Humboldt University - HUB vs Free University of Berlin - FU vs IU International University of Applied Sciences vs University of Applied Sciences Europe vs ICN Business School

Side-by-side comparison from 202 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Forward College (4.70)
Humboldt University - HUB: wins 1/7 categories
Free University of Berlin - FU: wins 0/7 categories
IU International University of Applied Sciences: wins 0/7 categories
University of Applied Sciences Europe: wins 0/7 categories
ICN Business School: wins 0/7 categories
Sigmund Freud University - SFU: wins 2/7 categories
Forward College: wins 4/7 categories
Comparing
Best programme: British Studies
Best programme: Business Administration
Best programme: MBA
Best programme: Business Management
Best programme: Psychology
Paris, France
4.70
Top
Read more reviews
32 reviews
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Best programme: Data Science
Category ratings
Facilities
3.94
3.90
4.23
Not rated
4.00
4.33
4.45
Win
Location
4.81
3.95
4.40
Not rated
4.67
5.00
Win
4.83
Professors
4.44
4.10
4.43
Not rated
3.67
4.67
4.91
Win
Internationality
4.38
4.38
4.44
Not rated
3.67
5.00
Win
4.56
Student life
3.81
3.95
4.11
Not rated
4.00
3.67
4.58
Win
Value
4.63
Win
3.90
4.32
Not rated
4.00
4.00
4.56
Accommodation
3.06
3.05
3.68
Not rated
3.50
3.67
4.29
Win
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Flexible, customizable curriculum
  • +Inspiring and expert faculty
  • +Practical, real-world engagement opportunities
  • +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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  • +Diverse and international student body
  • +Affordable and convenient programs
  • +Strong academic reputation and programs
  • +Expert and passionate professors
  • +International study opportunities
  • +Well-located campuses and student life
  • +International and diverse community
  • +Interactive and engaging learning approach
  • +Focus on personal growth and development
Cons
  • -Curriculum and staff attitude are disliked.
  • -Outdated facilities and administrative issues are concerns.
  • -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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  • -Excessive administrative and management issues hinder progress.
  • -Outdated facilities and technology create an unpleasant learning environment.
  • -Inconsistent and unclear communication from instructors and the institution causes frustration.
  • -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 are frequent sources of frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and poor maintenance are consistently criticized.
  • -A lack of clarity or support regarding curriculum and academic expectations is a common complaint.
Rating summary
What students say

Outstanding ratings highlight the university's strengths in **Location** (4.81) and **Value** (4.63). **Professors** (4.44) and **Internationality** (4.38) also received very positive scores. Conversely, **Accomodation** (3.06) presents the weakest area, with **Student Life** (3.81) and **Facilities** (3.94) also falling below the higher-rated aspects. This indicates a university excelling in its environment and offerings, though residential options require attention.

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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Overall, this institution receives positive evaluations, with its **location** standing out as a significant strength, achieving the highest rating. Facilities and student life also scored well, both at 4. Accommodations are a slightly weaker point, rated at 3.5, while the ratings for professors and internationality are comparable and solid.

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.

Evaluations reveal a strong academic offering, with **Professors** receiving the highest marks at 4.91. **Location** also scores exceptionally well at 4.83. The university demonstrates good performance in **Student Life** (4.58) and **Internationality** (4.56), with **Value** also rated favorably at 4.56. **Facilities** are rated at 4.45, and **Accomodation** stands out as the area with the lowest score at 4.29.

Reviews summary
Highlights

With a 4.26 average rating, ~83% of 19 reviews are positive, praising exceptional flexibility, strong academic programs, and inspiring professors. One review noted a dislike for curriculum and staff attitude.

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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With an average rating of 4.33/5, positive feedback (~100%) highlights diversity, affordability, and strong alumni networks. Students also recommend it for rigorous programs and convenient international student support.

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 4.66/5 from 32 reviews, students praise Forward College's enriching international environment and innovative, interactive teaching methods. Personal and academic growth are frequently highlighted.

Rating distribution
5★
53%
28%
63%
0%
67%
33%
66%
4★
26%
56%
27%
0%
0%
33%
34%
3★
16%
12%
6%
0%
33%
33%
0%
2★
5%
4%
2%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1★
0%
0%
3%
0%
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.

Nothing to show

A great school with a complete program but a communication to review.

First of all, the courses taught in this course are of high quality, partly due to the quality of the speakers in the school. The courses are complete and are in line with current trends. However, the speakers were not all very qualitative, whether in terms of communicating the homework to be done or their lessons. Overall the program is open to international but having been educated at the time of the COVID-19 epidemic, I could not get an idea of ​​the international side of this school. Thus, the Bachelor's at ICN Business School is a fairly versatile course, focused on the different areas that can be found in management (communication, accounting, CV creation workshops and cover letters, etc.) Concerning opportunities, because of the partnerships that the school maintains with many large companies, I find that it is simple having gone through this school to apply for and obtain a work contract, both in France and abroad. the international.

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.

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