study in Berlin
Germany's capital — genuinely free public university tuition, the country's most international city, and a rental market that is no longer the bargain it once was.
Berlin is where the free-tuition promise actually holds. Its public universities charge no tuition fee to non-EU students — only the semester contribution, which is a few hundred euros and usually includes a transport pass covering the whole city.
It is also the easiest German city to arrive in without German. The population is heavily international, English is widely functional in daily life, and a large share of master's programmes are taught in English. The startup and creative sectors are the largest in the country.
Two honest cautions. Berlin's rents were famously low and are no longer — the market has tightened sharply and finding a room is now a genuine project, not an afterthought. And bureaucracy here is slow: appointments for residence registration and permits are scarce and must be booked the moment you land.
Three large public universities and a substantial applied sector, none of which charge tuition to non-EU students.
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Classical research university in the centre; humanities, law, social sciences and life sciences.Freie Universität Berlin
In the south-west; natural sciences, political science, and a large international programme.Technische Universität Berlin
Engineering, computer science and planning; strong industry links and many English-taught master's.Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin
One of Europe's largest university hospitals; medicine taught in German.Berlin's advantage is that tuition genuinely is zero at the public universities — only the semester contribution applies. Living costs sit mid-range for Germany: cheaper than Munich, no longer cheap in absolute terms, with housing the dominant variable.
Against the other cities we cover in Germany, Berlin is mid-range. That is our reading of this country’s own spread, not a published index.
The blocked account you must fund before the visa is issued holds €11,904 for the year (€992 a month).
The practical texture of the place — what a week actually looks like.
Climate
Cold grey winters with some snow, warm summers. Short winter days. Manageable, but a real change from Kathmandu.
Getting around
U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses. The semester contribution usually includes a transport pass — check exactly what yours covers before buying anything.
Housing
The hard part. Student dormitories (Studierendenwerk) are far cheaper than the private market and heavily oversubscribed — apply the day you are admitted.
Working
140 full days or 280 half days a year for international students. Hospitality, retail, delivery and English-language office work.
Language
You can study and live here in English more easily than anywhere else in Germany. German still widens your job market substantially.
Bureaucracy
Slow and appointment-based. Book your Anmeldung and residence-permit appointments immediately on arrival; waits of weeks are normal.
Berlin's public universities charge non-EU students no tuition fee. Only the semester contribution applies — a few hundred euros, usually including a transport pass.
This is the version of Germany that the marketing describes, and here it is accurate. Be precise about one distinction: public universities charge nothing, but Berlin also hosts many private institutions charging full commercial fees. The word 'university' in a brochure does not tell you which you are looking at — check whether the institution is state-recognised and publicly funded before paying a deposit.
Berlin is one of 3 cities we cover in Germany. Tap any pin to compare — the city you pick moves your total cost more than almost any other choice you make.