EBZ Business School - University of Applied Sciences

About EBZ Business School - University of Applied Sciences

EBZ Business School – University of Applied Sciences ("Die Immobilienhochschule") is a private, non-profit university of applied sciences in Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, specialising exclusively in real estate and housing economics. Established in 2008 as a successor to the Führungsakademie der Wohnungs- und Immobilienwirtschaft (FWI, operating since 1993), it is accredited by FIBAA and holds RICS R-Accreditation status for its courses.

The school offers eight degree programmes across three campus locations (Bochum, Hamburg, Frankfurt/Main) and in flexible distance-learning and live-stream formats. Bachelor programmes span real estate management, sustainable energy and property management, and an English-integrated international track; master offerings include an M.A. Real Estate Management, an M.Sc. Project Development, and an MBA Real Estate.

As a specialist school, EBZ Business School is deeply embedded in the German housing and real estate industry through its parent organisation, the EBZ foundation. Research is conducted through the affiliated InWIS institute, and the campus in Bochum includes a 100+ room guesthouse, library, and dining facilities.

Key facts

Founded: 2008

Germany's largest specialist real estate university — exclusively focused on housing and property economics

FIBAA-accredited and RICS R-Accredited courses, recognised by the global chartered surveying profession

Three flexible study formats: on-campus (Bochum/Hamburg), distance learning, and live-stream

B.A. International Real Estate with English-language modules and a compulsory semester abroad (from WS 2026)

Industry-embedded via the EBZ foundation; strong placement network within the German housing sector

Affiliated InWIS research institute; Deutschlandstipendium and sector-specific scholarships (GdW, BFW) available

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

EBZ Business School is a private institution and charges tuition fees. The fee schedule (Entgeltordnung) is published on the official website; the GdW-Stipendium covers 75% of tuition for eligible part-time B.A. Real Estate students, and the BFW-Stipendium covers 100% of tuition for M.Sc. Project Development students from BFW member companies, indicating meaningful tuition costs. Exact per-semester amounts are not published on the publicly accessible pages — prospective students should request the current Entgeltordnung from the admissions office. The Deutschlandstipendium (€300/month) is available to enrolled students. BAföG-eligible under certain conditions.

Admission requirements

Applicants require a German higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) or an equivalent foreign qualification. For international applicants, the qualification must be recognised or assessed for equivalence; Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants are subject to the APS certificate requirement before applying. Language of instruction is primarily German, so a recognised German language certificate (typically TestDaF TDN 4 or equivalent DSH/Goethe C1) is required for German-taught programmes. The B.A. International Real Estate integrates English and requires English proficiency. Direct application is made via the school's online portal; prospective students are encouraged to contact the admissions team at [email protected] for individual assessment of foreign qualifications.

Application deadlines

Winter Semester: applications typically close in summer (an August 15 deadline applies for the Deutschlandstipendium; programme application deadlines vary — contact [email protected] for current dates). Summer Semester: applications accepted; a last-minute registration day has been offered in previous years (e.g. March 2024). Both summer and winter intakes are available for the Frankfurt programmes.

Languages of instruction

German (primary language for most programmes). The B.A. International Real Estate (launching WS 2026) includes English-language modules and a compulsory semester abroad. Some master programmes have English content.

Campuses & locations

Bochum (Main Campus)

Springorumallee 20, 44795 Bochum. Primary headquarters; full range of bachelor and master programmes in on-campus, distance, and live-stream formats.

Hamburg (Hybrid Campus)

Digital live-study hybrid format; selected bachelor and master programmes.

Frankfurt/Main

Part-time/work-accompanying B.A. Real Estate and MBA Real Estate; offered since Summer 2025 via a centrally located conference-hotel venue.

Living in Nordrhein-Westfalen

Bochum is a mid-sized city in the Ruhr metropolitan region of Nordrhein-Westfalen, consistently ranked among Germany's top 10 university towns. It offers a compact city centre, affordable cost of living compared to Hamburg or Frankfurt, strong public transport links within the Rhine-Ruhr area, and a lively cultural scene anchored by the Schauspielhaus theatre and multiple music venues. The EBZ campus is directly accessible from the A448 city motorway.

Student life & support

The Bochum campus features a library, a Mensa (canteen), and an on-site guesthouse with over 100 rooms. The school maintains an active alumni network (EBZ Business School Alumni) and a student community called "Wir EBZler". Erasmus+ mobility and DAAD-funded exchange semesters are available for outgoing students. The International Office advises both incoming and outgoing students on study-abroad options.

International Office: [email protected] International students page →

Accredited Programmes

Master

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus