Humboldt University - HUB vs Free University of Berlin - FU vs IU International University of Applied Sciences vs GISMA Business School vs bbw University of Applied Sciences

Side-by-side comparison from 195 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Forward College (4.90)
Humboldt University - HUB: wins 0/5 categories
Free University of Berlin - FU: wins 0/5 categories
IU International University of Applied Sciences: wins 0/5 categories
GISMA Business School: wins 0/5 categories
bbw University of Applied Sciences: wins 0/5 categories
Forward College: wins 2/5 categories
CODE University of Applied Sciences: wins 3/5 categories
Comparing
Best programme: British Studies
Best programme: Business Administration
Best programme: MBA
Best programme: International Marketing
Best programme: International Technology Transfer Management
Paris, France
4.90
Top
Read more reviews
16 reviews
×
Best programme: Politics and International Relations
Category ratings
Facilities
3.69
4.05
3.69
3.71
3.33
4.47
5.00
Win
Location
4.63
4.00
3.87
4.14
4.67
5.00
5.00
Professors
4.40
4.21
4.43
4.21
4.33
5.00
5.00
Internationality
4.40
4.42
4.44
4.29
4.00
4.75
5.00
Win
Student life
3.56
4.11
3.62
4.08
3.67
4.73
Win
3.00
Value
4.60
4.11
4.32
4.00
4.67
4.63
5.00
Win
Accommodation
3.00
3.11
3.11
3.77
1.67
4.33
Win
1.00
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Inspiring professors and high academic standards
  • +Practical experience and societal engagement opportunities
  • +Relevant and critical curriculum development
  • +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
  • +Supportive professors and quality curriculum
  • +International focus and career relevance
  • +Friendly faculty and good learning environment
  • +Supportive professors
  • +Diverse and relevant course content
  • +Well-structured program duration
  • +Engaging learning environment with interactive methods
  • +Diverse and international student community
  • +Unique multi-city European study experience

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Cons
  • -Disliked curriculum and staff attitude.
  • -Facilities were outdated.
  • -Unsuitable for specific degree programs.
  • -Outdated facilities and poor maintenance are prevalent.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 cause significant frustration.
  • -Lack of refund processing and poor communication are major concerns.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a recurring problem.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of modern resources are a significant drawback.
  • -The curriculum is often perceived as irrelevant and poorly structured.
  • -Administrative & management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and equipment are a concern.
  • -Lack of transparency and communication is prevalent.

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Rating summary
What students say

This university garners exceptional marks for its Location and Value, both scoring 4.6. Professors and Internationality also stand out with a strong 4.4. Conversely, Accomodation presents the lowest score at 3. Facilities and Student Life fall in the mid-range with ratings of 3.69 and 3.56 respectively, suggesting areas for potential improvement.

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 institution performs strongest in Internationality, with a rating of 4.29. Professors and Location also receive high marks, both above 4.14. Conversely, Facilities and Accomodation are the weakest areas, scoring 3.71 and 3.77 respectively. Student Life and Value are rated solidly around 4.

Regarding its student experience, the institution receives particularly strong marks for its Location and Value, both rated at 4.67. Internationality is also well-regarded at 4.0. Areas needing improvement include Accomodation, which stands out as the lowest-rated category at 1.67, and Facilities, scoring 3.33. Professors and Student Life are rated moderately well.

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.

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Reviews summary
Highlights

~78% of reviews are positive, highlighting enlightening academics, beautiful campuses, and engaging learning. A small percentage (~5.6%) mentions a less-than-ideal curriculum or staff attitude.

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.

With an average rating of 4.14/5, ~86% of reviews are positive, praising quality education and helpful faculty. Approximately 14% of feedback mentions administrative issues.

Reviews are overwhelmingly positive (~100%) with an average rating of 4.67/5. Students highlight supportive professors, diverse and relevant course content, and manageable program duration. Accommodation in Berlin is a noted challenge.

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

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Rating distribution
5★
50%
30%
63%
57%
67%
94%
0%
4★
28%
57%
27%
21%
33%
6%
0%
3★
17%
13%
6%
7%
0%
0%
100%
2★
6%
0%
2%
7%
0%
0%
0%
1★
0%
0%
3%
7%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
Great (and free) education

My experience at Humboldt has been more than great so far. University is free in Germany, and the student facilities are amazing. The canteen food is good and cheap, the public transport is much cheaper as a student, the accomodation too (but there is a long waiting list!). My master is in English and I am super happy with the opportunities, the professors, and the general academic environment__

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.

Msc international business management

The MSc in international business management has the main subject like finance and risk management. International economics, and research methods and scientific work, which helps students in business.

Excellent university

I am pursuing my Master's study in International Technology Transfer Management at bbw Berlin. I started my study here In March 2022. Actually, the course is a combination Techno-Management and the course duration is 4 semesters. The first two-semester for subjects and 3rd is for Internships and the Last semester is for Master's Thesis. you can learn many Modules which are as below. Technical Area : Smart Factory and Digitalized Production Logistics and Mobility Technologies Technologies and Trends in Bioengineering Management Area : Principles of Management Product and Innovation Management International Management Project Management Here all professors are very helpful and supportive and they will guide you at every stage. University’s location is in the centre of Berlin so students get easy transportation. So from my personal experience, I would like to suggest this university who are searching Techno-Management course in Europe.

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.

Fastest Growing Startup University In Germany

I have mixed feelings about my experience at Code University. On one hand, it's a privilege to study at one of Berlin’s most prestigious institutions tuition-free. The professors are knowledgeable, and the curriculum is practical and forward-thinking — it has definitely contributed to my growth as a student and aspiring entrepreneur. However, my journey here hasn’t been smooth. During my Orientation Semester, I struggled with shyness and social anxiety. I found it difficult to engage in class and to make friends. Unfortunately, instead of receiving support, I was mocked — not just by students (which I could handle), but also by some lecturers. That was deeply discouraging. With time, I worked on myself and broke out of my shell. I’m now more confident and driven, and I’m currently building what I believe will be one of the most impactful student-led projects to come out of CODE. Ironically, that seems to have caused some friction. I feel like certain individuals who underestimated me in the past are now uncomfortable with my progress and success. Rather than support me, it feels like they're trying to hold me back. To add to that, despite referring three international students to CODE — something I do as a side hustle — I haven’t received any acknowledgment or recognition. While many of my peers are featured on the university’s website, I’ve noticed that I’m not represented at all. So, would I recommend Code University? It depends. If you're resilient and can handle both the highs and lows without losing focus, then yes — the academic value is real. But emotionally and socially, it can be a tough environment, especially if you don’t fit into the dominant culture right away. That said, my story at CODE is still being written. Let’s see how it all turns out.

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