Overview

Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin; also known as Berlin Institute of Technology and Technical University of Berlin) is a public research university located in Berlin, Germany. It was the first German university to adopt the name Technische Universität (meaning "university of technology").  Founded in 1879 through the merger of the Royal Trade and Building Academies, TU Berlin is located in the prestigious Charlottenburg district in the heart of Berlin's City West.

TU Berlin became a University of Excellence in 2019. With HU Berlin, Free University of Berlin, and Charité Berlin, TU Berlin forms the Berlin University Alliance — a Consortium of Excellence that is one of the most powerful collaborative research networks in Europe. 

For the summer semester 2025, the total number of student enrollments at TU Berlin was 32,000+, of which the international students numbered 9,000+.  The university alumni and staff includes several US National Academies members, two National Medal of Science laureates, the creator of the first fully functional programmable (electromechanical) computer Konrad Zuse, and ten Nobel Prize laureates. 

TU Berlin is a member of TU9, an incorporated society of the largest and most notable German institutes of technology, and of the Top International Managers in Engineering (T.I.M.E.) network, which allows for student exchanges between leading engineering schools. It belongs to the Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research (CESAER). 

Notable alumni include Fritz Haber (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1918, for the invention of the Haber-Bosch process), Wernher von Braun (aerospace engineer and developer of the Saturn V Moon rocket), and Wolfgang Paul (Nobel Prize in Physics, 1989).  TU Berlin has particular strengths in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Urban Planning, and Sustainability. 

Intakes

TU Berlin offers two intake windows for international students each academic year.

Winter Semester (October) — Primary intake; open to all undergraduate and most graduate programs.

• Most Master's programs: Application deadline February 28 – March 31 for the following winter semester
• Some programs with competitive admission close earlier — always verify on the TU Berlin portal

Summer Semester (April) — Available for select Master's programs.

• Application deadline: August 31 – September 30 (varies by program)

Important for Indian Students:

• An APS (Academic Evaluation Centre) Certificate is mandatory for Indian students before enrollment
• Most applications are submitted via uni-assist or TU Berlin's own online portal
• No application fee is charged by TU Berlin for most programs

Note: Polygon Campus primarily assists with graduate-level admissions. Students are encouraged to confirm specific intake dates with their chosen TU Berlin department.

Top Courses

TU Berlin offers more than 150 courses. At the PG level in English, TU Berlin offers 20 English programs; in German, the courses offered are 110+. TU Berlin is famous for offering the first Industrial Engineering and Management degree.  Key faculties and popular programs include:

Faculty II — Mathematics and Natural Sciences

• MSc in Mathematics (Mathematik)
• MSc in Physics
• MSc in Chemistry
• MSc in Biotechnology (English-taught)
• MSc in Food Technology (English-taught)

Faculty III — Process Sciences

• MSc in Process Engineering (Verfahrenstechnik)
• MSc in Environmental Planning (Umweltplanung)
• MSc in Energy Engineering (English-taught)

Faculty IV — Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

• MSc in Computer Engineering (Informatik — partly English-taught)
• MSc in Electrical Engineering
• MSc in Information Systems Engineering and Management (ISEM — English-taught)
• MSc in Digital Transformation Engineering

Faculty V — Mechanical Engineering and Transport Systems

• MSc in Mechanical Engineering (Maschinenbau)
• MSc in Automotive Engineering (Fahrzeugtechnik)
• MSc in Aerospace Engineering (Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik)
• MSc in Global Production Engineering (English-taught — international program)
• MSc in Sustainable Mobility Management (English-taught)

Faculty VI — Planning Building Environment

• MSc in Urban Management (English-taught — flagship international program)
• MSc in Architecture (Architektur)
• MSc in Regional and Urban Planning
• MSc in Real Estate Management (English-taught)

Faculty VII — Economics and Management

• MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management (Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen)
• MBA in Energy Management (English-taught)

Faculty I — Humanities and Educational Sciences

• MA in History and Philosophy of Science

In the global top 500 ranking by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, TU Berlin is currently listed in the 201–300 bracket. It is ranked 4th among universities of technology in Germany.

Cost of Studying at Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)

There are no tuition fees to pay at TU Berlin. The only exceptions to this are continuing education master's programs. Each semester, students are required to pay a semester fee, which is made up of a number of sub-fees, including the fee for the Semesterticket, which provides unlimited public transport travel in Berlin. 

TU Berlin does not charge tuition fees, even for international students. However, all students must pay a semester fee of €329.09 (approximately ₹31,958) which covers administrative costs and public transport in Berlin. 

Note: Figures are approximate based on 2025–26 data. The German government requires international students to hold approximately €11,904 (≈ ₹12L) in a blocked account annually for visa purposes. Please refer to TU Berlin's official website (tu.berlin) for the most current fee structure.

Scholarships

TU Berlin supports students through a selected list of programs and funding organizations including PROMOS (funding for self-organized internships, final theses, language courses, and study trips), the ASA Programme (three-month grants for work and study trips to Africa, Asia, Latin America, and South-East Europe), and the Carlo-Schmid-Programm (funding for internships in international organisations and EU institutions). 

Key funding opportunities include:

• Deutschlandstipendium — €300 per month for a minimum of two semesters; awarded based on academic merit and commitment; application through TU Berlin's scholarship portal
• TU Berlin President's Scholarship — One exceptional scholarship awarded annually to a Summer School participant; application deadline April 2, 2026 for the 2026 summer program
• DAAD Scholarships (EPOS Program) — DAAD offers a very limited number of scholarships to highly qualified applicants from developing countries for specific programs including TU Berlin's Urban Management and Global Production Engineering programs; application period: June 15 – August 31 of the year before the intended start
• PROMOS Funding — For TU Berlin students going abroad for internships, theses, language courses, and study trips; apply through TU Berlin's International Office
• Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships — For international students with strong social and environmental commitments; includes monthly living stipend
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarships — For academically excellent students with civic engagement
• Hilde-Domin-Programm — For students at risk of being denied educational rights in their country of origin due to ethnic, sexual, gender, or religious identity or political engagement
• Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Scholarships — Specifically available for Indian students applying to TU Berlin programs including Urban Management

Note: TU Berlin offers very limited internal scholarships for international students. Indian students are strongly encouraged to apply for DAAD scholarships and external programs well before application deadlines. APS Certificate is mandatory before enrollment.

Admissions

The Technical University of Berlin acceptance rate is around 52%, which makes it a selective university.  However, popular English-taught programs such as MSc in Computer Science, Data Science, and Engineering Management are significantly more competitive. TU Berlin offers a variety of English-taught programs at master's levels, making it an attractive option for those who do not speak German. 

For Graduate (Master's) Programs:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field from a recognised university; minimum GPA of 2.5 on the German scale (equivalent to 65%+ or CGPA 6.5+); some competitive programs require higher
• German Proficiency: DSH-2 or TestDaF 4×4 (for German-taught programs)
• English Proficiency: IELTS 6.5+ / TOEFL iBT 90+ (for English-taught programs)
• GRE / GMAT (optional but recommended for Management programs like MBA in Energy Management)
• Statement of Purpose / Motivation Letter
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• CV / Résumé
• APS Certificate (mandatory for Indian students before enrollment)
• Official transcripts with certified German or English translations

For Undergraduate Programs:

• Higher secondary school certificate equivalent to German Abitur (Indian students with CBSE/ISC typically require Studienkolleg completion or may have alternate entry routes — verify with TU Berlin's admissions office)
• German language proficiency: A2 level for application; B1 level required at enrollment (does not apply if taking courses entirely in English)
• APS Certificate is mandatory for Indian students
• No application fee charged

Indian students can check TU Berlin's specific admission requirements for their chosen program directly through Polygon Campus.

Placements

TU Berlin's location in Charlottenburg — in the heart of Berlin's innovation district, home to global tech firms, startups, and industrial giants — and its membership in the Berlin University Alliance give graduates exceptional career opportunities across engineering, technology, consulting, and urban planning sectors across Germany and Europe. Around 88% of TU Berlin graduates find jobs within 6 months, especially in IT, engineering, consulting, and automotive sectors. Average starting salaries range between €48,000 and €55,000 per year for master's graduates.

In the "Employer Reputation" category of QS rankings, TU Berlin is ranked 5th in Germany and 107th worldwide — putting it ahead of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 

Notable companies where students from TU Berlin have been placed include BMW, Siemens, Bosch, Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz), and Deutsche Telekom. 

Jobs After Graduating from TU Berlin

Note: Salary figures are indicative and may vary based on role, employer, industry, and experience.

TU Berlin's career support ecosystem includes:

• TU Berlin Career Center (Karriere.TU Berlin) — Personalised career advising, employer networking events, CV workshops, mock interviews, and access to job listings for all students and alumni
• TU Berlin Industry Network — Deep partnerships with BMW, Siemens, Bosch, Daimler-Benz, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Telekom, and leading Berlin-based tech startups
• Berlin University Alliance (BUA) — Joint career, research, and innovation opportunities across TU Berlin, HU Berlin, FU Berlin, and Charité — Europe's most powerful university consortium
• T.I.M.E. (Top International Managers in Engineering) Network — Enables student exchanges and career pathways between leading engineering schools across Europe and beyond
• TU Berlin Startup Hub — TU Berlin is labelled "The Entrepreneurial University" by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs; students have access to incubators, co-working spaces, and mentorship programs
• PROMOS International Mobility — Funding for internships, research stays, language courses, and study trips abroad for TU Berlin students
• TU Berlin Alumni Network — A global network spanning engineering, technology, architecture, urban planning, and entrepreneurship
• Post-Study Work Visa (Germany) — International graduates can remain in Germany for up to 18 months after graduation to seek employment

For personalised guidance on TU Berlin admissions, connect with the experts at Polygon Campus today.