Studying in Germany offers unique opportunities to combine history, strong research capabilities, and excellent travel opportunities.
Here are some German universities where many applicants can apply without a university application fee. However, applicants should always check the exact process for their chosen program, since some international applicants may need to use fee-based services such as uni-assist, and some private or continuing education programs may charge separate fees.
German Universities With No Application Fee
1. Heidelberg University
- Application Fees
- No application fee for: applicants to Heidelberg University. Semester fees and, for some students, tuition fees may still apply.
Heidelberg University was founded in 1386 and is Germany’s oldest university. It is also one of Europe’s leading research institutions. Heidelberg University has 12 faculties and offers more than 160 study programs, making it one of the universities in Germany where applicants do not pay a university application fee.
Heidelberg offers a broad spectrum of subject combinations and supports individualized and interdisciplinary studies. According to the university’s current research performance figures, 11 professors of Heidelberg University have been awarded Nobel Prizes.
2. Technical University of Munich
- Application Information
- No separate TUMonline application fee is listed for direct applications. However, many international applicants must obtain preliminary documentation (VPD) through uni-assist, which charges processing fees.
Another German university where many applicants can apply without a separate university application fee is the Technical University of Munich, a research university with a strong focus on natural sciences, engineering, medicine, technology, management, and the social sciences related to technology. Its main campus is in Munich, and TUM also has locations in Garching, Freising-Weihenstephan, Straubing, Heilbronn, Ottobrunn-Taufkirchen, and a campus in Singapore. TUM describes itself as one of Europe’s best universities.
TUM can trace its roots back to 1868, when it was founded by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as the New Polytechnic School in Munich. Today, TUM is organized around seven schools that focus on sustainable innovation for people, nature, and society.
3. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat München
- Application Information
- No general university application fee is listed on LMU’s main admissions pages, but applicants should check the exact requirements for their chosen program.
Another Munich university, LMU Munich was founded in 1472, making it one of Germany’s oldest universities. LMU has developed into one of Europe’s best-known universities and is widely recognized for its research and teaching.
LMU has produced 34 Nobel Prize winners, and Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, is among the best-known alumni connected with LMU’s Georgianum.
In the winter semester 2024/25, LMU had 54,616 enrolled students. Its institutes and buildings are spread throughout Munich, and the university offers a wide range of degree programs and specializations.
The university also offers English-taught options in selected programs, although many degree programs continue to require German. Applicants should check the language and admissions requirements on the specific program page before applying.
4. Humboldt University Berlin
- Application Information
- No application fee for: some applicants applying directly through Humboldt University’s own portal. Applicants who must apply through uni-assist pay uni-assist processing fees.
Studying at Humboldt University Berlin puts students in the heart of the German capital. The university opened in the winter semester of 1810 as the University of Berlin and has been called Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin since 1949.
Applicants with international entrance qualifications should check their application route carefully. Humboldt University states that many applicants with qualifications from outside Germany must apply through uni-assist, while some applicants apply through the university’s own online portal.
5. RWTH Aachen University
- Application Information
- No application fee for: regular RWTHonline applications for many public degree programs. Exceptions apply for some private, continuing education, and business school programs.
We end our list of universities in Germany with no application fee with Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, better known as RWTH Aachen University. It is a public research university and one of Europe’s leading institutions for science and engineering research.
RWTH Aachen was founded in 1870 and is now a major technical university with 10 faculties and about 190 courses of study. During the winter semester 2024/25, RWTH International Academy reported 44,892 students enrolled at RWTH Aachen University.
RWTH Aachen is particularly known for its international connections and practice-oriented approach. Regular public degree programs are generally handled through RWTHonline, while some private English-taught master’s programs offered in cooperation with RWTH International Academy or RWTH Business School have program-specific fees and may charge separate application fees.
At RWTH Aachen University, students can study subjects such as mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, architecture, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, georesources and materials engineering, electrical engineering and information technology, arts and humanities, business and economics, medicine, and teacher education.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, check the available courses in Germany for international students and the Europe Scholarships Page.
