Aspirants’ Guide to Study in Berlin in 2022

  • Updated on  
  • December 13, 2021
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Study in Berlin

Germany has been gaining popularity as one of the best study destinations abroad. Berlin, the capital and largest city of Germany, is one of the best student cities to pursue higher education. The popular Universities in Berlin offer hundreds of bachelors and masters programs in English to their international students. Home to world-renowned universities, a rich history and cultural environment, diverse architecture, affordable living and outstanding nightlife, Berlin is one of the best places to study in. If you are planning to study in Berlin and have no idea where to begin you have come to the right blog!

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Why Study in Berlin?

Let’s start this blog with first knowing some of the amazing reasons to study in Berlin for international students:

  1. Berlin has a plethora of universities and educational institutions with world-class academics, offering a variety of courses to its international students delivered in English.
  2. Berlin is one of the best places to live in for students with its quality education, rich diversity, artistic and historical environment and outstanding nightlife. It ranks #5 in the world on the QS Best Student City Ranking list.
  3. The quality of life is high in Berlin, due to its high quality and affordable living, entertainment, infrastructure, healthcare, diverse culture and general happiness.
  4. Affordable living and cheaper cost of education as compared to other large cities. Universities of Berlin also cost international students with low tuition fees.
  5. A degree from a university in Berlin is internationally recognised and studying in a strong innovative and industrial country like Germany will prove beneficial for your career.

Here’s a small list of some of the popular and best universities to study in Berlin for international students:

Universities in Berlin  QS World Ranking 2022
Freie Universität Berlin or Free University of Berlin 127
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin or Humboldt University of Berlin =128
Technische Universität Berlin or Technical University of Berlin 159

Let’s know more about each of these above-mentioned universities in Berlin: 

Free University of Berlin

Freie Universität Berlin is a public research university established in 1948. It ranks among the top 10 universities in Germany. It has 11 academic departments and 4 interdisciplinary central institutes under it. Though the university offers only one undergraduate course in English, it offers a variety of graduate courses in several disciplines to its international students. It is counted among the top international universities for the high population of international students and teachers. It provides the students with outstanding internship and job opportunities through the tie-ups it has developed with well-established firms over the years.

Credits: Freie Universität Berlin

Humboldt University of Berlin

The Humboldt University of Berlin is a public research university founded in 1810. As one of the top  German universities, the Humboldt-Universität was chosen as the “University of Excellence” in June 2012. There are 9 faculties offering 171-degree courses. Besides academics, the University also offers a wide variety of extra-curricular activities like over 100 sports and language courses in various languages. Popular degrees offered are:

  • Mono-bachelor where you study only one subject.
  • Combined bachelor where you study two subjects.
  • Bachelor/Master of Arts (humanities, cultural studies)
  • Bachelor/Master of Science (natural sciences, Psychology either)
  • Master of Education (if you want to become a teacher)

Did you know both Freie University and Humboldt University jointly operate the Charité Medical School? Presently, the  Charité Medical School is amongst the largest university hospitals in Europe as well as leading medical universities in Germany and has partnered with numerous research centres around the country. You can study medicine, dentistry or medical education here.

Credits: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Technical University of Berlin

In Berlin, Germany, the Technical University of Berlin is a famous research university. It was founded in 1770 and is now considered one of Europe’s most prestigious institutions. The university is a member of the TU9 group of German technical institutes. In addition to the main site, the university maintains two satellite campuses in Berlin, one in Wedding’s industrial district and the other in Schöneberg’s gasometer location. Computer science, economics and management, mathematics, planning, human sciences, process science, and mechanical engineering are all popular engineering programmes at the Technical University of Berlin. Students can pick from a variety of courses offered by these seven faculties, which comprise 40 bachelor’s programmes and 60 master’s programmes. There are about 7,830 academic members, 366 of whom are professors and 2,598 of whom are postgraduate researchers. In addition, 2,131 people work in administration, and 2,653 people serve as student assistants.

Credits: TUBerlinTV

Other Universities to Study in Berlin 

Apart from the aforementioned universities in Berlin, here are some other educational institutions and colleges to study in Berlin for international students:

  • Berlin University of the Arts
  • HTW Berlin – University of Applied Sciences
  • Berlin School of Economics and Law 
  • Berlin University of Applied Sciences and Technology
  • Alice Salomon University
  • ESMT Berlin
  • SRH Hochschule Berlin
  • Hertie School
  • University of Applied Sciences
  • Steinbeis University Berlin
  • Berlin International University of Applied Sciences
  • BSP Business & Law School
  • Protestant University of Applied Sciences Berlin
  • H:G University of Health & Sports, Technology & Arts
  • Catholic University of Applied Social Sciences
  • Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin
  • Bard College Berlin
  • International Psychoanalytic University Berlin
  • Akkon University of Human Sciences

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Post knowing some of the best and popular universities and colleges to study in Berlin, let’s now unravel the popular courses and fields of study for international students to study in Berlin:

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There are only two intakes in universities in Germany, where the winter intake is the primary intake among the two:

Intakes Deadline 
Winter Intake (September/October to February/March) 15th July
Summer Intake (March/April to August/September) 15th January

Admission Requirements for Indian Students

Though the specific eligibility requirements will mainly differ as per the course and university you have selected, there are some general requirements you must ensure while applying for a program to study in Berlin. The general requirements for students aspiring to study in Berlin are as follows:

Application Process to Study in Berlin 

International students applying to universities in Berlin must follow a well-researched guide before starting their application process:

Step-1: Shortlist Courses and Universities

The primary step in the application process is to shortlist courses and universities according to your academic profile and preference. You must meticulously explore the prospective courses available at the academic institutions in Berlin at least three months before you are aiming to apply for the admission intakes. You can even use our AI-powered Course Finder to shortlist the course as per your interests and requirements and the best-fit universities abroad.

Step-2: Know Your Deadlines

The next step is to know the exact deadlines of universities and colleges in Berlin you are planning to apply to. International students have to take the application process well in advance (one year to 6 months before the actual deadline). This ensures that students can fulfil all the college requirements such as SOP, letters of recommendation, English proficiency tests, funding/scholarship options, and accommodation.

Step-3: Check the Requirements & Eligibility Criteria

Once you have selected a program as well as a university, the next thing is to go through the prescribed eligibility criteria and other requirements. Gather all the required documents like academic transcripts, entrance test scores to submit them to your shortlisted universities in Berlin. You must also verify the language requirements since many courses are taught in German for which you will be asked to provide German language proficiency scores like DSH or TestDaf or if you are opting for the English programme, then you will need to provide English proficiency scores like IELTS, TOEFL, etc.

Step-4:  Compile Your Documents

The next step is to compile all the required documents and test scores for the application process. This means students should start writing their SOPs, getting letters of recommendation from teachers and supervisors and arranging their financial statements along with other documents like test scorecards. With the COVID-19 pandemic, students must download their vaccine certificates and specify the administered vaccine for the application.

Step-5: Send your Application to the Chosen University

Before sending your application to the university, you must recheck all the requirements and documents needed to complete the application process. You can either apply directly on the university website or there is a centralized admissions portal run by DAAD where you can apply for multiple courses though it is not for all the universities. So, you must check once if your selected university is on this portal and then carry out the application process.

Note: Admissions are conducted by German/Berlin universities twice a year, i.e. Winter or Summer semester. Further, it is advised to submit your application at least 6 weeks before the actual deadline so that if any corrections or additions are needed, you will be able to take care of the same. You can expect to get a formal acceptance or rejection in roughly one or two months after the deadline.

Cost of Studying in Berlin

Living in Berlin is pretty affordable as compared to other large cities in the country. Rents in Berlin normally start at 350 Euro per month, shared apartments tend to be less expensive. Most public universities don’t charge any tuition fees for their bachelor and master degrees, just a minor administration fee.

Type of Expenses  Average Expected Costs
Accommodation 300-700 euros (INR 25,706 – 59,982)
Tuition fees 300-1,000 euros (INR 25,706 – 85,689)
Food 200-300 euros (INR 17,137 – 25,706)

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Student Visa for Studying in Berlin 

The following documents are required while applying for a German Student Visa:

  • Valid passport along with A4 copy of passport’s personal information page
  • Three biometric visa pictures
  • Visa Application form
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Proof of admission in a university
  • Class X & XII Marksheets
  • Copy of English language proficiency test  (IELTS/ TOEFL/PTE) scores
  • Copy of GMAT/GRE scores, if applicable
  • Proof of Funds
  • Travel health insurance
  • Additional requirements specified by the university.

International students pursuing their studies in Berlin are allowed to work up to 120 full days or 240 part-time days in a year.

Working While Studying in Berlin

Many students can’t live on the money their parents have set aside for them since the money they earn from their studies abroad is insufficient. Without a scholarship, the only way to get money is to work. Berlin is one of Germany’s most livable cities. As a citizen of a non-EU country, you must get residence and working permission in order to find work. Even yet, as a student, you are not permitted to work full-time. There are restrictions on the number of days that can be spent travelling. This restriction of 120 full days or 240 half days per year cannot be exceeded. Those who wish to work longer than these days must reapply for additional time. If you wish to work over the holidays, the 120/240 rule applies. Internships are only exempt from the requirement if they are required as part of the educational programme. Having said that, there are no regulations for students from the European Union to work in Germany.

If you are interested in studying in Berlin but at the same time confused about choosing a university and understanding the admission process, take the assistance of experts at Leverage Edu. Now is the greatest time to contact us for a free consultation and get help completing the application formalities with ease!

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