If you dream of working in big companies like Meta, IBM or Google and want to commence your career in Computer Science at a reputable international university, you should definitely look for universities in Germany. Besides the beautiful streets and intellectually stimulating atmosphere of this country, there is mostly free education and a very diverse culture that welcomes international students. Planning to study abroad is not an easy task so we have researched for the top universities to study Computer Science.
Reasons to choose Germany for your Computer Science degree
Centre of innovation: In 2020, Germany was chosen as the most technologically advanced country in the world by the Bloomberg Innovation Index. In recent years, Germany has made leaps in the field of technology and is taking the centre stage for this in Europe. Their companies invest in development and research (2.8% of their GDP goes to IT and engineering) which is one of the main reasons for their booming economy, with the fourth largest GDP in the world.
Excellent programs: Their curriculum for Computer Science degrees is both practical and theoretical so it enables the students to stand out in the global job market and meet the current needs of the employers. As German education is highly valued all over the world, having a Computer Science degree from Germany will help you get a job anywhere you want- back in your home country or anywhere in Europe.
Affordable for international students: All undergraduate programs in Germany are free of cost at public universities. The only region that charges tuition fees at its public universities is Baden-Württemberg (3000 Euros per year). Private universities, however, can charge up to 20,000 Euros per year for tuition fees.
There are opportunities for financial ease with the help of scholarships (like DAAD, Erasmus, etc.) as well, so consider this an advantage that should not be ignored while making your choice.
Exceptional employability: After completing your degree, you can easily find a job as Germany has a huge market for IT and development and they are always looking for software engineers to convert their mechanical systems to softwares.
Career opportunities after my Computer Science degree
There is a whole universe of jobs for your degree that also pay very well:
- Software engineer: 61,000-126,000 Euros per year
- Systems engineer: 50,000-108,000 Euros per year
- Database Administrator: 46,000-110,000 Euros per year
- Quality Assurance Engineer: 47,000-101,000 Euros per year
- Software Developer: 50,000-104,000 Euros per year
- Computer Engineer :41,000-99,000 Euros per year
- Network Support Engineer: 57,600-96,000 Euros per year
- Software Tester: 39,000-87,000 Euros per year
Eligibility requirements to study Computer Science in Germany
You need to fulfil the following requirements when applying to a German university:
- Proof of English proficiency (for English taught programs) and German proficiency (for German taught programs)
- Other required academic transcripts (a minimum of 65% score in your 12 year education is required)
- For students outside EU/EEA, a German blocked account is required
- Proof of health insurance
- Studienkolleg-one year program in Germany for student whose school leaving certificate is not recognized in Germany– is required
Top universities in Germany for Computer Science
1. Technical University of Munich (TUM)
QS ranking: 50
Number of students: 48,000
Tuition fee: None
Computer Science programs offered: M.Sc. Computational Science and Engineering, M.Sc. Information Systems and M.Sc. Mechatronics and Robotics
The Technical University of Munich is a public research university in Munich that has 15 organised departments related to applied and natural sciences, engineering and technology. The university has a strong focus on student-led research which is why it has produced around 16 Nobel Prize winners and 22 Leibniz Prize winners.
2. Heidelberg University
QS ranking: 63
Number of students: 29,187
Tuition fee: €1,500 per semester
Computer Science programs offered: Masters in Computer Engineering, Bachelors in Computer Science, Masters in Computer Science, Masters in Scientific Computing
One of the most outstanding and oldest universities in Germany (founded in 1386), this university based in Heidelberg is excellent for Computer Science students as it has connections in the IT sector which enables students to gain employment soon after their graduation.
3. Ludwig Maximilians University
QS ranking: 64
Number of students: 52,451
Tuition fee: None
Computer Science programs offered: B.Sc. Computer Science & Computational Linguistics, B.Sc. Computer Science & Mathematics and Bachelor Computer Science & Statistics
Like TUM, this university is also located in Munich which is a fertile ground for new businesses and startups. The popular one billion dollar startup, TIER Mobility was also created by one of its graduates. This is because the university has state-of-the-art technological infrastructure that gives students the opportunity to explore. The German Universities Excellency Board has awarded it with the title of the Elite University.
4. Saarland University
QS ranking: 447
Number of students: 16,680
Tuition fee: None
Computer Science programs offered: B.Sc. Mathematics and Computer Science, M.Sc. Computer Science, and M.Sc. Computer and Communications Technology
Computational linguistics and materials science are one of its top departments which are popular in the country. Most of the courses focus on multimedia applications, geometric algorithms, etc. Due to its student-led curriculum and research, it gives a lot of liberty for experiment and innovation.
5. Technical University Darmstadt
QS ranking: 269
Number of students: 25,889
Tuition fee: None
Computer Science programs offered: M.Sc. Information Systems Technology and B.Sc. Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
16% of the student body in TU Darmstadt are international students, which makes it a very welcoming space for students who want to study in a diverse environment. The two most prominent features of the Computer Science courses are Cyber security and Artificial Intelligence. As these topics are the most essential part of creating digital systems, this university stands out among IT universities in Germany.
6. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
QS ranking: 136
Number of students: 25,100
Tuition fee: €1,500 per semester
Computer Science programs offered: B.Sc Computer Science and M.Sc. Computer science
Founded in 2009 by merging the institutions- the University of Karlsruhe and the Karlsruhe Research Centre Research- it has 40 research groups in the Computer Science department which makes Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) one of the prominent institutions for Computer Science.
7. Technische Universität Berlin
QS ranking: 159
Number of students: 34,500
Tuition fee: None
Computer Science programs offered: M.Sc. Computer Science, M.Sc. Scientific Computing and M.Sc. Information Technology for Energy
This university is very inclusive towards international students and is now offering all its courses in English. 23% of its students are foreigners and it also has connections with other international universities. It is overall a very good option for students who want to pursue research and study abroad in a diverse environment.
8. RWTH Aachen University
QS ranking: 165
Number of students: 47,173
Tuition fee: None
Computer Science programs offered: B.Sc. Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, and Computer Engineering, M.Sc. Computer Science and M.Sc Computational Engineering Science
Computer science programs at the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen University offer a holistic approach towards learning which includes an industrial internship as well. It has 30 research units and 20% international students which makes it an ideal choice for a student who wants a diverse and research-friendly campus.
9. University of Freiburg
QS ranking: 172
Number of students: 25,000
Tuition fee: €1,500 per semester
Computer Science programs offered: B.Sc. Computer Science and M.Sc. Computer Science
The University of Freiburg is the fifth oldest university in Germany but its Computer Science is relatively new. Despite that, it is climbing up the ranks for computer science programs in Germany as it researches in a wide range of fields like fields of information systems, cyber-physical systems, and artificial intelligence. The city of Freiburg is known for promoting sustainable and green practices.
10. University of Bonn
QS ranking: 226
Number of students: 38,043
Tuition fee: None
Computer Science programs offered: M.Sc. Computer Science, B.Sc. Computer Science and B.Sc. Cybersecurity
During the past few decades, this German university has produced more Nobel Laureates than any other. It has a Transdisciplinary Research approach towards technology that is also sustainable. Due to this and many other reasons, it has been awarded with the title of ‘University of Excellence’.
Conclusion
From the huge lists of rankings and courses being offered, this article must have helped you narrow down some options for your plan to study in Germany. If you need more help in organising your application or getting to know more about the visa, you can contact any of our expert mentors here.
