Deutsche Berufsakademie Sport und Gesundheit

Hessen, Germany

About DBA Baunatal

The Deutsche Berufsakademie Sport und Gesundheit (dba) is a private, state-recognised academy in Baunatal, Hesse, operated by the non-profit HVU Bildungsakademie gGmbH. Founded in 2016, it offers Germany's first dual-format sports science bachelor's degree programmes in the fields of sport, fitness, health, prevention, therapy, and nutrition.

Study at the dba follows a blended-learning model: students attend four-day on-campus sessions once a month at the Baunatal study location, supplemented by structured online learning and practical training at one of over 500 partner organisations in the sport and health industry. The practical component accounts for more than 40 percent of the curriculum, which distinguishes the dba's approach from conventional university sports science programmes.

The academy is accredited by the German Science Council (Wissenschaftsrat) and maintains partnerships with bodies including the German Olympic Sports Confederation training academy (DOSB Trainerakademie Köln) and the German Fitness Trainers Association (DFLV). Around 240 students are enrolled across the three bachelor's programmes.

Key facts

Founded: 2016
Students: 240

Germany's first dual-format sports science bachelor's degree programmes

State-recognised (staatlich anerkannt) and Wissenschaftsrat-accredited

Over 500 industry practice partners in sport, fitness, health, and therapy sectors

Blended-learning model: monthly four-day on-campus phases plus online and workplace learning

Partnership with DOSB Trainerakademie Köln and DFLV

Small cohort sizes enabling close mentoring and industry networking

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

The dba is a private academy and charges tuition fees of approximately €490 per month (6-semester / 3-year programme). In the dual-study model, the practice partner (employer) typically covers tuition costs and pays the student a monthly training allowance. There is no semester contribution of the kind charged at public universities. Baden-Württemberg non-EU surcharges do not apply (Hesse state).

Admission requirements

Applicants must hold an Abitur, Fachhochschulreife, a Meister qualification with IHK certificate, or a secondary-school leaving certificate combined with completed vocational training. Because the dba operates a dual-study model, applicants must also have a contract with a practice partner (employer) from the sport, fitness, or health sector before enrolment. If the vocational training grade is worse than 2.5, an entrance examination is required. There are no fixed semester-start deadlines; enrolment into an existing cohort is possible provided places are available. International applicants whose prior qualification is from India, China, or Vietnam require an APS certificate before applying for a student visa. Recognition of foreign school-leaving certificates is assessed on an individual basis.

Application deadlines

No fixed application deadlines; rolling admission throughout the year subject to available places. Prospective students should contact the academy's study advising team ([email protected]) early to allow time to find a practice partner.

Languages of instruction

German (all bachelor's programmes are taught in German)

Campuses & locations

Baunatal

Main and only campus; Stettiner Straße 4, 34225 Baunatal, Hesse. Facilities include two equipment halls, four multipurpose rooms, two seminar rooms, and a sports library.

Living in Hessen

Baunatal is a small industrial town in the Kassel district of northern Hesse, directly south of the city of Kassel. It is best known for its large Volkswagen components plant. Baunatal is connected to Kassel by tram and regional bus; Kassel itself is a mid-sized city with a university, museums, and the UNESCO-listed Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe. Students living in Baunatal typically access Kassel's cultural amenities within 15–20 minutes by public transport.

Student life & support

Campus life centres on the monthly on-site phases in Baunatal. Because the dba's blended-learning format means students spend most of the week at their practice partner rather than on campus, the experience is closer to working life than traditional university study. The academy's facilities include sports and exercise halls used for practical modules. A student congress (dba Sportkongress) is held annually. Students benefit from access to the wider Kassel area for leisure, sport, and social activities.

International Office: [email protected] International students page →

Accredited Programmes

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus