10 Best Economics & Public Policy PhD Universities in Germany

Based on our composite ranking, the top choices include Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, University of Hamburg. 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.