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Study and research in Germany

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Study and research in Germany

Home « Study and research in Germany « University « Type of university « Private / Church-maintained Institutions

Private Universities and Church-maintained Colleges

Private Universities

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Private Universities: Graduates of private universities are preferentially taken on by global players. Because they already gain plenty of practical experience at home and abroad during their studies. Before you sign a contract with a private university, please make sure that you check that the university is state recognised.

Private universities have established themselves in the German higher education landscape over recent years. Within just ten years their number grew from 24 to 63 at present. Despite the occasionally high tuition fees – around 1,800 to 4,700 euros per semester – they are becoming an alternative to studying at a state institution for ever more first-year students and undergraduates. Some of the reasons for this lie in the good reputation that the private universities have: small study groups, strong ties with business and industry, very practical focus, strong international orientation, short studies, good career prospects.

But take care! Far from all the private universities meet these expectations. If you are seriously considering studying at a private university, you must make sure that your check that it is state-recognised. Because without this state recognition, any academic degrees you gain will not be recognised, which could lead to major problems when you start looking for a job after graduating.

Church-maintained Colleges

The profile of the 41 or so church-maintained colleges in Germany is much broader than one might expect from the term "church". Besides educating priests and theologians, they also train and qualify future religious education teachers as well as inclusive education teachers with a specialisation in social work and education, special needs education or curative/therapeutic education, plus nursing and health care professionals, and church musicians. Most of these degree programmes are offered by Fachhochschulen run and financed by the Protestant or Catholic church, respectively. This church sponsorship is partly reflected in the admissions requirements. For example, applicants often have to prove their affiliation with the church in selection interviews or through references. However, that is different at the College for Jewish Studies, Heidelberg. It is open to students of all denominations, religions and faiths.

Special

Berufsakademien (Universities of Cooperative Education)

Berufsakademien (BA), or universities of cooperative education as they are known in English, are not higher education institutions. Nevertheless, their certificates and degrees are partly recognised as equivalent to Fachhochschulen qualifications. Berufsakademien offer academic studies (focuses on business, technology, social studies) in combination with vocational training, i.e. cooperative education. This dual training alternates between courses taken at the academy and practical (workplace) training in a company. This means only those can study at a Berufsakademie who have concluded a training contract with a company. So far, Berufsakademien have only been established in Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Saxony, Thuringia, Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. 

Participants already receive a training allowance during their three years of qualification; the training is strongly focused on the practical requirements and standards of the companies; many of the programmes include integrated internships abroad. Some of the Berufsakademien even deliver the training bilingually: German-English. This profile has resulted in many companies showing a strong interest in Berufsakademie graduates, including, in particular, global players with their branches around the world. 
More info: www.studis-online.de/StudInfo/hochschule.php?type=4&bundesland=0


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DAAD Glossary

Hochschule

"Hochschule" is the generic term for the various kinds of higher education or tertiary level institutions (Hochschultypen), such as universities, universities of applied sciences or colleges of art, film or music (Kunst-, Film- und Musikhochschulen), or colleges of education (Pädagogische Hochschulen).

Semester

The academic year in Germany is generally divided into two semesters rather than three terms, such as is generally the case in the UK and other countries. German universities generally have a winter semester that runs from October to March and a summer semester that runs from April to September. A semester includes both the period when courses and lectures are held (Vorlesungszeit) and the time without lectures (recess) in which students can revise and prepare (Vorlesungsfreiezeit).

Universität

"Universität" means university and is used for research universities (wissenschaftliche Hochschulen) that offer a broad range of subjects (like arts and humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, economics and business administration, law, medicine). These institutions confer doctorates. The strong research focus benefits students in their training. Please note, however, that English texts often use the term "university" generically, i.e. to cover all kinds of higher education institutions, for example, universities of the arts, universities of applied sciences, universities of education, etc.

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© 2009 Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst e.V. (DAAD), Kennedyallee 50, D-53175 Bonn
Source: http://www.daad.de/deutschland/hochschulen/hochschultypen/05978.en.html
Date: 2009-01-09