About the university
The Berlin School of Economics and Law (Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin, HWR Berlin) is a public university of applied sciences with about 12,000 students, formed in 2009 from two older Berlin colleges. It has five departments covering business and economics, cooperative (work-integrated) studies, public administration, law, and police and security management, plus the Berlin Professional School for MBAs and continuing education.
HWR Berlin is known for practical business and economics teaching with strong links to employers: it works with about 700 partner companies and 177 partner institutions abroad. It offers 17 programmes taught in English, mostly master's courses in business, finance, economics and management.
For Indian students the main attraction is that most master's programmes charge no tuition fee, only the semester fee of about €380 per semester. Admission to the English-taught master's is competitive and usually goes through uni-assist, and many courses expect 210 ECTS, so applicants with a three-year bachelor's degree may need to add an internship or study-abroad semester.
Berlin is Germany's capital and largest city, with a large international and start-up community. Living costs and rents are higher than in most German cities, so plan housing early.
- Founded
- 2009, by merging Berlin's universities of applied sciences for economics (FHW) and for administration and law (FHVR)
- Type
- Public university of applied sciences, one of Berlin's largest, focused on business, economics, law and public administration
- Students
- About 12,000 (HWR Berlin)
- Degree programmes
- 57, including 17 taught in English
- Partners
- 177 partner institutions and 700 partner companies
- Campuses
- Schöneberg and Lichtenberg in Berlin
- Semester fee
- €379.77 for winter 2026/27, including the semester ticket
- Intakes
- October (winter) for most master's; some programmes start in April or September
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
MSc Business Intelligence and Process Management
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 3 semesters (4 with 180 ECTS entry)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- IELTS 6.0; PTE 67; TOEFL iBT 4.5 (new scale) or 83
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 3 semesters (4 with an internship or semester abroad)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- IELTS 6.5; TOEFL iBT 4.5 (new scale) or 89
- Postgraduate
MA Global Supply Chain and Operations Management
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 3 semesters (4 with 180 ECTS entry)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- IELTS 6.0; PTE 67; TOEFL iBT 4.5 (new scale) or 83
- Postgraduate
MA International Marketing Management
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 3 semesters (4 with 180 ECTS entry)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- IELTS 6.5; PTE 67; TOEFL iBT 4.5 (new scale) or 83
- Undergraduate
BA International Business Management
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 8 semesters (240 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- English at CEFR B2; German at A2 also required
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Business Intelligence and Process Management | 3 semesters (4 with 180 ECTS entry) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
| MSc International Finance | 3 semesters (4 with an internship or semester abroad) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
| MA Global Supply Chain and Operations Management | 3 semesters (4 with 180 ECTS entry) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
| MA International Marketing Management | 3 semesters (4 with 180 ECTS entry) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
| BA International Business Management | 8 semesters (240 ECTS) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Berlin School of Economics and Law with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Bachelor's and master's, final semester
Final Semester Scholarship (DAAD funds)
Value: About €2,000 in total (€500 a month for 4 months)
Eligibility: Full-time international students at HWR Berlin with very good grades and financial need who will finish their degree that year and live in Germany while writing the thesis. Apply by 5 May via Moodle.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Bachelor's and master's (not Berlin Professional School)
Deutschlandstipendium
Value: €300 a month within the standard period of study
Eligibility: Talented, high-achieving students in Departments 1 to 5.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Enrolled international students
DAAD Prize for outstanding international students
Value: €1,000 and a DAAD certificate
Eligibility: International students with above-average results and social or intercultural engagement, nominated by the university.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- The English-taught BA International Business Management starts in October (apply 1 June to 15 July) or April (apply 1 December to 15 January), through uni-assist.
- You need a school qualification that meets Berlin's university entrance rules (§11 BerlHG), English at B2 and German at A2. Check whether your Class 12 gives direct entry with uni-assist before applying.
- If there are more applicants than places, admission is by grades (numerus clausus).
Postgraduate
- Applicants with a degree from outside Germany apply through uni-assist, usually from 15 March to 15 May for October entry.
- Many master's programmes expect a bachelor's degree with 210 ECTS. With 180 ECTS (for example a three-year Indian degree) you add a 30-ECTS internship or study-abroad semester, so the course takes four semesters.
- Each programme sets subject prerequisites, for example credits in business, quantitative methods and computer science for MSc Business Intelligence and Process Management, or capital market finance, corporate finance and statistics for MSc International Finance.
- A motivation letter and CV in English are required for many master's programmes.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts (with module descriptions where asked)
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- English test score
- Motivation letter and CV in English
- uni-assist application (VPD or full evaluation, as the programme requires)
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 (MSc Business Intelligence and Process Management, MA Global Supply Chain and Operations Management) to 6.5 (MSc International Finance, MA International Marketing Management) |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 on the new scale, or 83–89 on the old scale, depending on the programme |
| PTE Academic | 67 for most English-taught master's programmes |
| German | Not needed for the English-taught master's; CEFR A2 needed for the BA International Business Management |
| Exemptions | Two semesters of higher education taught entirely in English, or a GMAT score, can replace a test for some programmes |
Accommodation and living costs
HWR Berlin does not run its own halls. Students apply to the Studierendenwerk Berlin, which runs student residences (part of the semester fee goes to it), or rent rooms in shared flats. Berlin rents are high, so start looking early.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| HWR Berlin semester feeWinter 2026/27, full-time; includes a €226.80 Berlin semester ticket | €380per semester | ≈ ₹40,256 |
Campus and location
HWR Berlin teaches on two main campuses in Berlin: Schöneberg and Lichtenberg.
- Two campuses in Berlin, each with a library.
- 17 English-taught programmes, mostly master's in business and economics.
- Berlin semester ticket included in the semester fee.
- Berlin Professional School for MBAs and continuing education.
Careers and graduate outcomes
HWR Berlin works with about 700 partner companies, and many programmes include internships. Berlin's large job market for business, finance and start-ups helps graduates. For post-study work rules in Germany, see our Germany guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Partner companies | About 700 | HWR Berlin homepage |
Studying in Germany
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Germany. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Germany
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- Public
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Photo: juhotski, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences
Photo: TU Berlin/Pressestelle/Ulrich Dahl, Copyrighted free use PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: Seeott, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) (official website, opens in a new tab)
Munich, GermanyOften chosen for Life Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Law
Photo: Hermann Luyken, CC0 PublicHeidelberg University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Heidelberg, GermanyOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Life Sciences
FAQs
Is HWR Berlin tuition-free?
Most degree programmes charge no tuition fee, only the semester fee of €379.77 for winter 2026/27, which includes the Berlin semester ticket. The MBA and some continuing-education master's charge tuition.
Can I apply with a three-year bachelor's degree?
Often yes, but many master's courses expect 210 ECTS. With 180 ECTS you add a 30-ECTS internship or semester abroad, so the course takes four semesters.
Do I need German?
Not for the English-taught master's programmes. The English-taught BA International Business Management asks for German at A2 level as well as English at B2.
When do I apply?
For most English-taught master's courses, applicants with a foreign degree apply through uni-assist from 15 March to 15 May for an October start.
What IELTS score do I need?
IELTS 6.0 to 6.5 depending on the programme. Some programmes accept two semesters of English-taught study or a GMAT instead.
Sources
- HWR Berlin: homepage (English) (opens in a new tab)
- HWR Berlin: English-taught degree programmes (opens in a new tab)
- HWR Berlin: semester fee (opens in a new tab)
- HWR Berlin: MSc Business Intelligence and Process Management (opens in a new tab)
- HWR Berlin: MSc International Finance (opens in a new tab)
- HWR Berlin: MA Global Supply Chain and Operations Management (opens in a new tab)
- HWR Berlin: MA International Marketing Management (opens in a new tab)
- HWR Berlin: BA International Business Management (opens in a new tab)
- HWR Berlin: scholarships and awards (opens in a new tab)
- HWR Berlin: MSc International Business Management (opens in a new tab)
- HWR Berlin: Berlin Full-Time MBA (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Berlin School of Economics and Law (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.hwr-berlin.de/en (opens in a new tab)
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