Best German Institutes for Urban Planning and Architecture

Germany is popular for its remarkable contributions to urban planning and architecture. It boasts of having a glorious history of unique solutions, pioneering designs and sustainable development techniques. That is why it has been able to stand out from the crowd as a beacon for students all over the world who want to be architects and urban planners. This article is going to highlight the top institutes in Germany that provide courses in urban planning and architecture and the reason why Germany has always been an outstanding option for studying.

Why Study Urban Planning and Architecture in Germany?

International students always aspire to pursue their studies in Architecture in Germany for various reasons. One of the most important reasons among them is the tuition fee. The public universities in Germany offer undergraduate courses completely free of cost and the postgraduate courses are available at nominal prices. Employers all over the world always give higher recognition and respect to a degree in architecture earned from Germany.

Moreover, Germany itself has a remarkable architectural landscape along with historical styles like Gothic and Baroque including contemporary splendors. The students studying architecture in Germany can get the opportunity to learn from different architectural periods firsthand.

There are a lot of German architecture programs that provide a realistic method of learning which allows the students to work on real-world assignments from an initial stage. In this way, the students can earn useful knowledge and enhance their problem-solving skills. There is indeed a lack of skilled architects in the country now which is therefore causing a low unemployment rate for graduates in this domain.

Below we have mentioned a few important reasons why Germany brags of having a challenging stature in the domains of urban planning and architecture:

1. Tradition of Excellence:

Germany is the dwelling place of several renowned architects and urban planners of the world along with Bauhaus pioneers such as Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The students as well as the professionals always get inspiration from this glorious heritage.

2. Cutting-edge Education:

The universities in Germany provide state-of-the-art courses that incorporate theoretical proficiency with practical knowledge. The educational institutions in Germany always emphasize research-oriented learning which allows the students to develop the necessary skills for dealing with modern urban challenges.

3. International Recognition:

A degree earned from any German academy is globally recognized which in turn improves the possibilities of employment and career development for graduates on an international level.

4. Vibrant Cultural Scene:

By pursuing studies in Germany a student can not only get educational advantages but also engage him in a different cultural environment, explore architectural wonders, attend exhibitions, and meet with the same-minded people from all over the globe.

Course Curriculum

German academies offer various courses in urban planning and architecture at different levels like undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral. While you may complete the undergraduate or bachelor courses within 3-4 years, to complete a postgraduate course you have to spend approximately 2 years only. Check out the following to know about the wide-spread urban planning and architecture courses in Germany:

Bachelors in Architecture in Germany

We have here mentioned the most popular undergraduate level Architecture courses available in Germany including the name of the course, estimated time and tuition fees:

Course Name	Offered By	Duration	Tution Fee (USD)	Tuition Fee (INR)
Bachelor of Science (B.S) Architecture	Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin)	3 years (full-time)	Variable	Variable
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Architecture	Technical University of Munich	4 years (full-time)	USD 6,566	INR 5,43,360
Bachelor of Science (B.S) Architecture	Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)	3 years (full-time)	USD 1,641	INR 1,35,840
Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Architecture and Urban Planning	University of Stuttgart	3 years (full-time)	USD 3,647	INR 3,01,836
Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Architecture and Urbanism	TU Dortmund University	3 years (full-time)	USD 11,201	INR 9,26,972
Bachelor of Science (B.S) Architecture	Technical University of Darmstadt	3 years (full-time)	Variable	Variable
Bachelor of Science (B.S) Architecture	Leibniz University Hannover	3 years (full-time)	Variable	Variable

Masters in Architecture in Germany

Here we have mentioned the widespread Postgraduate or Masters courses in Architecture including the name of the course, animated time and tuition fees:

Course Name	Offered By	Duration	Tuition Fee (USD)	Tuition Fee (INR)
Master of Arts [M.A] Architecture	Technical University of Munich	2 years (full-time)	USD 13,132	INR 10,86,820
Master of Science [M.S] Architecture	RWTH Aachen University	2 years (full-time)	Variable	Variable
Master of Science [M.S] Architecture	Technical University Berlin	2 years (full-time)	Variable	Variable
Master of Science [M.S] Architecture	Karlsruhe Institute of Technology	2 years (full-time)	USD 1,641	INR 1,35,840
Master of Science [M.S] Architecture	Technical University Darmstadt	3 years (full-time)	Variable	Variable
Master of Science (M.S) in Architecture and Urban Planning	University of Stuttgart	3 years (full-time)	USD 3,647	INR 3,01,836
Master of Science (M.S) in Architecture and Urban Design	Leibniz University of Hannover	2 years (full-time)	Variable	Variable
Master of Science (M.S) Architecture and Urbanism	Technical University Dortmund	2 years (full-time)	USD 11,201	INR 9,26,972

List of Colleges

Technical University of Munich (TUM)

The students can study different causes from this age-old university. The University boasts of having more than 25 departments with 1000+ students. Different subjects of architecture are taught in every department. There are 170 expert educators in the department who help the students understand the subject well. The University provides different career opportunities. Check out the table below to know about the key information about the university:

Courses Offered	Tuition Fees (USD)	Tuition Fee (INR)	City Name	College Site
Bachelor’s and Master’s in Architecture, Urban Planning	USD 1,000	INR 75,000	Munich	www.tum.de

RWTH Aachen University

The RWTH University is located in the northern part of Germany. The University has a good reputation for providing the best education to date. In previous times RWTH was a museum. Later it has been turned into a centre of learning. There are more than 1500 learners in the Department of Architecture. Here are some important details of the university:

Course Offered	Tuition Fees (USD)	Tuition Fees (INR)	City Name	College Site
Bachelor’s and Master’s in Architecture, Urban Planning	USD 1,000	INR 75,000	Aachen	www.rwth-aachen.de

Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin)

The students from abroad want to study at this university. The university offers different types of courses in urban planning and architecture for the convenience of the students. The estimated time and fees for every course may vary. Check out the table below to learn about the primary details of the university:

Course Offered	Tuition Fees (USD)	Tuition Fees (INR)	City Name	College Site
Bachelor’s and Master’s in Architecture, Urban Planning	USD 1,000	INR 75,000	Berlin	www.tu-berlin.de

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

This is a very popular university in Germany. For this, the students who want to become architects in future may choose this university to pursue their studies. Some important info about the university is mentioned below:

Course Offered	Tuition Fee (USD)	Tuition Fee (INR)	City Name	College Site
Bachelor’s and Master’s in Architecture, Urban Planning	USD 1,000	INR 75,000	Karlsruhe	www.kit.edu

Technical University of Dresden (TUD)

This university emphasizes practical learning along with theoretical learning. Here we have mentioned a few important details about the university:

Course Offered	Tuition Fee (USD)	Tuition Fee (INR)	City Name	College Site
Bachelor’s and Master’s in Architecture, Urban Planning	USD 1,000	INR 75,000	Dresden	www.tu-dresden.de

Admission Requirements and Eligibility Criteria

The admission requirements and eligibility criteria for studying Urban Planning and Architecture in Germany are mentioned below:

For an Undergraduate Program

You have to show a certificate of diploma or equivalent in a high school to study an undergraduate course from a university in Germany. Besides that, you must have a good knowledge of the German language. A few courses mandate fluency in English.

For A Postgraduate Program

Having a bachelor’s degree in architecture or corresponding fields is a must for studying a postgraduate course at a university in Germany.

Some German universities select the students through an entrance examination or interview.

Besides these, you must have a student visa to study at a German university.

Documents Required

The general documents required for studying urban planning and architecture in every university in Germany are as follows:

1. Academic transcripts and certificates
2. Proof of language proficiency (German and/or English)
3. CV or resume
4. Letter of motivation
5. Portfolio (for design-based programs)
6. Passport or ID
7. Proof of economic means

Admission Process

The admission procedure for studying urban planning and architecture in the universities in Germany is not the same. It depends on the course and the institution you have chosen. Have a look at the general admission procedure for studying Urban Planning and Architecture in any German Germany university:

1. First, you have to choose a convenient course as per your choice, qualifications, and objectives.
2. Then review the deadlines of the application and the language of education of the course.
3. Make the necessary documents ready for applying online.
4. Then you need to apply online through the official website of the university. You may also complete your application process through the UniAssist platform.
5. You need to open your account there. Then fill up the online form, provide your documents, and pay the designated fee to complete the application.
6. After submitting your application successfully you will get a confirmation mail.
7. Wait until the admission decision is taken and the call for the entrance exam or the interview.
8. The admission decision will be taken within a few weeks or months. It completely depends on the university and the course you have selected.
9. Some courses include an entrance exam or an interview in the admission procedure. The exact date, time, and format of the exam or interview will be sent to you by mail.
10. Acknowledge the admission offer and complete your enrollment in the course. After getting accepted, the university will send an admission letter to you. You need to accept that to confirm your enrollment.
11. Finally, pay the fees for the semester.
12. As soon as the registration process is completed, the university will give you an enrollment certificate and a student ID card.
13. After completing the enrollment procedure, you will get a student ID card and an enrollment certificate.

Conclusion

German Universities for their wide range of programs and remarkable facilities are considered to be the utmost destinations for students all across the world who want to become architects and urban planners.

Best German Institutes for Urban Planning and Architecture- FAQs

Q1. Are the urban planning and architecture courses in Germany taught in English or German?

It would depend on the university. Various universities in Germany provide courses in English. However, some German universities require students who are proficient in German, particularly when they are applying for an undergraduate-level course.

Q2. Is it costly to study urban planning and architecture in Germany?

If you make a comparison with the other countries you will find that the estimated tuition fees in the German universities are quite lower than the other ones. The most important thing is that international students can get multiple scholarship opportunities while pursuing a course in urban planning and architecture in Germany.

Q3. What are the possible job opportunities for graduates of urban planning and architecture programs in Germany?

The students get a job in any urban planning agency, architectural company, government academy or institution after completing their graduation from a university in Germany.

Q4. Can international students do a part-time job while pursuing their studies in Germany?

Yes, of course. International students can surely engage themselves in a part-time job while pursuing their studies in Germany. They can work not more than 20 hours/week.