Berlin

Where can I study? Universities in Berlin

The distinction between a university (Universität) and a university of applied sciences (Hochschule) shapes your programme choice: universities are research-oriented and award Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral degrees; Hochschulen offer practice-oriented Bachelor's and Master's programmes with limited doctoral rights.

Universities

• Technische Universität Berlin — engineering, natural sciences, planning.
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin — humanities and social sciences, law, natural sciences.
• Freie Universität Berlin — broad range of programmes; campus in Dahlem in the south-west of the city.
• Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin — the joint medical faculty of HU and FU.

Universities of applied sciences

• HTW Berlin — technology and business programmes.
• Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT) — engineering focus.
• HWR Berlin — business, law, public administration.

For the arts, Universität der Künste Berlin is a separate category. Admission requirements, deadlines and language rules are on each institution's profile and official website; this city page does not repeat them. Filter English-taught programmes by city in the English-taught Bachelor's and Master's list, and see this guide for a Master's without German.

Where can I live? Student housing in Berlin

Berlin has five kinds of student housing, each with its own application route and limits.

1. Studierendenwerk Berlin dorm. Applications go exclusively through the Wohnheim-Portal; you need an admission or enrolment certificate from a Berlin higher-education institution and proof of paid semester fees. You choose three residences and receive an offer from whichever has a vacancy first. To stay on the list you must answer an e-mail every 30 days within five days, otherwise the application is cancelled. The Senate's January 2023 answer gives an average wait of three semesters; the portal's filters sort residences into waiting times from 6 months to more than 24 months. An application is not an allocation — keep looking elsewhere until an offer arrives.

2. Room in a shared flat (WG). The most common option. In 2025 listings a 20 m² room had a median warm rent of €624 (MLP Studentenwohnreport 2025). Listings are on platforms such as WG-Gesucht; contracts, deposit and Anmeldung are covered in the WG guide.

3. Private student housing. Chains such as The Fizz, Neon Wood and YouniQ offer furnished studios in Berlin; check prices and conditions on the provider's current list — we do not quote them here.

4. Independent flat. A 30 m² sample student flat cost €664 warm in 2025 (MLP 2025). Renting alone also raises the deposit and set-up costs.

5. Temporary first accommodation. If you arrive without a dorm offer or a WG, you need a hostel or short-term room for the first weeks; put this in the arrival budget, not the monthly one.

No route guarantees a place within a set time. Apply for a dorm as soon as you are admitted and search for a WG in parallel.

Monthly budget: student expenses in Berlin

The cards below show regular monthly costs. The rent line is the private-market median for a shared-flat room; with a dorm room, rent drops to the €265–680 band of the Senate's November 2022 rent list (current list on stw.berlin). Health insurance is the 2026 statutory student rate (TK: €141.16 / €146.29, a few euros different by insurer). Transport in Berlin is inside the semester contribution, so the monthly card shows €0; the per-semester fee is in the table below and is not counted twice. For food and personal costs we use the ranges universities publish for international students.

Official minimum: in 2026 the amount to prove for a student visa or residence permit is €992 per month (€11,904 per year, blocked account). This is a visa threshold; in Berlin, real monthly costs with a WG room are normally above it. Do not read the blocked-account amount as 'enough for any city'.

What costs come up on arrival?

One-off items outside the monthly budget: the Kaution (deposit; on the private market at most three months' cold rent, in dorms the amount set by the Studierendenwerk), the first month's rent, any temporary accommodation and basic furnishings (dorm rooms are usually furnished, WG rooms vary). Do not add the deposit to monthly totals; it is returned when you move out. See the cost of living and housing guide for an arrival budget.

Context from the report: international students in Berlin

According to ApplyToGerman's Germany Student Statistics Report 2026, 42,721 international students (Bildungsausländer) were enrolled in Berlin in the 2024/25 winter semester; among the states listed, Berlin has the highest share of international students in its total student body, 21.3%. This is a count of enrolled students, not a ranking of university preferences or a number of new arrivals.

Language Courses and Bureaucratic Processes in Berlin

For students looking to study in Germany, language courses and the subsequent bureaucratic processes are incredibly important. In our Telegram group, we often see questions like, 'My visa came through, and I'm in Germany. I'm doing a Master's, but first, I'll do a language course. My course is in Heidelberg, but I want to do a language course in Berlin. Will the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Office) cause problems?' The language course and residence information you provided in your visa application are crucial for the Ausländerbehörde. If you want to change your course location, you absolutely must inform the relevant Ausländerbehörde and get their approval. Making changes without approval can create issues with your visa or residence permit process.

Another common question is, 'Can anyone recommend an affordable language school in Berlin?' This shows students are looking for budget-friendly options. In Berlin, Volkshochschule - VHS (Adult Education Centers) generally offer affordable and high-quality German courses. Besides these, many private language schools like BSI Sprachschule and GLS Sprachenzentrum are also available. You can compare course prices, programs, and locations to find the best fit for you. Remember, your language course must align with your visa purpose, and consistent attendance is critical to maintaining your legal status in Germany.