What Are the Best Universities in Germany? (2026)
The Technical University of Munich leads at THE 27for 2026 and QS 22 for 2026, Germany's number one, followed by LMU Munich at THE 34 and Heidelberg University at THE 49. Public universities charge EU students EUR 0 tuition, so the recurring bill is the Semesterbeitrag, from EUR 85 in Munich to EUR 384 in Hamburg. Non-EU students pay EUR 1,500 per semester in Baden-Württemberg, and EUR 2,000 to EUR 6,000 at TUM.
Jump to section
How Do German Universities Compare?
Ordered by the institution's exact position in the Times Higher Education 2026 world table. Universities that sit in a band rather than at a single position, and those outside the table, are not listed here but appear in full on the university records themselves.
Technical University of Munich
Munich, THE 27 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: 85 (97 from summer semester 2026; 82 at Straubing campus)
Non-EU tuition: 2000-3000 bachelor / 4000-6000 master (from WS 2024/25; some masters exempt, verify per programme) per semester
English programmes: approx. 90 (one of Germany's largest English portfolios)
LMU Munich
Munich, THE 34 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: 85 (Studierendenwerk fee; semester-ticket surcharge suspended since WS 2023/24)
Non-EU tuition: EUR 0 per semester
English programmes: approx. 60
Heidelberg University
Heidelberg, THE 49 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: 161.10 (verified 2025/26)
Non-EU tuition: EUR 1,500 per semester
English programmes: approx. 55 (mostly master)
Humboldt University of Berlin
Berlin, THE 89 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: 321.90 (verified 2025/26)
Non-EU tuition: EUR 0 per semester
English programmes: approx. 55
Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Berlin, THE 91 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: approx. 320-360 (via FU/HU enrolment)
Non-EU tuition: EUR 0 per semester
English programmes: approx. 10 (masters/PhD)
RWTH Aachen University
Aachen, THE 92 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: 338.05 (verified 2025/26, includes transport ticket)
Non-EU tuition: EUR 0 per semester
English programmes: approx. 50 (master-heavy engineering)
University of Bonn
Bonn, THE 92 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: approx. 330-360 (includes transport); verify
Non-EU tuition: EUR 0 per semester
English programmes: approx. 45
University of Tübingen
Tübingen, THE 98 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: approx. 160-180; verify current semester
Non-EU tuition: EUR 1,500 per semester
English programmes: approx. 45
Free University of Berlin
Berlin, THE 113 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: 358.80 (verified 2025/26, includes transport ticket)
Non-EU tuition: EUR 0 per semester
English programmes: approx. 50
University of Göttingen
Göttingen, THE 122 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: approx. 350-400 (includes transport); verify
Non-EU tuition: EUR 0 per semester
English programmes: approx. 40
University of Hamburg
Hamburg, THE 125 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: 384 (verified 2025/26, includes transport ticket)
Non-EU tuition: EUR 0 per semester
English programmes: approx. 60
University of Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau, THE 138 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: 190 (verified 2025/26)
Non-EU tuition: EUR 1,500 per semester
English programmes: approx. 40 (mostly master)
Technische Universität Berlin
Berlin, THE 160 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: 360.49 (verified 2025/26); continuing-education masters may charge tuition
Non-EU tuition: EUR 0 per semester
English programmes: approx. 45
University of Cologne
Cologne, THE 164 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: approx. 330-360 (includes transport); verify
Non-EU tuition: EUR 0 per semester
English programmes: approx. 50
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Karlsruhe, THE 166 for 2026
Semesterbeitrag: 201.50 (verified 2025/26; includes 80 euro state admin fee)
Non-EU tuition: EUR 1,500 per semester
English programmes: approx. 45 (engineering/CS master-heavy)
Semesterbeitrag values marked as verified are for 2025/26; values marked approximate are re-set each semester. Confirm the current figure with the university before you budget.
Which Universities Rank Highest?
The eight highest-placed German institutions in the THE 2026 table, with the fees and warnings recorded against each one.
Technical University of Munich
Germany's No.1. THE 27 for 2026, Semesterbeitrag 85 (97 from summer semester 2026; 82 at Straubing campus), non-EU tuition 2000-3000 bachelor / 4000-6000 master (from WS 2024/25; some masters exempt, verify per programme) per semester.
Visit sitePublic university, founded 1868, 53,970 students. Deadlines: Bachelor via uni-assist by 15 July; master applications for WS 2026/27 closed 31 May 2026; tuition payment deadlines 15 September (winter) / 15 March (summer).
Pros
- Germany's highest-ranked university, THE 27 globally
- Very large fully English-taught bachelor/master portfolio
- Waiver scholarships and hardship waivers can cancel non-EU tuition
Cons
- Non-EU students pay EUR 2,000-6,000 per semester since WS 2024/25
- Munich living costs highest in Germany
Best for approx. 90 (one of Germany's largest English portfolios) English-taught programmes, Munich
LMU Munich
THE 34 for 2026, Semesterbeitrag 85 (Studierendenwerk fee; semester-ticket surcharge suspended since WS 2023/24), non-EU tuition EUR 0 per semester.
Visit sitePublic university, founded 1472, 53,609 students. Deadlines: 15 July / 15 January; many masters 15 March-15 May.
Pros
- THE top-35 worldwide across the full subject range
- No tuition for any nationality as of 2026
- Only EUR 85 semester contribution
Cons
- Munich is Germany's most expensive student city
- Severe housing shortage; dorms have long queues
Best for approx. 60 English-taught programmes, Munich
Heidelberg University
Founded 1386. THE 49 for 2026, Semesterbeitrag 161.10 (verified 2025/26), non-EU tuition EUR 1,500 per semester.
Visit sitePublic university, founded 1386, 30,000 students. Deadlines: 15 July / 15 January; English masters often 15 March-15 May.
Pros
- Germany's oldest university, founded 1386
- THE top-50 globally, strongest in medicine and life sciences
- 20 percent international students, large English offer
Cons
- Non-EU tuition EUR 1,500 per semester plus EUR 161.10 fee
- Highly competitive medicine and bioscience admission
Best for approx. 55 (mostly master) English-taught programmes, Heidelberg
Humboldt University of Berlin
THE 89 for 2026, Semesterbeitrag 321.90 (verified 2025/26), non-EU tuition EUR 0 per semester.
Visit sitePublic university, founded 1810, 36,000 students. Deadlines: 15 July / 15 January; masters vary March-June.
Pros
- Birthplace of the modern research university (1810)
- Excellence university, 57 Nobel affiliations
- No tuition for any nationality
Cons
- Berlin housing scarcity
- German needed for most bachelor programmes
Best for approx. 55 English-taught programmes, Berlin
Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Medicine. THE 91 for 2026, Semesterbeitrag approx. 320-360 (via FU/HU enrolment), non-EU tuition EUR 0 per semester.
Visit sitePublic university, founded 1710, 8,000 students. Deadlines: 15 July / 15 January (medicine via hochschulstart.de).
Pros
- Europe's largest university hospital, excellence status
- Joint medical faculty of FU and HU Berlin
- English-taught biomedical research masters and PhDs
Cons
- Medicine admission extremely competitive for non-EU
- Degree medicine taught in German only
Best for approx. 10 (masters/PhD) English-taught programmes, Berlin
RWTH Aachen University
Engineering. THE 92 for 2026, Semesterbeitrag 338.05 (verified 2025/26, includes transport ticket), non-EU tuition EUR 0 per semester.
Visit sitePublic university, founded 1870, 47,000 students. Deadlines: 15 July / 15 January; English masters often 1 March (winter).
Pros
- Excellence university and TU9 anchor for engineering
- No tuition for any nationality
- Huge English-taught engineering masters catalogue
Cons
- March deadlines for many international masters
- Aachen housing tight near campus
Best for approx. 50 (master-heavy engineering) English-taught programmes, Aachen
University of Bonn
THE 92 for 2026, Semesterbeitrag approx. 330-360 (includes transport); verify, non-EU tuition EUR 0 per semester.
Visit sitePublic university, founded 1818, 38,000 students. Deadlines: 15 July / 15 January; English masters often 15 March-15 May.
Pros
- Excellence university, maths ranked world-class
- No tuition for any nationality
- Bonn UN and research-institute ecosystem
Cons
- Bonn rents high for the region
- Competitive CS and maths admission
Best for approx. 45 English-taught programmes, Bonn
University of Tübingen
THE 98 for 2026, Semesterbeitrag approx. 160-180; verify current semester, non-EU tuition EUR 1,500 per semester.
Visit sitePublic university, founded 1477, 28,000 students. Deadlines: 15 July / 15 January; English masters 15 February-15 May.
Pros
- Excellence university in AI and clinical research
- THE top-100 globally
- Classic university town with very high student share
Cons
- Non-EU tuition EUR 1,500 per semester (BW law)
- Severe housing shortage in Tübingen
Best for approx. 45 English-taught programmes, Tübingen
How Do You Choose a German University?
Check the teaching language first
German-taught programmes need DSH-2 or TestDaF 4x4. English-taught ones typically need IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 88 to 90. The requirement follows the programme, not the university.
Check your nationality against the state
Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students EUR 1,500 per semester. Berlin, Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia universities here charge EUR 0 to everyone.
Read the Semesterbeitrag properly
A EUR 384 fee in Hamburg includes a transport ticket. The EUR 85 fee in Munich does not, because the semester-ticket surcharge has been suspended since winter semester 2023/24.
Check the portal before the deadline
uni-assist handles most international applications, but RWTH Aachen, TUM, Heidelberg, Stuttgart and Hamburg all route part of the process through their own systems.
How Much Does It Cost to Study in Germany?
- EU students at public universities: EUR 0 tuition per semester, in every state.
- Semesterbeitrag: EUR 85 at LMU Munich and TUM, EUR 161.10 at Heidelberg, EUR 190 at Freiburg, EUR 201.50 at KIT including an EUR 80 state administration fee, EUR 321.90 at Humboldt, EUR 338.05 at RWTH Aachen, EUR 358.80 at the Free University of Berlin, EUR 360.49 at TU Berlin and EUR 384 at the University of Hamburg, all verified for 2025/26.
- Non-EU students in Baden-Württemberg:EUR 1,500 per semester by state law, at Heidelberg, KIT, Tübingen, Freiburg, Stuttgart, Mannheim and the state's other public universities.
- Non-EU students at TUM: EUR 2,000 to EUR 3,000 per semester for bachelor programmes and EUR 4,000 to EUR 6,000 for masters from winter semester 2024/25, some masters exempt. Payment deadlines are 15 September for winter and 15 March for summer.
- Living costs: the state assumes EUR 992 per month for a student visa, EUR 11,904 for the year, held in a Sperrkonto.
How Do You Apply to a German University?
- Confirm the teaching language of the exact programme and get the certificate it names: DSH-2 or TestDaF 4x4 for German, IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 88 to 90 for English. Goethe C2 and telc C1 Hochschule are accepted at several universities in place of the DSH.
- Apply through uni-assist, which reviews foreign qualifications and issues the VPD, or through the university's own portal where it runs one: TUMonline, RWTHonline, heiCO, C@MPUS, STiNE, KLIPS or AlmaWeb.
- Work to the earliest deadline that applies, not the headline one. Standard dates are 15 July for winter and 15 January for summer, but international and English-taught masters commonly close between 1 March and 31 May.
- Expect Numerus clausus selection rather than an entrance exam. Medicine is the exception, through the TMS, and aptitude assessments apply to many TUM programmes.
- With the admission letter, open a Sperrkonto and deposit EUR 11,904, then book the visa appointment at the German mission.
- After arrival, complete the Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt, generally within 14 days, using the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from your landlord. The Steuer-ID arrives by post afterwards, and the residence permit itself is handled by the Ausländerbehörde.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best university in Germany?
The Technical University of Munich, ranked THE 27 for 2026 and QS 22 for 2026 as Germany's number one. LMU Munich follows at THE 34 and Heidelberg University at THE 49. All three charge EU students EUR 0 in tuition.
Do German universities charge tuition?
Public universities charge EU students EUR 0 per semester. Every enrolled student pays the Semesterbeitrag instead, which ranges from EUR 85 at LMU Munich and TUM to EUR 384 at the University of Hamburg for 2025/26 and often includes a transport ticket. Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students EUR 1,500 per semester by state law.
How do international students apply to a German university?
Most international applications run through uni-assist, which issues the VPD preliminary review. Some universities run their own portals instead or in addition: TUMonline at TUM, RWTHonline at RWTH Aachen, heiCO for many Heidelberg masters, C@MPUS at Stuttgart, STiNE at Hamburg.
When are the application deadlines?
The standard dates are 15 July for the winter semester and 15 January for the summer semester. English-taught and international masters close earlier, for example 1 March at RWTH Aachen, 15 March to 30 April at KIT and 31 May at TU Dresden.