private universities in Germany

Last Updated on December 24, 2022

The best private German universities

There are currently around 400 higher education institutions in Germany. 240 of these higher education institutions are under public law, and 39 are church-run. 113 higher education institutions are private, of which 20 are private universities, 87 are private universities of applied sciences and three each are private colleges of art and music or universities of their own type. A total of 15 private universities in Germany even offer the possibility of doctoral studies.

Based on the uniRank 2020 university ranking, Germany’s private universities were evaluated according to a unique set of criteria. Only higher education institutions that were founded, licensed or accredited by the relevant German higher education organisation, that offer at least four-year undergraduate (Bachelor’s) or postgraduate (Master’s or Doctorate) programmes and that deliver courses predominantly in a traditional, face-to-face, the non-remote educational format was eligible for the ranking.

Germany RankUniversity NameLocation
90Katholische Universität Eichstätt- IngolstadtEichstatt
97Universität Witten/HerdeckeWitten
120Hochschule FreseniusBerlin
123Fachhochschule WedelWedel
128Hertie School of GovernanceBerlin
120FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie und ManagementEssen
142Technische Hochschule Georg AgricolaBochum
155HHL Graduate School of ManagementLeipzig
159IUBH School of Business and ManagementErfurt

Katholische Universität Eichstätt- Ingolstadt

The Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt is the only Catholic university in the German-speaking region and one of over 200 Catholic universities worldwide. With 4,808 students, including 803 students from universities of applied sciences, it is one of the largest non-state universities in Germany.

Universität Witten/Herdecke

As one of the first private universities founded in Germany in the state of NRW, Witten/Herdecke University is very popular with students seeking an education in healthcare and medicine. It is strategically located amidst healthcare companies and offers students a practical training and study programme. This university is also very popular for nursing courses, both for national and international students.

Hochschule Fresenius

The university maintains locations across Germany that offer various full- and part-time degree programmes (Bachelor’s and Master’s) as well as apprenticeships and further education. It is divided into five subject areas: Business & Media, Health & Social, Chemistry & Biology, Design and Onlineplus.

Fachhochschule Wedel

The University of Applied Sciences Wedel gGmbH is one of the few private but non-profit universities of applied sciences in Germany. It is state-recognised and offers eleven Bachelor’s and six Master’s degree programmes in the fields of computer science, technology and business.

Hertie School of Governance

The Hertie School is a state-recognised, private university in Berlin with the right to award doctorates. It was founded in December 2003 by the non-profit Hertie Foundation as a non-profit GmbH. The university aims to be a leading higher education institution for the international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral study of governance and policy with a focus on the transmission of conceptual knowledge, analytical methods and practical skills.

FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie und Management

FOM Hochschule is a private, state-recognised university based in Essen, Germany, which primarily offers business, engineering and health science degree programmes for working professionals and trainees. With over 57,000 students, FOM is the largest face-to-face university in Germany, offering various time models to ensure the compatibility of studying and working. There is a choice of over 40 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in six university areas.

Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola

The Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences is a state-recognised private university of applied sciences based in Bochum. Commonly referred to as THGA, this is a perfect choice for students who want a practical education, especially if mechanics, process and materials and mining sciences are the area of interest. The university is two centuries old and located in the mining town of Bochum, which is also the reason why students learn through practice.

HHL Graduate School of Management

Management courses are a relevant innovation in the science and engineering dominated German education market. HHL is one of the Business-schools that offers management education in Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes and also provides finance courses for the above-mentioned programmes. The university is also known for quickly incorporating new technologies such as AI and digital management into its study programmes.

IUBH University of Applied Sciences

IUBH is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Erfurt and was founded in 1998. In WS 2019/2020, a total of 30,576 students were enrolled at the university, predominantly in distance learning programmes – making it the largest private distance learning university in Germany. IUBH offers study programmes in all subject areas and offers an extensive programme in the field of information sciences.

Top German universities for Business and Economics

In addition to the already mentioned universities, the following are among the top-ranked German universities in business, economics, and law.

We have listed the top Business Schools based on the ranking by FT for the year 2020. You can also view the entire list of business schools in Germany listed by Forbes here.

The following rankings refer exclusively to the MBA programme, which is particularly attractive for many business administration aspirants.

European RankingGlobal RankingBusiness School
981ESMT Berlin
1964WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management
2171Mannheim Business School
26Frankfurt School of Finance & Mgmt.

ESMT Berlin

With a focus on leadership, innovation and analytics, the diverse faculty publishes outstanding research in top academic journals. In addition, the international business school offers an interdisciplinary platform for discourse between politics, business and academia.

 WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management

WHU is among the leaders in many fields, including its MBA, Master in Finance and Master in Management programmes. WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management is an internationally renowned business school located in Vallendar near Koblenz and Düsseldorf in Germany.

Mannheim Business School

As part of the renowned University of Mannheim, MBS offers first-class finance, business and management education for all career levels – both on an individual and organisational level.

Frankfurt School of Finance and Management

Located in the heart of Frankfurt in a brand new campus, the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management offers Bachelor, Master and PhD programmes. The Master’s programmes are among the best in Europe and the world. Classes are very international, and the school also has a reputation for working with industry experts who guide students on various business and management techniques.

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