Germany is very welcoming to international students and it has been continuously gaining popularity in an ongoing crisis in other countries such as US, UK, and Australia that has made studying their challenging. Around 48 German universities are ranked highly as per QS World University Ranking 2026. Indian students can choose to study in Germany as the country offers a world-class education system, research-focused institutions, and the best career prospects after completing the courses. Top universities and colleges in Germany not only offer the latest curriculum and emphasis on practical learning, by also a diverse range of study options in engineering, business, medicine, arts, and more.
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Germany is hereby the perfect country for study abroad for Indian students, offering an easy application process with the best universities in the world that hold a reputation for affordable yet quality education and further having rewarding career opportunities in the dynamic European job market. Let us check in depth about which universities in Germany are best for international students through this article. It also includes the top German universities list in QS WUR 2026 and its crucial information, such as application requirements, fee structure, and much more. Read further for a comprehensive guide on top universities and colleges in Germany for Indian students.
German universities not only offer top-notch education and practical learning experience but also have a stellar reputation in the world for their impressive rankings. These top universities in Germany are home to some of the cutting-edge research, inventions, and discoveries in Engineering and Sciences. Last year, more than 49,000 Indian students were admitted to universities in Germany for Fall 2024. International students can study in both private and public universities in Germany; however, admission is quite competitive. Most of the best public universities in Germany have zero or less tuition fees for both EU and non-EU students. Now, check the table below for the list of top universities in Germany for international students as per QS World University Ranking 2026.
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As we have already gone through the complete list of top universities in Germany that are highly ranked as per QS in 2026, it is crucial for Indian students to understand the top 10 in detail. We have mentioned everything about these best German universities for Indian students, ranging from their reputation, acceptance rate and top courses to average salaries and other admission requirements. Check the heading below for more information:
Known as the Entrepreneurial University that fosters a supportive environment for budding entrepreneurs, the Technical University of Munich consistently tops all international ranking agencies. It is also among the best universities in Germany for studying globally renowned courses in Engineering and Technology. Seven TUM schools together offer 182 degree programs to international students. This best uni in Germany is home to around 52,000 students. It is one of Germany's most highly competitive universities, with only an 8% acceptance rate. Average tuition fees at TUM are EUR 2,000-6,000, depending on the course level.
Particulars | Data |
International Acceptance Rate | 8% |
Top Courses | MS Computational Science and Engineering, MS Automotive Engineering, Master in Management |
Average Salary | Up to EUR 165,000/annum |
Minimum CGPA for Master's Programs | 7.5-8.0 |
LMU Munich is the sixth-oldest university, established in 1472 in Germany. It is one of the best public universities in Germany and Europe, serving international students through 18 faculties. With over 500 years of educational excellence, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich is popular for the courses in humanities, law, economics, natural sciences, and medicine.
Being the top universities in Germany 2025, it holds 54,000 students in its campuses. While courses are available both in German and English, 27 master's programs are exclusively offered in English, making it easy for Indian students. It is one of the cheapest universities in Germany. There are no tuition fees at this top uni in Germany, except semester fees of up to EUR 300.
Particulars | Data |
International Acceptance Rate | 10% |
Top Courses | MS Data Science, M.Sc Public Health, MS Software Engineering |
Average Salary | Up to EUR 1,24,000 per annum |
Minimum GPA for Masters Programs | 4.5 |
With an acceptance rate of 17%, the University of Heidelberg is one of the top universities in Germany according to QS and THE rankings 2025. The university is the oldest in Germany, established in 1386. It focuses on research and has produced more than 30 Nobel laureates, including Max Weber and Dimitri Mendeleev. Around 30,000 students are currently enrolled at the University of Heidelberg, which has over 180 programs of study for international students. Out of which 5,000 are international students. There are student exchange programs with 480 universities across the world. The University of Heidelberg is one of the top universities in Germany without IELTS. Tuition fees are €1500 per Semester at the University of Heidelberg.
Particulars | Data |
International Students | 17% |
Top Courses | MS Applied Computer Science, MS Molecular Biotechnology, MS Psychology |
Average Salary | Up to EUR 95,000/annum |
Minimum GPA for Masters Programs | 3.3 |
Free University of Berlin is also among the top universities in Germany 2025. It is among the eleven top German universities of Excellence. There are around 150 programs available to 33,500 students at the Free University of Berlin. What makes the Free University of Berlin one of the top 10 universities in Germany is its research-intensive education with 17 research collaboration centres. There are 5 Nobel Prize winners among its staff. Admissions are offered in Fall and Spring semesters every year, accepting 15% of the applicants. It is one of the highly competitive universities in Germany, where scholarships are awarded to deserving students from across the world. Courses in both English and German are offered at the university.
Particulars | Data |
Acceptance Rate | 15% |
Top Courses | MS Data Science, MS Finance, Accounting and Taxation, MS Management and Marketing |
Average Salary | Up to EUR 43,600annum |
Minimum GPA for Masters Programs | 3.0 |
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KIT has made it to the top 10 universities in Germany for 2026 in QS global rankings. It is also a member of the 11 "Germany Universities of Excellence" and is home to more than 22,816 international students. However, most of the programs at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are in German, with only a few courses available in English. The KIT is one of the top universities in Germany for Engineering. It has many campuses in Karlsruhe, hosting cultural Centres, Sports centres, Theatres, a Music Club, and a Gym. The university offers on-campus accommodation facilities, dormitories, and shared flats for international students. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology accepts only 26% of international students.
Particulars | Data |
International Students | 26% |
Top Courses | MS Computer science, BS Mechanical Engineering, MS Electrical engineering and information technology |
Average Salary | EUR 42,000-54,000 per annum |
Minimum GPA for Masters Programs | 3.0 |
Located in Germany's westernmost important city, Aachen, RWTH mainly focuses on Engineering and related disciplines. However, there are faculties of Medicine and Philosophy at RWTH Aachen. With 15,270 international students from 140 countries enrolled, RWTH Aachen is one of the top universities in Germany for cutting-edge Engineering research. The acceptance rate is also very low at 10%. There are a total of 9 faculties that together offer around 100 programs. There are no tuition fees for international students. Scholarships worth EUR 7500 are offered to Indian Master/PhD students from IIT Madras. It is among the top universities in Germany for masters in mechanical engineering. The average salary of graduates of RWTH Aachen is EUR 27,000 per annum.
Particulars | Data |
Acceptance rate | 10% |
Top Courses | MS Computer Science, MS Data Science, BS Mechanical Engineering |
Average Salary | EUR 27,000 per annum |
Minimum GPA for Masters Programs | 2.5 |
Humboldt University of Berlin is a public university in Germany. It is the oldest university in Berlin, established in 1810. The faculty of Humboldt University of Berlin includes Albert Einstein and has 55 Nobel laureates associated with it so far. Notable alums include Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, founders of Marxism. Arts and Humanities courses at Humboldt University of Berlin have a global reputation and it is also one of the top universities in Germany for masters in computer science. All undergraduate programs at this one of the top universities in Germany are taught in German. English-taught programs are available only at the PG level. DAAD scholarships are available for study at Humboldt University of Berlin.
Particulars | Data |
Acceptance Rate | 16% |
Top Courses | MS Psychology, MS Management Information Systems, BS Computer Science |
Average Salary | EUR 97,000 per annum |
Known for technical Excellence and courses related to Technology, Technical University of Berlin is part of TU9, a group of the largest and most notable German institutes of technology. TUB is among the top 10 universities in Germany 2025 for core Engineering. Mechanical Engineering and Transport Systems, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Humanities and Process Sciences are some renowned programs. Over 115 programs are offered at all levels. 20 PG courses are taught in the English language. The Technical University of Berlin's acceptance rate is fair at 52%.
Particulars | Data |
Acceptance Rate | 52% |
Top Courses | MS Computer Science, MS Civil Systems Engineering, MS Industrial Engineering and Management |
Average Salary | EUR 43,605 per annum |
University of Hamburg is one of the youngest among the top universities in Germany 2025. It is a public university in Germany with only four faculties initially: political science, law, medicine, and natural sciences. However, there are now 18 separate faculties that offer around 70 bachelor's and 100 master's. Most of these programs are in German, with only a few English-taught programs. So, German language proficiency is mandatory to study at the University of Hamburg. True to its place among the top universities in Germany, it has produced five Nobel laureates since its inception in 1919.
Particulars | Data |
Acceptance rate | 24% |
Top Courses | MS Psychology, BS Business Administration, MBA Health Management |
Average Salary | Up to EUR 48,000 - 51,000 per annum |
The University of Freiburg is the 5th oldest university in Germany, established in 1457. There are 113 bachelor's degree courses and 130 master's on offer. However, German language proficiency is required for the majority of the courses. What makes the University of Freiburg a top 10 university in Germany is its notable alumni, education excellence that has delivered 19 Nobel Laureates, and absence of tuition fees. University accommodation is available in the form of student dormitories. The Library of the University of Freiburg is one of the largest in the country. The acceptance rate of the University of Freiburg is around 33% for international students.
Particulars | Data |
Acceptance rate | 33% |
Top Courses | MS Psychology: Clinical Psychology, Neurosciences and Rehabilitation Sciences, MS Nursing Sciences, BS Nursing Sciences |
Average Salary | EUR 189,000/annum |
Minimum GPA for Masters Programs | 2.5 |
Let us now check the best business universities in Germany for Indian students as per QS World Universities Rankings by Subject in 2025. There is no information available about the QS WUR by Subject for 2026.
Business School Name | QS Ranking 2025 |
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management | 17 |
Mannheim Business School | 18 |
WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management | 23 |
HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management | 43 |
EU Business School | 47 |
In the table below, we will be discussing the best engineering universities in Germany for Indian students as per QS World Universities Rankings by Subject in 2025. There is no information available about the QS WUR by Subject for 2026.
| University | QS Rankings 2025: Engineering and Technology |
| Technical University of Munich | 19 |
| Technical University of Berlin | 45 |
| Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) | 53 |
| RWTH Aachen University | 65 |
| Dresden University of Technology | 97 |
| University of Stuttgart | 182 |
| Technical University of Darmstadt | 187 |
| Humboldt University of Berlin | 225 |
| Ludwig Maximilians University Munich | 237 |
| Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg | 254 |
Let us now check the best medical universities in Germany for Indian students as per QS World Universities Rankings by Subject in 2025. There is no information available about the QS WUR by Subject for 2026.
| University | QS Medicine Rankings 2025 |
| Heidelberg University Germany | 32 |
| Ludwig Maximilians University Munich | 53 |
| Technical University of Munich | 78 |
| Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin | 93 |
| University of Hamburg | 132 |
| University of Tuebingen | 153 |
| Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg | 161 |
German university graduates are some of the highly sought-after talent by employers across the globe. International students seeking good job prospects may check the list below for top universities in Germany.
University | QS World University Ranking 2025 |
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | 102 |
RWTH Aachen University | 99 |
Technical University of Darmstadt | =241 |
TU Berlin | 147 |
Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin | =126 |
Technical University of Dresden | 234 |
University of Erlangen Nurnberg | =224 |
University of Konstanz | =466 |
| 487 |
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Numerous reasons exist that state why Germany is a perfect country for higher education in 2025 for Indian students. One major reason is that Germany offers hassle-free admission to German universities and colleges in comparison to other popular study abroad destinations such as US and UK. Let us now check some of the major reasons why Germany is a good place to study for Indian students:
Germany is one of the popular countries that offers a wide range of courses in different study disciplines such as Computer Science and IT, Engineering, Business, Humanities, Fine Arts, Social Sciences, Law, etc. Here are the top 10 courses to study in Germany for international students:
It is highly recommended for international students to confirm the exact admission requirements of the chosen German universities before applying. This is because each university and college in Germany might have different eligibility requirements. Generally, here are the common admission requirements for international students to apply to top German universities and colleges:
A set of documents is required to study top courses in Germany. A few of the courses might require additional documents, such as NEET for medicine in Germany. Let us now check the common documents to study in Germany for international students:
There are two types of universities in Germany: public and private universities. Generally, all public universities in Germany offer tuition-free courses to international and domestic students. However, they are required to pay a minimum amount of administrative fees ranging from €100 to €350 per semester.
On the other hand, private universities in Germany can charge international students a tuition fee of around €5,000 to €20,000 per year. Also, the tuition fees in Germany can vary depending on the type of course and university. For example, the MBA in Germany can cost around €65,000 for the full course on average
Although the majority of public universities in Germany are free for international students. This is because the tuition fees in these German public universities are paid by the government. These institutions just charge the semester fee per term from students. Typically, the cost ranges from €100 to €350 per semester. However, some universities and colleges in Germany charge a tuition fee of €1,500-€3,000 per semester. We have mentioned the average tuition fees in universities in Germany for international students (if charged) in the table below:
| Course Level | Tuition Fees 2025 (Annually in EUR) |
| Bachelor's degrees | €5,000 and €20,000 |
| Master’s degrees | €10,000 and €40,000 |
| MBA courses | €15,000 and €60,000 |
Germany offers many scholarships for international students, ranging from government-funded to university-specific ones. Let us now discuss some of the best scholarships in Germany for international students in 2025:
Let us now check some of the best student cities in Germany that are knwon for its welcoming environment towards international students.
Although the living expenses in Germany depend on the individual lifestyle and choices, the chosen accommodation, transportation, food, and other factors determine the total costs. Generally, the average cost of living in Germany for international students is between €830 and €1,755 per month. Considering the city wise living expenses in Germany to make financial decisions for international students, cities such as Munich and Stuttgart are expensive. On the other hand, German cities such as Bremen cost 27% less than Stuttgart. The average accommodation rent in Germany ranges from €250 to €550 per month. Let us now check the average cost of living for international students in Germany in 2025.
Expense List | Cost in Germany per month (EUR) |
Rent or Accommodation | EUR 250 - 500 |
Food or meals | EUR 200 - 300 |
Transportation (public or private) | EUR 50 - 200 |
Health insurance | EUR 50 - 150 |
Utilities(Electricity, wifi, water, Gas) | EUR 100 - 150 |
Mobile & Internet | EUR 15 - 35 |
Miscellaneous | EUR 200 - 400 |
Total Cost of Living in Germany | EUR 865 - 1535 |
International students have the option to work part-time in Germany during their intended course of study. A German study visa is required by international students to study in Germany. Hence, this permit allows them to work in Germany for up to 120 full days or 240 half days per year. Further, international students can work full-time for more than 20 hours per week during the academic breaks and holidays. A few of the part time work options in Germany for students include the following:
International students are eligible for a post-study work permit after graduating with a bachelor's or master's degree in Germany. They can apply for a German post-study work permit that allows them to stay back in the country for up to 18 months. This visa is known as the Job-Seeking Residence Permit for international students, allowing them to search for field-related work for a stated time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It depends on the type of program. In the case of English taught programs German language proficiency is not mandatory. However, it is preferred to have proficiency in German language.
Most of the universities in Germany are known for Engineering and Sciences. However, Germany is equally worthy for Medicine, Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts, MBA, etc.
Public universities in Germany don’t charge any tuition fees. Instead, there are semester fees for administrative purposes, student unions, etc. They cost around EUR 100-300 per semester.
Technical University of Munich, LMU Munich, University of Hamburg, RWTH Aachen University are four of the highly competitive universities in Germany for international students.
Yes, there are many German universities where IELTS is accepted as proof of English language proficiency.
On Question asked by student community
There are several scholarships available for international students who want to study medicine in Germany in English. Here are some options you can explore:
Government Scholarships:
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Choosing the best country for a masters in animation depends on various factors including the educational quality and industry connections.
The United States stands out with prestigious institutions like CalArts and the School of Visual Arts, offering excellent programs and strong industry ties.
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Studying in Germany can be an attractive option due to its high-quality education and relatively low tuition fees. While "free" education is not always entirely accurate, many public universities in Germany do offer low or no tuition fees for international students. Here’s a guide to help you understand the
There might be discrepancies between your academic documents (graduation certificate with old name) and application documents (with new name). This can cause delays while German authorities verify the name change.
You might need to provide additional documents to prove the name change is legal and legitimate.
I hope it helps!
Correct Answer: The Potsdam Agreement
Solution : The Potsdam Agreement, concluded after World War II, led to the division of Germany into East Germany (controlled by the Soviet Union) and West Germany (controlled by the Western Allies).
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