IU Internationale Hochschule (IU International University of Applied Sciences)
About
IU International University of Applied Sciences in Erfurt teaches IT, business, hospitality, and economics from €9,744/year, IELTS 6 — competitive against private peers charging €15,000-20,000. Graduates get an 18-month job-seeker visa and can work up to 240 days a year while studying.
Erfurt is a hidden gem—historic city in Thuringia with authentic medieval charm, low cost of living, and a tight-knit student community. It's far less touristy than Berlin or Munich, but the culture is real: old town squares, student bars, and genuine local life. Budget here stretches further than Western Germany.
Application deadlines
- WiSerolling
No fixed deadline — rolling admissions year-round. Visa applicants (Cologne campus only): apply 8–12 weeks before intended start. Berlin campus suspended for new international intake in 2026 — all international degree students directed to Cologne. Online/hybrid programmes are not visa-eligible
- SoSerolling
Same rolling model. Recommended submission by Jan 31 for SoSe visa buffer
Accommodation
No own dormitories. University directs students to partner referrals and WG-Gesucht. Cologne WGs ~€400–600/month. Berlin private student residences (The Fizz, Neon Wood etc.) €800–1,100/month — plan for Cologne if budget-sensitive
Scholarships
- 🏛DAAD
- 🏛Deutschlandstipendium
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).
National funding for this destination
Honestly
Why this works
- At €9,744/year tuition is competitive among private German universities, which often charge €15,000–20,000 or more.
- IELTS 6.0 minimum makes entry accessible for CIS students without advanced English scores.
- Programmes span IT, business, economics, and hospitality — all high-demand fields in Germany's service and digital economy.
- A German degree carries EU-wide recognition, and graduates access an 18-month post-study job-seeker visa.
- Students may work up to 120 full days or 240 half days per year, supporting living costs while studying.
- Erfurt, Thüringen's capital, offers a lower cost of living than Munich or Frankfurt, easing the financial pressure of private tuition.
What to check
- IU is a private university: in Germany public universities charge little or no tuition for non-EU students (except Baden-Württemberg), so €9,744/year is high by local standards.
- Before enrolment Germany requires a blocked account (Sperrkonto) of roughly €11,904 for one year — funds must be locked and inaccessible on arrival.
- Daily life in Germany and many administrative processes are conducted in German; limited German proficiency creates real practical barriers outside the classroom.
- Non-EU school leavers whose diploma is not directly recognised may need to complete a Studienkolleg or foundation year before bachelor admission.
- Erfurt is a mid-size city with a limited local job market; internship and graduate placement options are narrower than in Berlin, Munich, or Hamburg.
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Figures are indicative and change by academic year. Always confirm tuition, deadlines and visa requirements on the official institution and government sources before applying.