Deutsche Universität für Verwaltungswissenschaften Speyer

About Deutsche Universität für Verwaltungswissenschaften Speyer

Deutsche Universität für Verwaltungswissenschaften Speyer (DUV Speyer) is Germany's only university dedicated exclusively to public administration and administrative sciences. Founded in 1947 by the French occupation authority as the State Academy for Administrative Sciences, it has trained senior government officials and public-sector leaders for over seven decades. It is the only German university jointly funded by all 16 Länder and the Federal Republic, reflecting its national mandate.

The university is a postgraduate institution — admission requires a completed university degree. It offers master's programmes in Public Administration (M.A.), State and Administration in Europe (LL.M.), Science Management (M.P.A.), and international joint programmes including the European Master of Public Administration (EMPA) and the Master of European Governance and Administration (MEGA). Doctoral degrees (Dr. rer. publ., Dr. jur., Dr. rer. pol.) and a supplementary studies programme for legal trainees (Ergänzungsstudium) round out the portfolio.

The university houses the German Research Institute for Public Administration (Deutsches Forschungsinstitut für öffentliche Verwaltung) on its compact Wissenschaftscampus Speyer, and is notably small with a highly personalised learning environment. Over 40,000 legal referendaries have completed supplementary studies there since its founding.

Key facts

Founded: 1947
Students: 400

Only German university jointly funded by all 16 federal states and the Federal Republic — ensuring a uniquely national mandate in public administration training

Postgraduate-only institution: every student holds at least a first degree, creating a highly professional peer environment

Tuition-free master's programmes (M.A. Public Administration, LL.M.) for all nationalities including non-EU students

Home to the German Research Institute for Public Administration (Deutsches Forschungsinstitut für öffentliche Verwaltung)

Over 40,000 legal referendaries have completed training at Speyer since 1947

International joint programmes: EMPA (with KU Leuven and others) and MEGA provide a European dimension to the curriculum

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

The M.A. Public Administration and LL.M. Staat und Verwaltung in Europa are tuition-free (gebührenfreie Vollzeitstudiengänge). The M.P.A. Wissenschaftsmanagement is fee-bearing (kostenpflichtig). The MEGA programme charges fees. A Hörerschaftsbeitrag (student body contribution) is payable each semester; exact amount not published on the official site. Rheinland-Pfalz does not levy non-EU tuition surcharges, so the DUV's tuition-free programmes are free for all nationalities.

Admission requirements

DUV Speyer is a postgraduate institution; all applicants must hold a completed university bachelor's degree (minimum 180 ECTS or equivalent). For the M.A. Public Administration the applicant must rank in the top third of their prior programme cohort. German language proficiency is required: Goethe C1, TestDaF TDN 4, or DSH 2 are accepted. APS certificate is required for applicants from India, China (mainland, HK, Macau), and Vietnam before applying — this is a German embassy requirement, not university-specific. There is no direct bachelor's-level admission; Indian students must hold a completed bachelor's degree before applying. Applications are submitted via the university's online portal at bewerbung.uni-speyer.de.

Application deadlines

M.A. Public Administration: 1 June (winter semester, October start). LL.M. Staat und Verwaltung in Europa: 1 June (winter) / 1 December (summer). Supplementary studies (Ergänzungsstudium): 1 September (winter) / 1 March (summer). M.P.A. Wissenschaftsmanagement: 1 June. EMPA exchange students: 1 September (winter) / 1 March (summer). Application portal: bewerbung.uni-speyer.de.

Languages of instruction

Primarily German. Master of Arts in Public Administration and LL.M. programmes are taught mainly in German with some English components. The EMPA programme allows coursework submissions in English.

Campuses & locations

Wissenschaftscampus Speyer

Single campus in Speyer; includes lecture building, library, student residences (Freiherr vom Stein and Otto Mayer halls), and the German Research Institute for Public Administration.

Living in Rheinland-Pfalz

Speyer is a historic city of approximately 51,000 inhabitants on the Rhine in Rhineland-Palatinate, roughly 25 km south of Mannheim. It is best known for its Romanesque cathedral (Speyerer Dom), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city lies within the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region, giving students easy rail access to Mannheim, Heidelberg, and Frankfurt. The surrounding Palatinate wine region provides an unusually pleasant quality of life for a small German city.

Student life & support

DUV Speyer has a small, tight-knit student community centred on the Wissenschaftscampus. On-campus housing is available in two student residences at €345/month (dormitory) or €300/month (guest house single room), making living costs significantly lower than in large German cities. Estimated monthly costs including accommodation start at around €800. The student body (Hörerschaft) organises integration events and provides support for new students. The campus includes a library and computing centre. German language courses are offered to help international students adapt.

International Office: [email protected] International students page →

Accredited Programmes

Master