University of Applied Sciences - HTW Berlin vs Humboldt University - HUB vs European School of Management and Technology - ESMT Berlin vs IU International University of Applied Sciences vs Hochschule Fresenius

Side-by-side comparison from 237 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Forward College (4.70)
University of Applied Sciences - HTW Berlin: wins 0/6 categories
Humboldt University - HUB: wins 1/6 categories
European School of Management and Technology - ESMT Berlin: wins 1/6 categories
IU International University of Applied Sciences: wins 0/6 categories
Hochschule Fresenius: wins 0/6 categories
ICN Business School: wins 0/6 categories
Forward College: wins 4/6 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Applied Computer Science
Best programme: British Studies
Best programme: Business Administration in Management
Best programme: MBA
Idstein, Germany
4.30
Read more reviews
3 reviews
×
Best programme: Business Economics
Best programme: Business Management
Paris, France
4.70
Top
Read more reviews
32 reviews
×
Best programme: Data Science
Category ratings
Facilities
3.91
3.94
4.33
4.23
3.67
4.00
4.45
Win
Location
4.00
4.81
5.00
4.40
5.00
4.67
4.83
Professors
4.00
4.44
4.33
4.43
4.00
3.67
4.91
Win
Internationality
4.19
4.38
4.50
4.44
3.67
3.67
4.56
Win
Student life
4.04
3.81
4.33
4.11
3.33
4.00
4.58
Win
Value
3.98
4.63
Win
4.50
4.32
4.00
4.00
4.56
Accommodation
3.88
3.06
4.33
Win
3.68
3.00
3.50
4.29
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Supportive environment and academic resources
  • +Vibrant campus life and social engagement
  • +Opportunities for personal growth and development
  • +Flexible, customizable curriculum
  • +Inspiring and expert faculty
  • +Practical, real-world engagement opportunities
  • +Passionate, knowledgeable professors and engaging teaching
  • +Practical, real-world-focused curriculum
  • +Dynamic community and vibrant atmosphere
  • +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
  • +Diverse and international student body
  • +Affordable and convenient programs
  • +Strong academic reputation and programs
  • +International and diverse community
  • +Interactive and engaging learning approach
  • +Focus on personal growth and development
Cons
  • -Poor quality instruction and unhelpful teachers
  • -Lack of administrative and management support
  • -Outdated facilities and resources
  • -Curriculum and staff attitude are disliked.
  • -Outdated facilities and administrative issues are concerns.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a frequent source of frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of modern resources are a common complaint.
  • -The curriculum is often perceived as irrelevant or poorly delivered.
  • -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.
  • -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 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

Overall, the university garners positive feedback with its strongest area being **Internationality**, scoring 4.19. Student life also performs well at 4.04. Areas with slightly lower, though still respectable, ratings include **Facilities** at 3.91 and **Accomodation** at 3.88. Professors, location, and value all received a solid 4 or close to it, indicating a well-rounded student experience.

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.

Remarkably high scores characterize this university's performance. Its location stands out with a perfect 5.0 rating, marking it as its strongest area. Areas such as facilities, professors, student life, and accommodation all received excellent scores of 4.33. Internationality and value were also strong, both earning 4.5. No significant weaknesses were identified, with all categories receiving positive feedback.

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.

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.

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

Approximately 98% of reviews are positive, highlighting enjoyable campus life, supportive environments, modern facilities, and ample opportunities for social engagement and personal development. A small amount of negative feedback points to inconsistent teaching quality and interpersonal issues.

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.

All six reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.33/5. Students highlight passionate professors, engaging classes, and exceptional education quality. There is no negative feedback.

~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 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 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★
4%
53%
33%
63%
33%
67%
66%
4★
85%
26%
67%
27%
67%
0%
34%
3★
9%
16%
0%
6%
0%
33%
0%
2★
0%
5%
0%
2%
0%
0%
0%
1★
2%
0%
0%
3%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
A university that takes away its student's spirit

Project management teacher fails people and tells them straight into their face it’s because she doesn’t like them. The Law teacher had us do presentations and didn’t even do one single class in a year. Ethics teacher claims that women deserve to get sexually assaulted if their dress is an inch too short. The Economics teacher does not speak English even though the major is taught in it. Half the students are internationals without German coming to Berlin to study, yet most “International” subjects are talking only about Germany and giving presentations in German. There is nothing applied about this university, it is all old theory. Marketing classes did not even include advertising, social media, digital media or anything more relevant in the past decade. Same for other subjects. The administration is disorganised. The international student office is always on holidays and never replies. The administration does not answer at all until you send your e-mails to their bosses. Due to the error OF THE ADMINISTRATION, they did not want to count my two semesters abroad until I fought them for seven months and emailed everyone at school when suddenly it was a matter of one document. One thesis supervisor steals his students' work for his own publications and has plenty of lawsuits. The other master’s supervisor did not answer any of the e-mails during the writing, except for one which said ‘I don’t know, google it”. There is so much more I could say. This school is a disaster and if you are reading this review DO NOT GO HERE, they really don’t care about their students. Neither does the school administration, nor the teachers. If at least one person decides not to go there due to this review I already did a good deed. Try HWR, Free University, Humboldt, or anything else. It was a horrible experience that made me not want to continue educating myself for at least a few years until I can forget all those horrible moments and people (except some single people and students)

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__

Well qualified professors and great connectons with the industry

Well structured programs, great facilities and very good career development team. The alumni relations with the school are great and well maintained and fostered. Overall a great school right in the middle of Berlin.

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 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.

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.

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