Private Universities in Bavaria (Germany): Business Schools and Applied Sciences in Munich

All private universities at a glance

We have a total of 4 private universities listed in our database.

Which programmes in Bavaria are taught in English?

Three of the four Bavaria-based private universities offer English-taught programmes – more than many international students expect. Munich Business School (MBS) teaches International Business and Entrepreneurship entirely in English. HDBW offers English-taught Bachelor and Master degrees in digital business, engineering and cyber security. SDI Munich has English-language Master programmes in translation, interpreting and intercultural communication. Only HAM teaches exclusively in German.

Among the national campus providers, the ISM runs English-taught business and IT programmes in Munich (from €9,600). The IU adds a small number of English options. In total, around 30–35 English-taught private programmes are available in Bavaria – enough for a viable degree, though still a fraction of the 190+ total. For a wider English-language selection, Bremen (Constructor University) and Berlin remain stronger choices.

Which private universities are based in Bavaria?

Four private universities have their headquarters in Bavaria. All are located in or near Munich and serve distinct niches within the German higher education market.

• University of Applied Management (HAM): Based in Ismaning near Munich. Germany’s leading private university for sport management, with programmes in football management, esports, golf management and sport science. Also offers business and IT degrees. 38 programmes, mostly part-time alongside work. Tuition: €9,900–21,585.
• HDBW (Hochschule der Bayerischen Wirtschaft): A Munich-based university of applied sciences founded by the Bavarian Business Association. Focuses on engineering (civil, mechanical, industrial), IT and business. 15 programmes, mix of full-time, part-time and dual. Tuition: €10,450–22,680.
• Munich Business School (MBS): An AACSB-accredited international business school in central Munich. Offers Bachelor and Master degrees in International Business, Entrepreneurship, Sports Business and Marketing – taught in English. Small cohorts (30–50 students), a mandatory semester abroad at over 60 partner universities worldwide, and a strong alumni network in Munich’s corporate landscape (BMW, Siemens, McKinsey). 6 programmes. Tuition: €24,000–39,900 – the most expensive in Bavaria, but with merit scholarships covering up to 50%.
• International University SDI Munich: One of Germany’s few universities specialising in languages, translation and interpreting. Master programmes in conference interpreting, translation (including Chinese), and intercultural communication are available in English. Also offers German-taught Bachelor programmes combining journalism, marketing and language skills. 6 programmes. Tuition: €12,245–22,515.

Which national providers have a campus in Munich?

Munich is one of Germany’s most popular cities for private higher education campuses. Over a dozen national providers operate here, offering significantly more subject variety than the four local universities.

• IU International University: Around 40 programmes in Munich, including business, social work, media design, IT and tourism. Mix of dual study (tuition-free – employer pays) and blended learning (online + campus days). Some English-taught options.
• ISM: 30 programmes in Munich. Focus on international management, marketing and finance. Full-time and dual formats. Some bilingual programmes (German/English).
• Fresenius University of Applied Sciences: 20 programmes in Munich, specialising in psychology, business psychology, sport management and media. Full-time campus format.
• FOM University: 13 part-time programmes in Munich and Nuremberg. Evening and weekend lectures for working professionals. All in German.
• Charlotte Fresenius University: Psychology specialist with 3 programmes in Munich – Psychology (B.Sc.), Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy (M.Sc.) and Pharmaceutical Medicine (M.Sc.). Full-time. Tuition: €11,700–35,100.
• Other providers: HSD Hochschule Döpfer (psychology, education – Munich, Regensburg), Macromedia University (media, design, journalism – Munich), AMD (fashion and design – Munich).

Together, these national providers offer over 130 programmes in Bavaria. For international students, IU and ISM are the most accessible, as they have at least some English-language offerings.

What can you study at private universities in Bavaria?

The 190+ programmes in Bavaria cover business and management (the largest segment), engineering and IT, sport management (a Bavarian speciality), media and design, and psychology and health sciences. Here is what is available and what is not.

• Business and management (80+ programmes): The largest segment. Available at all four local universities and most campus providers. Ranges from part-time business administration at €9,900 (HAM) to international MBA programmes at €39,900 (MBS). Dual study options (tuition-free) at IU and ISM.
• Sport management (~15 programmes): Bavaria’s unique selling point. HAM offers football management, esports, golf management, outdoor sport and sport science – mostly part-time alongside work. Few other German regions have comparable depth in this field.
• Engineering and IT (~35 programmes): HDBW covers civil and mechanical engineering, industrial engineering and cyber security. IU and FOM add IT and information systems. Mostly part-time or dual format.
• Media and design (~16 programmes): Munich’s strong media industry supports programmes in journalism (Macromedia, SDI), media management, game design (Mediadesign HS) and fashion (AMD). Tuition: €8,910–32,970.
• Psychology and health (~45 programmes): Mainly through campus providers – Fresenius (psychology), Charlotte Fresenius University (clinical psychology, psychotherapy – some English-taught), HSD Döpfer (applied psychology, education), IU (social work, health management). HAM adds prevention and health promotion.

What is not available: Medicine, law, teacher training, pure natural sciences and full distance learning are not offered by any private institution in Bavaria. The IU runs a blended learning model in Munich (mostly online with optional campus days), which comes close to distance learning but is not a pure online degree. For these subjects, consider other German regions or Bavaria’s excellent public universities.

What does it cost to study at a private university in Bavaria?

Tuition at Bavarian private universities ranges from €0 (dual study – employer pays) to €39,900 (Munich Business School). Most part-time programmes fall between €10,000 and €22,000 total – moderate by German private university standards and significantly cheaper than comparable programmes in the UK (£27,750 for a three-year bachelor’s at the cap) or the US.

• €0 (dual study): IU, ISM and HAM offer dual programmes where the employer covers tuition. Available in business, sport, IT and social work.
• €9,480–22,680 (part-time): The core price segment. HAM from €9,900, HDBW from €10,450, FOM from €9,480. Paid in monthly instalments over the study period.
• €15,804–35,820 (full-time campus): IU blended learning from €15,804. Fresenius psychology from €17,375. ISM from €27,695.
• €28,770–39,900 (premium): Munich Business School, Macromedia full-time, Mediadesign HS. The highest price segment in Bavaria.

For comparison: Bavaria’s public universities charge only a semester fee of around €170 (roughly €1,020 over three years). If cost is your primary concern, public institutions are hard to beat. Private universities become attractive when you need part-time formats, dual study or specialised programmes not available in the public system.

What is Munich like for international students?

Munich is one of Europe’s most liveable cities – but also one of the most expensive. Around 130,000 students live here, making it Germany’s second-largest university city after Berlin.

• Cost of living: The highest in Germany. Expect €550–750/month for a room in a shared flat, €900+ for a studio. Many students live in surrounding towns (Freising, Dachau, Erding) to save on rent.
• Job market: Excellent. BMW, Siemens, Allianz, Amazon and hundreds of mid-sized companies hire working students. Average student wages: around €15/hour – above the German average. English-speaking positions are more common in Munich than in most German cities.
• Transport: Extensive S-Bahn and U-Bahn network. Semester tickets cover the MVV area. ICE trains to Nuremberg (1 hr), Stuttgart (2 hrs) and Berlin (4 hrs).
• Quality of life: English Garden, Isar river, Alps within an hour, world-class museums, lively beer garden culture. Large international community with English-speaking services.
• Language: While Munich is more international than most German cities, daily life is predominantly German. For university-level study at private institutions, B2-level German is required in most cases. Munich Business School and some ISM programmes are the exceptions.

How can you fund your studies in Bavaria?

• Dual study: The most cost-effective route. Employers cover tuition entirely, and you earn a salary during your studies. Available at IU, ISM, HAM and HDBW.
• BAföG (German student aid): Available at all accredited private universities. EU citizens and some non-EU residents are eligible. Covers living costs, not tuition.
• Deutschlandstipendium: €300/month, merit-based and income-independent. Open to international students. Most Bavarian private universities participate.
• MBS scholarships: Munich Business School offers merit-based scholarships covering up to 50% of tuition.
• DAAD scholarships: The German Academic Exchange Service offers scholarships for international students. Particularly relevant for master’s programmes.
• KfW student loan: Up to €650/month at around 2% interest. Available to students enrolled at a German institution under 45.

Frequently asked questions about private universities in Bavaria