Universities of Applied Sciences

Universities of applied sciences or Fachhochschulen are a result of educational policy debates held in the 1960s. Initially, these new institutions were meant to offer professional, practical training for future engineers and social workers, giving them the basic theoretical knowledge they would need for their work. Most of the universities of applied sciences were founded at the beginning of the 1970s and in 1976 they were given equal standing with universities. The reform was aimed at combining academic, scientific and practical education. Academic freedom to teach and conduct research, as well as academic self-administration became guaranteed rights.

The main subjects at the universities of applied sciences cover a broad range of disciplines: for example business administration, industrial engineering, social services studies, design studies, computer and information science, mathematics, archival, library and documentation studies, nutrition and household management, agricultural and forestry science, building restoration, as well as translation and interpretation. The universities of applied sciences offer both the traditional German degree Diplom and the international qualifications Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.