Berliners are successful students; Berlin's universities lead the nation in graduation rates. 82.4 percent of each class graduates from university.
The demand for an education from one of Berlin's universities remains just as high as ever: Around 152,000 students elected to attend a university in Berlin in Winter Semester 2011/2012. About 16 percent of students in Berlin come from abroad.
- 4 Universities
- 7 Universities of applied science
- 4 art colleges + instututes (including UdK)
- 23 state-recognized private universities and colleges and
- 70 non-university research institutes
make up one of the largest and most diverse higher education landscapes in Europe. Numerous partnerships with universities across the world and international science and research networks further enhance Berlin's higher education offerings.
Top-notch research and scholarship
Berlin regularly tops the international rankings for science and research. The Freie Universität is a top destination for leading researchers from abroad and appears in the list of the top 100 universities compiled by the influential British magazine "Times Higher Education." The German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft - DFG) gives Berlin top marks as a location for science and research. With a graduation rate of 82.4 percent, Berlin's universities top the national average by 10 percent
(Source: Berlin-Brandenburg Statistics Office (Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg), 2012)
Berlin invests in academics and research
Berlin invests around 1.5 billion Euros annually in its universities. The master plan "Science is Berlin's Future" (Wissen schafft Berlins Zukunft) is intended to make Berlin a leading area for science and research. A total additional investment of over 300 million Euros for teaching and research is planned through 2011. The total number of slots for new students will be increased by 1,000 to 20,500. The education initiative includes a plan to invest 58 million additional Euros to improve teaching at Berlin universities.
Low cost of living
Berlin is affordable compared to other German and European cities. Rent, food and recreation in particular cost less in Berlin than in other large cities.
In Berlin, universities do not charge tuition and there are no penalties for long-term students. The fee per semester is currently 240 Euros and includes a public transportation pass. There is also a mandatory 50-Euro welfare contribution to the Student Affairs Association (Studentenwerk).
| Average cost of living in: | ||
| Berlin | Germany | |
| Rent including utilities: | 290.77 € | 259.40 € |
| Food: | 170.71 € | 156.34 € |
| Clothes, laundry,. hygiene: | 57.48 € | 56.18 € |
| Expenses for a car: | 108.05 € | 125.39 € |
| Public transportation expenses: | 35.40 € | 34.93 € |
| Health insurance, doctor visits, prescriptions: | 82.76 € | 74.84 € |
| Telephone, internet, radio and television fees: | 52.77 € | 47.48 € |
| Books and supplies: | 36.22 € | 36.92 € |
| Total (car only): | 798.75 € | 756.54 € |
| Total (public transportation only): | 726.10 € | 666.08 € |
| Total (car and public transportation): | 834.15 € | 791.47 € |
| (Source: UNICUM.de - based on user data, March 2012) | ||
