TOP 8 Free Universities In Berlin

When many people go online to search for “free university in berlin,” the intent is often to know more about a public research university in Berlin known as Freie Universität Berlin (In English: Free University of Berlin), often abbreviated as FU Berlin.

FU Berlin is a trendy choice for universities in Germany that offer free tuition for international students. However, there are many other options.

This article will show you what you need to know about the Free University of Berlin. But it also doubles as a list to review some of the best free universities in Berlin, Germany.

About Free University of Berlin (FU Berlin)

• Tuition Fee: 0 Euros for both domestic and international students
• Free University of Berlin Admission Requirement Page 
• Free University of Berlin Free Tuition Details Page 

The Free University of Berlin is the English translation of Freie Universität Berlin. As mentioned earlier, the public research university is ranked among Germany’s best universities that do not charge tuition fees.

With a student body of 33,000, The institution focuses on political science and the humanities. When people search for a free university in Berlin, this school is usually the top choice.

However, some specific graduate and postgraduate programs are only offered partially free of charge. For students to be accepted into FU Berlin, they must be 18 years old. They must have reached the equivalent of second-semester sophomore status or beyond at 4-year universities and colleges.

It is also a requirement that prospective students be in the process of completing their B.A./B.S. degree before they can be accepted.

Other Free Universities in Berlin

In no particular order, here is a list of some of the best free universities you can find in Berlin today:

1. Humboldt University of Berlin
2. Georg August University of Göttingen
3. Berlin University of the Arts
4. Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin
5. Berlin-Weissensee Art Academy
6. Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin
7. Berlin School of Economics and Law
8. HTW Berlin – University of Applied Sciences

Humboldt University of Berlin

• Tuition Fee: 0 Euros for both domestic and international bachelor tuition
• Humboldt University of Berlin Admission Requirement Page 
• Humboldt University of Berlin Free Tuition Details Page 

The Humboldt University of Berlin (HU Berlin) is a free public research institution in Berlin, Germany. It used to be called Friedrich Wilhelm University, which was listed among the top 10 best universities in Germany.

The institution was established in 1810 and offered many programs in Law, Mathematics & Natural Science, Life Science, Philosophy (I & II), Humanities & Social Science, Theology, and Economics & Business.

The Humboldt University of Berlin has more than 33,00 students, many of which are international students. So this is a good option for international students looking for cheap or free institutions in Berlin.

The school does not charge for any tuition. Still, students would be required to pay 300 Euros per semester for semester fee to cover expenses from student organizations and seasonal transport pass.

Georg August University of Göttingen

• Tuition Fee: 0 Euros for both domestic and international bachelor tuition
• Georg August University of Göttingen Admission Requirement Page 
• Georg August University of Göttingen Free Tuition Details Page

Another free university worth considering in Berlin for national and international students is the Georg August University of Göttingen. The school started in 1734 and was opened by King George II of Great Britain.

Free tuition is one of many things that make the school popular. Georg August University is famous for its Life Science and Natural Science programs. But in addition, students are offered degrees in Chemistry, Forest Science & Ecology, Geoscience & Geography, Mathematics & Computer Science, Agriculture, Biology & Psychology, Physics, Humanities, Medicine, Theology, Law, Social Science, and Economics.

With over 30,000 students, this is a public university that will only require you to pay 376 Euros per semester as the contribution fee but 0 euros for tuition costs.

Berlin University of the Arts

• Tuition Fee: 0 Euros for both domestic and international bachelor tuition
• Berlin University of the Arts Admission Requirement Page 
• Berlin University of the Arts Free Tuition Details Page 

The Berlin University of the Arts has been offered one of the most affordable educational values in Berlin since 1696 when it opened its doors.

It is a world-renowned center of excellence with a solid history of churning popular and successful artists into the industry.

It is an excellent option for undergraduate studies as those pursuing an international bachelor’s here will pay 0 Euros.

Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin

• Tuition Fee: 0 Euros for both domestic and international bachelor’s tuition
• Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Admission Requirement Page 
• Alice Salomon University of Applied Science FreeTuition Details Page 

International undergraduate students pay 0 Euros for bachelor’s studies at Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, making it one of the best free universities in Berlin with a focus on science.

The institution is the oldest practical university for tertiary education in social work degree programs.

Students are exposed to research-intensive education by leveraging industry experience. Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin is known to attract more international students, obviously due to its affordable rates.

Berlin-Weissensee Art Academy

• Tuition Fee: 0 Euros for both domestic and international bachelor’s tuition
• Berlin-Weissensee Art Academy Admission Requirement Page 
• Berlin-Weissensee Art Academy Tuition Details Page 

If you are looking for a free university in berlin that focuses on sustainable design and media technology, then the Berlin-Weissensee Art Academy is worth considering.

The institution offers various courses that expose students to the foundation of the arts. Despite the tuition cost, the school boasts multiple campus facilities, including studio workshops for practical work.

International students studying in bachelor’s programs will pay as low as 0 Euros in this public university. In other words, it is free of charge.

Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin

• Tuition Fee: 0 Euros for both domestic and international bachelor’s tuition
• Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin Admission Requirement Page 
• Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin Free Tuition Details Page 

The Hanns Eisler School of Music is another cheap university to consider. It is otherwise known as Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler.

Being a specialized public institution, Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin ranks 28th in the performing arts by the QS World Rankings.

The school started in 1950 and is considered a not-so-big institution with less than a thousand students. New international students do not pay any money for tuition fees.

Berlin School of Economics and Law

• Tuition Fee: 0 Euros for both domestic and international bachelor’s tuition
• Berlin School of Economics and Law Admission Requirement Page 
• Berlin School of Economics and Law Tuition Details Page 

The following university on our list of cheap universities in Berlin is this Berlin School of Economics and Law, where more than 11 thousand students do not pay any tuition for the education gained.

The school offers a course on Economics and Law but programs on Public Administration and Engineering. It is seen as one of the largest in the city, with more than 50 degree programs in Business and Law.

HTW Berlin – University of Applied Sciences

• Tuition Fee: 0 Euros for both domestic and international bachelor’s tuition
• HTW Berlin – University of Applied Sciences Admission Requirement Page 
• HTW Berlin – University of Applied Sciences Free Tuition Details Page 

With more than 20 program offerings for students worldwide, the University of Applied Sciences for Engineering and Economics is considered the largest university of applied sciences in Berlin.

The free university offers courses in areas of Business, design, technology, and computing, among others.

Aside from the affordability, HTW Berlin takes pride in its research activities and how students can enhance their skills through these and other international partnerships.

Are Free Universities in Berlin Actually Free?

When a university says it is free, it means it does not charge anything for tuition costs. You will notice that all the free universities in Berlin are public. However, the free is only partially accessible.

If you are pursuing specialized programs like the Professional Degree Programs (e.g., MBA, L.LM) and the Non-EU students in Baden-Württemberg, you will have to pay a marginal tuition fee.

The program and the university determine the marginal tuition fee for the Executive master’s programs. But for the state of Baden-Württemberg programs, non-EU students would have to pay a tuition fee of 1,500 € per semester.

Aside from these two exceptions, it is essential to admit that FREE doesn’t mean ENTIRELY FREE. It is only the absence of tuition costs.

For example, every free university in berlin charges a semester contribution ranging from 200 – 300 € per semester.

The charge complements administrative costs, social services, and your public transportation ticket while studying there.

Conclusion 

Germany is one of the great places to go if you are considering studying abroad on a budget. The cost of living in Berlin as a student may not be cheap but attending a free public university is something to ease the financial pressure.

The good thing is that you can still pursue many degree programs without tuition in these free universities. And even if you don’t speak German, there are plenty of programs in English.

In a nutshell, the Free University of Berlin (Freie Universität Berlin) is not the only free university in Berlin, Germany. We have looked into the details of other schools in Berlin that do not charge a penny as tuition cost.

I hope this helped.