Humboldt University of Berlin 2026: Scholarships, Tuition & How to Fund Your Studies

By Olami, AbroadPilot · Reviewed September 2026

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin) is one of Germany’s oldest and most prestigious universities, founded in 1809, with more than 160 degree programmes across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. For international students, the most important thing to understand up front is this: the biggest “scholarship” at HU Berlin is its near-free tuition, not a single named award.

Like most German public universities, HU Berlin charges no general tuition for the vast majority of bachelor’s and master’s programmes — you mainly pay a modest semester fee. On top of that, a few scholarship and funding routes can cover your living costs. This guide breaks down the real options.

The cost reality: near-free tuition + a semester fee

Most HU Berlin programmes have no tuition fee. What you do pay is a semester contribution of roughly €355, which includes administrative/service costs and a semester public-transport ticket for Berlin. A few specialised or executive programmes (for example some LL.M. or non-consecutive master’s degrees) do charge tuition, usually higher — so always check your specific programme.

Because tuition is essentially free, the money you really need to plan for is living costs. Germany’s student visa typically requires proof of funds in a blocked account (around €11,900 for the year, released at roughly €992 per month).

Scholarship and funding options

1. Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship)

HU Berlin participates in the Deutschlandstipendium, which supports high-achieving bachelor’s and master’s students of all nationalities with €300 per month for at least two semesters. It’s funded half by the federal government and half by private sponsors, and selection considers academic achievement alongside personal circumstances and community involvement. Applications run on an annual cycle (recently with a December deadline for the following funding year), through HU Berlin’s online portal.

2. DAAD scholarships

The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) funds international master’s and doctoral students with monthly stipends, insurance and allowances. These are applied for separately from the university — see our full DAAD Scholarship guide.

3. Other external funding

Options include the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (German Academic Scholarship Foundation), Erasmus+ and PROMOS mobility funding for periods abroad, and various foundation scholarships (e.g. political and church-affiliated foundations). The DAAD scholarship database is the best single place to search.

Who can study at HU Berlin?

• Degree: a recognised secondary qualification for bachelor’s entry, or a relevant bachelor’s for master’s entry.
• Language: many bachelor’s programmes are taught in German and require German proficiency; a number of master’s programmes are taught in English. Check your programme’s requirement.
• Funding proof: non-EU students generally need to show proof of living costs (blocked account) for the visa.

How to apply: step by step

1. Pick your programme. Confirm whether it’s tuition-free, its language of instruction, and its admission requirements.
2. Apply for admission. Apply through HU Berlin’s admissions route for your programme (directly or via uni-assist, depending on the course).
3. Plan your funding. Decide which routes you’ll pursue — Deutschlandstipendium, DAAD, and/or external scholarships — and note their separate deadlines.
4. Apply for the Deutschlandstipendium via HU Berlin’s portal during its application window if you’re enrolled or admitted.
5. Apply for DAAD / external funding separately through their own portals.
6. Sort your visa. Prepare the blocked account and documents for your German student visa.

Frequently asked questions

Does Humboldt University charge tuition?

For most bachelor’s and master’s programmes, no — you mainly pay a semester contribution of around €355. Some specialised or executive programmes do charge tuition.

Does HU Berlin offer full scholarships to international students?

The university itself offers few direct full scholarships; the main university route is the Deutschlandstipendium (€300/month). Living costs are more often covered through DAAD or external scholarships.

Do I need to speak German?

It depends on the programme. Many bachelor’s degrees require German; several master’s degrees are taught in English.

Verify details on the official site: hu-berlin.de/en and the Deutschlandstipendium portal. Fees, deadlines and programme rules can change, so always confirm before applying.

Explore more options on our Scholarships hub, including the DAAD Scholarship (Germany), Chevening (UK) and Fulbright (USA).

Olami

Olami is the founder and lead writer at AbroadPilot. He started the site after going through the visa process himself — a German student visa in 2019 and a Canadian work permit in 2023 — and learning first-hand how confusing official immigration language can be, how often rules change, and how easy it is to lose money to bad advice. He spent three years as an international education and travel consultant, helping people source and verify the information that landed their visas and planned their trips. Every guide on AbroadPilot is built from official sources — embassy pages, government immigration portals, and .gov fee schedules — and reviewed as requirements change. AbroadPilot does not sell visas or applications; it is a free resource to help readers apply with confidence.