Germany’s Public Universities Offer Tuition-Free Degrees to International Students

Germany’s public universities continue to draw significant international interest due to their tuition-free education model, challenging global trends of increasing tuition fees and student debt. 

Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are available with only minimal semester fees, positioning the German system as a compelling alternative and fostering international academic mobility. The Technical University of Munich (TUM) exemplifies this appeal, securing a 22nd place globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026. TUM boasts an Employer Reputation score of 99.7, signalling the high demand for its graduates in the international job market. 

The university has welcomed over 15,000 international students into its science, engineering, and business programmes. In Berlin, the Humboldt University maintains its status as a prominent intellectual hub, particularly strong in humanities and social sciences. Ranked 130th worldwide, the university caters to over 6,000 students and demonstrates continued relevance in fields such as computer science and international relations, solidifying its place among Germany's elite institutions.

Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich, ranked 58th globally, offers comprehensive programmes in medicine, natural sciences, and business management, supported by an Employer Reputation score of 95.5. LMU provides 32 master’s programmes designed to cultivate interdisciplinary growth. Beyond the major urban centres, the University of Hamburg, the University of Freiburg, and the University of Bonn expand access to quality education. 

The University of Hamburg provides robust programmes in arts and humanities, with 14% of its student population originating from abroad. Both the Universities of Freiburg and Bonn, ranked 207th globally, specialise in liberal arts, sciences, and engineering, drawing increasing international enrolments. While financial barriers are minimised by the tuition-free model, German language proficiency remains a key requirement. Most programmes are taught in German, making linguistic preparedness essential for academic integration and success.