# Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin)

> public · Berlin · germany

## Facts

- **Tuition, non-EU:** €0 — verified 2026-06-03
- **IELTS minimum:** 6.5 — verified 2026-06-03
- **Financial proof for a student residence permit:** €11,904 per year (2026, DAAD / Study in Germany — proof of financing (blocked account, 992 EUR/month for 12 months): https://www.study-in-germany.com/en/plan-your-studies/requirements/proof-of-financing/)

**Intakes and deadlines**

| Intake | Deadline | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Winter semester — Bachelor's degree, restricted admission (NC), via the central application service (uni-assist) | 15 July | Confirmed. Application window opens 1 June. Requires a preliminary assessment of your foreign school certificate (VPD) — request it about 8 weeks before applying. Source: https://www.fu-berlin.de/studium/bewerbung/bewerbungsfristen/index.html |
| Winter semester — Master's degree, open admission (zulassungsfrei), via the central application service (uni-assist) | 15 August | Confirmed. Application window opens 20 April. Source: https://www.fu-berlin.de/studium/bewerbung/bewerbungsfristen/index.html |
| Winter semester — Bachelor's degree, open admission (zulassungsfrei), via the central application service (uni-assist) | 1 September | Confirmed. Extended window for open-admission Bachelor's programmes, opens 1 June. Requires a preliminary assessment of your foreign school certificate (VPD). Source: https://www.fu-berlin.de/studium/bewerbung/bewerbungsfristen/index.html |
| Winter semester — Master's degree, restricted admission (NC), via the central application service (uni-assist) | 31 May | New: the page lists a separate, earlier deadline for restricted-admission Master's programmes not in our stored set. Source: https://www.fu-berlin.de/studium/bewerbung/bewerbungsfristen/index.html |

Deadlines verified 2026-06-03.

## Profile

- **Country:** germany (DE)
- **City:** Berlin
- **Region:** Berlin
- **Type:** public
- **Fields:** stem, it, economics, law, humanities, social-sciences, medicine, health, education, international-relations, natural-sciences, computer-science, cognitive-science
- **Study routes:** direct-master, direct-bachelor
- **Website:** https://www.fu-berlin.de
- **Address:** Kaiserswerther Str. 16-18, 14195 Berlin (Dahlem campus); Student Services Center Iltisstr. 4, 14195 Berlin
- **Campus note:** studierendenWERK Berlin — 9,500 rooms in 33 dormitories. Shared flat (6 roommates): €520/month. Shared flat (4–8 roommates): €471/month. Smaller/older residences: €302–367/month. All-inclusive. Deposit €700 + service fee €75
- **Data verified:** 2026-06-03

## About

Berlin is Germany's creative capital and a magnet for young people from across the world. It's affordable for a major city, with an unmatched cultural scene (galleries, clubs, concert venues), thriving startup ecosystem, and a huge international student population. Student life here is intense and diverse.

## Strengths

- Public university with zero tuition for international students, unlike many peers where non-EU fees reach thousands per year.
- Covers an unusually broad field range — science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), IT, law, medicine, humanities, economics, and social sciences — under one roof.
- A German public degree is EU-recognised, enabling work and credential mobility across 27 Schengen member states.
- Berlin's dense startup and tech economy creates strong internship and part-time work access directly during studies.
- Germany grants an 18-month post-study job-seeker visa, giving graduates structured time to convert a degree into employment.
- Students may work 120 full days or 240 half days per year, generating income to offset living costs.

## Watch out for

- Most bachelor programmes are taught in German; without C1-level proficiency daily study and administration remain very difficult.
- Non-EU school leavers without a recognised Abitur equivalent typically must complete a preparatory year (Studienkolleg) before admission.
- Berlin's housing market is extremely tight; finding affordable student accommodation takes months and may require deposits far in advance.
- Germany requires proof of funds via a blocked account (Sperrkonto) holding roughly €11,904 for the first year before a visa is issued.
- IELTS 6.5 is the stated minimum, but competitive programmes in law, medicine, and economics may set higher effective entry bars.

## Scholarships

- **National schemes:** DAAD, Deutschlandstipendium
- **Note:** DAAD: Master's/PhD, merit-based (RU/BY de-facto restricted post-2022). Deutschlandstipendium: €300/mo, all nationalities, merit + social commitment. Apply via university portal (Apr–Jun).
- **Researched:** 2026-05

## Accommodation

- **University dormitory:** yes
- **Dormitory cost:** €280–350
- **Private housing:** €600–680
- **Rent figures describe:** the city of Berlin
- **Notes:** studierendenWERK Berlin — 9,500 rooms in 33 dormitories. Shared flat (6 roommates): €520/month. Shared flat (4–8 roommates): €471/month. Smaller/older residences: €302–367/month. All-inclusive. Deposit €700 + service fee €75

## National and EU scholarships for this destination

- [DAAD Scholarships](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/daad.md) — Monthly stipend + travel & insurance (varies by programme)
- [Erasmus+](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/erasmus-plus.md) — Monthly mobility grant set by the home institution + possible top-ups
- [Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/erasmus-mundus.md) — Full scholarship: tuition + travel, visa & a monthly living allowance (set per programme)
- [Deutschlandstipendium](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/deutschlandstipendium.md) — €300/month (€150 federal + €150 private donor), for at least 2 semesters — 2026

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Canonical page: https://studyroute.app/institutions/fu-berlin
Source of this file: https://studyroute.app/institutions/fu-berlin.md

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