English 
Deutsch Germany has over 110 private universities – and they offer something public German universities often cannot: NC-free admission to medicine and psychology, €0 dual study (employer pays tuition), over 1,600 English-taught programmes, and close ties to German industry. All private universities are state-recognised, and their degrees are fully equivalent to those from public institutions under the Bologna system. Tuition ranges from €0 (dual study) to €105,000 (Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA) – but even the most expensive German programmes cost a fraction of comparable UK or US tuition.
But here’s what makes Germany unique: public universities are tuition-free (only a semester fee of €150–370). So why consider private? Three reasons: English-taught programmes (most public universities teach in German), NC-free access to competitive fields like medicine and psychology, and flexible formats (distance learning, dual study, part-time) that public universities rarely offer. This page helps you find the right programme – by subject, city and budget.
- All Private Universities in Germany at a Glance
- Find English-taught programmes at German private universities
- Where to study privately in Germany – the best cities for international students
- How much does it cost – and how does it compare internationally?
- What you need to know before applying
- Frequently asked questions about private universities in Germany
All Private Universities in Germany at a Glance
We have a total of 113 private universities listed in our database. The first 30 top universities are shown. Use the filter function or our search to discover more private universities.
- Idstein, Hesse
- 15587 Students
- Natural Sciences, Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy, Business Administration, Business Psychology, Social Work, International Management, Real Estate Management, Finance, Sports, Tourism and Event, Legal …
- Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Engineering, Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence, B…
- 125 Degree programs in the directory
AKAD University of Applied Sciences
UAS · Private
- Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg
- 6634 Students
PFH Private University of Applied Sciences
UAS · Private
- Göttingen, Lower Saxony
- 4077 Students
- General Management, Business Administration, Psychology, Business Psychology, MBA, Legal Sciences, Human Resources, Business Informatics
- Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Laws, Bachelor of Laws
- 22 Degree programs in the directory
- Darmstadt, Hesse
- 4313 Students
- Computer Science, Business Informatics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Natural Sciences, Media Informatics, Engineering Management, IT Management, Industrial Engineering, Civil Engine…
- Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Engineering
- 32 Degree programs in the directory
RH Cologne – University of Applied Science (RH)
UAS · Private
- Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
- 6203 Students
- Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Media Design, Medicine, Media Management, Business Administration, Legal Sciences, Business Psychology, International Management…
- Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Arts, Master of Engineering, Master of Science, Master of Laws, Master of Business Administration
- 26 Degree programs in the directory
- Idstein, Hesse
- 100 Students
- Medicine, Health Education, Nursing Science, General Management, Health Management
- Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Arts
- 10 Degree programs in the directory
FOM University of Applied Sciences
UAS · Private
- Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia
- 45611 Students
- Business Administration, International Management, Finance, Legal Sciences, Business Informatics, Mechanical Engineering, Human Resources, IT Management, Communication Sciences, MBA, Business Psycholo…
- Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Laws
- 28 Degree programs in the directory
- Bremen, Germany
- 5161 Students
- Health Management, Nursing Science, Psychology, Social Management, Social Work, Nutritional Sciences, Pedagogy
- Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Health Management, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration
- 21 Degree programs in the directory
- Erfurt, Thuringia
- 100000 Students
- Tourism and Event, Business Informatics, Legal Sciences, Business Administration, Finance, Health Management, Real Estate Management, Logistics, Marketing, Human Resources, Nursing Science, Social Wor…
- Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science, Master of Laws, Master of Engineering
- 185 Degree programs in the directory
- Hamburg, Germany
- 10610 Students
- Business Administration, International Management, MBA, Legal Sciences, Logistics, Business Psychology, Psychology, Finance, Marketing, IT Management, Pedagogy, Childhood Education, Political Science,…
- Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Accountancy, Master of Laws, Bachelor of Engineering
- 67 Degree programs in the directory
- Idstein, Hesse
- Psychotherapy, Medicine
- Bachelor of Science, Master of Science
- 3 Degree programs in the directory
SRH University
UAS · Private
- Heidelberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg
- 9046 Students
- Bauingenieurwesen, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Management, Real Estate Management, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Art Therapy, Social Work…
- Master of Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, Bachelor of Science, Master of Business Administration
- 100 Degree programs in the directory
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
University · Private
- Frankfurt am Main, Hesse
- 3284 Students
- Business Administration, General Management, Data Science & AI, Finance, MBA, Health Management, Real Estate Management
- Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts
- 12 Degree programs in the directory
- Heidelberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg
- 582 Students
- Business Administration, Tourism and Event, Media Management, Sports, Real Estate Management, Psychology, Social Work, Business Psychology, International Management, Business Informatics
- Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science
- 11 Degree programs in the directory
German University of Health and Sports (DHGS)
UAS · Private
- Berlin, Germany
- 2700 Students
- Psychology, Sports, Social Work, Physiotherapy
- Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science
- 9 Degree programs in the directory
Munich Business School (MBS)
UAS · Private
- Munich, Bavaria
- 540 Students
- International Management, Communication Sciences, MBA, Entrepreneurship
- Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration
- 6 Degree programs in the directory
CBS University of Applied Sciences (CBS)
UAS · Private
- Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
- 4600 Students
- International Management, Business Psychology, Marketing, Finance, MBA, Health Management, Childhood Education, Social Work, Sustainable Management, Pedagogy, Business Administration, General Manageme…
- Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts
- 35 Degree programs in the directory
FHM University of Applied Sciences (FHM)
UAS · Private
- Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia
- 5834 Students
- Physiotherapie, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Journalism, Social Management, Real Estate Management, IT Management, Fashion, Special Education, Psychology, Social Work, Nursing Science, Speech Therapy,…
- Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Education, Master of Science, Bachelor of Engineering
- 45 Degree programs in the directory
Steinbeis University (SH)
UAS · Private
- Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt
- 4047 Students
- General Management, Human Resources, Industrial Engineering, Medicine, MBA, Engineering Management, International Management, Social Work, IT Management, Business Informatics
- Master of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Business and Engineering
- 15 Degree programs in the directory
University of Applied Management (HAM)
UAS · Private
- Ismaning, Bavaria
- 3287 Students
- Business Administration, Business Psychology, Sports, Real Estate Management, Media Management, Art, Political Science, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Civil Engineering, Fashion, General Management, Jou…
- Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science
- 40 Degree programs in the directory
University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE)
UAS · Private
- Potsdam, Brandenburg
- 6251 Students
- Media Design, Business Administration, Business Psychology, Sports, Journalism, General Management, Media Informatics, Art, Film, Psychology, MBA, Marketing, Business Informatics, Data Science & AI
- Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts
- 19 Degree programs in the directory
Macromedia University of Applied Sciences
UAS · Private
- Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg
- 5687 Students
- Media Management, Journalism, Film, General Management, Media Design, Fashion, Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Bachelor of Science
- 11 Degree programs in the directory
- Idstein, Hesse
- 2200 Students
- Architecture, Fashion, Communication Sciences, Media Design, Media Management, Art
- Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Science
- 18 Degree programs in the directory
BSP Business and Law School
UAS · Private
- Berlin, Germany
- 1944 Students
- International Management, Business Psychology, Fashion, Communication Sciences, Business Administration, Sports, General Management, IT Management, Entrepreneurship, Legal Sciences
- Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Staatsexamen
- 20 Degree programs in the directory
Witten/Herdecke University
University · Private
- Witten, North Rhine-Westphalia
- 2617 Students
- Humanities, Nursing Science, Medicine, Psychology, General Management
- Master of Arts, Master of Science, Staatsexamen, Bachelor of Science
- 6 Degree programs in the directory
EBZ Business School (EBZ)
UAS · Private
- Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia
- 1184 Students
- Civil Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate Management
- Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, Bachelor of Science
- 4 Degree programs in the directory
Constructor University
University · Private
- Bremen, Germany
- 1516 Students
- Data Science & AI, Logistics, Natural Sciences, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, International Management, Industrial Engineering, Political Science, Psychology
- Master of Science, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts
- 18 Degree programs in the directory
Bucerius Law School
University · Private
- Hamburg, Germany
- 849 Students
- Legal Sciences
- Staatsexamen, Master of Laws, Bachelor of Laws
- 3 Degree programs in the directory
International School of Management (ISM)
UAS · Private
- Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia
- 2781 Students
- Marketing, Finance, Sports, International Management, Fashion, Business Psychology, Data Science & AI, MBA, Real Estate Management, Business Administration, General Management, Logistics
- Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration
- 27 Degree programs in the directory
DIPLOMA University of Applied Sciences
UAS · Private
- Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Hesse
- 8300 Students
- Business Administration, Medicine, Legal Sciences, IT Management, Psychology, Childhood Education, Mechanical Engineering, Tourism and Event, Business Informatics, Industrial Engineering, General Mana…
- Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Business Administration, Master of Laws, Master of Science
- 50 Degree programs in the directory
Find English-taught programmes at German private universities
Over 1,600 English-taught programmes across Germany’s private universities. Choose your subject – we’ll show you which German states have the strongest English-taught offerings.
University Matcher: Find the right private university in Germany
What are you looking for?
What specifically?
School leaver? → Consider dual study (€0, employer pays) or a campus programme with scholarship. Working professional? → Distance learning (IU: 200+ English programmes from anywhere) or part-time evening study (FOM). Parent researching options? → Jump to costs and recognition below.
Where to study privately in Germany – the best cities for international students
Private universities cluster in major cities. For international students, the key factors are: English-friendliness, international community, job market for English speakers, rent and transport connections.
- Berlin: Germany’s most international city. Over 20 private universities – medicine (MSB), law (BSP), elite management (ESMT, ESCP), psychology (PHB, IPU), IT (CODE). Largest English-speaking professional community in Germany. Strong startup ecosystem. Rent: €500–700/month. Direct flights to 190+ destinations.
- Cologne/Düsseldorf/Dortmund: NRW trio – CBS, ISM, FOM, Witten/Herdecke (medicine + dentistry). Cologne: media hub. Düsseldorf: fashion and finance. Ruhr area: cheapest rents in western Germany (€300–450). NRW semester ticket covers the entire state.
- Frankfurt: Financial capital – Frankfurt School and EBS (elite business schools). ECB headquarters, major consulting firms. Highest share of foreign residents in Germany (30%). Gateway airport. Rent: €550–750/month.
- Hamburg: Distance-learning capital (Euro-FH, HFH) + elite law (Bucerius) + medicine (MSH) + world-class logistics (KLU). Port city with strong international trade community. Rent: €450–650/month.
- Munich/Stuttgart: Southern economic powerhouses – automotive (BMW, Porsche, Daimler, Bosch), SAP, tech. SRH Heidelberg (largest private campus), AKAD Stuttgart (STEM distance learning), Zeppelin University (elite, Lake Constance). Munich is expensive (€600–800), Stuttgart/Heidelberg more moderate.
- Leipzig/Dresden: Germany’s most affordable major cities (€280–400). HHL Leipzig (elite MBA, AACSB-accredited), DIU Dresden (TU Dresden subsidiary, health sciences). Growing startup scene in Leipzig. Up to 50% cheaper than Munich or Frankfurt.
All 16 German states at a glance
- Berlin – 20+ universities, medicine, law, IT, elite management. Germany’s largest private offering.
- North Rhine-Westphalia – 16 universities across 9 cities. Witten/Herdecke (medicine, dentistry). Near-free engineering (TH Georg Agricola, under €2,300).
- Baden-Württemberg – SRH Heidelberg (largest campus), AKAD (STEM distance), Zeppelin (elite). 200+ English programmes.
- Hesse – Fresenius cluster (4 institutions), Frankfurt School, EBS, DIPLOMA, Wilhelm Büchner. 290+ English programmes.
- Hamburg – Distance-learning capital (Euro-FH, HFH), Bucerius Law School, MSH (medicine), KLU (logistics).
- Thuringia – IU Erfurt (Germany’s largest private university, 130,000 students, 200+ English programmes), HMU (new medical school).
- Bavaria – 4 universities near Munich. Strong in business and health.
- Brandenburg – Potsdam: HMU (medicine), Gisma, XU. 7 universities near Berlin.
- Lower Saxony – PFH Göttingen, Leibniz-FH Hannover.
- Bremen – APOLLON (health distance learning), Jacobs University (international campus).
- Rhineland-Palatinate – WHU Vallendar (Masters in Management #1 Germany, FT 2025). All programmes English-taught.
- Schleswig-Holstein – IT-focused: FH Wedel, NORDAKADEMIE. Dual study near Hamburg.
- Saxony – HHL Leipzig (elite MBA, AACSB), DIU Dresden. Cheapest major cities.
- Saxony-Anhalt – Steinbeis (work-integrated Project Competence Study).
- Saarland – DHfPG (Germany’s only fitness and health prevention university).
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania – No private HQ university. Campus providers (FHM, IU) and distance learning.
How much does it cost – and how does it compare internationally?
Why consider private if public German universities are tuition-free? Public universities in Germany charge only €150–370 per semester – no tuition. But most public programmes are taught in German (B2/C1 required), admission to popular fields (medicine, psychology) is extremely competitive (NC), and flexible formats (distance learning, dual study) are rare. Private universities fill these gaps: English-taught programmes, NC-free admission, small classes, career services and industry connections.
Tuition at German private universities
- €0 (dual study): NORDAKADEMIE, IU dual, HSBA, Provadis, Fliedner and many more – the employer covers all tuition and pays a salary.
- Under €2,300: TH Georg Agricola Bochum – engineering nearly tuition-free (RAG Foundation funded).
- €7,000–15,000 (distance learning): DIPLOMA (from €7,205), SRH Fernhochschule (psychology from €7,164), AKAD (STEM from €9,520), Euro-FH (from €8,800), IU (from €13,975).
- €14,000–35,000 (campus): Fresenius, SRH Heidelberg, CBS, ISM, AMD, Macromedia and most regional providers.
- From €30,000 (elite): WHU (from €30,300), Frankfurt School (from €30,800), EBS (from €23,980). Witten/Herdecke medicine (€62,880), dentistry (€101,280).
International cost comparison
German private tuition is dramatically cheaper than comparable institutions abroad. A complete bachelor’s degree at most German private universities (€10,000–35,000 total) costs less than a single year at many UK or US universities.
- Germany private: €10,000–35,000 total (3–4 years). Elite programmes: €30,000–65,000 total.
- UK: £25,000–50,000 per year (£75,000–150,000 total for a bachelor’s).
- US: $30,000–70,000 per year ($120,000–280,000 total for a bachelor’s).
- Australia: A$25,000–45,000 per year (A$75,000–135,000 total).
Funding options
- Dual study (€0): Employer pays tuition and a salary. IU alone offers 25 dual programmes.
- BAföG: German student aid – available to EU citizens and some non-EU residents. Up to €992/month.
- Deutschlandstipendium: €300/month, merit-based, open to international students.
- University scholarships: WHU, Frankfurt School, EBS, HHL, Zeppelin, Bucerius and others offer merit- and need-based scholarships – some up to 100% tuition waiver.
- DAAD scholarships: The German Academic Exchange Service offers scholarships specifically for international students.
- KfW student loan: Up to €650/month at around 2% interest. Available to students at state-recognised institutions.
What you need to know before applying
Visa and entry requirements
- EU/EEA citizens: No visa needed. Enrol freely at any German university.
- Non-EU students: Student visa required – apply at the German embassy in your home country before arrival. Processing takes 6–12 weeks.
- Blocked account (Sperrkonto): Non-EU students must prove financial means – at least €11,904/year (2024/25) deposited in a blocked account.
- Health insurance: Mandatory for all students in Germany. Public student insurance: ~€110/month.
- Distance learning from abroad: For fully online programmes (e.g. IU distance learning), no German student visa is needed. You can study from your home country.
- Safety and quality of life: Germany is one of Europe’s safest countries for students. Health insurance is mandatory and comprehensive (~€110/month covers virtually everything). Every university city has a Studierendenwerk (student services organisation) that assists with housing, counselling and financial support. Public transport is reliable and affordable (semester ticket included at most universities).
What is a Fachhochschule?
Most German private institutions are Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences). Despite the different name, their Bachelor and Master degrees are fully equivalent to university degrees under the Bologna system. A few private institutions hold full university status (Witten/Herdecke, EBS, WHU, Zeppelin, HHL) – these can award Staatsexamen (state examinations in medicine and law) and doctoral degrees. For international students, the distinction rarely matters: both FH and university degrees are recognised globally.
German vs. English – language requirements
- English-taught programmes: Many private universities offer programmes in English, especially in business, IT and health. IU alone has 200+ English programmes. SRH Heidelberg offers ~100. Fully English institutions include Karlshochschule, CODE University, Hertie School, Bard College Berlin.
- German-taught programmes: Require German at B2/C1 level (TestDaF, DSH or equivalent). This applies to most medicine, law and many bachelor programmes.
- Mixed: Some universities teach in both languages. Check individual programme pages for language details.
Are degrees recognised internationally?
Yes. All private universities in Germany are state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt) and accredited by national agencies (FIBAA, ACQUIN, AQAS) under the Bologna framework. A bachelor’s or master’s from a German private university is recognised across the EU and widely accepted globally. Several institutions hold additional international accreditations: AACSB (HHL Leipzig – first private German institution), EQUIS, AMBA.
Frequently asked questions about private universities in Germany
Yes – at private universities. Over 1,600 English-taught programmes are available, especially in business, IT, health and social sciences. IU International University alone offers 200+ English programmes (mostly distance learning). SRH Heidelberg has ~100 English programmes. Fully English institutions include Karlshochschule, CODE University and Hertie School. However, medicine and law programmes are mostly taught in German. At public universities, nearly all programmes require German at B2/C1 level.
Yes. All private universities in Germany are state-recognised and accredited under the Bologna framework. Their degrees are legally identical to those from public German universities (like TU Munich, Heidelberg University or RWTH Aachen). German degrees are recognised across the EU and widely accepted globally. Several private institutions hold prestigious international accreditations: HHL Leipzig (AACSB), WHU, Frankfurt School, EBS.
For dual study: many programmes cost €0 – the employer pays tuition. NORDAKADEMIE, IU dual, HSBA and others offer employer-funded programmes. For non-dual study: TH Georg Agricola in Bochum offers engineering for under €2,300 total. For distance learning: SRH Fernhochschule starts at €7,164 (psychology) and DIPLOMA at €7,205.
It depends on the field. Management/MBA: WHU (#1 MiM Germany, FT 2025), Frankfurt School, EBS, HHL Leipzig. Medicine: Witten/Herdecke (only one with dentistry), MSH Hamburg, HMU Erfurt/Potsdam. Law: Bucerius Law School, BSP Berlin, EBS. Computer Science: FH Wedel, CODE University Berlin. Distance Learning: IU (largest offering, 200+ English), AKAD (STEM).
Yes. International students on a student visa can work up to 120 full days or 240 half days per year without a work permit. Working student positions (Werkstudent) are common, paying €13–20/hour. Dual study students work at their partner company throughout their studies and receive a salary. Distance-learning students can work full-time since there are no attendance requirements. Germany’s strong economy – especially in Berlin (startups), Frankfurt (finance), Munich (tech) and Hamburg (logistics) – offers plentiful student job opportunities, many in English.
Most private universities accept direct applications through their website – no centralised application system like UCAS (UK). Typical requirements: (1) School-leaving certificate equivalent to German Abitur (check with each university). (2) Language proof – IELTS/TOEFL for English programmes, TestDaF/DSH for German programmes. (3) Motivation letter and CV. (4) Some universities have their own selection process (assessment day, interview, GMAT/GRE). Apply 3–6 months before semester start. Most programmes start in October (winter semester) or April (summer semester).
Study Advice
Questions about the topic? Use our study advisory service, we are happy to help.