Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei

About Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei

Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei (DHPol) is a specialised federal-state university in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, serving as the graduate institution for senior police officers from all German federal and state police services. It was formally established in 2006 and incorporated into North Rhine-Westphalia's Higher Education Act in December 2016, gaining full university status.

DHPol offers an accredited two-year Master's programme in Public Administration – Police Management (Öffentliche Verwaltung – Polizeimanagement), launched in October 2007, which prepares police officers for higher leadership positions. Since April 2024 it also offers a part-time Master's in Public Governance and Democratic Resilience for mid-level and senior staff from security and municipal agencies.

Admission to DHPol programmes is restricted exclusively to serving German federal and state police officers nominated by their respective authorities. The university is not open to standard applications from the general public or international students. In addition to degree programmes, DHPol provides continuing professional development to approximately 2,000 participants per year from Germany and abroad.

Key facts

Founded: 2006
Faculties: 3

Only federal-state university in Germany dedicated exclusively to senior police leadership education

Accredited by the German Science Council (Wissenschaftsrat) in January 2013

Two-year Master's in Public Administration – Police Management, accredited and running since 2007

Provides continuing education to approximately 2,000 police professionals annually from Germany and abroad

Governed jointly by the interior ministries of all 16 German states and the federal government

Three academic departments covering the core disciplines of police management and public administration

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

No tuition fees are charged; DHPol is funded by the interior ministries of the German federal and state governments. Officers attend on service assignment rather than as fee-paying students.

Admission requirements

Admission is restricted exclusively to serving police officers (Polizeibeamtinnen und Polizeibeamte) of the German federal government or a German state. Candidates are nominated and selected through their employing state or federal authority in consultation with DHPol. There is no general public, civilian, or international student admission pathway. Standard international student admission criteria (APS certificate, anabin, language certificates) do not apply.

Application deadlines

For the Public Governance and Democratic Resilience programme: applications open 15 July – 30 November for an April intake. Dates for the Police Management Master's are determined by the nominating state/federal authorities, not by open application.

Languages of instruction

German (primary language of instruction); English used in some international continuing-education contexts

Campuses & locations

Münster Campus

Zum Roten Berge 18-24, 48165 Münster — sole campus

Living in Nordrhein-Westfalen

Münster is a mid-sized university city in the Westphalia region of North Rhine-Westphalia with a population of approximately 320,000. It is known for its large student population (around 60,000 students across multiple universities), its historic old town, and its cycling culture. DHPol's campus is located in the south of the city at Zum Roten Berge.

Student life & support

DHPol is a small, mission-specific institution. Student life is shaped by the professional police-service context rather than a traditional campus culture. Participants are serving officers on assignment and typically engage with the university's research centres, professional-development seminars, and international police-cooperation programmes alongside their degree studies.

Accredited Programmes

Master