- Founded
- 2000
- Students
- 5,834
- Programmes
- 68
- Taught in English
- 4
About Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM)
Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM) is a private, state-recognised University of Applied Sciences in Germany, operating under the umbrella of Stiftung Bildung & Handwerk (SBH Group). The institution holds permanent state approval as well as institutional and system accreditation. FHM is a practice-oriented institution with programmes spanning six subject areas: Economics, Pedagogy & Social Work, Psychology, Health & Sports, Media & Communication, and Technology.
FHM operates nine physical campuses across Germany - Bielefeld (headquarters), Bamberg, Berlin, Düren, Frechen, Hannover, Cologne, Rostock, and Waldshut - plus a fully online study option. All programmes are NC-free (no numerus clausus grade threshold for admission). The university reports that 99% of its graduates are employed or in further study after completing their degree.
FHM maintains an International Office and a dedicated FHM.Studienkolleg division (fhm-international.de) that supports international applicants, including language preparation via telc certificates and a Pre-Studis preparatory programme. Welcome Centres in Chandigarh (India), Wuhan (China), and Korea support students from those markets.
Private, state-accredited University of Applied Sciences with permanent institutional and system accreditation
9 physical campuses across Germany plus a fully online study option
NC-free admissions - no minimum grade threshold for any bachelor programme
FHM.Studienkolleg offers preparatory courses (technology, business, medicine) and telc language certification for international applicants
Welcome Centres in Chandigarh (India), Wuhan (China), and Korea to support international applicant intake
Part of the Stiftung Bildung & Handwerk (SBH) group; counselling available in German, English, and Chinese
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 2000
- Students
- 5,834
- Faculties
- 6
- Programmes
- 68
Study programmes
68 accredited degrees at Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM), 4 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–24 of 68 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
FHM is a private university; tuition fees apply to all students regardless of nationality or EU status. Exact fee amounts are not published on the official website. There is no semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) to a public student services organisation, as FHM is private. The study financing page references BAföG (where eligible), KfW study credits (€100-€650/month), education funds (up to €30,000 total), and tax deductions (up to €6,000/year for first-degree programmes) as financing options. Prospective students must request a fee schedule directly from FHM ([email protected] or +49 800 3113223).
Admission requirements
FHM admits applicants holding the Allgemeine Hochschulreife (Abitur), Fachhochschulreife, or equivalent qualifications. All bachelor's programmes are NC-free - no minimum grade (numerus clausus) applies. Alternative admission pathways exist for applicants with vocational qualifications plus work experience. For master's programmes, a completed bachelor's degree recognised by German authorities is required. International applicants whose prior qualification does not directly qualify for German university admission can enrol in the FHM.Studienkolleg, which offers study-preparatory courses for technology, business, and medicine tracks, as well as telc language-certificate programmes. A Welcome Centre in Chandigarh (India) serves Indian applicants. APS certificate requirements (mandatory for applicants from India, China, and Vietnam) are not addressed on the FHM website; applicants from these countries should confirm APS obligations directly with the relevant German Embassy APS office before applying. Language requirements for degree programmes (German CEFR level or IELTS/TOEFL thresholds) are not published on the official site and should be confirmed with FHM's study advisory team at +49 800 3113223.
Application deadlines
For programmes with an October (winter semester) start: application documents must be submitted by 31 August. The online study option has no fixed intake deadline; enrolment is possible year-round with formal enrolment dates in February, June, and October. Summer semester deadlines are not published on the official site.
How international applicants apply
Not used. Direct application through the FHM's own online application portal. Applicants without a German higher education entrance qualification are prepared via the in-house FHM Studienkolleg (preparatory courses in technology, business and medicine), run by the International Office, instead of a uni-assist VPD check. FHM is not on uni-assist's official member list.
Languages of instruction
German is the primary language of instruction across most programmes. English-language advising and counselling is available through the International Office and Welcome Centre. Specific English-taught degree programmes are not confirmed on the official site; prospective students should contact the International Office to verify current English-medium offerings.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM)
3 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Aufstiegsstipendium (listed on FHM financing page)
Federal scholarship for vocationally qualified applicants without higher-education entrance qualification starting a first full-ti...
Amount: 735 EUR/month plus 80 EUR book money plus childcare supplement (130 EU...
Deadline: Rolling (BMBF programme)
bachelor, master
FHM 50% Stipendium
Own scholarship of the university: 50% waiver of tuition fees for a full-time bachelor programme at a participating FHM campus (Ba...
Amount: 50% tuition waiver (worth up to ~40,000 EUR over the programme)
Deadline: Annual call - recent cycles used deadlines of 30 June / 31 July (verif...
bachelor
Weiterbildungsstipendium (listed on FHM financing page)
For employed under-25s with strong vocational training pursuing a profession-related part-time degree (min. 15 h/week employment).
Amount: Up to 5,100 EUR total (max. 1,700 EUR/year, usually over 3 years)
Deadline: Rolling (SBB programme)
bachelor
Student accommodation
What Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM) publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
From the university
The university does not operate its own student dormitories; housing must be arranged privately. On-campus student services organisations (Studentenwerk) typical of public universities are not present at FHM.
Campuses & locations
Main headquarters; Ravensberger Straße 10 G, 33602 Bielefeld
Economics/business focus
Media and communication programmes
Business-focused offerings
Near Cologne; economics programmes
Health and sports programmes
Business studies
Economics and pedagogy/social sciences
Pedagogy and social sciences
Fully distance-learning option; rolling enrolment in February, June, and October
Living in Bielefeld
Bielefeld, the main campus city, is a mid-sized city of approximately 340,000 inhabitants in the Teutoburg Forest region of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is a major hub for IT, mechanical engineering, and food-industry companies and has a large student population anchored by Bielefeld University and several applied-sciences institutions. The cost of living is lower than in Berlin or Munich, with student accommodation typically available through private providers.
Student life & support
FHM's International Office (headed by Dr. Susanne Göller) and Welcome Centre provide personalised study counselling in German, English, and Chinese. The FHM.Studienkolleg offers language preparation (telc certificates) and a Pre-Studis programme for students not yet meeting university entry requirements. Study groups at FHM are described as small, enabling close contact with lecturers. Erasmus+ funding is available for international exchange periods and internships. The university does not operate its own student dormitories; housing must be arranged privately. On-campus student services organisations (Studentenwerk) typical of public universities are not present at FHM.
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