English-Taught Programs in Germany: Where to Find Them (2027/28)

Germany has a large number of English-taught programs, but mostly at master's level: FindUniPath's database lists 2,038 English-taught master's and 434 English-taught bachelor's programs across 233 institutions (October 2026). You find them in the DAAD international programmes database, Hochschulkompass and each university's own list of English programs.

Most degree programs in Germany are still taught in German. This guide shows where the English options are, what scores you need, and when German is still required, even in an English-taught program.

Where the English-taught programs are

Two patterns stand out. First, public universities and technical universities are master's-heavy: 1,249 English-taught master's but only 61 bachelor's. Second, English-taught bachelor's programs are spread between public universities of applied sciences and private institutions – 206 of the 434 are at private institutions, which charge tuition.

Universities with the most English-taught programs

Best places for English-taught bachelor's programs

If you want a public English-taught bachelor's, look at universities of applied sciences. Rhine-Waal University in Kleve lists 16 English-taught bachelor's programs (for example Agribusiness, Bioengineering, Engineering and Environment and Energy) with no tuition. Deggendorf Institute of Technology lists 12 (such as Artificial Intelligence and Energy Systems Engineering) with a €500 service fee per semester for non-EU students. Others include THWS Würzburg-Schweinfurt (11), TUM (7), TH Ingolstadt (6) and Leuphana University Lüneburg (6).

What you can study in English: real examples

English-taught programs cover far more than engineering and business. These examples come from the official program lists of the universities named:

• Engineering and technology: Aerospace (B.Sc.) and Aerospace Engineering (M.Sc.) at TUM; Automotive Engineering, Battery Science and Technology in Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at RWTH Aachen; Electromobility, Autonomous Driving and Mobile Robotics (B.Eng.) at Deggendorf.
• Computer science and AI: AI in Biomedicine and AI in Society (M.Sc.) at TUM; Data Science at RWTH Aachen; Artificial Intelligence (B.Sc.) at Deggendorf; Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (B.Sc.) at TH Ingolstadt.
• Agriculture, environment and sustainability: Tropical and International Forestry and Sustainable International Agriculture at Göttingen; Agribusiness and Environment and Energy at Rhine-Waal; Bioeconomy at TUM.
• Economics and social sciences: Development Economics at Göttingen; Social Data Science at Mannheim; Gender and Diversity (B.A.) at Rhine-Waal.
• Humanities: Archaeology of the Ancient World and Critical Dance Studies (M.A.) at Freie Universität Berlin; North American Studies (B.A.) at Freie Universität Berlin.

Doctoral programs in English

At PhD level, English is common in research groups and graduate schools. FindUniPath lists 83 English-taught doctoral programs, for example 20 at LMU Munich, 13 at RWTH Aachen and 12 at the University of Mannheim's graduate school GESS. Many doctorates do not use a formal program at all: you find a supervisor and agree on the language of your work.

How to search for programs

1. 1

   Start with the DAAD database

   The DAAD international programmes database lets you filter by language, degree and subject.

2. 2

   Cross-check in Hochschulkompass

   Hochschulkompass lists all state-recognised universities and programs, including admission modes.

3. 3

   Use the university's own list

   For example, LMU's international degree programs page, Göttingen's English and international programs page or TU Dresden's SINS program database.

4. 4

   Read the program page

   Check teaching language (fully English or mixed), language scores, German requirements, deadlines and fees. Avoid mixed German-English programs unless you speak German.

5. 5

   Save official dates

   Note the 2027/28 window or last year's dates if new ones are not yet published.

English requirements: IELTS and TOEFL scores

There is no national English requirement; each program sets its own. These minimums are from official university pages:

Can you study in Germany without IELTS?

Sometimes. TUM accepts a degree taught at least 50% in English instead of a test. Rhine-Waal accepts a medium-of-instruction (MOI) letter only for degrees from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Hamburg University of Technology does not accept an English-medium degree except from listed countries, and Ludwigsburg University of Education does not accept MOI letters for its INEMA master's. So an MOI letter may work, but only if the program page says so.

When you still need German

• Some English-taught programs require basic German. TH Rosenheim asks for German A2 in addition to English B2; Deggendorf requires German B1 (bachelor's) or A2 (master's) by the end of studies.
• German proof in some English-taught master's. Göttingen lists several programs, such as Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution and International Economics, with German proof required. TH Ingolstadt's Architecture B.Eng. starts in English and gradually switches to German.
• Mixed-language programs. Some programs move from English to German or the other way; HSBA Hamburg notes German is generally required for the company part even in its English-taught bachelor's.
• Studienkolleg. If your school certificate needs a Studienkolleg, the preparation is mostly in German.
• Daily life and jobs. Registration, housing and most part-time jobs work in German.

German-taught programs need German at about B2 or higher, usually TestDaF or DSH. We do not recommend them unless you already speak German well.

Language tests if you live in Afghanistan

The Goethe-Institut in Kabul is closed, and the German Embassy points to other Goethe-Institutes in the region, such as New Delhi or Islamabad, for German exams. Plan travel and visas for any exam abroad early, and check that your English test is accepted by every university on your list before you book it.

Tests for German-taught programs

If you later decide to study in German, DAAD says German-taught programs need German at about B2 or higher, usually proven with TestDaF or the DSH. Some universities ask for more: Mannheim's German-taught bachelor's programs ask for C1, for example TestDaF 4 in all sections or DSH-2. This is a long-term plan, not a shortcut.

Deadlines for English-taught programs

English-taught master's often close earlier than the common 15 July date. For winter 2027/28: TU Dresden's main master's window is 1 April – 31 May 2027, the University of Mannheim's English-taught master's run 1 April – 15 May 2027, and TUM's Informatics M.Sc. runs 1 February – 31 May 2027. See how to apply to universities in Germany for more.

Mistakes to avoid with English-taught programs

• Assuming every program at an English-friendly university is in English. LMU Munich and the University of Bonn, for example, teach their bachelor's programs in German.
• Applying with the wrong test format. Some universities reject TOEFL ITP, Essentials or Home Edition results.
• Relying on an MOI letter without checking. Several programs refuse them.
• Ignoring German requirements hidden in the program rules, such as A2 German at admission or B1 by graduation.
• Choosing a mixed-language program by mistake. Check that all compulsory modules are taught in English.

Public or private for English programs?

Compare programs and see official deadlines side by side: track deadlines for free on FindUniPath. Then check admission requirements and the cost of studying in Germany.