IU International University of Applied Sciences (often shortened to IU) is one of the biggest and best universities in Germany. Founded in 1997, it has since become famous across the world for its high-quality teaching, excellent career services and flexible, collaborative programmes and courses of learning.
There are IU campuses in Berlin and Bad Honnef. Berlin is one of the world’s most beautiful, globally recognised cities. Bad Honnef is in West Germany, surrounded by nature. Across these campuses, there are over 200 programmes in disciplines from science and technology to marketing and hospitability. All courses are designed to give students theoretical knowledge and valuable practical experience. Plus, there are flexible online study options that allow applicants to learn from anywhere in the world.
The tutors and lecturers at IU are experts in their fields, and some have been recognised as great scholars by internal and external awards organisations. The university has many awards and accreditations, which have helped its international reputation grow, and it’s appreciated across its subject areas and study levels (undergraduate and postgraduate) for teaching, resource quality and research quality.
International IU students are as supported and welcome in Germany as domestic IU students, and all courses at IU are taught in English to make it a more accessible institution to overseas applicants. These applicants can also apply for various external scholarships to reduce tuition fees and living costs. Plus, they will find many reasonably priced on-campus and off-campus accommodation options, and they will always be able to access a wide range of targeted student services for advice and guidance.
Overall, student life in Germany is amazing, and student life at IU is hard to beat. This fact is proven by impressive graduate employment figures and high student satisfaction ratings. The community at this institution is warm and welcoming, and any international student hoping to achieve big things academically and professionally should consider IU.
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IU is the largest university in Germany. It’s currently ranked in the global top 500 by uniRank, and it’s one of the top 250 institutions in the country even though it didn’t open its doors until the mid ‘90s (and is, therefore, much newer than many German higher education providers). The teaching quality at IU is so high because lecturers and tutors really focus on their students, developing knowledge bases and skill sets that match student career goals.
Every faculty at IU has a range of great resources, research materials and research initiatives that benefit students and staff researchers. Faculty members know their industries well, as they are still actively involved in them, which allows students to always access accurate (and not out of date) information.
Learning programmes are flexible, and the university’s online/hybrid options are currently opening new doors to students from across the world who can’t necessarily travel to and live in Germany but would love to learn at IU. Students can be guaranteed high-quality teaching and detailed support in the physical classroom and at home, something that not every university manages to offer.
Popular subjects to study at IU include undergraduate robotics, computer science or hospitality management and postgraduate engineering or artificial intelligence. The university’s expertise in marketing and advertising also makes the marketing management programme very popular. The students are exposed to the newest technology and standards from their industries, as one important part of keeping up quality teaching, the university believes, is to keep up with the working world.
IU is one of the most famous and awarded applied sciences universities in the country. The teaching quality has seen many of its courses recognised by the German Accreditation Council and the German Council of Sciences. Student satisfaction is also high, something which has seen IU appear in Germany’s CHE rankings. With an emphasis on quality and student mobility, every applicant can expect a great education at IU.
IU offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and MBAs (Master of Business Administration degrees), but to apply for them, students must meet certain university requirements. All programmes at IU, across all levels of study, can have unique entry requirements. Students should always check the individual course pages relevant to them before submitting an admission application.
There are also some general university entry requirements that all international students need to meet, including the right level of English language proficiency and the right level of education. For undergraduates, this level of education is a general secondary school diploma/the relevant equivalent from an applicant’s country of schooling.
The IU entry system is based on ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits, and international students will have to find out how many credits they have to discover their eligibility for courses at IU. Some programmes are considered 60-ECTS programmes, and others are considered 120-ECTS programmes. Students need 240 credits for the 60-ECTS programmes and 180 ECTS credits for the 120-ECTS programmes.
For postgraduates, previous university qualifications in relevant subject areas will be needed (usually at least an officially recognised bachelor’s degree at grade C or above). For MBAs, the ECTS requirements will be different. Students will need 210 ECTS credits for a 60-ECTS MBA and 180 ECTS credits for a 90-ECTS MBA.
IU stands for International University (of Applied Sciences), so of course, everything at IU is aimed toward international students and an international academic and professional market. Although the university is based in Germany, where the official language is German, all courses at IU are delivered in English.
To be eligible for admission at IU, students who can’t prove their English proficiency in another way will need to take an English test and show evidence of a required minimum score. IU accepts and recognises a range of English proficiency testing methods, including the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Duolingo English Test.
To use the IELTS as an example, applicants will generally need a minimum overall IELTS band score of 6 at all levels of study. Some courses might ask for a different IELTS score, so again, research should be done before an application is submitted.
If students don’t meet the English language requirements when they apply to IU, the university can provide language support. There’s even a free three-month-long online English course called Speexx that students can take to reach the skill level required. The course will end with an exam, and the score (if good enough) can be used as proof of proficiency in future applications.
The university admission process at IU follows a few steps, and international students can get support from the university throughout the admission journey, so they never need to feel lost or confused by anything. This includes information about any supporting documents they may need to provide.
Step one is filling in the online application form. Step two is providing those supporting documents. Exact documents required may change depending on the course chosen and the level of study, and students will receive an email detailing exactly what they need to share to continue the student admission process. All documents must be submitted in English, and the university can help to provide translations if necessary. Generally, international students will be asked for:
Applicants don’t need to mail these documents in. They can scan the documents and upload them to the relevant section of their application form. Once the form has been approved, and a student admission invitation has been sent, applicants can complete step three and officially enrol in their study programmes, becoming IU students.
Tuition fees for international students should be researched before application, as fees for semester one will need to be paid when the time comes to confirm a student’s place at IU. Fees will depend on study level and study format (part-time or full-time, online or in-person). Generally, though, they will be somewhere between EUR 2,628 and EUR 4,428 annually for undergraduates and between EUR 3,828 and EUR 6,468 annually for postgraduates.
While IU doesn’t offer many of its own university scholarships, there are plenty of great scholarships and funding opportunities for international students in Germany. Many of them are based on academic achievement and have certain German language skill requirements, some are for students from particular backgrounds.
The university does offer one scholarship, and it’s for any students not from Germany, Switzerland or Austria who are completing their studies at IU online. It’s a 75 per cent tuition cover scholarship for online programmes available to undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in one of the following fields:
There are then lots of external scholarships and funding awards available to help international students reduce their tuition fees and living costs. These include the Rosa Luxembourg Stiftung grant (for international students who take part in political and social activities). Also, the DAAD Scholarship (for students from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and southeast Europe who are interested in social democracy and show academic merit).
Students should make sure that they’re aware of any scholarships they might be able to apply for. They can ask IU for advice on the application process and how to get in touch with the appropriate department.
IU has two campuses, one in Berlin and one in Bad Honnef. Across these campuses, over 200 different programmes of study are on offer. Not all courses are available at every level. In each academic area, some courses are available at the undergraduate level and others are not. Some are only available at the postgraduate level. Students should make sure that they’re familiar with all the programmes at their level before they apply. The courses are all divided into nine major subject areas, which are:
The university also allows students to apply for a selection of MBA courses. These can either be general or specialised. There are 12 specialised MBAs that students can study, with subjects of focus ranging from artificial intelligence to supply chain management.
Since IU prides itself on its ability to give students practical experience as well as knowledge, its research facilities are very important. There are incubators, institutes, and centres across the two campuses, and they all provide funding for students to start and contribute to fantastic, world-improving research projects and ideas.
IU is one of the most exciting and modern universities in Germany. Its facilities and resources give students an interesting, comfortable, and interactive learning experience. They can get all the information they need, and their on-campus options and off-campus options are ideal, from the lecture theatres to the libraries.
Both campuses, Berlin and Bad Honnef, are student life centres filled with people from a wide range of backgrounds who are studying and socialising together. The Berlin campus has some great study rooms complete with presentation technology, as well as one of the best student recreation centres in the world, complete with stylish bars and techno music. Plus, it’s in Berlin, one of the most exciting cities in Germany, full of its own amenities and facilities that are easy for students to access.
The Bad Honnef campus has many facilities for learning, eating, drinking, and socialising, and it’s also in one of Germany’s biggest financial areas, so networking and work experience opportunities are never far away, and employer/company visits to campus are common. Students can visit the on-campus student recreation centre to join a sports club and make some new friends while staying active. There are also some great on-campus accommodation options.
Whether students are studying on campus or online, the myCampus app is the best resource. It gives them digital access to databases, books, tools, and other apps, as well as lecture notes. Plus, the technology in each lecture theatre is modern and well-designed for its purpose, so students learning at home never miss out on important content because of a bad connection or low-quality AV equipment.
IU offers a range of on-campus and off-campus university accommodation options to overseas applicants. There is no on-campus student accommodation at the Berlin campus, but the university does work with lots of local property partners to help every student find a comfortable student house/apartment/room as soon as possible.
Shared apartments are one of the best ways to settle into life in Berlin. With thousands of international students across the city’s multiple universities looking for places to live, it’s a great way to make friends from other communities and get to know the beautiful.
The average rent for a room in a shared apartment is EUR 430 monthly in Berlin, though this cost will, of course, depend on factors like location and how many people are sharing the space. Students should also remember to consider other bills and living costs.
There is on-campus accommodation available through IU at the Bad Honnef campus. Students can choose to live in a shared flat in one of six university-owned blocks. These blocks are either directly on the campus or just a short walk away. Each accommodation option comes with a fully equipped kitchen, a TV, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, bike storage, and parking facilities. Each room comes fully furnished, including a mattress, a desk, and a chair.
The average rental cost for a two-person or three-person shared flat on the Bad Honnef campus is EUR 400 monthly, and this price includes water, heating, gas and electricity bills. Students who want to secure accommodation at Bad Honnef should apply early, as places are competitive.
IU understands that students can’t achieve highly if they’re not listened to and looked after, so there are lots of student support services on offer to make sure that they are, organised into a full and transparent IU student support programme. The Student Advisory Service is the first place anyone should go if they need student support.
Students can book counselling appointments through the Advisory Service. In these appointments, they can speak with a student guide about anything, from their academic struggles to their career plans to their emotions.
The Student Advisory Team can also help international students specifically with any settling-in/culture shock issues. They can be contacted via telephone or email or spoken to in person. This means that no matter which study model a student is following (online, hybrid or fully in-person), they can get the support that they need.
The job prospects and graduate outcomes from IU are great. 94 per cent of graduates find work within three months of finishing their studies, and 90 per cent are promoted within their first three years on the job. Students get the knowledge and resources they need to succeed professionally, both in the classroom and outside of the classroom (in the form of excellent career services).
Employment standards in Germany are high, and students at IU are taught how to meet them. It’s that simple. Many graduates have gone on to work for major international firms in and out of Germany, including Microsoft, BMW Group and Lavazza. On average, IU students earn 14.8 per cent more than graduates from other German universities.
The employment services offered at IU cover all possible student needs. Advice on CV writing, interview technique and job searching is all available through individual career guide appointments. There are regular job fairs and networking events. Most services and resources are available in-person and online, so remote students don’t have to miss out on and the things the Careers Office organises, from weekly career talks to exciting alumni Q&As.
IU has also teamed up with Jobteaser to let students see the kind of jobs they could get after graduating. Students can find their first internships and professional opportunities through Jobteaser, exploring their career options, boosting their skills, and finding their professional path. Overall, an education at IU prepares students for work in Germany and across the entire world. Every IU graduate has what they need to succeed.
€12,780
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€8,138
