Different types of higher education institutions

The different types of higher education institutions are defined by the federal states in their respective higher education acts. A distinction is generally made between the following types:

• Universities and higher education institutions with comparable tasks - these include technical universities, distance learning universities, universities of the Federal Armed Forces, universities for medicine, veterinary medicine or sport, ecclesiastical and philosophical-theological universities and teacher training colleges.
• Colleges of art, music and film
• Universities of applied sciences
• Universities for public administration
• Dual universities or vocational academies
• Distance learning universities

The individual universities are usually organised into subject areas, faculties or departments.

At the two universities of the Bundeswehr (UniBw) in Hamburg and Munich, officer candidates and officers receive an academic education in university degree programmes or university of applied sciences degree programmes (UniBw Munich only) that are equivalent to degrees from other universities. With this training, graduates can take up a civilian academic profession after completing their period of service (at least 13 years).

In addition to ecclesiastical universities, there are also theological universities. They provide academic training in theology, just like the corresponding university faculties. In addition, degree programmes are often offered in the social, therapeutic and nursing fields, as churches are also responsible for clinics and social and nursing facilities.

Teacher training colleges offer degree programmes that prepare students for teaching at primary, secondary, secondary modern, community and special schools. Teacher training colleges co-operate with universities and universities of applied sciences in the training for the grammar school teaching profession and the teaching profession for vocational schools (see section 3.10.1 ‘Teaching profession in Baden-Württemberg’). The range of courses on offer also includes degree programmes not related to the teaching profession, such as educational science or childhood education.

Art, music and film colleges offer degree programmes in the visual and performing arts or in musical subjects. The courses take place either in small groups (‘classes’) or as individual lessons.

Bachelor's, master's or diploma degrees can be obtained at art colleges. Students who study an artistic subject as part of a teacher training programme complete their studies - depending on the federal state - with either a state examination or a Bachelor's or Master's degree (of Education). Some degree programmes require a probationary period of two semesters at the beginning of the course.

Music colleges often train their students in a specific instrument or in singing. The musical genre is not always classical; jazz, pop or rock are also represented. The Popakademie Baden-Württemberg in Mannheim, for example, offers degree programmes such as pop music design and music business. In order to be admitted, you usually have to pass an aptitude test.

When studying music and performing arts (music theatre, dance, acting), there is usually an intermediate and a final examination. Depending on the university, the latter is a university examination (Bachelor's, Master's or diploma examination, artistic maturity examination) or a state examination.

There are four state film schools in Germany: the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Ludwigsburg, the Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film in Munich, the Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln and the Filmuniversität Konrad Wolf in Potsdam-Babelsberg. They offer degree programmes in all aspects of film production, such as screenwriting, directing, cinematography and film music. You can earn bachelor's, master's and diploma degrees. In addition, there are numerous other private academies and institutes whose programmes lead to a certificate. In order to be admitted to a degree programme, applicants often have to provide proof of an internship or work samples and successfully pass an aptitude test. In addition, (private) media-oriented universities provide training for various professional fields in audiovisual and electronic media, some of which are more artistically orientated, others more technically. In addition to traditional media such as photography and film, there are courses in media genres such as computer graphics and animation as well as 3D simulation. In addition to aesthetic aspects, these degree programmes also deal with media science, economic and legal issues.

Numerous public schools offer long-standing drama courses, which are often called degree programmes, although no university entrance qualification is required. Instead, a decision is usually made on the admission of applicants as part of an entrance examination. These courses conclude with an internal certificate.

Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) pursue an application-orientated scientific approach. This means that the degree programme is increasingly geared towards practical requirements. 

Like universities, universities of applied sciences mainly offer Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes. However, the range of subjects at UASs is more limited, as certain degree programmes (e.g. human medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and pharmacy as well as teaching, languages and humanities) are only offered at universities. Universities of applied sciences often concentrate on the fields of technology/engineering, economics, media and social sciences.

The integrated practical phases can comprise internships lasting several weeks, project phases or an entire semester and are completed in companies and organisations. This reinforces the practical relevance of the degree programme. Previously completed vocational training or work experience can be partially or fully credited towards the practical phases.

Many universities of applied sciences also offer dual study programmes (see section 2.4.1. ‘Dual studies’).

Students at federal and state universities of applied sciences for (public) administration are trained for the higher civil service careers in public administration.

The three-year degree programme has a dual structure and takes place alternately at the university and at the training authority. For this reason, access to these universities is only possible via the training authority. As a rule, they are also the point of contact for all questions regarding the degree programme and application.

While you are studying at a university of (public) administration, you are already a civil servant on revocation and receive candidate pay.

In the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Thuringia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, the former vocational academies have been converted into dual universities. In Berlin, the university of cooperative education has been incorporated into the University of Applied Sciences for Economics as a dual study programme department.

Dual universities offer degree programmes in the fields of business, technology, health and social services. The degree programmes are characterised by the close integration of theoretical and practical study phases. Upon graduation, students receive an academic degree and can then go on to study for a Master's degree in Germany or abroad.

Good to know: The tuition fees for a dual study programme are usually paid by the partner company. This means that there are no costs for students at privately-run dual study programmes.

In addition to universities, some federal states also have vocational academies (Berufsakademien, BA), which offer dual study programmes that qualify students for a profession as an alternative to university studies. Study opportunities are offered in the fields of business, social work and technology, among others. Their Bachelor's degrees are equivalent to Bachelor's degrees at universities, although they are not academic degrees. However, this is only relevant if a doctorate is intended later on. This means that graduates of an accredited Bachelor's programme at a university of cooperative education can start a Master's programme or another advanced degree programme at universities of applied sciences and universities, but can only be admitted to a doctorate under certain conditions.

Depending on the respective state law and the specific training centre, attending a vocational university may be eligible for BAföG funding (§2 para. 1 BAföG). You can obtain information from the respective training centre or the relevant training assistance office. However: The training allowance will be deducted from the funding amount.