Brüder Grimm Berufsakademie Hanau GmbH
About Brüder Grimm Berufsakademie Hanau GmbH
Brüder Grimm Berufsakademie Hanau GmbH (BGBA) is a state-recognised Berufsakademie (cooperative education academy) located in Hanau, Hessen, and is the first Berufsakademie in Germany focused exclusively on the creative industries. It is a GmbH owned by the City of Hanau and has been operating since 2012, with programme development supported by the State of Hessen and the European Social Fund (ESF).
BGBA offers three ausbildungsintegrierte duale Studiengänge (work-integrated dual study programmes): Product Design (Produktgestaltung B.A.), Design Management (Designmanagement B.A.), and Innovation Management and Marketing (Innovationsmanagement und Marketing B.A.). Each programme runs for seven semesters and graduates receive two qualifications simultaneously: a Bachelor of Arts degree and a state-recognised vocational training certificate. Training companies typically cover the monthly tuition fee for company-based apprenticeship tracks.
The academy is accredited by ZEvA (Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency) and was positively assessed by the Wissenschaftsrat (German Council for Science and Humanities) for its innovative dual-qualification concept. Its small cohort sizes (approximately 15 students per programme per semester) and strong practitioner faculty of around 20 instructors distinguish it from larger universities of applied sciences.
Key facts
- Founded
- 2012
Only Berufsakademie in Germany combining a bachelor's degree with a thematically matching vocational apprenticeship in the creative industries
Graduates receive two full qualifications: Bachelor of Arts and a state-recognised vocational certificate (seven semesters / 3.5 years)
Three specialist programmes: Product Design, Design Management, Innovation Management and Marketing
Accredited by ZEvA; positively assessed by the Wissenschaftsrat for its dual-qualification model
City-owned institution (GmbH of the City of Hanau) — provides institutional stability
Located 25 minutes from Frankfurt by S-Bahn with affordable student housing costs
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
Monthly tuition: €229.80 (for full-time vocational school track at Zeichenakademie/BSO) or €464.80 (for company-based apprenticeship track). Both fees include a Germany-wide public transport semester ticket (Deutschlandsemesterticket; IC/ICE excluded). For company-based tracks, the training employer typically covers tuition. BAföG state funding is available. No semester-contribution-only model; fees are monthly and programme-specific.
Admission requirements
Applicants require Abitur, Fachhochschulreife, or a recognised equivalent qualification. For the Product Design programme, applicants must pass an artistic-practical aptitude examination (Eignungsprüfung) and submit a portfolio of 10–20 creative works. All programmes require a dual application: one to BGBA via the online portal (motivation letter, CV, certificates), and a separate application to the partner vocational school or training company. No explicit language requirements for foreign applicants are stated on the official site. International applicants should confirm recognition of their school-leaving qualification and German language proficiency directly with the admissions office. APS certificate is not mentioned; applicants from India, China, or Vietnam should verify APS requirements via the German consulate, as this is a state-recognised higher education institution. Results are communicated approximately 3–4 weeks after the aptitude exam.
Application deadlines
No fixed published deadlines on the official site. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; positions remaining after the official intake period may still be filled. Portfolio consultation sessions (Mappenberatung) are offered monthly on the last Thursday, except July and August. Applicants are advised to apply early due to small cohort sizes.
Languages of instruction
German (all programmes taught in German; no English-taught programmes listed on official site)
Campuses & locations
Am Markt 2, 63450 Hanau — main teaching location in the Stadthof development in central Hanau
Linked vocational school for goldsmith and metalwork crafts training; provides library facilities
Living in the city
Hanau is a city of approximately 100,000 residents in eastern Hessen, situated in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main metropolitan region. It is reachable from Frankfurt city centre by S-Bahn in around 25 minutes. Rental costs average €11/m² for a 30 m² apartment, below the Hessian average of €14/m², making it notably more affordable than Frankfurt. Hanau is the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm (Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm), whose legacy is embedded in the city's cultural identity.
Student life & support
Students benefit from an included public transport semester ticket covering trains and buses throughout Germany (excluding IC/ICE), enabling access to Frankfurt's cultural, leisure, and professional network. The academy's central Hanau location within the Stadthof development offers modern study facilities. Small cohort sizes foster close interaction between students and practitioner-lecturers. Vocational training is integrated directly into the study schedule, meaning students divide their time between academic modules and hands-on training at partner companies or the Zeichenakademie.
3
Accredited Programmes
3
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
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