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Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, or MV) is the only German federal state without a private university headquartered within its borders. For those wanting to study privately in MV, there are two campus providers in Rostock: CBS International Business School, focused on dual-study business programmes, and FHM University of Applied Sciences, specialising in social work and education. All German distance-learning providers are accessible from anywhere, and the public University of Wismar runs WINGS – a fee-based distance programme from €179/month.
For a broader campus-based private offering, Hamburg (2 hours from Schwerin by train) and Berlin (2.5 hours from Rostock) are the nearest major hubs. MV's advantage: Germany's lowest rents.
- Are there private universities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania?
- What private study options are there in Rostock?
- Rostock as a university city: Baltic port with Germany's lowest rents
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for international students
- Alternatives in neighbouring states
- Frequently asked questions about private universities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Are there private universities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania?
No. No private university is headquartered in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania – MV is the only German state of its size without a private higher education institution. The university landscape is entirely public: the University of Rostock, the University of Greifswald, the University of Applied Sciences Wismar, the University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg and the University of Applied Sciences Stralsund.
The reason lies in the state's structure. With 1.6 million inhabitants, MV is the second-smallest German federal state by population, and sparsely populated. The market for private higher education is simply too small to support its own institutions. Private study in MV therefore runs exclusively through campus locations of supra-regional providers, through distance learning, or through the special case of WINGS.
What private study options are there in Rostock?
Two private universities maintain a study location in Rostock: CBS International Business School and FHM University of Applied Sciences. In addition, all major distance-learning providers are available from anywhere, and the public University of Wismar offers WINGS as a fee-based distance programme. Schwerin no longer has a private campus since FHM closed its location there in 2024.
CBS International Business School: Dual study focus
CBS is headquartered in Cologne and operates a Rostock campus with a clear focus on dual study. Programmes include General Management (B.A.) with specialisations in data analytics, digital marketing, finance or hotel management, Industrial Engineering (B.Sc.) and Physician Assistance (B.Sc.). In the dual format, students typically pay no tuition themselves – their corporate partner covers the cost. For international students: CBS also offers English-taught full-time programmes at the Rostock campus in International Business, Business Psychology and Finance and Management – one of very few private English-taught options anywhere in MV.
FHM University of Applied Sciences: Social work and education focus
FHM is headquartered in Bielefeld and opened its Rostock campus in 2021, following the complete closure of its Schwerin location by 2024. Rostock is now FHM's competence centre for social and educational studies: Social Education & Management (B.A.), Special Needs & Inclusive Education (B.A.), Psychology (B.Sc.), Primary School Education (B.A.) and counselling programmes. All FHM Rostock programmes are taught in German – international students without German skills should consider CBS or distance learning instead. Monthly fees range from around €595 to €695.
Distance learning – accessible from anywhere
All German distance universities are available regardless of your location in MV. The main providers differ clearly by profile: IU International University has the largest portfolio with 200+ English-taught programmes, DIPLOMA University is among the most affordable full-service private universities (from €7,205 total, programmes in German), Wilhelm Büchner specialises in STEM, AKAD University in STEM plus business, and SRH Fernhochschule in affordable psychology programmes (from €7,164).
WINGS / University of Wismar – public but privately structured
The University of Wismar offers around 40 fee-based distance-learning programmes through WINGS (Wismar International Graduation Services) – from €179 per month. WINGS is not a private institution, but a subsidiary of the public University of Wismar. For students in MV this makes WINGS one of the most attractive options: cheaper than any private distance university, with a degree awarded by a state institution. Around 5,100 distance students are enrolled in programmes covering business, business informatics, engineering and architecture. Typical total costs: around €6,400 for a Bachelor, from €5,400 for a Master. Programmes are taught in German.
Rostock as a university city: Baltic port with Germany's lowest rents
Rostock is MV's largest city with 210,000 inhabitants and the only private university location in the state. The city is defined by its Baltic Sea location – with its port, shipyards and the seaside resort Warnemünde as a nearby recreation area.
For students, Rostock is above all attractive for its cost of living: shared-flat rooms range from €250 to €350 per month – 40 to 60 percent less than in Hamburg, Berlin or Munich. The student scene is shaped by the public University of Rostock with around 13,000 students, concentrated in the KTV district (Kröpeliner-Tor-Vorstadt).
The job market centres on maritime industry, tourism, logistics, medical technology and research – with the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research as an international anchor. Note that the international community is noticeably smaller than in Hamburg or Berlin. Students who rely on English-speaking networks and a strong expat environment will find those more easily in the larger Hanseatic cities.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for international students
MV has very limited English-taught private options. If you need to study in English, realistic paths are narrow but not closed.
- English-taught on campus: CBS Rostock offers Bachelor and Master programmes in International Business, Business Psychology, Finance and Management and Global Finance in English. FHM Rostock is entirely German-taught.
- English-taught by distance: IU International University offers the largest portfolio of English-language programmes in Germany – over 200, accessible from anywhere. No German language requirement.
- Living costs: MV has Germany's lowest rents. Rostock shared flats €250–350/month, 40–60% below Berlin, Hamburg or Munich. Total monthly costs for a student (rent, food, transport, insurance): around €750–900.
- Visa and admission: EU/EEA citizens enrol freely. Non-EU students need a student visa. Blocked account requirement: €11,904/year. Statutory health insurance: about €110/month.
- International community: Smaller than in Hamburg or Berlin – if a large expat scene matters to you, consider those cities instead.
Alternatives in neighbouring states
If you want a broader private university offering and can commute or relocate, neighbouring states provide a substantially larger landscape:
- Hamburg (2 hours from Schwerin by train): eight private universities including Euro-FH, HFH (distance learning), MSH (medicine, psychology), Bucerius Law School, KLU (logistics) and Brand University (design). Learn more →
- Berlin (2.5 hours from Rostock by train): over 20 private universities – from medicine and law to design and elite management. Germany's largest hub for private higher education. Learn more →
- Schleswig-Holstein (NORDAKADEMIE Elmshorn, FH Wedel): IT and business dual study in the Hamburg commuter belt. Learn more →
Frequently asked questions about private universities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
With 1.6 million inhabitants, MV is the second-smallest German state by population and thinly populated. The market for private higher education is too small to sustain its own institutions. Added to this is a strong public university landscape: two universities (Rostock, Greifswald) and three universities of applied sciences (Wismar, Neubrandenburg, Stralsund). Private providers therefore rely on campus locations of supra-regional institutions – currently CBS and FHM in Rostock.
Costs depend heavily on the format. In the dual programme at CBS Rostock, students typically pay no tuition themselves – the corporate partner covers the cost. FHM Rostock ranges from around €595 to €695 per month depending on the programme. WINGS / University of Wismar starts at €179 per month – the cheapest fee-based distance learning in Germany with a state-issued degree. Private distance universities such as DIPLOMA, AKAD or Euro-FH typically range from €180 to €400 per month. Compared to UK or US tuition, German private programmes remain substantially cheaper: a full Bachelor at DIPLOMA (€7,205 total) costs less than a single year at many UK universities.
Yes – in two formats. First, through FHM Rostock, which offers part-time programmes in social work and education. Second, through distance learning: all German distance universities are accessible regardless of location – from IU through DIPLOMA to WINGS from €179 per month.
WINGS is the distance-learning subsidiary of the public University of Wismar. It is not a private institution – the degree is issued by the state university. WINGS programmes are however fee-based (from €179 per month) and function organisationally like private distance learning: online teaching, flexible scheduling, optional weekend on-site sessions in Wismar. Around 40 programmes in business, business informatics, engineering and architecture, with around 5,100 enrolled students. Programmes are taught in German.
About the Author Marcus Schütz
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