Top 10 Public Universities In Germany 2023

Studying in public universities in Germany offers countless benefits to international students. Here are some compelling grounds why you should think about studying in Germany:

• High-Quality Education

• Tuition-Free or Low Tuition

• Wide Range of Programs

• English-Taught Courses

• Strong Economy and Job Opportunities

• Cultural Diversity

• Scholarship Opportunities

Overall, there are several benefits of public universities in Germany, yet one thing that is common with public universities is that they provide 100% scholarships. However, you must check on your desired public university website to obtain the details of the fee structure.

Below, we've carefully selected and compiled a list of public universities in Germany for higher learning. Let’s have a detailed look at each of these universities.

The TUM, Technical University of Munich, is one of the Top Public Universities in Germany and ranks 37th in QS World University Rankings 2024. The university provides 180 degree programs with an admission rate of 8%.

Accepted Exams - IELTS, TOEFL, PTE

Popular Courses - Computer Science, Engineering & Technology, Physical Sciences, Business & Economics, Life Sciences

Intake - Summer, Winter

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München is also one of the top public universities in Germany and ranks 54th in QS World University Rankings 2024. With a 55% acceptance rate, the university offers over 300 degree programs, including 103 bachelor's courses and more than 113 master's programs.

Accepted Exams - IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT

Popular Courses - Arts and Humanities, Law, Economics and Social Sciences, Mathematics, Life and Natural Sciences, Human and Veterinary Medicine

Intake - Summer, Winter

Universität Heidelbergranks 87th in the QS World University Rankings 2024 among top global universities. The university provides over 160 fields of study with an acceptance rate of 16.3%.

Accepted Exams - IELTS, TOEFL, TESTDaF

Popular Courses - Law, Economics, and Social Sciences; Liberal Arts and Theology; Medicine; and Natural Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Sciences

Intake - Summer, Winter

Freie Universitaet Berlin ranks 98th in the QS World University Rankings 2024 among top global universities. With a 15% acceptance rate, the institution offers over 173 disciplines of study, including 78 undergraduate programmes, 9 postgraduate programmes, 95 consecutive master's programmes, and 51 doctorate programmes. 

Accepted Exams - IELTS, TOEFL, PTE

Popular Courses - Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Neuroscience and Behavior and Cell Biology

Intake - Summer, Winter

RWTH Aachen University ranks at 106th position in the QS World University Rankings 2024 and is one of the top public universities in Germany. The university offers more than 166 fields of courses every year with only a 10% of admission rate. 

Accepted Exams - IELTS, TOEFL, GRE

Popular Courses - Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Science; Architecture; Civil Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Georesources and Materials Engineering; Electrical Engineering and Information Technology; Arts and Humanities; Business and Humanities; and Medicine

Intake - Summer, Winter

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology ranks at 119th position as per QS World University Rankings 2024 and is amongst the top public universities in Germany. The university offers more than 100 fields of courses every year with a 25% admission rate. 

Accepted Exams - IELTS, TOEFL

Popular Courses - Engineering and Technology, Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering, Physics and Astronomy, Biological Sciences, Mathematics

Intake - Summer, Winter

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Humboldt University of Berlin) ranks at 120th position in QS World University Rankings 2024. Humboldt offers 63 Bachelor's programs, 71 Master's degrees, and several postgraduate and diploma programs. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has an 18% acceptance rate. 

Accepted Exams - IELTS, TOEFL, TestDaF 

Popular Courses - Agricultural Economics, Biophysics, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, Information Science, Mathematics

Intake - Summer, Winter

Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) ranks at 154th position in QS World University Rankings 2024. With approximately 140 programs for undergraduate and graduate students, TU Berlin offers a varied range of educational options. This university has an admittance rate of only 52%. 

Accepted Exams - IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo

Popular Courses - Business and Economics, Engineering and Technology, Computer Science, Art & Design, Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, Architecture & Built Environment, Accounting & Finance

Intake - Summer, Winter 

Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg ranks at 192nd position in QS World University Rankings 2024, is one of the top public universities in Germany. The university offers diverse educational opportunities, with over 290 programs catering to undergraduate and graduate students. This university has a 33% acceptance rate.

Accepted Exams - IELTS, TOEFL, PTE

Popular Courses - Business and Economics, Embedded Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Art & Design, Applied Physics, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Law

Intake - Summer, Winter

Universität Hamburg ranks at 205th position in QS World University Rankings 2024. With more than 170 degree programs, Hamburg offers diverse educational opportunities. This university's acceptance rate is only 18%. 

Accepted Exams - IELTS, TOEFL iBT, CEFR

Popular Courses - Law, Business, Economics and Social Sciences, Medicine, Education, Arts and Humanities, Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Psychology and Human Movement Science

Intake - Summer, Winter 

Q. What is the best university in Germany in 2023?

A. The best university in Germany for 2023 is a matter of opinion and is determined by your field of study. However, TUM and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München are two excellent choices.

Q. When should I start applying for 2023 in Germany?

A. You can start applying to study in Germany for 2023 in the fall of the previous year or early winter for most programs.

Q. What is the success rate of a German student visa in 2023?

A. The success rate of a Germany student visa varies but generally has a 95% approval rate for international students.

Q. Which intake is best in Germany?

A. While both summer and winter intakes are viable for German university applications, winter intakes often provide applicants with a broader selection of courses and university choices, making them preferable.

Q. Is IELTS required in Germany?

A. Yes, you are required to show English proficiency via the IELTS exam, else you can also opt for TestDaF for German-medium courses to secure a student visa for the country.

To conclude, German public universities for international students offer high-quality education, often tuition-free, with diverse programs, English-taught courses, and strong job prospects.

The country's cultural diversity, scholarships, excellent quality of life, and central European location make it an ideal choice for international students. You explored the top 10 public universities in Germany in this blog that can aid in facilitating a fulfilling educational journey.

In case you are seeking more in-depth information regarding this, we encourage you to speak with our team of expert counsellors at Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC) If you are unable to travel to our offices, we offer online counselling services via our website. Please connect with us at application02@meridean.org or call us at 1800-1230-00011.