FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management gGmbH
Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
- Founded
- 1991
- Students
- 45,000
- Programmes
- 85
- Taught in English
- 7
About FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management - University of Ap
FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management (FOM University of Applied Sciences) is a state-recognised, non-profit private university founded in 1991 and headquartered in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia. With approximately 45,000 enrolled students drawn from 118 nations, it is among the largest universities in Europe. It operates more than 30 study centres across Germany and offers over 60 accredited bachelor's and master's degree programmes across six academic areas: Business & Management, Business & Law, Business & Psychology, Health & Social Services, Engineering, and IT Management.
FOM was the first private German university to receive system-accreditation (Systemakkreditierung) from FIBAA, awarded in 2012 and renewed since. The university is recognised by the German Science Council (Wissenschaftsrat) and holds FIBAA's Excellence in Digital Education premium seal. It won the StudyCheck Award 2026 as the most popular university in its size category.
FOM specialises in part-time programmes for working professionals, dual study programmes for apprentices, and full-time programmes for direct-entry students. Its FOM International School (fom-international.com) delivers fully English-taught bachelor's and master's degrees at campuses in Berlin, Essen, Munich, and Frankfurt, specifically designed for international students entering the global job market.
Founded 1991 as a non-profit institution; approximately 45,000 students from 118 nations
Germany's first private university to receive FIBAA system-accreditation (2012); state-recognised by the Wissenschaftsrat
More than 30 study centres across Germany, with FOM International School campuses in Berlin, Essen, Munich, and Frankfurt
Fully English-taught bachelor's (B.Sc./B.Eng.) and master's (M.Sc./MBA) programmes available via FOM International School
StudyCheck Award 2026 winner as most popular university in its enrolment category
Partnerships with over 10,000 companies and institutions; strong focus on part-time and dual study for working professionals
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 1991
- Students
- 45,000
- International
- students from 118 nations
- Faculties
- 6
- Programmes
- 85
Study programmes
85 accredited degrees at FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management - University of Ap, 7 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–24 of 85 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
FOM is a private university and charges tuition fees for all programmes; it does not operate on the public tuition-free model. Specific fee amounts are not published on the public website - the online application requires banking/payment details, and fees may be covered by an employer (common for the part-time professional model). FOM is not located in Baden-Württemberg, so the BW non-EU surcharge (€1,500/semester) does not apply. Contact the International Office or use the online application portal for current fee schedules.
Admission requirements
For the German-taught programmes, international applicants need a recognised higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) and sufficient German language proficiency. For the FOM International School's English-taught programmes, the university states it has 'no restrictive admission requirements'; prospective students register via an online form and submit certified copies of documents by email to [email protected]. Specific entry qualifications, English proficiency score thresholds (IELTS/TOEFL), and APS certificate requirements (mandatory for Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants at the visa stage) are not published on the website - contact the International Office at [email protected] for programme-specific details. Prior training or study credits may be recognised and counted toward the degree.
Application deadlines
No specific winter or summer semester application deadlines are published on the official website. FOM uses a rolling online registration process. Prospective students should contact the International Office ([email protected]) for intake-specific deadlines.
How international applicants apply
Direct portal - registration for studies runs exclusively through FOM's own Online-Anmeldung; no uni-assist procedure is documented in the application information. Admission routes include the standard higher education entrance qualification and, alternatively, completed vocational training plus three years of professional experience or an advanced vocational qualification (study without Abitur).
Languages of instruction
Most programmes are taught in German. The FOM International School (fom-international.com) offers fully English-taught bachelor's and master's degrees at four campuses (Berlin, Essen, Munich, Frankfurt). English-taught bachelor's programmes include Computer Science & Digital Technologies, International Business Management, and Mechanical Engineering & Digital Technologies. English-taught master's programmes include Big Data & Business Analytics, Digital Technologies & Management, Business Administration International Management (MBA), Engineering & Management, Business Administration Artificial Intelligence (MBA), and Automotive Systems Engineering & Management.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management - University of Ap
1 scheme run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Student accommodation
What FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management - University of Ap publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
From the university
FOM does not operate its own student residences; students are expected to arrange private housing independently.
Campuses & locations
Headquarters; also an FOM International School campus
FOM International School campus
FOM International School campus
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Living in Essen
FOM's headquarters and one of its International School campuses are in Essen, a city of approximately 580,000 in the densely connected Ruhr metropolitan area of North Rhine-Westphalia. The Ruhr region offers affordable living costs relative to Munich or Frankfurt, excellent rail connectivity via the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn network, and a large student population spread across several nearby universities. The university also has International School campuses in Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt, giving international students a choice of Germany's major student cities.
Student life & support
The FOM International Office ([email protected]; +49 201 81004 864) provides pre-arrival webinars, orientation events at semester start, a buddy programme pairing incoming students with experienced peer mentors, intercultural competence courses, and one-on-one guidance throughout studies. A Career Centre offers job market workshops, application coaching, and placement support. Visa service assistance within Germany is also available through the office. FOM does not operate its own student residences; students are expected to arrange private housing independently. German language support for daily life is recommended but not listed as a formal offering of the International Office.
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