What is free
- No tuition fees for international students on standard (consecutive) degree programmes.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Tuition | None on standard (consecutive) degree programmes; some continuing-education master's programmes do charge fees, so check the programme page if a fee is mentioned |
| Semester contribution: €376.80 for new enrolment in winter 2026/27 (Studierendenwerk social contribution €85, administration fee €50, student body €10, Deutschlandsemesterticket €226.80, social fund €5) | You, every semester |
| Living costs: for the visa, plan to show €11,904 for the first year | You; the university pays no living allowance |
Who can apply
- Open to all nationalities, with a school-leaving certificate or degree recognised as equivalent for the level you apply to.
- Applicants with non-German qualifications first request a preliminary review document (VPD) from uni-assist, then apply through FU's own portal.
- You can apply for a master's before you graduate if you have completed at least two thirds of your bachelor's coursework; you then prove the degree by the end of your first semester at FU.
- English-taught programmes ask for English at level B2 or C1, depending on the programme. On FU's scale B2 means IELTS 5.5 to 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 72 to 94, and C1 means IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 95 and above. A degree taught in English counts as proof.
- Many bachelor's programmes are taught in German and require German proficiency. Language proof is submitted with the application, not later.
Which nationalities can apply
Every nationality can apply.
Documents you will need
- For the uni-assist VPD: the university certificates and transcripts your master's admission rests on, with official translations of anything not in German or English (by a sworn translator or an authorised institution).
- An APS certificate if your certificates are from China, India or Vietnam.
- For FU's portal: the VPD issued for Freie Universität Berlin, your degree certificate with its final grade, or a current official transcript with your overall grade if you have not finished yet.
- The other school and university certificates uni-assist evaluated, plus any country-specific documents.
- Proof of English or German if your programme requires it.
- Anything extra your programme lists, such as proof of study-related skills where that is a selection criterion.
How to apply
- Find your programme and check whether it has restricted (capped) or unrestricted admission; the deadlines differ.
- Join one of FU's online info sessions for international applicants, held on Webex with no registration: 11 November 2026, 13 January 2027 and 10 February 2027, each 1 to 3 pm Berlin time, in English.
- Request your VPD on uni-assist up to eight weeks before your deadline. uni-assist usually needs four to six weeks, longer at peak times, and starts only once its fee is paid. A VPD stays valid for one year.
- Create an account on FU Berlin's application portal within the application period, upload the VPD with your other documents and submit online.
- Winter 2026/27 deadlines were: master's with restricted admission 20 April to 31 May; master's with unrestricted admission until 15 August; bachelor's with restricted admission 1 June to 15 July; bachelor's with unrestricted admission until 1 September. The same deadlines apply to applicants with foreign qualifications. FU has not yet published the 2027/28 dates.
- After admission, enrol, pay the semester contribution and apply for your visa.
Before you apply: things to know
- The VPD from uni-assist takes weeks. Applying for it late is the most common reason international applicants miss FU's deadlines.
- In 2026, capped master's programmes closed on 31 May, much earlier than people expect for an October start.
- Berlin rents are high. The semester ticket is included, but budget realistically for housing.
Common questions
Does Freie Universität Berlin charge tuition to international students?
Not on standard (consecutive) bachelor's and master's programmes. Every student pays the semester contribution, €376.80 for new students in winter 2026/27, which includes the Deutschlandsemesterticket for Berlin's public transport. Some continuing-education master's programmes charge fees.
Which master's programmes are taught in English?
FU lists 25 consecutive master's programmes taught entirely in English, among them Data Science, Bioinformatics, Computational Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Cognitive Neuroscience, Global History and Sociology – European Societies. Only one bachelor's, North American Studies, is taught in English.
When are the 2027/28 application deadlines?
FU has not published them yet. For winter 2026/27, restricted master's programmes took applications from 20 April to 31 May 2026 and unrestricted ones until 15 August; bachelor's programmes ran from 1 June to 15 July (restricted) or 1 September (unrestricted).
Are there scholarships at FU Berlin for international students?
With no tuition to cover, funding goes to living costs. FU awards the Deutschlandstipendium, €300 a month for at least two semesters from October, to students of all nationalities; the 2026/27 round has closed and the next one has not been announced. The DAAD funds international master's and PhD students through its own programmes.