Top 8 German Universities for Pakistani Students

Have you ever wondered why students always select German universities as their priority for studying abroad?

Well, Germany has always been highly respected for being the land of poets and thinkers, as it has produced some rare gems and more than around 90 Nobel Laureates in the world. But that statistic isn’t enough to justify this country as one of the best study abroad destinations among students.

Every year, German universities see a surge in international students for their world-class education system, German culture, and excellent studying experience.

Germany As Study Abroad Destination

Did you know that German higher education institutes are often categorised into:

• Universities
• Technical, Film, Music, and Art colleges
• Applied Sciences Universities

Well, most top-notch public universities here offer a rich history and tradition of education brilliance. These institutes excel in providing trained and highly experienced faculty, excellent internship programs, infrastructure facilities, and more. No wonder this country has always been favoured by international students, especially aspirants from Pakistan. Even recent data shows that the majority of international students come from Pakistan as this country welcomes and helps every aspirant to fulfil their academic and life goals.

Some of the reasons why it is a brilliant option to study in Germany for Pakistani students are:

• It is practically possible to get your tuition fees waived when enrolled in the top German universities, thanks to their inclusive funding programs and scholarships available for the international students
• A long list of top-notch German universities is available with a plethora of courses, student-friendly curriculum, and multiple internship options
• Germany offers affordable living to their students
• Finding work opportunities even as an international student is easy, which helps one with both their lifestyle choices and dreams of pursuing higher studies
• With your student visa in Germany, one can travel to any location within the EU

Top Universities of Germany for Pakistani Students

Of course, plenty of options are available in this country for pursuing higher studies and getting placed with the big brands globally.

But selecting the right German university can seem like a challenging task for many international students. From undergraduate to master degree programs and even doctorate degrees, one can enrol in any of these universities to complete their academic aspirations without any difficulties. But what are the best German universities for Pakistani students? Let's find out here!

Free University of Berlin

The Free University of Berlin, simply called FU, is a public research university in Berlin. It is known for its courses related to humanities and political science. It was founded in 1948 in West Berlin while being supported by Americans during the Cold War period. It has always been regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions in this country, offering excellent education opportunities to students.

The Free University of Berlin offers admissions during Spring and Fall. The international applicants can select from 173 degree programs available across 11 departments. It has an annual acceptance rate of 15% and is home to around 33,500 students. The university offers undergraduate, master and doctorate degrees. Some of the courses available include MS in Data Science, MS in Finance, Accounting and Taxation, MS in Information Systems, MA in Sociology – European Societies, MS in Biology, MS in Biochemistry, etc.

This institution mostly doesn’t charge any tuition fees from the students, except for a few courses. Even for the ones charged, the students need to pay specific fees only for each semester, which is a highly affordable plan for many international students. Also, a minimum of 934 Euros can cover the grocery, rental fees, and other expenses here. But to get the entry visa or even a residence permit for studying here, the student needs to prove that he can pay this minimum amount, independent of any sort of job.

The degree program students are permitted to work a maximum of 120 days full-time or 240 half days per academic year. However, if the students are granted scholarships, they might not be allowed to work. The funding programs available here include the ASA program, AIESEC, and IAESTE.

Humboldt University of Berlin

The Humboldt University of Berlin is a public research university in Berlin. Frederick William III established this university with the initiative of Wilhelm von Humboldt, Friedrich Ernst, Daniel Schleiermacher, and Johann Gottlieb Fichte in 1810. Did you know that the Humboldt University of Berlin is the oldest of four universities here?

The university is home to around 32,000 students and offers degree programs in 189 disciplines ranging from undergraduate to post-doctorate level. It is divided into nine faculties, among which the medical school is shared with the Freie Universität Berlin. The main campus is located on Unter den Linden Boulevard in central Berlin. But the most exciting fact about this place is that the university got global recognition for being the pioneer of the Humboldtian model of higher education, which boldly influences Western and European Universities.

The alumni of this university consist of more than 57 Nobel Prize laureates with some prominent names, including Otto von Bismarck, Albert Einstein, W. E. B. Du Bois, Karl Liebknecht, Eduard Fraenkel, Theodor Mommsen, Emil du Bois-Reymond, Heinrich Heine, Karl Marx, Robert Koch, Hermann von Helmholtz, Angela Davis, Friedrich Engels, Max Weber, Walter Benjamin, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, etc.

This prestigious institution has been conferred with the "University of Excellence" title. It offers courses like Agricultural Sciences, Area Studies, Biology, Biophysics, Business Administration, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics, Deaf Studies, Economics, Geography, Horticultural Sciences, Islamic Theology, Mathematics, Psychology, Scandinavian Studies, Rehabilitation Pedagogy, Social Sciences, British Studies, Classical Archaeology, Comparative Studies in German, European and Chinese Law, Computational Neuroscience, Cultures and Literatures of Central and Eastern Europe, Euromaster in French and Francophone Studies, etc.

As for expenses, the average cost of living here starts from 850 Euros monthly. Also, the university offers multiple scholarships and tuition funding programs to help international fulfil their career aspirations without any challenges. However, with the rising competition, scoring higher in either IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or other exams is essential.

Technical University Munich

Are any Pakistani students looking for a university that offers over 150 courses along with attractive funding programs? Well, Technical University Munich can be the ideal choice for you. The institution is known for providing around 182 courses to international students. Also, these are available for both full-time and part-time students. In addition, one can also enrol for the exchange program available on this campus.

The range of courses includes a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Aerospace, Master of Science (MSc) in Agricultural Systems Science, Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Agricultural Sciences and Horticultural Sciences, Master of Science (MSc) in Agricultural Biosciences, Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Architecture, Master of Science (MSc) in Automotive engineering, Civil engineering, Vocational training in the field of agriculture, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Executive MBA in General Management, Finance and Information Management (FIM), Communications and Electronics Engineering, Computational Mechanics, Computational Science and Engineering (CSE), Data Engineering and Analytics, ESPACE—Earth Oriented Space Science and Technology, Electronics and Data Engineering, Energy-and process technic, Development, production and management in mechanical engineering, Ergonomics – Human Factors Engineering, Executive MBA in Business & IT, etc.

Different funding programs are available for international students here. The Scholarship Deutschlandstipendium is worth € 300 per month and is available for students to help them cover their daily living costs. TUM Scholarship for International Students is available for both graduate and undergraduate students and offers € 500 to € 1500 per semester. Finally, the Linde / MDSI Masters Scholarship is for Master’s degree students applying for an Analytics program, Data Engineering or Data Science. It is worth € 1000 per month and is given for a maximum period of 12 months.

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, or LMU, is a public research university established by Duke Ludwig IX of Bavaria-Landshut in Ingolstadt in 1472. It is the second-largest university in the country due to its high student population, among which 15% are international students. Around 43 Nobel laureates are associated with this university, including Richard Strauss, Marie Stopes, Wolfgang Pauli, Ernst Cassirer, Bertolt Brecht, Rudolf Peierls, Pope Benedict XVI, Josef Mengele, Gustav Radbruch, Max Horkheimer, Wilhelm Röntgen, Muhammad Iqbal, Joseph Campbell, Carl Schmitt, Karl Loewenstein, Max Planck, Ernst Bloch and Konrad Adenauer.

The university offers courses to over 51,000 students from 18 countries globally. The students get the pleasure of applying to any degree program provided in 200 subjects and diverse combinations. Remember that the university only accepts applications for the winter and summer semesters. The engineering and medicine programs are known for their selective procedures. The university aptitude test is mandatory for admission to a few selected programs here. Proof of English, as well as a B2 level of German proficiency, is required for admission.

The courses available for international students include Data Science- Master of Science, MBA, Economics- Master of Science, Biochemistry-Masters, Management- MSc, American History, Culture and Society, Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Economics, English Studies, Financial and Insurance Mathematics, Geobiology and Paleobiology, Management and Digital Technologies, Neuro-Cognitive Psychology, Journalism, Media & Globalisation, Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, etc.

As an international student, one can apply for multiple scholarships and funding programs throughout Germany and the State of Bavaria. One can even expect the support of institutions such as the Munich Student Union. Some of the scholarships available for international students include SIST LMU Study Scholarship, SIST LMU Study Completion Scholarship, BESUD Scholarship, Funding for female students, STIBET Mentoring Scholarship Program for international doctoral candidates, the DAAD scholarship database, the LMU completion grant, the LMU travel grant, BayBIDS-Stipendium, Federal student loans (BAföG), etc.

UE of Applied Sciences

The University of Europe for Applied Sciences, also called UE in short, refers to the private, for-profit university whose administrative headquarters is in Iserlohn, while the further campuses are in Hamburg, Potsdam, Berlin, and Dubai. In 2017, this was formed with the merger of the Business and Information Technology School and the Berliner Technische Kunsthochschule.

The university has three faculties: Business and Psychology, Art and Design, and Sport, Media, and Event Management. Together, this university offers many undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, most of which are taught in English. These degree programs are all accredited by FIBAA and ZEvA. One of the USPs of this university is that the campus is equipped with the latest gadgets and equipment like photo studios, game labs, high-end design software, SR cameras, VR equipment, graphic tabs, sound studios, green screen rooms, and more.

Why select this university to study abroad in Germany for Pakistani students? It is an ideal choice because it offers chosen programs of study along with Erasmus and scholarships, which help students with monthly allowances. The courses offered here include:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Design, Photography & New Media, Sport & Event Management, Game Design, Business & Management Studies, Psychology, Film & Motion Design, Digital Media & Marketing, Digital Business & Data Sciences, Illustration, Software Engineering, and Business Psychology.
• Master’s Degree in International Sport & Event Management, Photography, New Media Design, Innovation Design Management, Data Science, Corporate Management, Visual Experience Design, and Software Engineering.

In case the students are from ERASMUS partner universities, the students do not have to pay fees for the University of Europe for Applied Sciences. Also, ample job opportunities are available for international students to help with the living expenses here.

For EU applicants, the monthly fees can be around € 708 monthly for bachelor’s programs, while it is € 12,100 yearly for non-EU applicants. The course fees differ for the dual programs and start from € 495 monthly for EU applicants while it is € 1,008 monthly for the non-EU applicants of hotel management. For EU applicants, the monthly fees can be around € 925 monthly for MBA, while it is € 12,332 yearly for non-EU applicants.

Schiller International University

Schiller International University, or SIU, is a private for-profit university with its administrative headquarters in Tampa and has been named after the philosopher and German playwright Friedrich Schiller. It is accredited by ACICS or Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. However, post February 29, 2024, the university needs to be accredited by another organisation; the US Department of Education revoked the accrediting authority of ACICS.

The Schiller students can have a double degree which will be awarded by the University of Roehampton in the UK and Schiller due to the bilateral agreement between these universities. The university has four campuses in Paris (France), Heidelberg (Germany), Tampa, and Madrid (Spain).

The institute offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, associate degrees, as well as online degrees through distance learning. In addition, Schiller provides five areas of study, including business administration, international relations and diplomacy, international business, hospitality and tourism management, sustainability, along with technology.

The notable alumni of this university include Usman Dar, the famous Pakistani politician Otto Sonnenholzner (born in 1983), the 50th Vice President of Ecuador, Simon Bowthorpe (born 1964), English, and Paras Shah, the Ex-Crown Prince of Nepal. One of the reasons to enrol in this university is to get a chance to prepare yourself for future leadership roles while developing cross-cultural international competencies by going through inter-campus transfer, foreign language training, intense interaction with people from various backgrounds, international academic opportunities, and many more.

BSBI – Berlin School of Business and Innovation

Berlin School of Business and Innovation, or BSBI, is a private, for-profit business school that is run by Global University Systems in Berlin. In 2018, Global University Systems founded this business school and offered a wide range of opportunities for both undergraduates and graduates.

If you are having second thoughts about selecting this business school for your further studies, here are some of the pointers to consider:

• Apart from a vast range of opportunities, this place is also considered the 4th largest economy globally, thanks to the fact that Berlin is the country's capital. No wonder it is the focal point of tourism, research, business, and creative industries.
• Berlin is highly affordable for international students as it offers low rents along with a lot of investment opportunities. It is also the home to the biggest brands and start-up communities worldwide. The average living expenses tend to range between €830 to € 1475.
• A wide range of courses to choose from and even pursue them in the English language are some of the reasons to select BSBI as one of your prospective schools in the future.
• People here are incredibly welcoming and more inclined to enjoy life than interfere in one's personal choices or life decisions.
• Attractive scholarships and funding opportunities, along with internship programs, are available to help international students pay their fees without any tension.

BSBI is known for its undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in Economics and Business Administration, International Business and Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration, Computer Science and Digitalisation, Psychology, Digital Marketing and Social Media, Global MBA, International Health Management, Data Analytics, Information Technology Management, Visual Communication, Energy Management, Logistics, Engineering Management, Business Administration, etc.

Arden University Berlin

Arden University, a private, for-profit university in the UK, has its study centres in Manchester, Birmingham, London, and Berlin. Arden University Berlin is known for offering globally recognised and awarded undergraduate courses, including finance and accounting, healthcare, human resource management, business, marketing, and more.

Did you know that multiple Arden's degree courses also have additional accreditation by professional organisations like the Chartered Management Institute, Association for Project Management, Chartered Institute of Marketing, British Psychological Society, etc.?

The business school offers affordable education from the industry-best faculty at tuition fees that are exceptionally lower than the competing traditional universities. One can pay the fees partially or in full, depending on their course selection and funding opportunities. The scholarships available here include Arden University Berlin Merit Scholarship for undergraduate programs, Arden University Regional Offer – Berlin, etc. The Arden University fees range from EUR 8,000 annually and EUR 15,000 for postgraduate courses.

Additional Advice for Pakistani Students

When you start prepping for universities abroad, you will come across a lot of online and offline advice to consider. For Pakistani students who wish to apply to top-notch higher education universities in Germany, one thing to consider has to be the Blocked Account for Germany Student Visa. What is a Blocked Account for Germany Student Visa? Let us get an overview of it here.

A blocked account here refers to a particular type of bank account used as proof of financial resources by the German government for international students. One of the things to know about it is that this account will need a one-time deposit from the account holder. In addition, until the student arrives in Germany, the account will remain inaccessible. Therefore, as of 2023, any visa-seeking student needs to pay 11,208 euros into their blocked account.

Why is this Blocked Account for Germany Student Visa required? That is because the German government needs international students to have a specific amount of financial resources to cover their living expenses during their tenure of study, thereby ensuring that students have ample resources to support themselves and not become a burden on the country's social welfare system.

Final Words

The above sections highlight how Germany is among the best countries to fulfil your career aspirations. One of the reasons why this country is an ideal choice to study for Pakistani students is due to the fascinating studying experience in Germany. In addition, the number of internship programs available and the excellent opportunity to achieve academic excellence here help students to bag higher roles in reputed companies worldwide. So, if you are still preparing the list of countries to study abroad, consider Germany for all the right reasons.