Study in Berlin, Germany
Germany's exciting capital has a lot to offer to international students
Brandenburg Gate - Berlin by Davis Staedtler, CC BY 2.0, modified
No other city represents 20th century history like Berlin. Today, Germany’s capital is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with lots to offer. Find out why Berlin is worth a look as a study destination.
With roughly 3.4 million inhabitants, Berlin is Germany’s largest and Europe’s second largest city. It is home to a large student population: About 150,000 made the choice to study in Berlin, of which 15% are from abroad.
If you want to study in Berlin, you can choose from hundreds of Bachelor and Master programs at almost 40 universities and colleges. The three largest universities are the Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin and the Technical University of Berlin. Each of them have slightly over 30,000 students. Many new private colleges and universities were established during recent years, some of which quickly gained a good reputation for their high academic standards. Examples include the Hertie School of Governance, specialising in public policy, and the European School of Management and Technology.
The ravages of war and occupation in the 20th century hindered Berlin’s economic development. There is no particular industry that stands out, and unemployment still remains high. But the reasonably low cost of living in this otherwise very attractive city have turned Berlin into one of Europe’s hot spots for startups. Many successful software and internet companies were founded here, for instance SoundCloud or Zalando. Such young companies often have jobs for international graduates who want to stay in the city after having finished their degrees.
Berlin offers value for money like no other Western European capital. The standard of living is very high, while at the same time, Berlin is considerably cheaper than most other large cities. Not to mention that most Bachelor and Master degrees at the public universities do not cost any tuition - only a minor fee for administration for which you will receive a public transport ticket, too.
Berlin’s cultural and entertainment offerings are unparalleled. You will find countless museums and art galleries and a wide range of concerts of all genres. The city’s nightlife rightfully earned its wild reputation, and there are almost always big international events taking place somewhere in town.
The capital of Germany is well-connected: Its two major airports, Tegel and Schönefeld, have more than 160 direct connections around the world, many of which are operated by low cost carriers. A larger airport, Berlin-Brandenburg International (BER), is under construction (and might be for another few years). There are also numerous train and bus connections. With a high-speed train, it takes about 1.5 hours to get to Hamburg. Within the city, there is a very dense public transport network of subway and metro trains, buses and cable cars.
