How Should You Research Bachelor's Programs in Germany? The 2026 Program Selection Guide

You have decided to do a bachelor's in Germany, but a problem comes up right away: "How many programs are there, and which one will I choose?"

The answer: more than 3,500. Yes, there are over 3,500 bachelor's programs in Germany; researching them one by one would take years.

In this guide you will learn how to research systematically, which sites to use, how to filter and how to reach the right program.

Step 0: Ask Yourself the Questions — Filtering Begins

Before you start researching, ask yourself critical questions; the answers to these questions will make your research much easier.

1. Geography: Which Region Do You Want to Be In?

The city determines the cost of living, social life and job opportunities; the region determines the industry and research centers. Examples:

• Bayern (South): expensive but beautiful; automotive and technology (TUM, LMU, Augsburg, Regensburg)
• Nordrhein-Westfalen (West): affordable; Ruhr industry (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Ruhr universities)
• Baden-Württemberg (Southwest): medium cost; automotive (Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Tübingen)
• Berlin: cheap, young and lively; startups and technology (Humboldt, Freie Universität)

2. Language Proficiency and Start Time

• Direct start: with C1 German, usually direct admission in the autumn semester
• Conditional admission: if the language level is not yet complete, +1 year with a Studienkolleg/language course
• Universities with a Studienkolleg offer this path (German first, then the program)

3. Cost-of-Living Budget

• About 1,000 € per month: Ruhr, Leipzig, Dresden (cheap)
• About 1,500 € per month: Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin (affordable)
• 2,000 €+ per month: Munich, Frankfurt (expensive)

Step 1: Research Sites — the "Big Three"

1. The DAAD Database (daad.de)

It is the world's most comprehensive database of German universities; more than 3,500 programs are cataloged and the filtering is very powerful. From "Find and Apply" → "Database", filter as follows:

• Degree type: Bachelor
• Field/area: Engineering, Psychology, etc.
• Language: Deutsch or English
• State: Bayern, NRW, etc.
• University type: University or FH

2. Hochschulkompass.de

It is Germany's official university directory; more than 400 universities are registered and the information is updated by the universities themselves. Type the program name (in English/German) and search with the "Bachelor" and city/state filters; you will see which universities offer that program, in how many years and in which language. Since the information is summarized, go to the university's website for details.

3. uni-assist.de

It is primarily an application platform, but it is also useful for research. From the "Bewerbungsinformationen" section, by selecting the country (Turkey) and program type (Bachelor), you can see the application dates, the required documents, the VPD requirement and the application fee. The application dates are critical; if you miss them, no admission will come.

Other Sources

• StudyCheck.de: student reviews and a rating system
• YouTube: real experiences of Turkish students studying in Germany
• Reddit (r/Germany, r/studieren): student communities where you can ask questions

Step 2: City Selection Criteria — Find the Ideal Place

Cost-of-Living Map

Job Opportunities Map

Step 3: Program Type — German vs English

German-Taught Programs

• Advantage: many more options (about 80% of programs), mostly free of charge, a local student network and an opportunity to learn German
• Disadvantage: C1 German is required, entry is challenging because of the language, and the first 1–2 semesters can be tiring

English-Taught Programs

• Advantage: easy to start, IELTS/TOEFL is enough, and it offers an international class environment
• Disadvantage: few options (about 400–500 programs), some are paid (2,000–3,000 €/semester), you do not learn German, and German is often essential for a job after graduation

Step 4: University Type — Uni or FH?

Universität (University)

• Focus: theoretical education, research and academic development
• Courses: heavy on mathematics and theory, with many assignments and projects
• Career: if you aim for a doctorate, academia or a professorship, choose a Uni
• Examples: TU München, LMU München, Heidelberg, Humboldt Berlin

Fachhochschule (FH)

• Focus: applied education, practical skills and a fast transition into the industry
• Courses: project-based learning, intensive laboratory work, usually a mandatory internship
• Career: if you want to find a job quickly and work in the industry, choose an FH
• Examples: Fachhochschule Köln, Hochschule Heilbronn, FH Frankfurt

Which One Is Better?

Both award diplomas of equal value; in Germany an FH degree commands as much respect as a Uni degree. Make your choice according to your goal:

Step 5: The First Filtering — Prepare the List

• In DAAD, open "Find and Apply" → "Database"
• Filter: Bachelor, field, language and state
• If 100+ results come up, narrow the filter (FH/Uni, NC-frei, etc.)
• Visit the university's website for each program
• Read the application requirements and the cutoff scores (NC)
• Note the application dates
• Choose 5–8 programs and save your list in a table

Step 6: Detailed Research on the University's Website

• Application requirements: diploma, grade point average, language certificate, VPD and cutoff score (NC)
• Application dates: opening, closing and result date
• Curriculum: how many semesters, which courses, is there an internship?
• Contact: advisor's email, phone and office hours

Frequently Asked Questions

Checklist: Program Research

Preparation

• I answered the questions (state, language, budget)
• I decided between German and English
• I chose between a Uni and an FH

Research

• I searched on DAAD
• I checked on Hochschulkompass
• I saw the application requirements on uni-assist

Building the List and the Final Check

• I identified 10–15 programs and visited the university's website for each one
• I noted the application requirements, dates and NC information
• I decided on a final 5–8 programs
• I verified the diploma, language certificate, VPD and budget requirements

Conclusion: Research = the Foundation of Success

Bachelor's program research makes up a large part of application success. If you apply to the right program, your success rate climbs above 80%; if you apply to the wrong program, it drops to around 20%.

• Narrow the field (state, city, language)
• Use the sites (DAAD, Hochschulkompass, uni-assist)
• Filter (German/English, Uni/FH)
• Make a list of 5–8 programs
• Verify on the university websites
• Decide whether you will be selective or go for a guaranteed option

As the Toedur consultancy team, we offer program selection consultancy: which program, where and how many programs you should apply to — we can make these decisions together. The right research means the right application and a successful admission.