Hamburg Students

FAQs

Read everything you need to know about starting at UE in our FAQ overview below.

General information about our Bachelor's study programmes

High school/ Bachelor's diploma and transcript* or equivalent occupational diploma officially translated to English or German.
* In certain cases, you may also be able to study without a high school diploma. In such cases, you will need to have a minimum of three years of professional experience and be enrolling in a programme relevant to that experience. 

No. 

Yes, you can submit the certified copy of your high school diploma or an equivalent certificate at a later time.

Yes, § 11 of the Berlin University regulations allows entry for subject-specific occupational experience. Please mention this in your application.

First, fill out the application form on our website. Upload a certified copy and the certified translation in German or English of your high school diploma or an equivalent certificate. If you have already studied, please also submit a copy (if necessary a certified translation) of your transcript.
 
For Art & Design degree programmes, a portfolio must also be submitted. You will find the relevant information on the respective degree programme page or in the next section "admission requirements".
 

Please find here all the requirements for studying at UE.
 

You don't know yet which design study programme suits you best? Then opt for a Foundation Diploma.

 

You might still be missing something specific for our admission requirements? With our Foundation Diploma, you will acquire all the skills you need to enrol into one of our business- or tech-related Bachelor’s programme in just six months.

 

Essentially, the same rules apply to you as they do to German applicants. You must apply online and successfully pass the interview. Upon selection of a German-speaking programme, you will need a certificate of German-language ability (Test-DAF 4/DSH 2). Upon application for an English-speaking programme, you should likewise be able to demonstrate English-language ability (min. Level B2 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages). German skills are not required if you study an English-taught programme.

 

Yes, all foreign students in Germany require a health insurance. This means that almost all students (there are only a few exceptions) have to be insured over a statutory health insurance company (public health insurance). Beside the health insurance they also need a compulsory nursing care insurance. A proof of a health insurance is an obligated condition of enrolment. Without this proof an enrolment is not possible. For detailed information please visit www.germanyhis.com.

General information about our Master's study programmes

The basic admission requirement for the Bachelor's programme at UE is the higher education entrance qualification (Fach-) Hochschulreife) that you have achieved with the Abitur or Fachabitur and, if applicable, the submission of a portfolio (for Art & Design programmes). A completed and study-related (individual examination) apprenticeship with subsequent 2 years of professional experience can also enable you to study at UE. UE will check your requirements and inform you immediately after you have submitted your documents whether you can be admitted to the degree programme.

First, fill out the online application on our website. Upload a certified copy and the certified translation in German or English of your Bachelor, MBA, Diploma or an equivalent certificate as well as your transcript.

For Art & Design degree programmes, a portfolio must also be submitted. You will find the relevant information on the respective degree programme page or in the next section "admission requirements".

Please find here all the requirements for studying at UE.
 

  • For the 60 ECTS version: Undergraduate degree (Bachelors) with at least 240 credit points according to European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
  • For the 90 ECTS version: Undergraduate degree with at least 210 credit points.
  • For the 120 ECTS version: Undergraduate degree with at least 180 credit points. 

Yes, all foreign students in Germany require a health insurance. This means that almost all students (there are only a few exceptions) have to be insured over a statutory health insurance company (public health insurance). Beside the health insurance they also need a compulsory nursing care insurance. A proof of a health insurance is an obligated condition of enrolment. Without this proof an enrolment is not possible. For detailed information please visit www.germanyhis.com.

Essentially, the same rules apply as for German applicants. You must apply online and successfully pass the interview. For the international English-speaking Master’s degree, you will need a certificate of English-language ability (European Framework of Reference for Languages B2 and/or certified in the interview).

The Bachelor’s degree programmes at UE are completed with 180 ECTS.
The Master’s degree programmes at UE are completed with 60, 90 or 120 ECTS.

General information about studying at UE

Our student advisors are there to answer any questions you may have about applying as well as our course structure, and to provide assistance – in one-to-one consultations if desired.   

You can apply to UE all year round, however,  you should be aware of certain application deadlines*.
The application deadline for the winter semester is 1 September and for the summer semester 28 February. After these deadlines, there will be a waiting list procedure for available study places each semester. If you already have a valid student visa for Germany, you can apply within the official application deadlines.
* Please take into consideration delays e.g. with entry visa

Yes, we offer regular trial studies and info sessions, including sample lectures from all campuses (analog or digital). Find out more about our webinars and on campus events.

For most programmes at all our locations, students can enrol twice a year at UE. Our summer semester starts in March; our winter semester in September. There are, however, a few exceptions. Dual programmes at UE start once a year (August or September). Our full-time MBA (Master of Business Administration) allows to enrol into the programme in January, March, June and September each year.

For Bachelor’s degrees

The programme covers six semesters (not ALBA or dual programmes). Allowances for previously completed examinations are possible and will be considered by the Examinations Office and the Department Dean. The programme includes a practical-learning semester or a semester abroad in the 5th semester.

For Master’s degrees

The programme covers 2, 3, or 4 semesters. Allowances for previously completed examinations are possible and will be considered by the Examinations Office and the Department Dean.

For Bachelor’s degrees

The 5th semester is specifically set aside for a practical-learning semester or a semester abroad. You have the opportunity to do a work placement within Germany or abroad, or to complete a semester abroad at another university.

For Master’s degrees

No, the one-and-a-half-year Master’s degree programme does not include a semester abroad or practical-learning semester.

For Bachelor’s degrees

The Bachelor’s programmes at UE requires you to obtain 180 ECTS credits.

For Master’s degrees

The Master’s programmes at UE requires you to obtain 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.

Yes, various preparatory courses may (have to) be attended. Please contact our Service Center for more information.

After UE has received your application, our service center will contact you to explain everything about the online-test.

Yes. With the acquisition of a state-accredited Bachelor’s degree from UE you may take part in the Master’s degree at our university or another university. Please note that the admission criteria for Master’s study programmes vary from university to university.

The accreditation of the programmes is important for proving the quality of a university and its programmes. Through accreditation of individual programmes, these bodies guarantee that the same standards are observed and quality requirements are met. For these purposes, the state accreditation also guarantees that graduation from private and state universities are comparable. Germany’s ZEvA (Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency) is a well-known and recognized accreditation agency.

In February 2021, UE was granted the system-accreditation status which is the highest possible form of accreditation and a tribute to the highest standards for internal quality management processes within the university sector. Only a handful of private institutions in Germany have received such recognition of excellence.

For Bachelor’s degrees

The Bachelor’s programmes encompass approximately 25 hours of attendance per week per semester, plus around 15 hours of preparation and follow-up work per week. Furthermore, workshops and projects take place outside of teaching hours. The lecture period spans 15 weeks per semester.

For Master’s degrees

(E.g. 3  semesters) The Master’s programmes encompass 21 to 23 hours of attendance per week for the first two semesters; the third semester encompasses three hours of attendance per week. Additionally, around 20 hours of preparation and follow-up work will be required per week. Furthermore, workshops and projects take place outside of teaching hours. The lecture period spans 15 weeks per semester.

All students at UE have access to our intranet. This is where you can find timetables and documentation relevant for your classes to download. Our intranet also contains a blog system, which provides information, news and events about your study programme. An online gallery offers you a platform for presenting your own artistic work to the public.

The student contract can be cancelled each semester until the end of the semester. The exact deadlines are listed in each respective contract.

Yes, it is possible to transfer upon completing an interview. The recognition of examinations and the possible admission into a higher semester is undertaken by the Examinations Office and the Department Dean. Please provide all relevant documentation with your application.

As a private institution, the UE receives no public funding and is therefore financed solely by tuition fees. You can find the exact amount of tuition fees on the respective programme page.

In general, courses at a university of applied sciences are more practical in nature. Lectures are delivered more so in the style of tutorials. Thus, there is more interaction between lecturers and students. At UE the practical orientation is particularly well developed, because our lecturers work in other (in some cases their own) firms in addition to teaching at the university. In contrast, public German universities provide an in-depth theoretical education that is generally more academic and less applied in nature.

Yes, with the completion of a state-accredited Master’s degree, you may complete your doctorate degree (PhD) at a partnering or other university. 

Guest students

All international students who are matriculated at a university may study at our university for one or two semesters as a visiting student. Students from our partner universities as well as from other institutions are welcome at UE.


If you are a student at a partner university, please register with us through your home university. After you have been nominated by your university we will get in touch with you regarding the next steps. If you are a student at a university outside our network, please apply through our Application Portal: apply.ue-germany.com/login.


June 1st, for the winter semester beginning in September.
December 1st, for the summer semester beginning in March.

In Germany, the academic year is divided into two semesters:
  • The winter semester is from September to February. Exams takes place in Mid-February.
  • The summer semester is from March to July. Exams takes place in Mid-July. 

UE offers course packages for each semester with a total of at least 30 credit points according to the ECTS standard (regular workload). Each course package contains a set of courses that can be studied with us during the semester. Please have a look at our portfolio of courses and their language offerings.
If you are interested in our Masters, please contact International Affairs or the Service Center directly to see which courses we offer.

Language skills of at least the B2 level (CEFR) in either German or English are required. Should your native language be neither English nor German, please include proof of your language skills with your application. 

  • Your résumé in a tabular format.
  • Certified copies of your high school diploma or equivalent occupational diploma.
  • Portfolio with your own artistic design work (see section ‘BA’ about the detailed programme-specific portfolio advices)
  • Social or charity projects, for example projects that you have worked on or are working on.

ERASMUS+ students:

  • No fees at UE

Students from partner universities:

  • Depends on the individual contract. Please talk to your current university.

Free-movers (students from universities outside the network):

  • Bachelor’s degree programme: regular tuition.
  • Master’s degree programme: regular tuition.

UE participates in the ERASMUS+ programme and gives guest students with an ERASMUS+ scholarship a heartfelt welcome. Talk to your current university to discover if they have an ERASMUS+ contract with UE, because the application process for an ERASMUS+ scholarship is through your current university. 

General information on the dual study programme

Theory and practice in one study programme! The dual study programme consists of practical work in a partner company and attendance at the university. This means that you base your studies and your knowledge gain on these two pillars - i.e. dual.

A typical week involves working at the partner company 3 days per week and attending UE 2 days per week. You do not have to agree with the partner company on which days you will work for them. We at UE communicate the university days to your practice partner so that the framework of your working hours is already set and only individual working hours need to be agreed by you.

No. We at UE do not have an NC. On the one hand, we are of the opinion that all persons who have a higher education entrance qualification are allowed to study and that each person can then show his or her potential in the study programme. On the other hand, we are an international university with students from 129 countries, so we do not want to use an NC as a grade average from so many different school, grading and evaluation systems as an admission criterion.

All dual studies are taught in German. The exception is the dual study programme 'Hotel Management', which is taught in English.

The practice partner pays the tuition fees at UE as well as the semester ticket for public transport. In addition, the practice partner pays the student pocket money of approximately €500 per month.

Yes, you can. As a dual student, you can apply for BAföG just like other full-time students. 

You have to pay for your own living expenses. The pocket money of your practice partner, BAföG (if you are eligible), child benefit and financial support from your family are, of course, still available to you as means of financing.

At UE, we support you from the very first step! You apply to us at UE for a dual study programme. After that, we talk to you and find a practice partner/partner company and organise interviews, etc.

There are two main sources: your unsolicited application directly to the company of your choice, in which we support you, and in parallel, the referral of companies via our practice partner exchange, through which we introduce you to potential companies. Both search methods go hand in hand and are supported by the respective study advisors.

As soon as you have applied and gone through our application training, you will be activated on an internal portal, which is used to search for practice partners. In our practice partner exchange, you will find all the companies that are offered in your study programme at your location. On our website, you will find some examples of companies under the respective dual study programme.

You can apply for a dual study programme in our online application portal. Please make sure to select 'Bachelor' as the degree you are aiming for, 'German' as the language and your desired degree programme with the designation 'Dual' at the end.