Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences - HSRW vs University of Mannheim vs IU International University of Applied Sciences vs University of Kiel vs University of Applied Sciences Kiel - FH KIEL

Side-by-side comparison from 185 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Forward College (4.90)
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences - HSRW: wins 0/7 categories
University of Mannheim: wins 0/7 categories
IU International University of Applied Sciences: wins 0/7 categories
University of Kiel: wins 0/7 categories
University of Applied Sciences Kiel - FH KIEL: wins 0/7 categories
Schiller International University: wins 1/7 categories
Forward College: wins 6/7 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Information Engineering
Mannheim, Germany
4.20
Read more reviews
20 reviews
×
Best programme: Chemistry
Best programme: MBA
Best programme: Biochemistry
Best programme: Industrial Engineering
Tampa, Florida, United States
4.50
Read more reviews
13 reviews
×
Best programme: BA International Relations and Diplomacy
Paris, France
4.90
Top
Read more reviews
16 reviews
×
Best programme: Politics and International Relations
Category ratings
Facilities
3.63
4.28
3.69
3.50
Not rated
3.92
4.47
Win
Location
3.38
4.11
3.87
2.50
Not rated
4.92
5.00
Win
Professors
3.38
4.22
4.43
2.50
Not rated
4.62
5.00
Win
Internationality
4.00
4.33
4.44
3.00
Not rated
4.92
Win
4.75
Student life
3.38
3.94
3.62
2.50
Not rated
4.15
4.73
Win
Value
3.38
4.33
4.32
4.00
Not rated
4.23
4.63
Win
Accommodation
3.38
3.78
3.11
2.00
Not rated
3.62
4.33
Win
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Diverse and international student body
  • +English-taught programs
  • +Well-structured curriculum and learning environment
  • +Strong reputation and career opportunities
  • +Supportive faculty and engaging course content
  • +International exchange and diverse specialization options
  • +Flexible online study for work-life balance
  • +Modern, intuitive digital platform for easy access
  • +Relevant, high-quality educational content
  • +Rigorous chemistry foundation prepares for advanced studies.
  • +Practical and theoretical learning through well-designed curricula.
  • +Strong emphasis on job-relevant skills and future career prospects.
  • +Opportunities for international and multicultural exposure.
  • +Culturally diverse environment and international campus access
  • +Supportive and organized academic environment with helpful instructors
  • +Opportunities for career advancement and independent learning
  • +Engaging learning environment with interactive methods
  • +Diverse and international student community
  • +Unique multi-city European study experience
Cons
  • -Lack of thesis support and professor availability.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause delays.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources are a recurring problem.
  • -The curriculum lacks relevance and practical application.
  • -Slow and unresponsive administrative processes, including grade processing and student support.
  • -Poor staff attitude and lack of accountability for errors in student records and applications.
  • -Inadequate support and guidance for online students.
  • -Lack of support for international students and a significant language barrier.
  • -Social science programs are underdeveloped.
  • -Outdated facilities and lack of modern resources are a frequent complaint.
  • -Students express dissatisfaction with administrative inefficiencies and poor communication.
  • -The curriculum is often described as irrelevant or lacking practical application.
  • -Lack of extracurriculars and limited opportunities for lower-year students.
  • -Poor campus environment and a perceived low academic standard.
  • -Administrative & management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and equipment are a concern.
  • -Lack of transparency and communication is prevalent.
Rating summary
What students say

This institution exhibits a notable strength in **Internationality**, achieving a perfect score of 4. Conversely, its **Facilities** score of 3.625, while good, represents its weakest area among the surveyed categories. Other aspects such as Professors, Location, Student Life, Accommodation, and Value are all rated consistently at 3.375, indicating a generally even performance across these important university metrics.

This university is rated highly across several key aspects, particularly excelling in **Internationality** and **Value**, both scoring 4.33. Facilities also received a strong score of 4.28. Student life and accommodation, while still positive, represent areas with slightly lower ratings, with student life at 3.94 and accommodation at 3.78, suggesting these might be opportunities for further enhancement.

This institution garners notable praise in several key areas, with **Internationality** and **Professors** receiving particularly high scores. The **Value** proposition is also well-regarded. Conversely, **Accomodation** stands out as the lowest-rated aspect. Other aspects like Facilities, Location, and Student Life fall within a more moderate range of positive feedback.

This institution demonstrates considerable strengths in its facilities, earning a respectable 3.5 out of 5. Conversely, areas requiring improvement include accommodation, rated at a low 2, and professors, location, and student life, all scoring 2.5. While internationality is rated moderately at 3, the university's value for money stands out as its strongest attribute, achieving a high 4.

Considering the provided ratings, the university presents a uniformly neutral profile, with no specific areas standing out as particularly strong or weak. Every surveyed aspect, including facilities, professors, location, student life, accommodation, internationality, and value, received a rating of zero. This suggests a consistent, albeit unremarkable, performance across all evaluated facets of the university experience.

With a strong emphasis on location and internationality, this university also scores very well for its professors and student life. Value for money is also a positive aspect. The weakest areas, while still respectable, are its facilities and accommodation.

This university garners excellent reviews, particularly excelling in its **professors and location**, both achieving perfect scores. Student life and internationality also stand out with scores above 4.7. Areas with slightly lower, though still strong, ratings include **facilities and accommodation**. Overall, the university presents a well-rounded positive student experience with high marks across most aspects.

Reviews summary
Highlights

With an average rating of 3.83/5, approximately 74% of reviews are positive, highlighting a diverse, multicultural, and well-structured learning environment with English-taught programs. One review mentioned challenges with thesis support.

With a 4.15/5 average rating from 20 reviews, ~95% are positive. Students highlight the university's strong reputation, extensive international opportunities, and excellent academic quality, including experienced professors and relevant course content.

~95% of reviews are positive, praising flexibility, modern platforms, and accessible materials. A small percentage (~5%) mention issues with grading delays and slow administrative support.

With a 2.5/5 average rating from two reviews, sentiment is split evenly. One reviewer highlights challenging but rewarding chemistry studies, while the other notes shortcomings in social sciences and minimal support for international students.

Students highlight excellent laboratory facilities, a well-designed curriculum for practical and job-related knowledge, and good international exposure. The average rating is 4/5, with positive feedback representing 100% of reviews.

With a 4.54/5 average rating, nearly all students praise Schiller for its culturally rich environment and global opportunities. A small portion of feedback (~7.7%) suggests the university may be better suited for those seeking a less demanding academic path.

Students highly praise the interactive learning, international community, and opportunities for academic and personal growth. There are no negative reviews.

Rating distribution
5★
25%
20%
63%
0%
0%
69%
94%
4★
50%
75%
27%
50%
100%
23%
6%
3★
17%
5%
6%
0%
0%
0%
0%
2★
0%
0%
2%
0%
0%
8%
0%
1★
8%
0%
3%
50%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
Good, room for improvement

overall good experience. could be better in terms of student technical team activities and support. Kleve is very small and is not ideal for a student life. overall good experience. could be better in terms of student technical team activities and support. Kleve is very small and is not ideal for a student life.

Great professors and close relationship with companies

The university offers very interesting courses and allows in the Psychology programme a wide range of possibilities to choose your courses from. The classes are pretty small so it's easier to discuss topics. Every year there is a career fair organized which brings together students and companies and underlines the importance of the University of Mannheim for recruiters. There are also plenty of student organizations which you can volunteer for. It was a great time studying in Mannheim and I have the feeling that it prepared me very well for my future working life.

The best university in the world

My experience with IU is very wonderful and exceptional. The learning process is smooth and easy especially for online students and the exams are well tailored to test your knowledge on what you have been learning. It is quite great indeed.

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The cultural mix and the great atmosphere.

I loved being at Schiller in Heidelberg. The setting and the city were very serene and the exposure to all those students and teachers from such different and diverse backgrounds was a great learning experience. Additionally, the ease of accessing the Schiller campuses in the other countries was a great additional bonus to studying at Schiller. I would most definitely recommend Schiller to other students who are looking for a very culturally fulfilling experience.

Great modern university approach

I am currently a 3rd year student at Forward College and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to other students. The interactive approach of Forward where questions, debate, and discussion were encouraged enhanced my learning so much and I feel like I genuinely enjoyed every class. Having the experience of living in 3 different cultures, surrounded by people from all over the world made this experience even more special and helped me develop and grow in so many ways. Another aspect I have loved are the professors. Speaking with friends at other university I am so grateful to have teachers that actually know us, are excited to teach and interact with us, and will always take the time to help you.

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