Berlin School of Economics and Law - BSEL vs IU International University of Applied Sciences vs Hochschule Fresenius vs Sigmund Freud University - SFU vs Ironhack

Side-by-side comparison from 175 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Forward College (4.60)
Berlin School of Economics and Law - BSEL: wins 0/6 categories
IU International University of Applied Sciences: wins 0/6 categories
Hochschule Fresenius: wins 0/6 categories
Sigmund Freud University - SFU: wins 1/6 categories
Ironhack: wins 2/6 categories
Forward College: wins 3/6 categories
Fachhochschule des Mittelstands: wins 0/6 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Economics
Best programme: MBA
Idstein, Germany
4.30
Read more reviews
3 reviews
×
Best programme: Business Economics
Best programme: Psychology
Barcelona, Spain
3.00
Read more reviews
2 reviews
×
Best programme: UX/UI Design (User Experience / User Interface Design)
Paris, France
4.60
Top
Read more reviews
34 reviews
×
Best programme: Business and Management
Best programme: Global MBA
Category ratings
Facilities
4.20
4.23
3.67
4.33
5.00
Win
4.45
4.50
Location
4.20
4.40
5.00
5.00
5.00
4.83
4.50
Professors
4.10
4.43
4.00
4.67
3.00
4.88
Win
4.50
Internationality
4.30
4.44
3.67
5.00
Win
3.00
4.50
4.00
Student life
4.33
4.11
3.33
3.67
5.00
Win
4.61
4.50
Value
4.10
4.32
4.00
4.00
3.00
4.56
Win
4.00
Accommodation
3.50
3.68
3.00
3.67
4.00
4.27
Win
3.00
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Experienced professors and valuable content delivery
  • +Practical, real-world application of knowledge
  • +Diverse and international student body
  • +Flexible online study for work-life balance
  • +Modern, intuitive digital platform for easy access
  • +Relevant, high-quality educational content
  • +Relevant and varied course content
  • +Helpful and educated faculty
  • +Supportive university staff
  • +Expert and passionate professors
  • +International study opportunities
  • +Well-located campuses and student life
  • +Practical, hands-on learning with immediate application
  • +Experienced, professional instructors with industry expertise
  • +Engaging hybrid learning format
  • +Welcoming international community & diverse backgrounds
  • +Interactive flipped classroom & engaging discussions
  • +Approachable professors & personal development focus
  • +Excellent and varied study programmes with knowledgeable, supportive professors.
  • +Strong career prospects and professional development opportunities.
  • +Helpful support services and a desirable campus/city location.
Cons
  • -Administrative and management issues frustrate students.
  • -Outdated facilities and poor maintenance are frequently mentioned.
  • -Lack of resources and support hinders academic progress.
  • -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 organization and clear communication from administration.
  • -Outdated facilities and insufficient resources.
  • -Uninspiring teaching methods and irrelevant curriculum.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause constant problems.
  • -Facilities are outdated and poorly maintained.
  • -Communication from the institution is unclear and infrequent.
  • -Administrative and management issues.
  • -Perceived lack of value for money.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and equipment hinder learning.
  • -Lack of clear communication and support from instructors is a problem.
  • -Administrative and management issues disrupt student progress.
  • -Outdated facilities hinder learning and comfort.
  • -Lack of communication and transparency creates frustration.
Rating summary
What students say

Overall, this university garners positive feedback, with **Student Life (4.33)** and **Internationality (4.3)** emerging as its strongest aspects. Facilities and Location also received high marks (4.2). The **Accomodation (3.5)** rating is notably lower than other categories, suggesting this area could benefit from improvement. Value and Professors also received solid scores, reflecting general satisfaction with the educational experience.

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.

With a perfect score of 5, location stands out as the university's strongest asset. Student life, however, received the lowest rating at 3.33. Facilities and internationality scored a respectable 3.67, while professors and value were rated highly at 4. Accommodations were rated at 3.

This institution receives outstanding marks for its prime **location** and robust **internationality**, both scoring a perfect 5. Excellent **professors** (4.7) and **facilities** (4.3) also contribute to a positive academic environment. Areas for development include **student life** and **accommodation**, both rated at 3.7. The **value** proposition is solid at 4.

With exceptional marks in Facilities and Location, this institution clearly excels in its physical environment and accessibility. Student Life also receives top scores, suggesting a vibrant campus experience. Conversely, the university's weakest areas lie in its Professors and Internationality, both rated a moderate three. Value also sits at this mid-tier rating, indicating areas for potential improvement.

Overall, the university receives strong marks across various aspects. Professors and location are particularly lauded, achieving the highest scores. Student life and internationality also perform well. While accommodation is rated slightly lower, the university demonstrates a solid standing in facilities and value, with no significantly weak areas identified.

This institution demonstrates exceptional strengths in several key areas. Facilities, professors, location, and student life all received outstanding ratings of 4.5, indicating a high-quality overall experience. While internationality and value are also solid at 4, accommodation stands out as the weakest area, scoring 3.

Reviews summary
Highlights

With a 4.18 average rating from 11 reviews, ~91% are positive. Students praise experienced professors, practical learning, and international environment. Some note unstructured teaching methods.

~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.

University reviews are overwhelmingly positive (~100%) with an average rating of 4.33/5. Students praise course content, helpful lecturers, and good accommodation. A few minor criticisms mention strict grading in one course and occasional unhelpful teachers.

With a 4/5 average rating, ~67% of reviews are positive. Students highlight passionate professors and the university's international opportunities. No negative feedback was received.

With an average rating of 3/5, feedback is evenly split, with ~50% positive and ~50% negative. Positive comments highlight practical, hands-on learning and professional instructors. Negative reviews express dissatisfaction with program value and staff.

Students report a highly positive experience (~100%), highlighting the welcoming international community and engaging, interactive teaching methods. Professors are approachable, and opportunities like double degrees are appreciated. No negative feedback was recorded.

Both student reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.5/5. Students praise good study programs, varied course offerings, and helpful study advisors. Professors are described as knowledgeable and friendly, with strong IT support available.

Rating distribution
5★
27%
63%
33%
33%
50%
65%
50%
4★
64%
27%
67%
33%
0%
35%
50%
3★
9%
6%
0%
33%
0%
0%
0%
2★
0%
2%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1★
0%
3%
0%
0%
50%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
Platform to Learn

A great institute to learn in Berlin. I am enrolled in for masters program and I must say that the professors are very educated and they share their valuable experience that helps us understand the concepts even better. They deliver such great content and the assignments are given in such a way that everyone learns.

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.

Well structured course

Basically, it’s a private university with a good reputation and also the lecturers are well educated and helpful. The course contains 60% of management-related modules and the remaining technical modules. For anyone who is searching for a techno-management course, I would suggest Hochschule Fresenius.

A Mixed Bag of Good and Bad

I attended Sigmund Freud University during the academic years 2022-2023, and overall, my experience with the faculty was a mix of highs and lows. One thing that stood out positively was the incredible support and dedication shown by the faculty members. The professors at SFU were genuinely invested in their students' success and were always willing to help whenever students sought their guidance. They were approachable, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to assist students in understanding the course material and academic concepts. However, despite the impressive support from the faculty, I must highlight that the organization at SFU could be improved. The overall system seemed to lack coordination, leading to certain aspects of academic life feeling unorganized. For instance, course schedules and syllabi were sometimes updated at the last minute, causing confusion among students. Additionally, administrative processes, such as course registration and academic advising, could have been smoother and better streamlined. Moreover, some professors struggled with managing their workload and appeared stressed at times, which impacted their ability to provide a consistent and structured learning environment. This lack of organization affected the overall learning experience and hindered students' ability to fully engage with the material. In conclusion, SFU is a place where students can expect a lot of support from faculty members who are passionate about teaching and willing to help. The dedication of the professors is commendable and greatly contributes to the positive learning environment. However, the university could benefit from implementing better organizational strategies to ensure a smoother academic experience for its students. Despite the areas that need improvement, the support and guidance received from the faculty make SFU a worthwhile institution for those seeking a strong support system throughout their academic journey.

Nothing to show

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.

Nothing to show

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Review our Privacy Policy for more details.
Close