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Hamburg is a compact but highly specialised location for private higher education. Eight private universities are headquartered in the city – from Germany's leading distance-learning institutions (Euro-FH and HFH) to the Medical School Hamburg (MSH) with its state-examination medical programme, the Bucerius Law School (Germany's most prestigious private law school) and the Kühne Logistics University (KLU), a globally recognised institution for supply chain management.
Additionally, over 20 supra-regional providers operate a campus or examination centre in Hamburg, including IU International University, Hochschule Fresenius, FOM and Macromedia. Together they bring the total number of private programmes available in Hamburg to over 800.
- All private universities at a glance
- English-taught programmes in Hamburg
- Which private universities are based in Hamburg?
- What can you study privately in Hamburg?
- How much does it cost to study at a private university in Hamburg?
- Hamburg for international students
- Funding and scholarships in Hamburg
- Frequently asked questions about private universities in Hamburg
All private universities at a glance
We have a total of 8 private universities listed in our database.
- 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
Bucerius Law School
University · Private
- Hamburg, Germany
- 849 Students
- Legal Sciences
- Staatsexamen, Master of Laws, Bachelor of Laws
- 3 Degree programs in the directory
Hamburger Fern-Hochschule (HFH)
UAS · Private
- Hamburg, Germany
- 8136 Students
- Business Administration, General Management, Health Management, Mechanical Engineering, Nursing Science, Industrial Engineering, Legal Sciences, Logistics, Pedagogy, Business Informatics
- Bachelor of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Arts, Master of Laws
- 17 Degree programs in the directory
Hamburg School of Business Administration (HSBA)
UAS · Private
- Hamburg, Germany
- 1068 Students
- Business Administration, Logistics, IT Management, International Management, Finance
- Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science
- 7 Degree programs in the directory
Medical School Hamburg (MSH)
UAS · Private
- Hamburg, Germany
- 5000 Students
- Medizin, Psychology, Human Resources, Psychotherapy, Health Education, Art Therapy, Health Management, Medicine, Social Work, Sports, Nursing Science, Art, Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy
- Master of Science, Bachelor of Science, Master of Education, Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Staatsexamen
- 26 Degree programs in the directory
Kühne Logistics University (KLU)
University · Private
- Hamburg, Germany
- 343 Students
- Logistics, Business Administration
- Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science
- 3 Degree programs in the directory
Brand University of Applied Sciences (BU)
UAS · Private
- Hamburg, Germany
- 381 Students
- Media Design, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Media Management, MBA
- Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration
- 9 Degree programs in the directory
Northern Business School (NBS)
UAS · Private
- Hamburg, Germany
- 899 Students
- Business Administration, Social Management, General Management, Social Work
- Bachelor of Arts
- 4 Degree programs in the directory
English-taught programmes in Hamburg
Hamburg offers a focused selection of fully English-taught programmes – fewer than Berlin, but with standout quality. The KLU runs all three programmes in English: BBA (35,880 €), Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management (28,760 €) and Leadership & Supply Chain Management (30,750 €). The Bucerius Law School offers an English-taught LL.M. in Law and Business (25,000 €). The MSH provides several English-taught master programmes in psychology, health management, art therapy and social work. The Brand University offers Brand Entrepreneurship (14,500 €) in English. Important: most bachelor programmes at Hamburg's private universities are taught in German (B2/C1 required).
| Course | University | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand Entrepreneurship, Master of Arts On-campus program | Brand University of Applied Sciences | from 14500 € total from 745 € monthly | |
| Psychology with an emphasis in legal psychology, Master of Science On-campus program | Medical School Hamburg | from 16680 € total from 695 € monthly | |
| Psychology with an emphasis in clinical psychology and psychotherapy, Master of Science On-campus program | Medical School Hamburg | from 16780 € total from 695 € monthly | |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Master of Science On-campus program | Medical School Hamburg | from 16780 € total from 695 € monthly | |
| Master of Law and Business, Master of Laws On-campus program | Bucerius Law School | from 25000 € total | |
| Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management/Business Administration, Master of Science On-campus program | Kühne Logistics University | from 28760 € total |
What is a Fachhochschule?
Six of Hamburg's eight private universities are Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences) – they award Bachelor and Master degrees that are fully equivalent to university degrees under the Bologna system. Bucerius Law School and KLU are the exceptions: Bucerius awards the state examination in law (Staatsexamen), and KLU holds university status. All private institutions in Germany are state-recognised, meaning their degrees carry the same legal weight as those from public universities.
Which private universities are based in Hamburg?
Eight private universities have their headquarters in Hamburg. The field is smaller than in Berlin or North Rhine-Westphalia, but each institution occupies a clear niche.
- Euro-FH (European Distance Learning University Hamburg): Around 10,610 students and 66 programmes. Germany's largest dedicated distance-learning university. Business, psychology, law, marketing, IT management, logistics – all online. Costs: €8,800–19,520.
- HFH (Hamburg Distance Learning University): Around 8,136 students and 17 programmes. Non-profit distance-learning university founded in 1997. Business, health management, nursing, industrial engineering. Costs: €0–13,541.
- Medical School Hamburg (MSH): Around 5,191 students and 28 programmes. Hamburg's largest campus-based private university – offering human medicine (state examination, €94,500), psychology, psychotherapy, social work, nursing, physiotherapy and art therapy. Costs: €0–94,500.
- HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration: Around 1,068 students and 7 programmes. Hamburg's dual-study university, closely integrated with the local business community. Students work at a partner company while studying. Costs: €0–28,500 (often funded by the employer).
- Northern Business School (NBS): Around 899 students. Non-profit institution for business administration, safety management and social work. Costs: €0–20,670.
- Bucerius Law School: Around 849 students. Germany's most prestigious private law school, founded in 2000 by the ZEIT Foundation. Law (state examination, €51,600), Jura Plus (€43,000) and LL.M. in Law and Business (€25,000, English-taught). Highly selective, with a mandatory year abroad.
- Brand University of Applied Sciences: Around 381 students. Germany's only university specialising in branding. Brand Strategy, Digital Branding, Brand & Communication Design, E-Commerce. Costs: €8,900–18,910.
- Kühne Logistics University (KLU): Around 324 students. Globally recognised logistics university funded by the Kühne Foundation. All programmes in English. Generous scholarships (up to 50% tuition waiver). Costs: €28,760–35,880.
What can you study privately in Hamburg?
Hamburg's private universities cover business, psychology, law, health, social work, design and logistics. Some programmes are nationally unique: Bucerius for law, KLU for logistics, Brand University for branding.
- Psychology and psychotherapy: The MSH offers campus-based psychology (forensic, clinical, B.Sc.) from €16,680. Euro-FH provides Germany's largest psychology distance-learning programme from €11,496. For specialised psychology schools (psychoanalytic, psychodynamic), Berlin offers more options.
- Medicine and health: The MSH is Hamburg's only private medical school – human medicine (state examination, €94,500), plus hospital management, physiotherapy (dual), art therapy and sexology. HFH covers health management and nursing as distance learning.
- Business, logistics and MBA: Euro-FH offers 30+ business distance-learning programmes. HSBA provides dual business studies (employer-funded). KLU is a world-class logistics university. Brand University specialises in brand strategy and e-commerce.
- Law: Bucerius Law School is Germany's top private law school – highly selective, trimester system with mandatory year abroad. The English-taught LL.M. in Law and Business attracts international graduates.
- Media, design and branding: Brand University is the only German institution dedicated to branding and brand design. Campus providers Macromedia and AMD add media and fashion programmes.
- Social work: MSH, NBS and HFH all offer social work programmes. NBS offers a dual (tuition-free) option.
| Course | University | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology with an emphasis in legal psychology, Master of Science On-campus program | Medical School Hamburg | from 16680 € total from 695 € monthly | |
| Psychology with an emphasis in clinical psychology and psychotherapy, Master of Science On-campus program | Medical School Hamburg | from 16780 € total from 695 € monthly | |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Master of Science On-campus program | Medical School Hamburg | from 16780 € total from 695 € monthly | |
| Psychotherapy, Master of Science On-campus program | Medical School Hamburg | from 16780 € total from 695 € monthly | |
| Psychology, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | Medical School Hamburg | from 25020 € total from 695 € monthly |
How much does it cost to study at a private university in Hamburg?
Tuition ranges from €0 (dual programmes) to €94,500 (MSH human medicine). Most programmes cost between €8,800 and €20,000 – generally less expensive than Berlin, where full-time campus programmes often exceed €20,000.
- €0 (dual or funded): HSBA dual programmes (employer pays). MSH dual physiotherapy, speech therapy. HFH dual logistics. NBS dual social work.
- €8,900–14,500: Brand University e-commerce (€8,900). Euro-FH distance programmes (from €8,800). HFH business administration (€10,110). Brand University design (€14,500).
- €15,000–25,000: MSH psychology (€16,680–25,020). Euro-FH master programmes (up to €19,520). NBS business (€20,670). HSBA innovation management (€22,500).
- From €25,000 (elite and medicine): Bucerius LL.M. (€25,000). KLU logistics (€28,760). KLU BBA (€35,880). Bucerius law (€51,600). MSH human medicine (€94,500).
For comparison: public universities in Hamburg (Universität Hamburg, HAW) charge only a semester fee of around €340, including public transport. Private universities are worth considering when public programmes are heavily oversubscribed (psychology, medicine, law), when you prefer small class sizes and intensive mentoring, or when you need specialised programmes not available at public institutions.
Hamburg for international students
Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city (1.9 million residents) and a major port city with strong international connections – particularly in logistics, trade and media.
- Living costs and housing: Shared rooms (WG) cost €450–650/month, studio apartments from €700. Student housing from around €280 – but waiting lists are long. More affordable districts: Harburg, Wilhelmsburg, Bergedorf. Start your search early: the Studierendenwerk Hamburg manages student housing (apply months in advance), and wg-gesucht.de is Germany's largest flatshare platform. HousingAnywhere and Spotahome cater specifically to international students arriving from abroad.
- Job market: Hamburg's economy is driven by port logistics (Kühne+Nagel, Hapag-Lloyd), media (Gruner+Jahr, SPIEGEL, ZEIT), aviation (Airbus), consumer goods (Beiersdorf, Otto, Tchibo) and a growing tech sector. Student jobs are available, particularly in logistics, marketing and media.
- International community: Around 110,000 students live in Hamburg, with a significant international community, especially in logistics and business. The city's cultural scene (Schanzenviertel, St. Pauli, HafenCity) is vibrant and welcoming.
- Visa and entry requirements: EU/EEA citizens can enrol freely. Non-EU students need a student visa – apply at the German embassy before arrival. You will need a blocked account (Sperrkonto) with at least €11,904/year (2024/25). Health insurance is mandatory (∼€110/month for public student insurance). Most private universities have international offices that assist with visa paperwork.
- Transport: HVV public transport with semester ticket (included in semester fee). Good cycling infrastructure, especially along the Alster.
Funding and scholarships in Hamburg
- BAföG: Available at all state-recognised private universities. Maximum: €992/month (2024/25). Covers living costs, not tuition.
- Deutschlandstipendium: €300/month, merit-based, income-independent. Most Hamburg private universities participate.
- Bucerius scholarships: The Bucerius Law School awards merit-based scholarships – up to full tuition waivers. Around one-third of students receive financial support.
- KLU scholarships: Up to 50% tuition waiver, merit- and need-based. The Kühne Foundation is the university's main funder.
- HSBA (employer-funded): In dual HSBA programmes, the practice partner covers tuition. Students also receive a salary.
- Dual programmes (€0): MSH, NBS and HFH offer dual programmes where the employer pays tuition.
- KfW student loan: Up to €650/month at around 2% interest. Available to all students at state-recognised institutions.
- International cost comparison: Hamburg's private university fees (€8,800–51,600 total for most programmes) are significantly lower than comparable institutions in the UK (£25,000–50,000/year) or the US ($30,000–70,000/year). Even Bucerius Law School at €51,600 total costs less than a single year at many UK or US law schools.
Frequently asked questions about private universities in Hamburg
Yes, at the Medical School Hamburg (MSH). It offers human medicine as a state examination programme for €94,500 – the only private medical degree in Hamburg. The programme emphasises early clinical exposure in cooperation with Hamburg hospitals. Dentistry is not available privately in Hamburg.
For most programmes, yes. The majority of bachelor programmes at Hamburg's private universities are taught in German (B2/C1 level required). However, the KLU runs all programmes in English, and the Bucerius Law School offers an English-taught LL.M. The MSH and Brand University offer selected English-taught master programmes. Campus providers (IU, CBS, ISM) add further English options.
Yes. All private universities in Hamburg are state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt), and their degrees carry the same legal weight as those from public German universities. Programmes are accredited by national agencies (FIBAA, ACQUIN, AQAS) under the Bologna framework. A German bachelor or master from a private university is fully recognised across the EU and widely accepted globally.
For aspiring lawyers targeting top-tier law firms, consultancies or international organisations, Bucerius is among the best options in Germany. The trimester system with a mandatory year abroad, cohorts of about 120 students and a strong alumni network justify the €51,600 tuition. Around one-third of students receive scholarships. Bucerius consistently ranks among Germany's top law schools.
Berlin has three times as many private universities (23 vs. 8) and far more English-taught programmes. Hamburg's strength lies in its specialisation: Bucerius for law, KLU for logistics, MSH for medicine and Euro-FH/HFH for distance learning are all top-tier in their fields. Hamburg is slightly more affordable for rent and has a stronger traditional economy (logistics, media, aviation). Berlin offers more startup culture and nightlife. Both cities are well-connected by train (1h 40min).
About the Author Christian Wolf
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