Study Business Psychology in Germany: All Bachelor & Master & Universities in comparison

Business psychology combines the popular subject of business studies with a basic education in psychology. Typical contents in the Bachelor's programme: Business administration basics, accounting, civil law and labour law, personality psychology and differential psychology, developmental psychology.

With a degree in business psychology, you can work in the field of human resources development or strategic human resources management, in market research or in the field of health psychology or occupational health management.

Here I present all Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in Business Psychology at private universities, compare content and costs, introduce the universities in more detail and show which study cities are particularly popular.

Which private university is the best?

Business psychology is offered at a comparatively large number of private universities in Germany, both as a Bachelor's programme and as a Master's programme. Unfortunately, I cannot give you a general answer as to which university is the best, because this depends entirely on your requirements and prerequisites.

Here are some criteria that can help you make a good decision:

• What does studying cost? Not only the pure tuition fees are important, but also, for example, the cost of living in the city where you want to study.
• What is the course content? Check the module handbook of the respective degree programme before starting your studies. The specialisation options or focal points offered are also particularly interesting.
• In which city is the university located? Many private universities offer business psychology programmes at several locations, so you have a wider choice of possible study cities. At Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, for example, you can also change locations during the course of your studies.

In the following, I will give you a brief portrait of a number of private universities with business psychology degree programmes.

Fresenius University of Applied Sciences: Fresenius University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest private universities of applied sciences in Germany. In the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 12,991 students were enrolled at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences. The university is located in Idstein/Hesse, but study programmes are also offered in Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Berlin and New York. The university offers a Bachelor's degree in Business Psychology as a face-to-face course in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich or Wiesbaden, as well as a part-time course and a distance learning course. The university also offers a Master's degree in Business Psychology. Special feature: The history of the university dates back to 1848.

RFH – University of Applied Science: The RFH – University of Applied Science is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Cologne. The university was founded in 1958, and in the winter semester 2019/2020 a total of 6,203 students were enrolled at the university. The university is located in Cologne. The university offers both Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in Business Psychology. Special feature: The study programmes at the RFH are particularly favourable compared to other private universities.

PFH Private University of Applied Sciences: The PFH Göttingen is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Göttingen/Lower Saxony. In the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 3,817 students were enrolled at the university. Founded in 1995, the university offers a Bachelor's and Master's programme in Business Psychology. Special feature: The degree programmes in Business Psychology are offered both as campus studies and in the form of distance learning.

BSP Business and Law School: The BSP is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences for management and was founded in 2009. In the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 1,324 students were enrolled at the university. The university is based in the historic Siemens Villa in Berlin, and also operates a campus in Hamburg's Hafencity. The university offers Business Psychology as both a Bachelor's and a Master's programme.

IU International University of Applied Sciences: IU International University of Applied Sciences is a state-approved private university of applied sciences based in Erfurt with campuses in Bad Honnef and Berlin. The university is the largest private distance learning university in Germany. In winter semester 2021/2022, a total of 100,000 students were enrolled at the university, most of them in distance learning, but also some in dual studies, part-time studies and campus studies. The university offers business psychology both as a distance learning programme or online campus and as a part-time programme in Berlin, Frankfurt a.M., Hamburg, Cologne or Munich.

CBS International Business School: CBS is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Cologne with further campuses in Mainz and Potsdam. The business school was founded in 1993 and is part of the Stuttgart-based Klett Group. In WS 2019/2020, a total of 1,771 students were enrolled at CBS. The university offers Business Psychology as both a Bachelor's and Master's degree programme. Special feature: In the Bachelor's programme, students can also enrol in the English-language Business Psychology programme, and the Master's programme in Business Psychology is also offered as a dual study programme.

FHM University of Applied Sciences: FHM is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Bielefeld/North Rhine-Westphalia with further campuses in Bamberg, Berlin, Hanover, Cologne, Pulheim, Rostock and Schwerin. In the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 4,721 students were enrolled at FHM. The university offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Psychology at the Bielefeld, Cologne, Hanover and Bamberg campuses.

Incidentally, almost all business psychology programmes at private universities are NC-free. Instead of a numerus clausus, what counts for the application is the motivation and personality of the applicant.