Free University of Berlin - FU vs IU International University of Applied Sciences vs Open School of Management vs Touro University Berlin vs Forward College

Side-by-side comparison from 192 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Tie
Free University of Berlin - FU: wins 0/7 categories
IU International University of Applied Sciences: wins 0/7 categories
Open School of Management: wins 0/7 categories
Touro University Berlin: wins 0/7 categories
Forward College: wins 2/7 categories
University of Europe for Applied Sciences: wins 0/7 categories
CODE University of Applied Sciences: wins 5/7 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Business Administration
Best programme: MBA
Not rated
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0 reviews
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Best programme: Business Administration
Paris, France
4.60
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34 reviews
×
Best programme: Business and Management
Best programme: Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media Arts
Category ratings
Facilities
3.90
4.23
Not rated
4.67
4.45
3.00
5.00
Win
Location
3.95
4.40
Not rated
4.86
4.83
3.60
5.00
Win
Professors
4.10
4.43
Not rated
4.57
4.88
3.20
5.00
Win
Internationality
4.38
4.44
Not rated
4.86
4.50
4.00
5.00
Win
Student life
3.95
4.11
Not rated
4.57
4.61
Win
3.00
3.00
Value
3.90
4.32
Not rated
4.57
4.56
2.80
5.00
Win
Accommodation
3.05
3.68
Not rated
3.83
4.27
Win
1.40
1.00
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Supportive and approachable professors
  • +International and diverse student environment
  • +No tuition fees and good value for money
  • +Flexible online study for work-life balance
  • +Modern, intuitive digital platform for easy access
  • +Relevant, high-quality educational content

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  • +Small class sizes and accessible professors
  • +International environment and diverse student body
  • +Value and career-focused programs
  • +Welcoming international community & diverse backgrounds
  • +Interactive flipped classroom & engaging discussions
  • +Approachable professors & personal development focus
  • +Hands-on learning and practical application focus
  • +International and multicultural environment
  • +Personalized attention and smaller class sizes

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Cons
  • -Overcrowded lectures and underfunded facilities.
  • -Lack of support for new students.
  • -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.

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  • -Administrative and management issues are a frequent source of frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and poor maintenance are significant drawbacks.
  • -Lack of resources and support negatively impacts the learning experience.
  • -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, including poor organization and miscommunication.
  • -Outdated teaching methods and inadequate facilities.
  • -Lack of academic integrity and student support.

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Rating summary
What students say

Internationality stands out as the university's strongest attribute, receiving the highest rating. Other areas like Professors, Location, and Student Life also perform well. Accommodations received the lowest score, indicating it as the weakest area. Facilities and Value for money also earned solid, though not exceptional, marks.

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.

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This institution garners strong approval, particularly in its Location and Internationality, both scoring an impressive 4.86. Professors and Student Life also receive high marks, averaging 4.57. While Facilities are well-regarded at 4.67 and Value is a solid 4.57, Accomodation stands out as the weakest area with a rating of 3.83.

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 notable strengths in **internationality**, receiving a high rating of 4. Conversely, **accommodation** stands out as a significant area for improvement, with the lowest score of 1.4. Other aspects like location and professors show moderate performance.

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Reviews summary
Highlights

Approximately 96% of 25 reviews are positive, highlighting strong academics, an international environment, and accessible tuition. One review mentioned overcrowded lectures and underfunded facilities.

~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.

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All 7 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.57/5. Students highlight a strong international environment, small class sizes, and supportive faculty, contributing to a positive academic and cultural experience.

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.

Reviews indicate a 3/5 average rating, with ~60% positive feedback highlighting practical, hands-on learning and a multicultural environment. Negative feedback, ~40%, points to poor organization, miscommunication, and outdated teaching methods.

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Rating distribution
5★
28%
63%
0%
57%
65%
0%
0%
4★
56%
27%
0%
43%
35%
60%
0%
3★
12%
6%
0%
0%
0%
0%
100%
2★
4%
2%
0%
0%
0%
20%
0%
1★
0%
3%
0%
0%
0%
20%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
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.

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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.

Disaster Programme

Throughout my Studies, in the Communication Design Course at this university located in Berlin, I have experienced a lot of problems. The university is very poorly organized, there is constant miscommunication between staff and students. It is very hard to come in contact with the university over email or phone, and most of the time your issue is never resolved. An excuse they often times use, is that they are understaffed, or it’s the students' fault. I think the campus in Berlin is kind of scam, because when applying or looking up this University the only photos you can see are from their facility located in Hamburg. Which is a much nicer facility than the one in Berlin. Definitely visit before signing any contracts. When I joined the university I expected at least one course to provide the necessary skills and information for this course. There was no introductory class for how to use Adobe software, no tutorial classes on any of the skills we needed during our studies. This is very much a do it yourself at home Programme. It is very hard to get help from the staff as they are often very misleading as no information is communicated to them. I have graduated 2 months ago and I still have no received a diploma.

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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