Top 10 Best Engineering Universities in Germany in 2023

Author: Dee Lawlor — Last update: 29 June 2023

Germany is a world leader in engineering. German engineers (and Engineering courses) have a reputation for excellence that precedes them around the globe, thanks to their passion for detail and quality. They don’t cut corners and with the motto “so genau wie möglich, aber nur so genau wie nötig” (as accurate as possible, but only as accurate as necessary), they ensure no time is wasted.

If a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering is in your future, then Germany could be the country for you! With their vocational approach, universities in this country will ensure you have a strong theoretical knowledge and the practical skills to match.

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✔️ Reasons you should study engineering in Germany

Tuition fees are low and there are lots of scholarship options.
Many courses are taught in English.
German universities are high-ranking and well-respected globally.
The country is home to some of the top engineering companies in the world – including Siemens, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Bilfinger and Bosch.
Multicultural environment – its central location in Europe makes Germany a hub for international students and travellers.

🏆 Top Universities to study Engineering in Germany

Germany has many English-taught programmes at Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral level. They rank highly for engineering on the QS scoreboard – with five universities in the top 100 and 12 in the top 300 of universities worldwide.

Here’s an overview of the top 10:

Ranking in Germany	Institution	City	Overall score
1	Technical University of Munich	Munich	83.9
2	KIT, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology	Karlsruhe	79.7
3	Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)	Berlin	79.4
4	RWTH Aachen University	Aachen	79.2
5	Technische Universität Dresden	Dresden	75.6
6	Universität Stuttgart	Stuttgart	71.8
7	Technical University of Darmstadt	Darmstadt	71.6
8	Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin	Berlin	68.6
9	Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München	Munich	68.4
10	Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg	Nuremberg	68.2

...and you will find a similar picture when looking at the ARWU rankings.

It’s not just a great education you’ll get if you choose Germany – engineering graduates are often scooped up by the many world-class engineering companies.

Apprenticeships and internships are popular in Germany, and sometimes students are hired straight from high school. There is a large engineering workforce in Germany, and they are internationally renowned for innovation. So not only will you get a great education, but you will also likely get a great jumpstart to your career too. Germany also has generous post-study job seeker visa rules that give you some time to find an employer after graduation.

🏛️ Technical universities vs. Universities in Germany

When looking at courses in Germany, you will likely come across institutions names that include “Technische Universität”, “Universität” or “Technische Hochschule”. So, what is the difference?

Universität / University: This is ’normal’ university. The courses will usually be comprehensive; there will be a broader education provided; and it will be easier to choose electives/minors in non-technical subjects.
Technische Universität / Technical University: Sometimes also called University of Technology. This will be an institution that is dedicated to and has a very high competence in the technology fields. Essentially it is an educational institution that specialises in technical subjects. Electives or minors in non-technical subjects might be limited.
University of Applied Sciences (UAS): This will be an institution that is more practical, and less research driven. Because of this, they are usually not ranked internationally (a score for research is required for international rankings), and they also generally do not offer PhD programmes. Most UAS are public, while almost all private universities in Germany are universities of applied sciences.
Technische Hochschule / Technical University: Easily confused with Technische Universität, a Technische Hochschule is similar to a University of Applied Sciences. There is a more practical approach taken and less research (which again, means they are often not ranked internationally). The RWTH Aachen is an exception as a “proper” Technical University.

All of these options are great choices for your engineering education as all educational institutions in Germany must meet very strict standards. The important thing for you to consider is what suits you and your style of learning best. Also, consider which programme best matches the skills you want to acquire for your future career.

Study.eu Tip: Try to find on LinkedIn alumni or students who currently study at your desired university and ask about their personal experience.

💸 Tuition fees for Engineering degrees

At public German universities, Bachelors and Masters in Engineering are usually tuition-free - even for non-European students. There is a formal “administration fee” (also often called “semester fee”) that may range from €300 to €650. (Our guide on studying tuition-free in Germany has details about this, and the few exceptions that exist.)

You read this right: You can get an Engineering degree from a world-class university nearly for free. But note that getting into a tuition-free programme is going to be highly competitive, so be prepared for a challenging application process!

At private universities in Germany, you could pay between €9,000 and €20,000 per year.

📝 Are there English requirements for Engineering degrees in Germany?

Yes, if courses are in English, students are usually required to provide evidence of their language proficiency. You might be able to fulfill this requirement if you have a previous degree that was taught in English - or with an English test. Each institution sets its own rules. Prospective students should check the requirements on the official website of the specific university as there might be exceptions.

If you need to show a test result, the most commonly accepted tests are IELTS or TOEFL iBT. With an IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL iBT of 90 you should qualify for most universities' admission requirements. Some universities such as SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences might also accept Duolingo English Tests, Cambridge Certificates, or may ask you to complete their own English test.

Knowledge of German is not needed if a programme is fully taught in English. Of course, it helps later when you apply for internships or graduate jobs.

📐 Other admissions requirements

In addition to a high level of English, there are other admission requirements:

a cover letter outlining your goals and ambitions and why you want to apply to that university,
your CV (make sure to include relevant internships and hobbies),
your grades from school and reports on your performance,
references,
in some cases, there might be entrance test or an interview.

In very few cases, for programmes in Engineering Management or Technology Management, a GMAT score (or GRE) may be required or at least helpful to have.

Previous experience or knowledge of engineering is not required to enter a Bachelor’s degree programme, but make sure to do projects/internships during your studies so it’s easier to find a job after graduation.

Exact admission requirements vary between institutions, so again, always check the individual university’s application process.

⚙️ Related degrees

There are many different degrees in Engineering, the one you choose all comes down to what you are interested in and what career you would like to have. However, like in most degree programmes, you can start broad and choose a speciality later on:

And the list goes on!

For some help exploring the different types of engineering, have a look at our article, ‘Study Engineering: Which subject should you choose?’.

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Study Engineering: Find Bachelors & Masters in Germany 🇩🇪

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Dee is an expert on all things living and breathing and has spent many years studying and working abroad. She has a BSc in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen (UK) and an MSc in Imaging & Microscopy from University College Dublin (Ireland), as well as a Diploma in Counselling Studies from Dublin Business School. She is the author of “Introduction to Light Microscopy” (Springer).