Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Why KIT?

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) was founded in 2009 by the merger of the Karlsruhe Research Center and the University of Karlsruhe. KIT combines the missions of the University of Karlsruhe, with a tradition of nearly 200 years, and a major research institute with a worldwide reputation.

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of 11 universities of excellence in Germany and one of the leading technical universities in Europe. KIT combines university and large-scale research and offers its students a unique integration of research and education.

The school is spread across the “South campus” just east of the city center, the research institute in the center and the “North campus” in the huge park to the north. Since the North campus is a bit out of the city center, I would recommend you to check which campus will be more heavily used by the department you are applying to.

Is Karlsruhe Institute of Technology a good university? Is it difficult?

The school is well respected by employers in Germany and around the world and its graduates are highly sought after. However, although the school is research-oriented, there are complaints that the undergraduate degrees are too theoretical. For this reason, it is recommended for master’s and doctoral studies rather than undergraduate degrees.

Do not misunderstand what I have written, KIT, like other universities in Germany, will actually give you intensive theoretical knowledge to prepare you for the master’s program. This is the main mission of universities in Germany. Experts who are practically ready for the industry are mostly trained in schools called Fachhochschule. (See Technical University, University and Fachhochschule differences)

I am always writing and will continue to do so. University life in Germany is extremely challenging. But some schools are extra challenging. KIT is one of them. However, I think it is worth it to study in a beautiful and temperate city that you can rarely find in Germany (See: Living as a Student in Karlsruhe) and to graduate from an internationally respected school.

The only disadvantage for foreign students is that the city is located in the state of Baden-Württemberg. This state charges 1500 Euros per semester for foreign students due to the intense interest of students.

KIT by the numbers

Date of foundation	1825
Total Number of Students	22.802
Term contribution (Public transportation ticket partially included)	154,00 €
Tuition Fee (Foreign Students)	1.500 €

Source CHE – Ranking

What is required to apply for KIT?

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology via the school portal. An HZB is required for the application (see What is an HZB?).

KIT application deadlines:

Winter semester: June 01 – July 15
Summer semester December 1 – January 15

Undergraduate courses are taught in German, so you need to have German B2 proficiency for admission. The university has a language preparatory school. Conditional admission is possible with a B1 level certificate. However, you must prove your language proficiency with the following certificates until the time of application.

DSH-II

DSD-II

TestDAF ( 4,4,4,4)

Telc C1 Hohschule

Goethe C2

Check the relevant page of the university for more information.

Are there Bachelor Programs in English at KIT?

The Carl Benz School of Engineering at KIT offers a Mechanical Engineering program in 100% English. However, the program is fee-based and costs 8,665 euros per semester. The school has its own dormitory and provides students with accommodation there. Dormitory prices vary between 360 and 615 Euros depending on the room and whether it is shared or not.

There is no HZB requirement for application to the program. So even if you do not pass the university exam, you can apply for Mechanical Engineering. However, you must submit an IELTS 6.5 English certificate and a high school transcript proving that you have studied Mathematics and Physics in the last two years of high school. If you do not have an international high school diploma (Abitur, Matura, IB or USD High School Diploma) they will invite you to an 8-week trial program starting in August and if you are successful at the end of the program they will accept you.