Hybrid Threat Defense, Bachelor of Science

Requirements and Target Group

The part-time Bachelor's degree in Hybrid Threat Defence is aimed at professionals who are already working in the fields of civil protection, hazard prevention, security management, or critical infrastructures. The target groups are especially employees of authorities and organisations with security responsibilities (e.g. fire brigade, police, emergency services, armed forces), employees in the healthcare sector, ministries, administrations, private security services, or operators of critical infrastructures. The programme is also suitable for both uniformed and non-uniformed armed personnel as well as for individuals with leadership or staff roles in the security environment.

What formal admission requirements apply?

You must meet the following entry criteria:

• A university entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, Fachhochschulreife, subject-specific higher education entrance qualification) or a secondary school certificate plus completed vocational training in a relevant field (e.g. civil protection, hazard prevention, healthcare, administration)
• A training contract or permanent employment of at least one year with
  • an authority/an organisation with security responsibilities,
  • an operator of critical infrastructures,
  • a company or organisation in the fields of civil protection, healthcare sector, or administration
• For choosing the specialisation “Hybrid Warfare”, it is a prerequisite that you belong to a professional group of armed personnel with sovereign tasks (e.g. police, armed forces).

Applications are submitted online via the application portal of Hochschule Fresenius. You must submit proof of the aforementioned requirements.

Personal requirements include:

• Interest in security topics, civil protection or hazard prevention
• Willingness to work interdisciplinarily and cooperate with various organisations
• Experience or interest in operations under stressful conditions (e.g. crisis management, civil protection)
• Organisational and communication skills, especially in dealing with complex situations or in leadership positions
• Willingness to attend regular attendance phases and to work independently alongside employment
• Responsibility, ability to work in a team, as well as analytical thinking are very important in this field

Study Content in Detail: What Do You Learn in “Hybrid Threat Defence”?

The part-time bachelor’s degree programme “Hybrid Threat Defence” at Hochschule Fresenius provides you with comprehensive subject knowledge about modern disaster and civil protection. The focus is on the basics of disaster protection as well as the technical and scientific aspects of rescue engineering. You will engage intensively with the following topics:

• Basics of disaster protection, including legal, economic, and social frameworks
• Natural sciences and rescue engineering for assessing technical emergency situations
• Leadership tactics in operational and crisis situations
• Communication and information management in control centres and during major damage incidents
• Agile responsiveness for fast and flexible reaction to hybrid threat scenarios
• Management and organisation of control centres
• Scientific work and methodological competence

In the seventh semester, you choose one of four elective areas to develop special expertise in topics such as Public Health and Risk Management, Disaster Protection/Civil Defence, Applied Pedagogy in Crisis and Emergency Management, or Hybrid Warfare.

Additionally, you can acquire supplementary qualifications such as group leader/platoon leader in civil protection, specialist helper in staff service, further training in staff service, Advanced Life Support (ALS), or BOS radio operator licence. Cooperation with the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) ensures a practice-oriented teaching approach.

Course Structure: How Is the Part-Time Programme Organised?

The programme runs over eight semesters and is specially designed for working professionals. Attendance usually takes place once a month from Thursday to Saturday at the Education Centre for Hazard Defence and Crisis Management in Idstein. Additionally, there are individual seminar weekends and full week blocks, for which you receive the dates well in advance to coordinate them with your professional commitments. Between attendance phases, you work on study materials through self-study and benefit from interdisciplinary team exchanges. The programme is modular and concludes with a bachelor’s thesis.

Career Prospects & Professional Opportunities: Where Will You Work After Your Studies?

With the degree “Bachelor of Science Hybrid Threat Defence”, numerous career paths open up in the fields of disaster protection, security management, and hazard defence. Typical fields of employment for you include:

• (Professional) fire brigades and emergency services
• Authorities and organisations with security responsibilities (BOS), such as BBK, authorities, NGOs, large companies, or international organisations
• Armed Forces units in search and rescue missions (SAR/CSAR)
• Police, customs, or private security companies
• Operators of critical infrastructure (e.g. airports, industrial parks, utility companies)

With certain supplementary qualifications, you qualify for leadership and staff roles, for example as group leader or platoon leader in disaster protection. The bachelor’s degree also grants you access to middle management positions in many BOS organisations. Further education through consecutive master’s programmes, e.g., in crisis and emergency management, is additionally possible.

Campus Location: How Is the Campus in Idstein Organised?

The programme is conducted at the main location Idstein (Hesse) of Hochschule Fresenius. The practical phases and attendance events take place in the modern facilities of the Education Centre for Hazard Defence and Crisis Management. Idstein, as a small university town in the Rhine-Main region, is very well connected; the campus infrastructure includes lecture halls, specialised seminar rooms, a library, and opportunities for exchange with experts from practice. The region offers numerous industry contacts – ideal for internships or later professional practice in security management and disaster protection.

Costs and Funding: What Fees Are Involved, How Can You Finance Your Studies?

The total cost for the part-time bachelor’s programme “Hybrid Threat Defence” amounts to 25,210 Euro (8 semesters at 520 Euro per month). The price includes all study materials, attendance events, and supervision by experienced lecturers from science and practice.

Various options are available to finance your studies:

• Use of employer funding, for example within personnel development or for employees in the public sector
• Application for advancement BAföG for eligible students
• Educational loans from KfW or other development banks
• Scholarship and funding programmes of Hochschule Fresenius (subject to individual assessment)

The university supports you in selecting and applying for suitable financing options. Instalment payment over the study period is also possible.