Berlin for Students
Germany has been growing steadily in popularity as a study abroad destination, and its capital city is also growing in popularity, up two places this year in the QS Best Student Cities ranking and earning its (rightful) place in the top five!
While the German capital is not an academic hub on the scale of cities like London, Paris or Boston, three universities in Berlin feature in the QS World University Rankings® 2020. The highest-ranked of these is Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin at 117th in the world, closely followed by Freie Universität Berlin at 130th.
Berlin’s growing appeal as an international study destination is also due in part to a greater provision of courses in English, particularly at postgraduate level. With a high quality of living, affordable costs, a liberal atmosphere and a happening party and music scene, the German capital has a huge amount to offer international students of all backgrounds and interests. As if to prove this, Berlin has moved up four places this year in the student view indicator to fourth place.
Is Berlin your ideal student city? Tell us why.
Best Universities in Berlin – QS Best Student Cities Ranking: 5th
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (117th); Freie Universität Berlin (130th); Technische Universität Berlin (148th)
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More about Berlin
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Number of universities ranked by QS
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3
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Highest-ranked institution
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (117th in the world)
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Population
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3,562,038
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Average international fees (at ranked unis)
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US$0
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Desirability rank
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12th
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Employer Activity rank
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18th
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Affordability rank
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29th
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Student View rank
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4th
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Why Study in Berlin?
Unbeatable nightlife
Berlin is world-renowned for its superior nightlife, with music to suit all tastes. It’s home to the legendary techno club Berghain, often described as the hardest club to get into in the world.
Historical importance
Berlin has been at the center of many historical events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Students can enjoy exploring these historic sites and museums.
Green space
The city is one of the greenest in Europe, with multiple parks and open spaces to enjoy year-round, such as the Charlottenburg Palace Gardens.
Cost of Studying in Berlin
To sweeten the deal even further, all undergraduate degrees (and some postgraduate programs) are free at public universities in Berlin, even for international students.
According to Numbeo, the average estimated monthly living costs for a single person in Berlin (excluding rent) is €798.71 per month, with 1-bedroom apartments costing around €660 to €887 per month (this will of course be cheaper if you live with other students).
Life and Culture in Berlin
Having flourished into one of the world’s coolest urban hubs – a major center of design, fashion, music and art to rival even New York or London – Berlin offers both unbeatable culture and a hot financial market, making it as perfect for history buffs and art aficionados as it is for budding financiers.
Berlin is a highly international city, with around 21 percent of the population classed as foreign-born, with 15 percent of its students hailing from abroad. This melting pot of cultures means Berlin is a great place to live and work.
Careers in Berlin
As the capital of Germany, Berlin is, unsurprisingly, a hub for business and careers in Europe. Many major German companies were founded in Berlin, including Siemens, Lufthansa and Deutsche Bank, the latter of which has the highest number of employees in Berlin (around 20,780).
It’s not just established companies that offer employment to graduates in Berlin, however, with the city also known as a startup hub – in 2015, Berlin generated the most venture capital for young startup companies in Europe.
Students from EU countries can easily live and work in Berlin after graduation, however students from outside these areas (plus Switzerland) will have to apply for a residence permit to pursue a career. You can find out more about extending your study visa, as well as more information on visas in general, here.
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