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Fachhochschulen / HAW

Fachhochschule Wedel

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

About Fachhochschule Wedel

Fachhochschule Wedel (FH Wedel) is a state-recognised private university of applied sciences located in Wedel, Schleswig-Holstein, at the western edge of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. Founded in 1948 as a technical teaching institute in Lübeck, it relocated to Wedel in 1963 and received Fachhochschule status in 1969. As a family-owned, non-profit private institution, it is one of the oldest private universities of applied sciences in Germany.

FH Wedel concentrates on three disciplinary areas — Computer Science (Informatik), Engineering (Technik), and Business (Wirtschaft) — with a deliberate focus on interdisciplinary programmes that combine IT with engineering and management. It offers around 20 study programmes at bachelor's and master's level, including one fully English-taught master's programme (M.Sc. IT Engineering). Class sizes are intentionally small, and the university maintains close ties to industry through 91 dual-study partners and strong internship networks.

The campus spans approximately 20,000 square metres and accommodates around 1,200–1,300 enrolled students. The institution is privately funded through tuition fees, regional government allocations, and third-party contributions, and charges tuition fees unlike most public German universities.

Key facts

Founded
1948
Students
1,300
Faculties
3

One of the oldest private universities of applied sciences in Germany, family-owned and operating since 1948

Three focused departments (Computer Science, Engineering, Business) with strong IT-engineering interdisciplinary programmes

English-taught M.Sc. IT Engineering — the only fully English-language degree programme, open to international applicants without German

Small class sizes and rolling admissions — no fixed application deadline for most programmes, decisions within days

APS certificate mandatory for applicants from India, China, and Vietnam (in lieu of standard uni-assist VPD)

Located on Hamburg's S-Bahn network — direct suburban rail access to Germany's second-largest city in under 30 minutes

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

FH Wedel is a private institution and charges tuition fees. As of winter semester 2024/25, bachelor's programme fees are approximately €2,010 per semester and master's programme fees are approximately €2,730 per semester (non-EU applicants pay a surcharge of €500 per semester on top of these amounts). A mandatory student services contribution (Studentenwerksbeitrag) of approximately €89 per semester and a Germany semester ticket (Deutschlandsemesterticket) of approximately €208.80 per semester are charged in addition to tuition. Payment in instalments is available from the second semester onward. Tuition fees are not waived for international or non-EU students.

Admission requirements

International applicants must hold a qualifying higher education entrance certificate (Abitur equivalent) for bachelor's entry, or a relevant bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.9 (German scale) for master's entry. Applications from outside Germany are processed through uni-assist, which issues a Preliminary Review Documentation (VPD). Applicants from India, China, and Vietnam are required to obtain an APS certificate instead of the standard uni-assist VPD; the APS and a full transcript of records must be submitted before applying at FH Wedel. Admission decisions are typically issued within approximately three weeks of a complete application. There is no numerus clausus; selection for bachelor's programmes is based on grades in relevant subjects plus motivation letter and CV for applicants with a GPA below 2.5. Applications for the English-taught M.Sc. IT Engineering are accepted for both winter semester (start October) and summer semester (start April).

Application deadlines

No fixed application deadlines are published for most programmes — rolling admissions with decisions typically within a few days of a complete application submission. For the English-taught M.Sc. IT Engineering: winter semester starts 1 October, summer semester starts 1 April. Students requiring a visa are advised to begin the process at least six months before their intended start date to allow time for uni-assist/APS processing (allow several weeks) and visa appointment scheduling.

Languages of instruction

German is the medium of instruction for all bachelor's programmes and most master's programmes. One master's programme (M.Sc. IT Engineering) is taught entirely in English. German proficiency at DSH-1 level is required for IT, Computer Science, Technical Computer Science, and IT Security programmes; DSH-2 is required for all other German-taught programmes. The English-taught M.Sc. IT Engineering requires English proficiency at B2 level (CEFR); a medium-of-instruction letter does not suffice — a recognised certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent) is required.

Campuses & locations

Wedel Campus

Single campus in Wedel, Schleswig-Holstein, approximately 20,000 sq m; near Hamburg S-Bahn line

Living in Schleswig-Holstein

Wedel is a small town of approximately 33,000 inhabitants in Schleswig-Holstein, situated on the south bank of the River Elbe directly on the western border of Hamburg. It is served by Hamburg's S-Bahn (suburban rail) network, making Hamburg city centre reachable in under 30 minutes. Students benefit from Hamburg's extensive cultural, employment, and social infrastructure — the city is Germany's second-largest and a major port, media, and technology hub — while Wedel itself offers a quieter, lower-cost living environment relative to Hamburg proper.

Student life & support

With around 1,200–1,300 students, FH Wedel has a tight-knit campus community. The alumni association, Wedeler Hochschulbund e.V. (founded 1981), maintains strong links between graduates and current students and supports industry networking. The university offers scholarships including the Deutschlandstipendium, a Partnerstipendium for bachelor's and master's students, and the Grohe Stipendium. On-campus facilities include IT laboratories, robotics and virtual reality labs, and an Industry 4.0 research environment. FH Wedel assists incoming international students with accommodation information, an orientation guide, and transport pass arrangements; on-campus housing is not provided directly by the university. The Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein provides student services including counselling and canteen facilities.

25

Accredited Programmes

13

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus

12

Master

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