DE #59
QS World #901
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- No tuition fees
- Founded
- 1860
49 Best Development Studies Master's Universities in Germany
The best German universities offering Master's Development Studies, ranked by our transparent composite score — no paid placement.
49 universities · ranked best first
how we rank
DE #60
QS World #901
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- No tuition fees
- Founded
- 1946
DE #70
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- No tuition fees
- Founded
- 1994
28
HS
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences
Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia · University of Applied Sciences
DE #71
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- No tuition fees
- Founded
- 2009
29
BT
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg
Cottbus, Brandenburg · Public University
DE #72
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- No tuition fees
- Founded
- 1991
DE #74
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- No tuition fees
- Founded
- 1765
DE #75
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- No tuition fees
- Founded
- 1991
DE #90
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- No tuition fees
- Founded
- 2009
33
HE
Esslingen University of Applied Sciences
Esslingen, Baden-Württemberg · University of Applied Sciences
DE #92
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- €3,000/yr
- Founded
- 1868
DE #93
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- —
- Founded
- 2003
35
TK
TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences
Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia · University of Applied Sciences
DE #94
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- No tuition fees
- Founded
- 1971
36
FA
FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences
Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia · University of Applied Sciences
DE #95
Star rating 4
Admissions open
- Tuition (indicative)
- No tuition fees
- Founded
- 1971
Frequently asked questions
Which are the best universities in Germany for Master's Development Studies?▾
Based on our composite ranking, the top choices include Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Deggendorf Institute of Technology. See the full ranked list above with QS positions, tuition fees and entry requirements.
How much does a Master's in Development Studies cost in Germany?▾
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.
Can international students study Development Studies in Germany?▾
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.
How are these universities ranked?▾
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.
Studying Development Studies at Master's level in Germany
Germany is the world’s leading destination for Development Studies at Master's level, with accredited programs taught in English at public flagships, private research universities and specialist institutes. The universities above are ordered by our composite ranking score, which combines QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — with no paid placement.
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