49 Best Development Studies Master's Universities in Germany

Based on our composite ranking, the top choices include Heidelberg University, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. See the full ranked list above with QS positions, tuition fees and entry requirements.

Tuition varies by university and is indicative on each profile — public universities charge no tuition fees in most states (only a semester contribution of roughly €150–€400), while private universities and some Baden-Württemberg programmes do charge. Scholarships can reduce costs significantly.

Yes. Germany has over 2,000 English-taught programmes open to international students, who apply for a national student visa (Visa D) at the German mission after receiving their letter of admission.

We use a transparent composite score combining QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. See our ranking methodology for the exact weights.