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Hesse (Hessen) is home to one of Germany's most diverse private higher education landscapes – over 15 universities across nine locations. Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Idstein is Germany's largest private campus university (123 programmes, 15,600 students). Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and EBS University are among Europe's most prestigious business schools. DIPLOMA and Wilhelm Büchner University provide strong distance-learning options.
A major advantage for international students: Hesse's private universities offer over 290 English-taught programmes. Fresenius alone provides over 120 EN programmes. Frankfurt School and EBS are largely English-taught. Tomorrow University is fully English and online, focusing on sustainability and AI. Frankfurt is Germany's most international city (30% foreign-born residents, ECB headquarters, major banking hub).
- All private universities at a glance
- English-taught programmes in Hesse
- Which private universities are based in Hesse?
- How much does it cost to study at a private university in Hesse?
- Hesse for international students
- Funding and scholarships in Hesse
- Frequently asked questions about private universities in Hesse
All private universities at a glance
We have a total of 15 private universities listed in our database.
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English-taught programmes in Hesse
Hesse offers over 290 English-taught programmes at its private universities – one of the strongest EN offerings in Germany. Fresenius University leads with over 120 English programmes across chemistry, business, psychology, health and media. Frankfurt School is largely English-taught: Business Administration (€46,800), Master of Finance (€42,000), MBA (€42,000), AI & Data Science (€57,400). EBS University offers English masters in Management, Finance, Real Estate, Marketing and Business Analytics. Tomorrow University is fully English and online: Responsible Entrepreneurship, AI & Sustainable Technologies (from €9,756). DIPLOMA and Wilhelm Büchner add English distance-learning programmes in IT, engineering and business.
| Course | University | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Systems, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | DIPLOMA University of Applied Sciences | from 10817 € total from 282 € monthly | |
| Biochemical Engineering, Master of Engineering On-campus program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | from 11255 € total from 880 € monthly | |
| Fashion Management, Master of Arts On-campus program | AMD Akademie Mode & Design | from 11855 € total from 620 € monthly | |
| Social Work, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | DIPLOMA University of Applied Sciences | from 14885 € total from 395 € monthly | |
| Mechatronics, Bachelor of Engineering On-campus program | DIPLOMA University of Applied Sciences | from 14885 € total from 395 € monthly | |
| Industrial Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering On-campus program | DIPLOMA University of Applied Sciences | from 14885 € total from 395 € monthly |
What is a Fachhochschule?
Most private institutions in Hesse are Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences). Their degrees are fully equivalent to university degrees under the Bologna system. EBS University is the exception: it holds full university status and offers a law degree with state examination (Staatsexamen) – one of only a few private universities in Germany to do so. All private institutions are state-recognised – their degrees carry the same legal weight as those from Goethe University Frankfurt or TU Darmstadt.
Which private universities are based in Hesse?
Over 15 private universities have their headquarters in Hesse, ranging from Germany's largest private campus to elite business schools and specialised distance-learning institutions.
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences (Idstein): Around 15,587 students, 123 programmes. Germany's largest private campus university. Psychology, business, chemistry, media, health, social work. Multi-campus: also in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin. Costs: €0–34,895.
- DIPLOMA University of Applied Sciences (Bad Sooden-Allendorf): Around 8,300 students, 50 programmes. Broad distance-learning university: business, social work, education, design, law, health. Costs: €7,205–22,200.
- Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences (Darmstadt): Around 4,313 students, 26 programmes. Germany's largest private STEM distance-learning university. Computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics, IT security. Fully online. Costs: €10,015–17,217.
- Frankfurt School of Finance and Management (Frankfurt): Around 3,284 students, 10 programmes. One of Europe's most prestigious business schools. Business, finance, MBA, AI & Data Science, International Healthcare Management. Largely English-taught. Costs: €30,800–57,400.
- AMD Akademie Mode & Design (Idstein): Around 2,200 students. Fashion design, fashion management, communication design, interior design, sustainable design. Part of the Carl Remigius Fresenius Education Group (same as Fresenius UAS). Costs: €8,220–32,880.
- EBS University for Business and Law (Oestrich-Winkel): Around 2,200 students. Hesse's only private university. Business, finance, real estate, MBA – and a law degree with state examination (Staatsexamen, €64,780). Selection by assessment, no NC. Costs: €23,980–64,780.
- Provadis School (Frankfurt): Around 1,097 students. Germany's only university located directly inside an industrial park (Höchst). Dual programmes with Sanofi, Infraserv, Merck: chemical engineering, biopharmaceutical science, business IT, business administration. Costs: €0–21,210 (employer-funded).
- Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences (Frankfurt): Around 1,000 students from 60+ countries. Founded 2020, state-recognised. Fully online, fully English: Responsible Entrepreneurship, AI & Sustainable Technologies, MBA. Challenge-based learning. Costs: €9,756–14,500.
- accadis University of Applied Sciences (Bad Homburg): Around 514 students. International management, marketing, sports management. Dual and full-time. Costs: €0–34,200.
- Carl Remigius Medical School (Idstein): Physician assistant, health education, crisis management. Part of the Carl Remigius Fresenius Education Group. Costs: €10,060–30,000.
- Charlotte Fresenius University (Idstein): Clinical psychology & psychotherapy (approbation-qualifying, €28,950), forensic psychology (€14,630). Part of the Carl Remigius Fresenius Education Group. Costs: €11,700–35,100.
The Fresenius cluster explained: Four institutions share the Idstein campus – all part of the Carl Remigius Fresenius Education AG. Fresenius University is the parent institution (broad offering). Charlotte Fresenius specialises in clinical psychology. Carl Remigius covers healthcare professions. AMD focuses on fashion and design. They share infrastructure but have distinct profiles and programmes.
How much does it cost to study at a private university in Hesse?
Tuition ranges from €0 (CVJM social work, Provadis dual programmes) to €64,780 (EBS law). Most distance-learning programmes cost €7,200–17,200, campus programmes €13,000–35,000.
- €0 (dual or funded): CVJM social work (part-time, tuition-free). Provadis dual programmes (employer pays). accadis dual programmes. Fresenius selected dual programmes.
- €6,000–14,500 (distance learning): DIPLOMA (from €7,205). Tomorrow University (from €9,756). Wilhelm Büchner (from €10,015). Fresenius online (from €8,340).
- €14,000–35,000 (campus): Fresenius campus (from €14,220). AMD fashion/design (€8,220–32,880). Charlotte Fresenius psychology (€14,630–35,100). accadis (€8,400–34,200).
- From €30,000 (elite): Frankfurt School (BWL €46,800, MBA €42,000, AI €57,400). EBS (BWL €54,480, law €64,780, MBA €44,950).
All private universities are state-recognised. For comparison: public universities in Hesse charge only ~€370/semester (including RMV public transport ticket). International cost comparison: even Frankfurt School at €46,800 total costs less than a single year at many US or UK business schools.
Hesse for international students
Frankfurt is Germany's most international city – around 30% foreign-born residents, home to the European Central Bank, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and a thriving consulting scene.
- English-taught options: Over 290 EN programmes. Fresenius (120+), Frankfurt School and EBS (largely English), Tomorrow University (fully English and online), DIPLOMA and Wilhelm Büchner (EN distance learning). The Fresenius cluster in Idstein offers extensive English options in chemistry, bioanalytics and health.
- Living costs: Frankfurt: WG rooms €550–750/month (Germany's second most expensive university city). Darmstadt/Wiesbaden: €400–550. Idstein: €300–400. Kassel/Marburg: €280–400. Start housing searches early via the Studierendenwerk, wg-gesucht.de, or HousingAnywhere.
- Job market: Frankfurt: banking (ECB, Deutsche Bank, KfW), consulting (McKinsey, BCG, Bain all have Frankfurt offices), FinTech. Darmstadt: tech and pharma (Merck, T-Systems, ESA). Industrial Park Höchst: chemistry and pharma (Sanofi, Infraserv). Student jobs widely available in finance and IT.
- Visa and entry requirements: EU/EEA citizens enrol freely. Non-EU students need a student visa. Blocked account (Sperrkonto): at least €11,904/year. Health insurance mandatory (~€110/month). Most private universities have international offices.
- Transport: RMV semester ticket covers all of southern and central Hesse. Frankfurt–Darmstadt: 15 min. Frankfurt–Wiesbaden: 35 min. Frankfurt–Idstein: 40 min by S-Bahn.
- Why Frankfurt for international students? Germany's highest share of foreign residents, the most international job market, direct flights to 300+ destinations, and a large English-speaking professional community. If you want to work in banking, consulting or FinTech after graduation, Frankfurt is the natural choice.
Funding and scholarships in Hesse
- BAföG: Available at all state-recognised private universities. Maximum: €992/month (2024/25).
- Deutschlandstipendium: €300/month, merit-based, income-independent.
- Frankfurt School scholarships: Merit- and need-based scholarships for bachelor and master programmes. Diversity scholarships available.
- EBS scholarships: Merit-based scholarships with corporate partners.
- Provadis (employer-funded): Dual programmes with Sanofi, Infraserv and Merck – the employer covers tuition and pays a salary.
- CVJM (tuition-free): Social work at CVJM Kassel is tuition-free (part-time format).
- KfW student loan: Up to €650/month at around 2% interest.
Frequently asked questions about private universities in Hesse
Four institutions share the Idstein campus, all part of the Carl Remigius Fresenius Education Group AG: Fresenius University (123 programmes: business, psychology, chemistry, media, health), Charlotte Fresenius University (clinical psychology, psychotherapy), Carl Remigius Medical School (physician assistant, health education), and AMD (fashion, design). They share infrastructure but have distinct profiles.
For careers in investment banking, corporate finance, consulting or FinTech, Frankfurt School is among Europe's best options. Direct access to Germany's financial capital, small class sizes, a powerful alumni network in banking and largely English-taught programmes justify the tuition (€30,800–57,400). For general business without a finance focus, DIPLOMA (from €7,205) or accadis (from €8,400) are much cheaper alternatives.
Not necessarily. Hesse has over 290 English-taught programmes. Fresenius offers 120+ EN programmes. Frankfurt School and EBS are largely English-taught. Tomorrow University is fully English and online. However, most bachelor programmes at smaller institutions require German (B2/C1). Frankfurt's international job market makes it possible to work and live largely in English.
Yes – Hesse is unique in Germany for private natural sciences. Fresenius University offers applied chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, biomedicine and pharmaceutical biotechnology. Provadis provides chemical engineering and biopharmaceutical science as dual programmes inside Industrial Park Höchst (Sanofi, Infraserv). No other German state offers this depth in private natural sciences.
CVJM University in Kassel offers social work tuition-free (part-time). Provadis dual programmes are employer-funded (€0). For distance learning, DIPLOMA starts at €7,205 and Tomorrow University at €9,756 (fully English, online).
About the Author Christian Wolf
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