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There are a total of 32 universities in the state of Hesse, 17 of which are state universities, 5 are church universities and 14 are private universities. Hesse has a lot to offer as a study state, especially the metropolis of Frankfurt. Although only 2 private universities are located in Frankfurt, it is also home to Germany's largest presence university, the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences.
Those who want to live directly in the state capital can even study at Hesse's only private university, the EBS University of Business and Law. What else sets Hesse apart from the other federal states: the 2 Protestant universities and the YMCA University, which offer courses in the humanities and in the social sector.
In addition, there are a number of higher education institutions that have their headquarters in other federal states but operate branches in Hesse. Example: the International School of Management, which also offers its degree programmes in Frankfurt.
All private universities at a glance
We have a total of 15 private universities listed in our database.
- Idstein, Hesse
- 15587 Students
- Psychology, Natural Sciences, Marketing, Social Work, Business Administration, International Management, Logistics, Physiotherapy, MBA, Human Resources, Tourism and Event, Fashion, Business Psychology…
- Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts, Master of Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Management in Artificial Intellig…
- 133 Degree programs in the directory
- 1 Review
Fresenius University of Applied Sciences is one of Germany's largest private universities with campuses in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Idstein, Cologne, Munich and Wiesbaden. It offers practice-oriented bachelor's and master's degree programs in the fields of chemistry & biology, business & media, health & social affairs and design, as well as training and continuing education. Studies are possible on a full-time, part-time and distance learning basis.
- Darmstadt, Hesse
- 4313 Students
- Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Natural Sciences, Computer Science, Business Informatics, Media Informatics, IT Management, Engineering Management, Civil Engine…
- Master of Science, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts
- 42 Degree programs in the directory
The Wilhelm Büchner University (WBH) based in Darmstadt is Germany's largest private university for technology and design. It offers state-recognized and accredited distance learning courses for professionals in the fields of technology, computer science, design, business engineering, and the environment. The university is system-accredited, highly practice-oriented, and committed to sustainability, diversity, and social responsibility.
- Idstein, Hesse
- 100 Students
- General Management, Nursing Science, Medicine, Health Education
- Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts
- 10 Degree programs in the directory
The goal of the Carl Remigius Medical School is to secure and further develop the high level of healthcare in Germany. To this end, the school trains the specialists and managers who are urgently needed in the industry in a targeted and future-oriented manner. The study programs of Carl Remigius Medical School have an interdisciplinary and holistic orientation; thus they fulfill essential requirements that are placed on health professionals.
- Idstein, Hesse
- Psychotherapy, Medicine, Psychology
- Bachelor of Science, Master of Science
- 4 Degree programs in the directory
The Charlotte Fresenius Hochschule is a private, state-recognized university-equivalent. The sponsoring company of CFH is Hochschule Fresenius gemeinnützige GmbH, one of the largest private presence universities in Germany. With its foundation in 2021, the university offers an NC-free Bachelor of Science in Psychology, which takes into account all the requirements of the Law on the Reform of Psychotherapist Training and the Approbation Regulations for Psychotherapists.
- Idstein, Hesse
- 2200 Students
- Fashion, Media Design, Architecture, Media Management, Communication Sciences
- Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts
- 16 Degree programs in the directory
Fashion, design, communication and management - for over 28 years, the AMD Akademie Mode & Design, Department of Design at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, has been training students for creative and business-oriented professions in the creative industries. More than 2200 students are enrolled at the four locations Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Munich, they are taught by more than 30 professors and lecturers with industry experience.
- Oestrich-Winkel, Hesse
- 2200 Students
- General Management, Legal Sciences, MBA, Marketing, Business Administration, Real Estate Management, Finance
- Bachelor of Science, Staatsexamen, Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Arts
- 12 Degree programs in the directory
The EBS University of Economics and Law is Germany's oldest private university for business and law, offering a challenging, internationally oriented range of study programmes in business and law. Students can expect a solid academic education with innovative teaching methods, individual support in small learning groups, and a strong practical orientation. As a talent factory for future leaders, the EBS combines excellent teaching content with a strong international network and specifically promotes entrepreneurial thinking, a sense of responsibility, and personal development.
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
University · Private
- Frankfurt am Main, Hesse
- 3284 Students
- Data Science & AI, Business Administration, MBA, Health Management, General Management, Finance
- Master of Science, Bachelor of Science, Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts
- 10 Degree programs in the directory
DIPLOMA University of Applied Sciences
UAS · Private
- Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Hesse
- 8300 Students
- General Management, Psychology, Media Management, Legal Sciences, Tourism and Event, Childhood Education, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Business Psychology, Health Education, Business Informatics, IT Manag…
- Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Laws
- 47 Degree programs in the directory
- Frankfurt, Hesse
- 1097 Students
- Natural Sciences, Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering Management, IT Management
- Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science
- 8 Degree programs in the directory
accadis University of Applied Sciences
UAS · Private
- Bad Homburg, Hesse
- 514 Students
- Health Management, Sports, Marketing, MBA, Media Management, Tourism and Event, International Management
- Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Business Administration
- 12 Degree programs in the directory
CVJM University of Applied Sciences
UAS · Private
- Kassel, Hesse
- 439 Students
- Pedagogy, Social Work
- Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts
- 3 Degree programs in the directory
Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences (tou)
UAS · Private
- Frankfurt am Main, Hesse
- 1000 Students
- MBA, Data Science & AI, Sustainable Management
- Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science
- 4 Degree programs in the directory
TABOR Protestant University
UAS · Private
- Marburg, Hesse
- 224 Students
- Humanities, Social Work, Pedagogy
- Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts
- 6 Degree programs in the directory
Free Theological University of Giessen
UAS · Private
- Gießen, Hesse
- 173 Students
- Humanities
- Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts
- 2 Degree programs in the directory
University of Labour
UAS · Private
- Frankfurt a.M., Hesse
- Sustainable Management, Legal Sciences, Pedagogy, Business Administration
- Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts
- 4 Degree programs in the directory
Other universities with branches in Hesse
In addition to the universities that have their main location in Hesse, there are a number of private universities of applied sciences in Germany that operate study centres or campuses in Hesse. For example: the IU International University of Applied Sciences, which offers its part-time degree programmes as well as its dual degree programmes in many cities in Germany, such as in Frankfurt.
Here is a brief portrait of the universities with branches in Hesse:
IU International University of Applied Sciences: With over 100,000 enrolled students (winter semester 2022/2023), IU is one of the largest private universities of applied sciences in Germany and the largest private distance learning university in Germany. The university is based in Erfurt, but IU offers its campus study programmes at countless locations in Germany. IU also offers campus study programmes and dual study programmes in Frankfurt am Main, among other places. In addition to the campus programmes, the university offers over 100 distance learning programmes.
FOM University of Applied Sciences: Alongside Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, FOM is one of the largest private universities of applied sciences and is based in Essen/North Rhine-Westphalia. FOM was founded in 1993. 54,425 students were enrolled at FOM in the winter semester 2019/2020. The study programmes at FOM are aimed at working professionals. Through various flexible time models, the classroom lectures take place parallel to a company job or training. In Hesse, FOM is located in Frankfurt am Main.
University for Media, Communication and Business: HMKW is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Berlin. The university was founded in 2008 and a total of 2,207 students were enrolled at HMKW in the winter semester 2019/2020. The university offers a range of degree programmes in the fields of design, journalism and communication, psychology and business/management. In addition to the campus in Berlin, the university is also represented in Frankfurt am Main, among other places.
University of Applied Management: The University of Applied Management is a private, state-approved university of applied sciences located in Ismaning/Bavaria. The university was founded in 2004, and in the winter semester 2019/2020 a total of 3,287 students were enrolled at the university. A special feature of the university is its semi-virtual, hybrid study concept, which combines online studies or distance learning with face-to-face seminars. In addition to the Ismaning campus, the university has other study centres, for example in Frankfurt am Main.
International School of Management: ISM is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Dortmund. The university was founded in 1990 and a total of 2,781 students were enrolled in the winter semester 2019/2020. The business school offers its Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in Dortmund, Frankfurt/Main, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart and Berlin.
Macromedia University of Applied Sciences: The Macromedia University of Applied Sciences (formerly MHMK, Hochschule für Medien und Kommunikation) is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Stuttgart. The university was founded in 2006 and a total of 3,833 students were enrolled in the 2019/2020 winter semester. The university offers its Bachelor in Fashion Design in Hamburg and Berlin. In addition, the university offers a Master's in Business Management in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich and Stuttgart, with the option of specialising in Luxury and Fashion Management.
Study Business Administration in Hesse: Interesting degree programmes in the field of Business Studies
Hesse is probably one of the more interesting federal states when it comes to studying business administration at private universities. In Frankfurt am Main, for example, there is the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and the Provadis School of International Management and Technology, which offer business degree programmes.
Other universities, such as the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, also offer a wide range of degree programmes in the field of economics.
Here is an overview of the interesting business degree programmes at Hesse's private universities:
| Course | University | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Business Studies, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | EBS University for Business and Law | 6 Semester | from 54480 € total | |
| Business Administration, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | Frankfurt School of Finance and Management | 7 Semester | from 46800 € total | |
| Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | 6 Semester | from 27695 € total from 750 € monthly | |
| Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | DIPLOMA University of Applied Sciences | 6 Semester | from 14885 € total from 395 € monthly | |
| Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Provadis School of International Management and Technology | 7 Semester | from 19530 € total from 465 € monthly | |
| Media and Communications Management, Bachelor of Arts Part-time program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | 7 Semester | from 14112 € total from 336 € monthly |
More degree programmes in Business Administration here: Study Business Administration privately: All degree programmes in the Department of Business and Economics.
Dual Study in Hesse
Dual degree programmes are currently offered in Hesse by mainly 3 private universities: the IU International University of Applied Sciences, the accadis University of Applied Sciences Bad Homburg and the Provadis School of International Management and Technology. Most of these courses, for example in business administration or computer science, are offered in Frankfurt am Main.
Here is an overview of the most important dual study programmes at private universities in Hesse:
Study Social Work in Hesse
Bachelor's degree programmes in social work are currently among the most popular. Bachelor's degree programmes also often conclude with a double degree: a Bachelor of Arts as well as a state-certified social worker.
In Hesse, there are only a few universities that offer degree programmes in social work, most notably the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, which offers a campus programme in social work in Frankfurt am Main.
Here are the degree programmes in social work at a glance:
You can find all degree programmes in social work here: Social work dual, part-time & full-time: A comparison of all degree programmes from Hamburg to Munich.
Distance learning in Hesse: Study part-time and flexibly
You live in Hesse but haven't found the right university yet? Or you are already working and want to study alongside your job? With the Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences and the DIPLOMA University of Applied Sciences, there are even two private universities that are located in Hesse and predominantly offer distance learning courses; with its "onlineplus" department, Germany's largest presence university, the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, now also offers distance learning courses.
Ultimately, however, the location of the distance learning university does not play such a major role, because distance learners study from home and are rarely to be found at their university for face-to-face seminars.
Here is an overview of some interesting distance learning courses:
About the Author Christian Wolf
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