IELTS for German Universities | Study in Germany

With sky-high tuition costs and increasingly stricter immigration policies in the English-speaking countries, students are exploring other, more affordable options. Germany is one of these countries, with their attractive tuition costs, and lucrative economic opportunities. Furthermore, with their position as a world leader in science and technology, it’s no wonder ambitious students are flocking to Germany to pursue their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

There’s just one problem, however. Most students don’t have the time and inclination to learn a language as tedious as German to the fluency that many universities ask for. So that means your dreams of having bratwurst and pretzels after class have come crashing down, right?

WRONG!

A lot of German universities teach programmes in English, and while they don’t offer free tuition, it’s definitely more affordable than studying in the UK or the US. And the best part? They accept your IELTS score as proof of English proficiency. 

So in this article, we’re going to talk about the top German universities with programmes in English, and the IELTS requirements for each one of them.

Caveat: You would be extremely hard-pressed to find a university offering bachelor’s degree courses in English. For that reason, this article shall only deal with universities offering the top master’s degree programmes.

Of course, apart from your IELTS score, you’ll have to provide the regular documents while applying:

• Grade transcripts
• GRE/GMAT score
• Letter(s) of recommendation 

Technical University Munich

Minimum IELTS requirement: 6.5

Located in Munich, Bavaria, Technische Universität München, or Technical University Munich is one of Germany’s – and Europe’s – top research-based universities. It is ranked 55th in the QS world university rankings, and 22nd in the engineering and technology university rankings. 

The university is spread out over four campuses, with the main one of course being in Munich. The other three are located in Garching, Weihenstephan and Straubing. 

TU Munich has a total student population of 42,700. This includes students attending both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Out of that number, a little over 13,000 are international students. The university is divided into 15 departments and 13 research centers.

University of Bonn

Minimum IELTS requirement: 6

The University of Bonn is a public university located in Bonn, North-Rhine Westphalia. Even though this university is ranked 243rd in the QS world university rankings 2020, it still enjoys good standing among the top research-based universities of the world. Their student population is around 38,000, with nearly 5,000 of those being international students.

They offer over two hundred degree programmes in fields including but not limited to physics, neuroscience, law, mathematics, and agriculture. 

RWTH Aachen

Minimum IELTS requirement: 5.5

Located in Aachen, Rheinisch Westfälisch Technische Hochschule is one of Germany’s premier research universities. It is ranked 138th in the QS world university rankings, and 44th in the engineering and technology ranking. The university has a massive student population of over 45,000 students, with over 10,000 of those being international students. The university is divided into nine departments: 

• Medicine
• Civil engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Arts and humanities
• Architecture
• Mathematics and Computer Sciences
• Mechanical engineering
• Business and Economics
• Georesources

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology(KIT)

Minimum IELTS requirement: 6.5

Located in the city of Karlsruhe, KIT is one of Germany’s top universities for STEM education. Their main fields of focus are information, energy, and mobility. Their student population is nearly 24,000, with over 5,000 of those students being international. They are ranked 124th in the QS world university rankings, and 59th in the engineering and technology field. 

It has been awarded the title of “University of Excellence” by the German Government. They have 11 academic departments:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Mathematics
• Informatics
• Architecture
• Economics and Management
• Physics
• Chemistry and Biosciences
• Chemical and Process Engineering
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Civil Engineering, Geo- and Environmental Sciences
• Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

Free University of Berlin

Minimum IELTS Requirement: 5

Ranked 130th by the QS world university rankings, the Freie Universität Berlin is an excellent place for students to pursue their higher education. They have four major campuses: Dahlem, Lankwitz, Duppel, and the Benjamin Franklin campus in Steglitz. They have a student population numbering over 31,500, with a high proportion of international students. They offer over 100 master’s degree programmes in fields like economics, chemistry, mathematics, physics, the social sciences, and many more. 

University of Freiburg

Minimum IELTS requirement: 5.5

Established in 1457, Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg is one of Germany’s oldest universities. It is ranked 169th in the QS world university rankings. It has a student population of around 24,000 and nearly 25% of that number consists of international students coming from over 40 countries. Currently, the university offers 130 master’s degree programmes in areas like computer science, biology, art, business, and many more. 

The university has produced many famous alumni, the most notable being Hans Adolf Krebs, after whom the Krebs cycle of cellular respiration is named. 

Frankfurt School of Finance and Management

Minimum IELTS requirement: 7

A non-profit institution established in 1957, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management has been accredited by the AMBA and the EQUIS, and is ranked 41st by the QS global MBA rankings. It is focused on offering master’s degrees in the field of management, while only offering two undergraduate degrees(Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts). 

With a central campus in Frankfurt, the institute has two study centers in Munich and Hamburg, and even has a global office in Mumbai. 

Dresden University of Technology

Minimum IELTS requirement: 6 (6.5 in certain programmes)

The Technische Universität Dresden is a research-based public university that dates back to 1828. It ranks 179th in the QS world university rankings and 113th among the engineering and technology programmes. 

The university has various faculties including but not limited to:

• Faculty of electrical and computer engineering
• Faculty of computer science
• Faculty of mathematics 
• Faculty of physics
• Faculty of mechanical science and engineering

As a research university, their core areas are IT and microelectronics, health sciences, energy, and material science.

University of Gottingen

Minimum IELTS requirement: 6 (7 for an M.Sc in mathematics)

The University of Göttingen is an open research university that dates back to 1737. They have over 30,000 students enrolled, with around 13% of the student population being international students. The university is focused on mathematics and the natural sciences. The university has 13 faculties and 47 research centers.

Carl Friedrich Gauss is one of their most famous alumni.

University of Hamburg

Minimum IELTS requirements: 4.5-6.5 depending on the course

One of the most prestigious universities in Germany, the University of Hamburg was founded in 1919. At the moment, the university has over 43,000 students enrolled. Out of that, 13% of those are international students. A lot of the professors are Nobel Prize or Leibniz Prize recipients. The university offers over 100 postgraduate programmes under 8 faculties:

• Faculty of medicine
• Faculty of education
• Faculty of law
• Faculty of business administration
• Faculty of mathematics, informatics and natural sciences
• Faculty of economics and social sciences
• Faculty of humanities 
• Faculty of psychology and human movement.