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Fachhochschulen / Universities of Applied Sciences
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Fachhochschulen/Universities of Applied Sciences: Great practical relevance and focus, well-founded academic training. If you like learning and working in the applied field, then studying at a Fachhochschule will be an interesting option for you.
There are 167 Fachhochschulen (FHs) in Germany. Their official English translation is "University of Applied Sciences". This name mirrors exactly what Fachhochschulen are actually all about: they stand for great practical relevance and focus with strong ties to applications in the working world. Those who study at a Fachhochschule have a better preparation than traditional university students for positions and assignments in specific industries and work fields. So the FHs above all offer degree programmes in the field of technology, business and management, social studies, media and design. On the other hand, those interested in studying for a degree in medicine, in education (school teachers) or law will not be able to study these fields at a Fachhochschule.
The strong applied or practical focus of the Fachhochschulen is also reflected in the profile of their lecturers and professors. Many of them have already gained career experience in industry, business or social work. This know-how qualifies and enables them to provide students with insights into the processes, working methods and expectations of companies or social and cultural institutions. Compulsory study internships (as a rule students are required to complete one or two practical semesters) round off the transfer of this knowledge and practice to students.
Focus on
Universities of the Federal Armed Forces and Universities of Administrative Sciences
Specialised higher education institutions maintained by federal government and the federal states qualify specialists for civil and public service positions. For example, the Universities of the Federal Armed Forces, one in Hamburg and the other in Munich, train future officers. However, studies at these universities are only open to applicants who hold German nationality.
Admission to the Universities of Administrative Sciences, again maintained by federal government and the federal states, is not quite as strict. Depending on where someone will work in the future (for example, the police, inland revenue, social security) applicants from the member states of the European Union can also study at a university of administrative sciences. Studies generally last three years during which participants draw a salary and mostly have the status of a civil servant candidate. Applications cannot be sent direct to the university of administrative sciences, but must rather be submitted to the authority in question (for example, social security office, labour administration, university administration).
More info: www.fhbund.de (Universities of Administrative Sciences)
From my personal experience
"Immediately practising what you've learnt"
Mikhail from Russia, studying Technical Environmental Protection at a Fachhochschule, in his second semester:
"I wanted to study something to do with the environment and didn't want the studies to take too long. So, inspired by this idea I began to gather information on study opportunities in Germany. While surfing the Internet I kept on coming across programmes offered by Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences). I didn't have a clue what a Fachhochschule is. But because I found some of the degree programmes interesting, I then asked more specifically about them. At first, I didn't really understand what the difference between a Fachhochschule and a university is. But what I did realise was that a Fachhochschule attaches a lot of importance to practical experience. That was just right for me. I'm someone who wants to get his hands on something and to see what comes out at the end. That's why I decided to take the Bachelor of Technical Environmental Protection programme. It lasts six semesters. Besides studying chemistry and biology, you also learn a lot about technology and engineering. And what's best about it is that I then spend 22 weeks on an internship during the third semester. I'll do that with a company that produces water treatment plants for India and China."
© 2008 Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst e.V. (DAAD), Kennedyallee 50, D-53175 Bonn
Source: http://www.daad.de/deutschland/hochschulen/hochschultypen/00411.en.html
Date: 2008-10-07