Berlin School of Economics and Law - BSEL vs Free University of Berlin - FU vs IU International University of Applied Sciences vs Steinbeis University - Schools of Next Practices vs Sigmund Freud University - SFU

Side-by-side comparison from 184 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Forward College (4.90)
Berlin School of Economics and Law - BSEL: wins 0/5 categories
Free University of Berlin - FU: wins 0/5 categories
IU International University of Applied Sciences: wins 0/5 categories
Steinbeis University - Schools of Next Practices: wins 0/5 categories
Sigmund Freud University - SFU: wins 0/5 categories
Forward College: wins 3/5 categories
Catalyst – Institute for Creative Arts and Technology: wins 2/5 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Economics
Best programme: Business Administration
Best programme: MBA
Best programme: Business
Best programme: Psychology
Paris, France
4.90
Top
Read more reviews
16 reviews
×
Best programme: Politics and International Relations
Best programme: Music Production and Sound Engineering
Category ratings
Facilities
4.33
4.05
3.69
4.25
4.33
4.47
4.75
Win
Location
4.11
4.00
3.87
3.75
5.00
5.00
4.25
Professors
4.11
4.21
4.43
4.25
4.67
5.00
Win
3.88
Internationality
4.22
4.42
4.44
4.50
5.00
4.75
5.00
Student life
4.38
4.11
3.62
3.75
3.67
4.73
4.75
Win
Value
4.11
4.11
4.32
3.75
4.00
4.63
Win
4.13
Accommodation
3.44
3.11
3.11
2.75
3.67
4.33
Win
2.25
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Experienced professors sharing valuable real-world insights
  • +Diverse international student body and English-taught courses
  • +Practical learning approaches and a wide range of specialization options
  • +High academic quality and supportive professors
  • +International environment and student diversity
  • +No tuition fees making education accessible
  • +Flexible online study for work-life balance
  • +Modern, intuitive digital platform for easy access
  • +Relevant, high-quality educational content
  • +Excellent program structure and well-prepared faculty
  • +Practical, industry-focused learning with interactive opportunities
  • +Flexible study options and a supportive, inclusive environment
  • +Expert and passionate professors
  • +International study opportunities
  • +Well-located campuses and student life
  • +Engaging learning environment with interactive methods
  • +Diverse and international student community
  • +Unique multi-city European study experience
  • +Hands-on learning and practical experience
  • +Access to professional gear and facilities
  • +Supportive and collaborative environment
Cons
  • -Administrative and management issues are a recurring problem.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources are a significant drawback.
  • -Lack of engaging teaching and course material is often cited.
  • -Outdated facilities and poor maintenance are prevalent.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause significant frustration.
  • -Lack of resources and support hinder 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.
  • -Administrative and management issues, including poor communication and lack of support.
  • -Limited professional development opportunities and weak industry connections.
  • -Perceived low quality of the learning experience relative to cost.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause constant problems.
  • -Facilities are outdated and poorly maintained.
  • -Communication from the institution is unclear and infrequent.
  • -Administrative & management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and equipment are a concern.
  • -Lack of transparency and communication is prevalent.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and equipment are a recurring problem.
  • -Lack of clear communication and support is a major concern.
Rating summary
What students say

This institution garners strong marks across several key areas, with **Student Life** standing out at an impressive 4.375. **Facilities** also received high praise (4.333). Conversely, **Accommodations** present the lowest score at 3.444, indicating a potential area for improvement. Other aspects like professors, location, internationality, and value all fall within a comparable, positive range.

This university demonstrates particularly strong performance in **Internationality**, earning a high rating. Its **Professors** and **Student Life** also receive positive marks, as does the **Value** proposition. **Facilities** are rated well, though **Location** is only at a moderate level. The area with the lowest rating is **Accomodation**.

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 university receives its highest marks in Internationality, scoring a strong 4.5. Facilities and Professors are also highly rated at 4.25. Location and Student Life are solid performers, both receiving 3.75. However, Accomodation stands out as a weaker area with a score of 2.75. Overall, the university presents a mixed but generally positive picture, with particular strengths in its global reach and academic resources.

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.

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.

This institution achieves outstanding scores in several key areas, notably Internationality (5.0) and Facilities and Student Life, both at an impressive 4.75. However, Accomodation presents a significant challenge, receiving the lowest rating at 2.25. Professors and Value also received solid, above-average scores.

Reviews summary
Highlights

With a 4.1/5 average rating from 10 reviews, ~90% of feedback is positive, praising experienced professors, varied English courses, and practical learning methods. No negative feedback was reported.

The university receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with ~91% of reviews rating it 4–5 stars. Students praise its strong academic reputation, international environment, supportive professors, and good infrastructure, while noting minor issues with course selection.

~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.

Around 75% of reviews are positive, praising structured modules, quality teaching, and a good learning environment. The remaining 25% express concerns about cost, instructor quality, and limited professional opportunities.

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.

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

University reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with ~88% of feedback being 4-5 stars. Students praise hands-on learning, creative freedom, and access to professional-grade equipment. There is virtually no negative feedback.

Rating distribution
5★
20%
30%
63%
25%
33%
94%
25%
4★
70%
57%
27%
50%
33%
6%
63%
3★
10%
13%
6%
0%
33%
0%
13%
2★
0%
0%
2%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1★
0%
0%
3%
25%
0%
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.

Research

Free University of Berlin is a great educational institution for international students. It gives you a great opportunity to learn how to work with an international teams in fields of the sociological research.

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.

Not worth the educational investment

As a professional learner and international student, I find it expensive with low quality of overall learning journey. The courses / subjects offer good insights but not all instructors / lecturers meet students learning needs. As compared to other universities, they don’t have alumni network, company partnerships or purposive professional activities for their students. It’s also difficult to navigate their study program because nobody responds timely (or worst you’ll be completely disregarded unless it’s about invoice or tuition payments) to inquiries or concerns in emails and all contact numbers in the emails are unreachable. It’s also common that wrong class schedules or no class schedules are communicated - making you miss classes unintentionally. With all the issues and concerns I’ve had from my admission to my thesis, I need to keep on chasing someone to be answered vaguely or be passed on somebody else. They have a systematic issue in managing student affairs and communications.

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.

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.

The Challenge

I'm a Creative Audio Production & Sound Engineering graduate. My experience at Catalyst was generally positive. It had a culture of friendliness, kindness and helpfulness from the staff, professors and students. The classes are not the typical classes but are more so akin to workshops. You get introduced to a subject, technique or idea and you are very quickly thrown in the deep end to get your hands dirty in experimentation and practice, which I prefer. You get access to studios and a lot of fancy audio gear. One downside I experienced is the limited studio time. I loved working in the big studios but they increasingly over the years kept getting harder to book due to limited availability. What I found to be the most impactful experience was how challenging the projects were. There were no exams, fun fact. Instead of exams, we had big projects that spanned the entirety of each semester with hard milestone deadlines in between. Since these projects span the whole semester, you can begin to imagine the scale of work involved in completing them. The challenge in handling all the projects pushed me to achieve more than I could have imagined. I needed an environment like that. In conclusion, my time at Catalyst was great. Through all the hard work my skills increased exponentially in a short period of time. The staff and teachers are amazing and always ready to help.

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