The funding is provided by the Federal Foreign Office and through the German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD) to BI. The scholarship is meant to co-finance living expenses in Germany. It is paid for the duration of six months.
Berlin International University of Applied Sciences is a state-recognized and non-profit German university of applied sciences located in the center of Berlin. We are determined to offer a challenging, innovative and practice-oriented education that advances the academic, cultural and linguistic potential of our students and prepares them for international careers in a globalized world.
Key Facts About DAAD Stibet Scholarship
- Master, Bachelor
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At least €250 per month
Eligibility of DAAD Stibet Scholarship
- Eligible are international students (those who have come for their studies from outside of Germany) at BI who have finished their first year of studies and have shown excellent academic results.
Benefits of DAAD Stibet Scholarship
- A partial scholarship of at least €250 per month is awarded.
Scholarships & Financing
Berlin International (BI) has established a Christian Wulff scholarship. With this scholarship BI thanks the 10th President of the German Federal Republic for addressing the 2024 cohort of BI graduates. His speech is documented in the brochure “Graduation. Class of 2024. Speeches and talks from the graduation ceremony. Berlin International: 2024: 11-18”.
The scholarship covers 50 percent of the tuition fee starting from the time it is given to the end of the regular studies (6th semester). The first Christian Wulff scholar received the scholarship at the Graduation Ceremony, on October 12, 2024. The scholarship is awarded to one BA or MA student for outstanding academic achievements and extraordinary engagement within the BI community.
The Christian Wulff scholar is nominated by the president and the deans of BI’s faculties. The winner is announced at the graduation ceremony.
DAAD Scholarships in Germany for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses
DAAD Prize
On behalf of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) BI awards the DAAD Prize for outstanding achievements of international students studying at German universities. The DAAD Prize comes with prize money of €1,000. The aim is to give faces to the many international students at German higher education institutions and link them with their stories. The students who have received this prize via their respective host institutions stand for their fellow students from all around the world.
The DAAD prize is awarded for outstanding academic achievements, artistic or entrepreneurial engagement, and for special contributions to intercultural dialogue. The deans together with the president nominate a candidate from a BA or MA program.
DAAD STIBET Scholarship
The Stibet Scholarship stands for “Stipendium und Betreuungsprogramm” and is meant to support international students in Germany to ensure the success of their studies. The funding is provided by the Federal Foreign Office and through the German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD) to BI.
The scholarship is meant to co-finance living expenses in Germany. It is paid for the duration of six months. A partial scholarship of at least €250 per month is awarded. BI sends a call for applications at the beginning of the spring semester to students. Eligible are international students (those who have come for their studies from outside of Germany) at BI who have finished their first year of studies and have shown excellent academic results.
DAAD Promos Scholarship
PROMOS is a scholarship program offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) financed by the German Ministry of Education and Research. The funding is intended to support students who want to spend a semester or internship time outside of the European Union.
Scholarships are awarded for study stays abroad lasting one to six months; internships must be longer than six weeks. The period depends on the availability of funds. A partial scholarship of at least €350 per month is awarded. Travel costs will be covered according to the rates stipulated by the DAAD.
BI sends a call for applications twice per year to all students. Eligible are all enrolled students who have finished their first year of studies, have shown excellent academic results, and have an agreement for a stay abroad or an internship contract.
Student Assistants
Throughout the academic year, there are opportunities to work as student assistants for the different departments of BI. Marketing, Student Affairs, and the Faculties are often looking for support during events or project weeks. If you are interested, pay attention to the calls that are regularly circulated via email. Working as a student assistant helps to get to know the university from an organizational and managerial perspective which is valuable work experience.
Programs in DAAD Stibet Scholarship
- MA Interior Architecture / Interior Design
- MA Interior Design
- BA Architecture
- BA Graphic Design and Visual Communication
- English Preparatory Year
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- BA Business Administration| Human Resource Management and Leadership
- BA Business Administration | International Management and Marketing
- BA Data Science and Business
Admission
Applying to Berlin International University of Applied Sciences is simple and fun. We welcome students from all over the world to join our international staff and student body. In the below sections you will find general guidance on the application and admissions process. For further information about our study programs, please visit the above “Programs” tab.
We look forward to welcoming you to Berlin International University of Applied Sciences!
Apply now at Berlin International
Study Fees and other Costs
BA program fees:
Non-EU Nationals
- Tuition Fee – 4,190 EUR per semester, payable per semester (Faculty of Business Administration)
- Tuition Fee – 4,640 EUR per semester, payable per semester (Faculty of Architecture & Design)
- Registration Fee – 600 EUR one-time, non-refundable
EU Nationals
- Tuition Fee – 4,050 EUR per semester, payable in 6 monthly installments of 675 EUR (Faculty of Business Administration)
- Tuition Fee – 4,470 EUR per semester, payable in 6 monthly installments of 745 EUR (Faculty of Architecture & Design)
- Registration Fee – 250 EUR one-time, non-refundable
MA/MBA program fees:
Non-EU Nationals
- Tuition Fee (2-year program) – 5,550 EUR per semester, payable per semester
- Tuition Fee (1-year program) – 6,500 EUR per semester, payable per semester
- Registration Fee – 600 EUR one-time, non-refundable
EU Nationals
- Tuition Fee (2-year program) – 5,370 EUR per semester, payable in 6 monthly installments of 895 EUR
- Tuition Fee (1-year program) – 6,000 EUR per semester, payable in 6 monthly installments of 1,000 EUR
- Registration Fee – 250 EUR one-time, non-refundable
Semester ticket:
Since 2014, the purchase of a semester ticket for public transport in Berlin zones ABC has been mandatory for all students of Berlin International. Students are required to pay for the ticket along with their tuition fee.
The agreed price of the semester ticket is currently around 200 EUR per semester. More information can be found here.
You can get an overview of the full study fees per program here.
In addition to the study fees, we recommend calculating in the following costs:
- Accommodation – around 500 – 800 EUR per month
- Living costs – around 200 – 400 EUR per month (depending on your lifestyle)
- German health insurance coverage – around 110 EUR per month
- Materials cost for design and architecture students – around 150 EUR per semester
Application Process
You will complete your application electronically through our online portal at https://apply.berlin-international.de/. You will first register, then enter your personal details, and finally upload the required documents. These are:
For all BA programs:
- Official Senior High School diploma with transcript (German Abitur / Fachabitur or equivalent)
- Official University certificates and transcript of grades – if applicable
- Passport
- English Language Test (CEFR level B2 or above)
- Portfolio with a minimum of 10 works – for Design and Architecture programs only
- Certification of the Academic Evaluation Center (APS) – for educational qualifications from China, India and Vietnam only
For the MA / MBA programs:
- Official Senior High School diploma with transcript of grades (German Abitur / Fachabitur or equivalent)
- Official University certificates and transcript of grades
- Passport
- English Language Test (CEFR level B2 or above)
- CV
- Letter of Motivation
- Portfolio with 10 works – related to your bachelor’s degree and interior design, for the Faculty of Architecture & Design only
- Letter from employer confirming a minimum of 1 year continuous full-time employment, for the MBA program only
- Certification of the Academic Evaluation Center (APS) – for educational qualifications from China, India and Vietnam only
All academic records need to be submitted in their original language, and, if that language is not English or German, certified translations into one of those languages must also be submitted.
If you are still waiting for your final documents to be issued, then please submit a statement of your predicted grades. This will allow us to process your application on a conditional basis. You will need to provide the official final transcripts when you receive them.
Once you have completed your online application, we will review it as soon as possible. An evaluation on your eligibility to study in Germany will be followed by the faculty selection process.
If you apply for a Bachelor in Business Administration, you should receive an answer within 1 week.
If you apply for any other program, the full application process should be completed within a maximum of 4 weeks.
Admission Requirements
For all BA programs:
You will generally need to hold a German Abitur / Fachabitur or equivalent to meet the German university entrance level requirements. These are set by the German Central Office for Foreign Education and apply to most German-accredited higher education institutions.
The requirements for the equivalence vary from country to country. We have summarized a few of the most frequently asked about education systems:
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US High School Diploma
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IB Diploma
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GCE A levels
To confirm whether you are eligible to study in Germany, the German Academic Exchange Service provides an English language resource:
In some cases, you may need to acquire an additional qualification. That means you will need either to complete a German Studienkolleg or successfully complete the first academic year of a Bachelor´s degree outside Germany.
A ‘Studienkolleg’ is a university preparatory course that acts as a bridge between your current qualifications and the qualifications required to enter a German university. These programs generally prepare you for a German language university and require German language proficiency. If you qualify for this type of program, you would be eligible to study at German post-secondary institutions upon successful completion of the examination (Feststellungprüfung, or FSP).
Berlin International does not offer such a program but would be able to accept students who have completed the appropriate Studienkolleg examinations. This however is not a typical route for our applicants. To gain eligibility for a higher education institute in Berlin, the Studienkolleg has to be completed in the German language as required by the Berlin Senate.
An alternative to the Studienkolleg would be to enroll in a university near you, or outside Germany, and complete the first academic year of a Bachelor´s degree successfully. It is important that the university and program are fully accredited, that you choose the same subject you intend to apply for at BI, and that you complete the first academic year with all courses and credits successfully. For some countries, you may need to complete more than 1 academic year. Once you have done so, you will gain eligibility for higher education in Germany; this eligibility is restricted to the same subject you previously studied. However, you would be welcome to apply as a transfer student into a higher semester. Read more about this in the ‘Transfer students and course acknowledgments’ section.
Please note that Berlin International can only consider applicants who meet the eligibility requirements.
All eligible applicants will be subject to faculty selection and seat availability per program.
For the MA Interior Design program:
A bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture/Interior Design or a related field is necessary. If you do not have a degree in Interior Architecture/ Interior Design, a degree in a closely related field including significant coursework dealing with spacial design may be accepted.
For the MBA program:
A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related field is preferred, but not required. Note that if you do not have a relevant degree, your CV will need to show that you have independently developed your knowledge of Business Administration to a level equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree.
In addition, you are required to have gained at least 1 year of full-time, continuous work experience after your bachelor’s graduation. Ideally, you should have taken over managerial tasks already. If you have instead set up your own business, then proof thereof will be required.
For all master programs:
In order to meet the 300 ECTS credit requirement for graduation with the title of ‘MA Interior Design’ or ‘Master of Business Administration’, students who have completed a (German equivalent) 3-year bachelor’s degree will be accepted into the 2-year MA/ MBA program, and those who have a (German equivalent) 4-year degree will be recommended one option by the respective faculty and may opt for the 1 year MA/ MBA program.
Dates and Application Deadlines
Start in Fall Semester 2024-24 (for new and transfer students):
Application period: 1st December 2022 until approximately 31st August 2024
Language Requirements
Since all of our programs are fully taught in English, we will require a proof of your language skills. German knowledge is not required.
If your language skills are at CEFR Level B2 or above, one of the following currently valid language test certificates and scores can be accepted for your application:
- TOEFL ITP: 543
- TOEFL IBT: 74
- IELTS (Academic): 6.0 overall
- Cambridge FCE: B2
- PTE Academic: 59
- BI internal exam/ BAU ‘English Language Proficiency Exam’: 60/100
- IB Diploma: English A or B at HL or SL
- German Abitur
If you have not completed high school in a majority-English speaking country (ie. USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand), an approved language exam is required in order to qualify for admission.
You are welcome to attend the internal Berlin International language proficiency exam. It will be hosted via the software MS Teams and participation can only be offered after an application to one of our programs.
Dates for 2024 (All times are Berlin local times):
- 6th April, 9:00 – 15:00
- 5th May, 9:00 – 15:00
- 9th June, 9:00 – 15:00
- 3rd July, 9:00 – 15:00
- 31st July, 9:00 – 15:00
- 18th August, 9:00 – 15:00
Preparatory School:
If you do not yet have level B2 English, and are eligible to study on a BA program at BI, you can sign up for our English Preparatory School.
Download ‘English Language Proficiency Exam’ sample.
Portfolio Requirements
A portfolio is required for applications to one of the programs at the Faculty of Architecture & Design. Feel free to check the portfolio guidelines below.
Portfolio Guidelines for the BA programs:
- BA Architecture
- BA Interior Architecture/Interior Design
- BA Graphic Design & Visual Communication
If you have missed a recent webinar, then simply email us and we will be happy to send you the link to the recording.
Portfolio Guidelines for the MA Interior Architecture/ Interior Design and MA Interior Design programs:
- MA Interior Architecture/Interior Design
- MA Interior Design.
How to Pay Fees
Your offer letter contains the initial fee installment to be paid in order to confirm and secure your seat. This initial fee covers the first of 6 monthly installments for EU nationals, or the full first semester fee for non-EU nationals, in addition to the Berlin transportation ticket fee for one semester and the one-time non-refundable application fee.
You may opt for a bank transfer or online payment via TransferMate. Information on both was sent along with your offer letter.
Here is further information on the online payment via TransferMate:
The easiest method of paying your study fees Internationally is through TransferMate Education. By using the TransferMate service, you are able to pay at your local bank in your home currency and will be offered a beneficial exchange rate without incurring any bank transfer charges. TransferMate makes it easier and cheaper for international students to pay for their study fees to Berlin International University of Applied Sciences.
What are the benefits?
- Pay in your own currency.
- A more streamlined payment process
- No international sender/receiver fees
- Great exchange rates
- 24 hour customer service from TransferMate
- 24 hour online tracking of payments
- Bulk payment options
TransferMate lets you make international payments to Berlin International University of Applied Sciences for free where TransferMate has a localised account, without paying international banking charges, while receiving competitive foreign exchange rates.
Pay your Fees now!
STEP 1. Check your ‘Invoice number’.
STEP 2. Visit the payment website and complete the brief registration form. Click ‘YES’ you are ready to pay today and then select ‘Process Transaction’.
STEP 3. Transfer the funds in your currency to the advised bank account.
STEP 4. Email [email protected] with receipt of payment, a copy of your student passport, and your offer or invoice letter from Berlin International University of Applied Sciences.
STEP 5. Once TransferMate has received your funds and required documents, they will transfer the funds to us at Berlin International University of Applied Sciences and email you confirmation of payment. Sorted!
Once you have started your study program, the next payment will be due will be at the end of your first month with us (for EU nationals) or at the end of your first semester with us (for Non-EU nationals).
Accommodation
Unfortunately, we do not currently offer accommodation for students. Upon request we will be happy to issue a list of websites that can get your search started.
When looking for accommodation, please keep in mind the following advice to ensure you are not subject to fraud:
- Do not transfer any money without seeing the room/ flat you want to rent and receiving the key
- Check if you can register yourself to this address with the registry office (Bürgeramt). If not, then we would recommend not choosing this accommodation.
- Try to speak to your future flat mates
- Check what is included in the price, e.g. electricity, gas, water, internet, etc.
Visa
For information on the visa requirements, please contact the German consulate in your country of citizenship. A list of consulates per country can be found here: (https://www.deutsche-im-ausland.org/im-ausland-leben-und-arbeiten/leben-im-ausland/botschaften-und-konsulate.html).
General information on applying for a visa for the purpose of studying can be found here: https://www.berlin.de/labo/willkommen-in-berlin/einreise/visumsverfahren/artikel.600107.en.php
The conditions can vary greatly between countries and even individuals, so it’s always better to go directly to the responsible authority for the most accurate, up to date information.
You may want to consider asking a company like Expatrio or Fintiba for assistance with your visa arrangements, blocked account, etc.
Berlin International will provide a visa invitation letter once the application process has been completed, and you have secured your place by making your first payment.
Application
BI sends a call for applications at the beginning of the spring semester to students.