Private Universities in Rhineland-Palatinate: WHU in Vallendar and Campus Providers

All private universities at a glance

We have a total of 2 private universities listed in our database.

Which private universities are based in Rhineland-Palatinate?

Two private universities have their headquarters in Rhineland-Palatinate – a very small but high-calibre field.

• WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management (Vallendar near Koblenz): Around 2,082 students, 10 programmes. One of Europe's most prestigious business schools, founded 1984. Masters in Management #1 in Germany, #22 globally (Financial Times 2025). Bachelor in International Business Administration (€51,000), Master in Management/Finance/Entrepreneurship (€37,200), Master in Business Analytics (€30,300), Full-Time MBA (€43,000), Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA (€105,000). All programmes taught in English. Selection by multi-stage assessment – no NC. Second campus in Düsseldorf. Costs: €30,300–105,000.
• University for Social Design (HfGG) (Koblenz): Around 146 students, 2 programmes. Founded 2014. Philosophically oriented: Economy – Sustainability – Transformation (B.A., €9,600), Economy - Sustainability - Social Design and Economy – Responsibility – Institutional Design (M.A., €14,400). Small cohorts, interdisciplinary approach. Both programmes available in English. Costs: €9,600–14,400.

What can you study privately in Rhineland-Palatinate?

The HQ institutions cover business, management and sustainability exclusively. All other fields are available through campus providers or distance-learning institutions from neighbouring states.

• Management, finance and MBA: WHU offers a compact but elite portfolio – from a €30,300 Master in Business Analytics to the €105,000 Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA. WHU alumni are placed at McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, BCG and in the startup ecosystem. All programmes are English-taught.
• Transformation and sustainability: The University for Social Design in Koblenz offers philosophically grounded economics and sustainability studies (€9,600–14,400).
• What's not available: No medicine, law, psychology, IT, engineering, social work or health sciences at HQ institutions. Campus providers (FOM, IU, CBS, FHM in Mainz/Koblenz) add psychology, business, social work and IT. Alternatively, distance-learning institutions from Hesse (DIPLOMA, Wilhelm Büchner) or Baden-Württemberg (AKAD, SRH Fernhochschule) are available from anywhere.

How much does it cost to study at a private university in Rhineland-Palatinate?

Tuition ranges from €9,600 (University for Social Design bachelor) to €105,000 (Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA). WHU is among Germany's most expensive institutions – but also among the most prestigious.

• €9,600–14,400: University for Social Design (bachelor €9,600, master €14,400).
• €30,300–51,000 (WHU bachelor and master): Master in Business Analytics (€30,300). Part-time Master in Management (€33,000). Global Online MBA (€36,000). Master programmes (€37,200). Full-Time MBA (€43,000). Bachelor (€51,000).
• €105,000 (Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA): One of Germany's most expensive programmes – a joint venture with Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University, USA).

All private universities are state-recognised. For comparison: public universities in RLP charge only ~€310/semester. Via campus providers, private study in RLP is much cheaper: FOM from €9,480, IU from €15,063. International cost comparison: even WHU's Master in Management at €37,200 total is significantly cheaper than comparable programmes at London Business School, INSEAD or Wharton.

Rhineland-Palatinate for international students

Rhineland-Palatinate's private higher education offering is unusually international: all 12 programmes at HQ institutions are English-taught. The WHU attracts students from over 50 countries.

• English-taught options: All WHU programmes are in English. Both University for Social Design programmes are available in English. This makes Rhineland-Palatinate unique: 100% of HQ programmes are English-taught.
• WHU's international profile: WHU has exchange agreements with over 200 partner universities globally. The Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA is taught jointly with Northwestern University (USA). The student body is highly international, particularly in master and MBA programmes.
• Living costs: Vallendar/Koblenz: WG rooms €300–400/month – significantly cheaper than Frankfurt, Munich or Berlin. Mainz: €400–550. Frankfurt is 30 minutes from Mainz by S-Bahn.
• 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).
• Job market: Koblenz has a regional economy (defence, government, logistics). Mainz is a media hub (ZDF, SWR) and borders the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main metro area – Germany's financial capital is 30 minutes away. WHU graduates are primarily placed in major cities (Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, London) rather than locally.

Funding and scholarships in Rhineland-Palatinate

• BAföG: Available at all state-recognised private universities. Maximum: €992/month.
• Deutschlandstipendium: €300/month, merit-based, income-independent.
• WHU scholarships: WHU awards merit- and need-based scholarships through the WHU Foundation and corporate partners. A significant share of students receives financial support, from partial to full tuition waivers. Apply during the admissions process.
• KfW student loan: Up to €650/month at around 2% interest.

Frequently asked questions about private universities in Rhineland-Palatinate