American University in Germany: How to Earn a U.S. Degree in Berlin

For students planning an international education, choosing between studying in the United States and studying in Europe can feel like a major decision. The American university system offers one academic experience, while Germany provides the opportunity to live and study at the center of Europe. At Touro Berlin, international students have the possibility to combine both.

As a campus of Touro University New York, Touro Berlin allows students to pursue an American university education while living in Germany’s capital. Programs are taught in English, students become part of an international academic community, and degrees are issued through Touro University in New York.

For students searching for an American university in Germany, this creates a distinctive opportunity: earning a U.S. degree without giving up the experience of studying and living in Europe.

Can You Earn an American Degree in Germany?

Yes. Studying in Germany does not necessarily mean that your degree must follow the traditional German university system.

Touro Berlin is part of Touro University, an American university headquartered in New York. Students enrolled in Berlin follow an American academic structure and work toward a degree issued by Touro University in New York while completing their studies in Germany.

Touro University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This accreditation extends to Touro and its branch campuses, including Berlin.

For international students, this means it is possible to experience university life in Germany while pursuing an accredited American degree.

Why Choose an American University in Germany?

An American university in Germany can be particularly attractive to students who want an international education that is not limited to a single country or perspective.

Studying at Touro Berlin means experiencing an American academic environment while being immersed in everyday life in Germany. Students receive their education in English, interact with professors and classmates from international backgrounds, and experience

Berlin as the city surrounding their university education.

This combination can also be valuable for students thinking internationally about their future. Modern careers increasingly cross national borders, and studying within more than one cultural context can help students develop the adaptability, communication skills, and international awareness needed to work with people from different backgrounds.

Rather than choosing between New York and Berlin as two completely separate academic worlds, students at Touro Berlin can experience a university that connects them.

Study in Germany Entirely in English

One of the biggest questions international students have when considering Germany is whether they need to speak German before beginning university.

At Touro Berlin, academic programs are taught in English, making the university accessible to students from different countries and educational systems who want to pursue their studies in an international environment.

Living in Germany still provides opportunities to experience the German language and culture outside the classroom, but students can concentrate on their academic subjects in English. This creates an interesting balance: the degree follows an American academic environment, the language of study is English, and everyday life takes place in Berlin.

American Bachelor’s Degrees in Berlin

Students beginning their undergraduate education can choose between several English-taught Bachelor’s programs at Touro Berlin.

The BSc in Business Management develops knowledge in areas such as management, marketing, finance, and leadership, providing a foundation for students interested in international business and related professional paths. Business students can also benefit from Touro Berlin’s Mentoring Program, which connects students with experienced professionals and business leaders.

The BSc in Cybersecurity is designed for students interested in networks, systems, cybersecurity, and digital defense. The program is NSA-validated as a Program of Study in Cyber Defense Education, adding an important American dimension to studying Cybersecurity in Germany.

Students interested in understanding human behavior can pursue the BA in Psychology, developing an academic foundation across different areas of psychological study while learning within an international environment.

These undergraduate programs use the American credit system, allowing students to experience a U.S.-style academic structure while completing their education in Berlin.

American Master’s Degrees in Germany

Touro Berlin also offers graduate programs for students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree and want to continue their education in Germany.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) provides advanced education across areas including management, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Flexible scheduling, including evening, online, and hybrid study options, makes the program particularly relevant for young professionals who want to combine graduate education with their professional lives.

Students interested in advanced psychological education can pursue the MA in General Psychology, while the MA in Holocaust Studies offers an interdisciplinary graduate program connected to history, memory, communication, education, and the continuing study of the Holocaust.

These programs allow graduate students to pursue an American qualification while benefiting from the academic, cultural, and professional environment of Berlin.

What If You Don’t Yet Meet the Admission Requirements?

International applicants come from many different school systems, which means that a student can be academically qualified while still needing additional preparation to meet university admission criteria.

Touro Berlin offers a two-semester Preparatory Program for students in this position. The credit-bearing U.S. academic program bridges the transition between high school and university, allowing students to strengthen their academic foundation while beginning to earn university credits.

The program can prepare students for further studies at Touro Berlin or other partner universities, with credits transferable where accepted.

This provides another pathway for students who are ready for higher education but may not yet fulfill every requirement for direct university admission in Germany.

An International University Experience in Berlin

The American character of Touro Berlin does not mean students are separated from the international environment around them. In fact, the combination is one of the university’s defining characteristics.

Students from more than 48 nationalities have been represented within the university community, bringing different languages, cultures, and perspectives into the academic environment.

At the same time, an average 9:1 student-to-professor ratio helps maintain a more personal learning experience. Smaller classes allow students to interact directly with professors, ask questions, contribute to discussions, and receive individualized academic guidance.

For students moving abroad, this can make an important difference. An international university does not have to feel anonymous simply because its students come from around the world.

Live in Berlin While Earning Your American Degree

The location is another major part of the experience. Berlin is Germany’s capital and an international center for business, technology, entrepreneurship, politics, art, culture, and history.

Studying here means having access to far more than a university campus. Students can explore museums and galleries, experience different neighborhoods, visit historic sites and memorials, attend cultural events, and become part of a city known for attracting people from around the world.

Touro Berlin itself is located at Am Rupenhorn in Charlottenburg, within a historic Bauhaus villa ensemble overlooking the Havel River. The peaceful campus setting provides a contrast to the energy of central Berlin while keeping students connected to the wider city.

For international students, this creates a university experience shaped by both the campus community and everything Berlin has to offer beyond it.

Build an American Education in the Heart of Europe

Choosing where to study is ultimately about more than selecting a degree. It is also about deciding what kind of international, academic, and personal experience you want to build around it.

At Touro Berlin, students can pursue an American degree in English while living in Germany, become part of an international university community, benefit from smaller classes and personalized academic support, and experience life in one of Europe’s most dynamic capitals.

Whether you are beginning a Bachelor’s degree, advancing your education through a Master’s program, or using the Preparatory Program as your pathway into university, Touro Berlin offers a way to connect American higher education with the experience of studying in Europe.

For students searching for an American university in Germany, the choice does not necessarily have to be between an American degree and a European experience. At Touro Berlin, you can make both part of the same university journey.

Note: This blog provides educational and editorial content on a variety of topics. The views and interpretations expressed in individual articles do not necessarily reflect the official position of Touro University Berlin or Touro University.