backbone of the education industry in the country. The Technical University of Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Heidelberg University, and Free University of Berlin are among the top public universities in Germany, which are also among the top global universities. The article is all about the list of public universities in Germany, their courses, and how to apply there.
Quick Links
- Public Universities vs Private Universities in Germany - Overview
- Best Public Universities in Germany 2025
- List of Public Universities in Germany
- Why Study at Public Universities in Germany?
- Cost of Studying at Public Universities in Germany
- How to apply to a Public University in Germany?
Public Universities vs Private Universities in Germany - Overview
In this section, we are going to look at the differences between public universities and private universities across Germany.
| Parameters | Public Universities | Private Universities |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Studying in Germany | Public Universities in Germany do not charge students with a tuition fee. These are government-funded study institutions and students are only required to pay a semester fee of €350. | Private Universities in Germany offer specialized courses to students and charge a tuition fee. Students studying at private universities would be required to shell out anywhere between €6000 to €7000 per year. |
| Admissions Requirements | Tuition-free public universities have put Germany on the global education map. Hence, every year, thousands of international and domestic students apply to Public Universities. This is why the admission process is complex and has higher admission requirements. | The admission process to private universities in contrast is less complex. Candidates looking to study across private universities in Germany are required to simply qualify for the minimum admission requirements to go ahead with their admission process. |
| Language Requirements | Candidates looking to take admission to public universities in Germany are required to know German. All public universities in Germany use German as their medium of communication and teaching, hence knowing the German Language - (certificate level) is mandatory. | One of the biggest advantages of studying in private universities in Germany is that students are provided with quality education which is at par with private universities and students are not required to learn the German language. The main mode of communication is English. However, knowing German will only help you manoeuvre through the foreign land. |
| Intake Season | Winter Semester: (popular)
Summer Semester:
|
Rolling Admission Deadlines across most courses |
| Top Courses Offered | Public Universities in Germany offer a large variety of courses as compared to private universities. For example - the Free University of Berlin is a public university in Germany that offers more than 150 academic courses. |
Private universities offer a much smaller number of courses to students looking to study in Germany. However, the courses offered by private universities in Germany are specialized programmes which are targeted towards providing employment. |
| University Rankings | Most German universities ranked among the top universities in the world are public universities. |
Private universities enjoy a much lesser mention across top universities ranking around the world. |
Many public universities in Germany require or accept TestAS scores as part of their admission process. Learn more about the structure, preparation, and importance of this exam in our TestAS Exam Guide. Germany boasts various top public universities. To understand how these institutions compare to those in the Netherlands, especially regarding tuition fees and academically, check our Study in Netherlands vs Germany analysis.
Public universities in Germany offer quality education at low costs and also provide good job opportunities. Many international students find part-time jobs while studying and full-time jobs after graduation because of Germany’s strong job market.
Best Public Universities in Germany 2025
In this section, we are going to list the best public universities in Germany as per leading ranking aggregators.
| Public Universities in Germany | QS World University Rankings 2026: Top Global Universities | World University Rankings 2025 - Times Higher Education (THE) |
|---|---|---|
| Technical University of Munich (TUM) Shiksha Grade: A++ |
22 | 26 |
| Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Shiksha Grade: A++ |
58 | 38 |
| Heidelberg University Shiksha Grade: A++ |
80 | 47 |
| Free University of Berlin Shiksha Grade: A |
88 | 104 |
| RWTH Aachen University Shiksha Grade: A+ |
105 | 92 |
| Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Shiksha Grade: B++ |
98 | 166 |
| Humboldt University of Berlin Shiksha Grade: A |
130 | 84 |
| Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) Shiksha Grade: B++ |
145 | 140 |
| Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg Shiksha Grade: A+ |
201 | 128 |
| University of Hamburg Shiksha Grade: A |
193 | 132 |
Let us know the universities in detail
Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich (TUM) is among the best universities of the world. It is the highest-ranked university in Germany. TUM Germany is ranked #22 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is a famous technical university in Germany. It was founded in 1868. It is part of TU9. This is a group of nine top technical universities in Germany.
TU Munich has 15 academic departments. It also has many schools. The university offers more than 200 degree programs. Many programs are English-taught courses. These are for the large number of international students who join every year.
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
LMU Munich is at the forefront of European research. LMU Munich has been dedicated to academic excellence for over 550 years. It was founded in 1472. It is a hub of academic excellence in a network of research institutions. It is also connected to universities. It works with businesses.
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University Heidelberg
University Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany. It is also very famous in Europe for study and research. The university is top in many world rankings. Students here learn not only normal study but also how to do research from early time. There are more than 160 subjects in this university. You can study humanities, social science, natural science and applied science. It is a big place for learning many things.
RWTH Aachen University
It is one of Germany's largest universities. The top courses to study in RWTH Aachen are engineering, computer science, and innovation. Candidates willing to study technical fields can apply for RWTH Aachen. It is one of the best public universities in Germany with no tuition fees.
Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin is one of 13 German universities funded through the German government’s Excellence Strategy and has over 100 international partnerships. With 16 academic departments and central institutes offering over 150 degree programs, Freie Universität Berlin is a global destination for students and scholars.
List of Public Universities in Germany
In this section, we are going to be talking about the popular public universities in Germany.
Why Study at Public Universities in Germany?
There are close to 350 public universities in Germany. Apart from offering free education to international and domestic students alike. what makes public universities in Germany popular among international students can be attributed to the quality of education German universities provide.
Germany is known for their state-of-the-art infrastructure, availability of the latest amenities, an education system that combines theoretical knowledge along with building practical skills, renowned faculty, a stable jobs market and finally a degree that is renowned the world over. These are some of the popular reasons why public universities in Germany are a good choice for study abroad. Studying at a public university in Germany means lower tuition fees.
Popular Courses to Study in Public Universities of Germany
While courses are part of the student's decision. However, popular courses across public universities include
- Business Administration/Management
- Computer Science
- Industrial Engineering/Business and Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics
- Medicine/health science
- Robotics/Artificial Intelligence
- Social work
Cost of Studying at Public Universities in Germany
If you manage to get admission in any public university, then the cost of studying in Germany will be zero or low. We are all aware by now that the public universities in Germany are free and do not charge tuition fees but only an administration fee of about 350 euros at the start of each semester. However, there are living expenses that candidates need to take care of. Candidates going to study in Germany are required to open a Blocked Account in Germany. A German Blocked Account is a mandatory requirement and simply put, is a closed bank account in a German Bank.
Keeping the rate of inflation in mind, the mandatory amount required in the German Blocked Account for studying in Germany is €11,904 for an entire year or €992 for a month. Along with this, candidates should also look at the miscellaneous expenditures involved in the study abroad process.
How to apply to a Public University in Germany?
The admission requirements to study in Germany is very high. Universities in Germany ask for a 90% academic score for UG programs for admission. It also has a high acceptance rate which makes it difficult for foreign students to get admission to public universities in the country. International students need to appear for IELTS or TOEFL exam as an English Language Proficiency Exam. For PG courses international students are required at least a 70-75% academic score from a reputed university. They also need to appear in exams like the GRE, GMAT, ACT, SAT, etc. as per the programme requirement. Candidates can reach out to our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for assistance with university admissions.
Also Read
| MBA in Germany | Bachelors of Business colleges in Germany |
| Engineering in Germany |
Candidates looking for assistance with university admissions can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad counsellors for assistance with university admissions to Germany. You can also mention your queries in the comment section below:
While no university can guarantee a 100% acceptance rate due to varying admission criteria, some universities, like the University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden, are known for being more accessible to international students.
Technical University of Munich (TUM), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, among the best universities in the world. Indian students with better academic backgrounds can apply for admission at these top universities in Germany.
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Comments
(1)
M
4 years ago
R
4 years ago
Hello John. To know about public universities that teach in English visit: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/universities-in-germany-that-teach-in-english-articlepage-2073 Do keep in mind that this is a select list and does not include all universities. Do note that public universities do not have a
Yes, public universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees for both domestic and international students, making it possible for students to study for free. However, students may need to pay a small administrative fee, ranging from €100 to €350 each semester.