10 BEST Cities in Germany for International Students

Overview (what the video ranks)

• The video ranks 10 best German cities for international students, comparing each city by:
  • University & education
  • Cost of living
  • Student life & culture
• It’s based on a study/ratings from an external website where internationals rated cities (the creator jokes that viewers should “complain to them” if offended).

---

10) Hamburg

Education

• University of Hamburg (largest, prestigious)
• Technical University of Hamburg (engineering, logistics, sustainability)
• Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (hands-on engineering, media, design)
• Applied-science institutions often support internships/work more directly.

Cost of living (est.)

• €900–€1,200/month
• Rent: city-center private apartment €1,000+/month
• Shared flats (WG) & dorms: €400–€700/month
• Groceries/transport relatively affordable:
  • Groceries: €200–€300/month
  • Student cafeteria meals (Mensa): inexpensive (noted as common across Germany)

Student life & culture

• Historic port area, maritime vibe, seafood
• Lots of live music, theaters, galleries
• Reeperbahn as nightlife/entertainment district
• Range of music scenes (classical to indie/electronic)
• Hafengeburtstag (harbor birthday event)

Drawback

• Higher living costs due to being a major economic hub.

---

9) Leipzig

Education

• University of Leipzig (humanities, natural sciences, medicine, law; strong English-taught international programs)
• HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management (business school; entrepreneurship/finance/corporate leadership)
• Growing startup and creative-industry hub; students get support via incubators/networking.

Cost of living (est.)

• €500–€1,000/month
• WG rooms: €300–€450/month
• Dorms: €200–€350/month
• City-center private apartments: €600–€800/month
• Eating out is cheaper: €5–€10 meals at local spots/markets/cafes

Student life & culture

• Creative, energetic, diverse; “Hypezig” vibe (Berlin-like alternative feel, but more relaxed)
• Alternative bars, underground clubs, live music
• Noted for electronic music culture with affordable entry fees
• Bike-friendly city
• Summer canal recreation: kayaking & paddle boarding
• Openness/activism: sustainability, grassroots projects, cultural collectives

---

8) Dresden

Education

• Technical University Dresden
  • Top technical research focus; strong industry links
  • Large student body (~30,000)
  • Good student support: counseling, language classes, career support
• Home to Max Planck Institutes and Fraunhofer Institutes (research-heavy ecosystem)

Cost of living

• €500–€1,000/month
• Student housing system noted as well-organized and typically lower-cost

Student life & culture

• More relaxed student atmosphere; described as very beautiful
• Architectural highlights: palaces, churches, opera houses
• Arts collections + jazz festival
• Outdoors:
  • Cycling/running by the Elbe River
  • Weekend trips to Saxon Switzerland National Park (hiking, rock climbing, camping)
• Nightlife: lively but “not overwhelming,” affordable and more local/intimate

---

7) Frankfurt

Education

• Goethe University Frankfurt (economics, finance, law, medicine, social sciences)
  • Large and research-intensive (~48,000+ students)
• Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
• Frankfurt School of Finance and Management (private; finance/management/entrepreneurship; strong banking ties)

Cost of living (est.)

• €900–€1,200/month

Student life & culture

• Strong job market: access to internships, career fairs, networking
• Museums and culture
• Frankfurt Book Fair (world’s largest publishing event)
• Outdoors nearby:
  • Taunus Mountains for hiking (short train ride)
• Local tradition: apple wine (Apfelwein) / cider pubs

---

6) Berlin

Education

• Humboldt University of Berlin (humanities/social sciences)
• Technical University of Berlin (engineering/STEM + applied sciences)
• Free University of Berlin (FU Berlin) (political science, law, international relations)

Cost (est.)

• At least ~€1,000/month
• Housing is the biggest expense; dorm spots can be hard to secure due to demand

Student life & culture

• Extremely vibrant, diverse student life beyond campus
• Historical landmarks: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie
• International student environment:
  • ~40,000 international students from 170+ countries (as stated)
• Easy integration via:
  • student orgs (political/business/sports/cultural)
  • language exchange and international events
• Strong political/activist culture:
  • protests, conferences, social movements, environmental and human-rights projects

---

5) Stuttgart

Education

• University of Stuttgart
  • engineering, architecture, natural sciences
  • especially strong in mechanical/automotive engineering
• Industry proximity and employer access:
  • Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch
  • internships and student jobs

Cost of living (est.)

• €850–€1,000/month (sometimes more)
• Not the cheapest, but part-time job opportunities help offset expenses.

Student life & culture

• Close to the Swabian Alps:
  • weekend hikes, cycling, and (unusually) skiing in winter
• Major events:
  • Cannstatter Volksfest (Germany’s second-largest beer festival)
  • Stuttgart Christmas Market (malt wine + crafts)
• Nightlife: less wild than Berlin, but busy bar/club districts
• International atmosphere; English widely spoken due to global companies

---

4) Bonn

Education

• University of Bonn (renowned even if not top-10 overall)
  • political science, economics, law, philosophy, natural sciences
• Bonn hosts headquarters of UN agencies and major international organizations
  • unique opportunities in diplomacy, global policy, environmental research

Cost (est.)

• €800–€1,000/month
• Framed as moderate: between expensive western hubs and cheaper eastern cities

Student life & culture

• Very bike-friendly with dedicated bike lanes
• Relaxed, outdoorsy:
  • walking/cycling along the Rhine Promenade

---

3) Cologne

Education

• University of Cologne (one of Europe’s oldest; 50,000+ students; English-taught options)
• Technical University of Cologne (top Applied Sciences)
• Strong career ecosystem due to being a major media hub:
  • journalism, film, digital media
• Good for economics/management due to proximity to business/finance centers

Cost (est.)

• €900–€1,100/month
• Internships/work experience mentioned as a way to offset living costs

Student life & culture

• Very vibrant and diverse; easy to integrate
• Legendary festival culture:
  • Cologne Carnival (major February street party with parades/costumes)
• Nightlife:
  • beer halls, student pubs, and modern clubs

---

2) Aachen

Education

• RWTH Aachen (Europe’s top technical universities; largest tech university in Germany)
  • engineering, natural sciences, medical technology
  • strong industry collaboration with tech companies/startups
• FH Aachen (University of Applied Sciences; described as possibly the best in Germany)
  • research-driven, career-focused
  • internships/jobs in automotive engineering, robotics, renewable energy
• International collaboration with nearby Belgium and the Netherlands

Cost (est.)

• €800–€1,000/month
• Highlighted as a strong cost + university quality combination
• Housing demand is high → apply early; know the application process

Student life & culture

• Student-dense, youthful vibe (~20% students stated)
• Relaxed but energetic; some areas feel “medieval”
• Strong international community:
  • international student associations, cultural clubs, language exchanges
• Events:
  • robotics competitions, hackathons, student entrepreneurship programs
• Nightlife “normal, not too crazy”; students may travel to Cologne for more

---

1) Munich

Education

• Technical University of Munich (TUM)
  • among Europe’s leaders in tech; ranked as Germany’s most employable university (per video claim)
  • strong entrepreneurship programs
• Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU)
  • humanities/social sciences, medicine, law; historic and prestigious

Cost (est.)

• One of Germany’s most expensive cities
• €1,000–€1,500/month (living costs minimum)
• Shared flat room: ~€800 on average
• Mentions a housing-guide resource with strategies, applications, interviews, bureaucratic/contract info, plus example applications/checklists.

Tuition note (major detail)

• TUM charges tuition fees for non-EU students, stated as €2,000 to €6,000 per semester.

Student life & culture

• English Garden
  • large urban park; students relax/cycle; even surfs the Eisbach river wave
• Music/theater scene with affordable student performances
• Biggest annual event: Oktoberfest
  • mentioned as expensive (example: €15 per liter of beer)
• Sports/outdoors:
  • very close to the Alps for skiing, hiking, mountain biking
• Nightlife: diverse pubs + underground clubs, but not as broad as Berlin
• Startup/entrepreneurship scene highlighted as strong (alongside Berlin/Leipzig)

---

Notable locations, products, events, and institutions mentioned

• Hamburg: Port of Hamburg, Reeperbahn, Hafengeburtstag
• Leipzig: HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, canal kayaking/paddleboarding
• Dresden: Elbe River, Saxon Switzerland National Park, Max Planck & Fraunhofer Institutes
• Frankfurt: Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Book Fair, Taunus Mountains
• Berlin: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie
• Stuttgart: Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch; Cannstatter Volksfest; Stuttgart Christmas Market; Swabian Alps
• Bonn: UN agency headquarters (diplomacy/global policy opportunities), Rhine Promenade
• Cologne: University of Cologne, Cologne Carnival
• Aachen: RWTH Aachen, FH Aachen; robotics competitions/hackathons/entrepreneurship programs
• Munich: TUM, LMU, English Garden (Eisbach surfing), Oktoberfest

Student-cost “products/terms” repeated

• Supermarkets: Aldi/Lidl
• Student cafeterias: Mensa
• Shared flats: WG
• Dormitories
• Part-time work to offset costs