Hessische Hochschule für öffentliches Management und Sicherheit

Hessen, Germany

About HöMS

The Hessische Hochschule für öffentliches Management und Sicherheit (HöMS) is a state-run university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) that serves as the central higher-education institution of the State of Hesse for public administration and policing. It was established on 1 January 2022 by merging three predecessor bodies: the Hessische Hochschule für Polizei und Verwaltung (HfPV, itself tracing its roots to the Verwaltungsfachhochschule Wiesbaden founded in 1980), the Polizeiakademie Hessen, and the Zentrale Fortbildung Hessen. The institution operates simultaneously as a state university and a police authority.

HöMS offers bachelor's and master's degree programmes exclusively in the areas of police studies and public administration. All programmes are tied to civil-service employment in Hesse: applicants must first be nominated and admitted by a Hessian government agency; there is no direct open-admission pathway. The student body of approximately 3,569 (as of October 2024) is composed roughly 73% police-track and 27% administration-track students, with instruction conducted entirely in German.

The institution maintains four campuses across Hesse — Wiesbaden (headquarters), Kassel, Gießen, and Mühlheim am Main — and also runs continuing education and advanced training for all Hessian state administration employees. Its dual function as both university and police authority is a legally distinctive feature in the German higher-education landscape.

Key facts

Founded: 1980
Students: 3,569
Faculties: 2

Exclusively trains civil servants for the Hessian police and public administration — not open to general or international applicants

Formed in 2022 by merging three predecessor institutions: HfPV, Polizeiakademie Hessen, and Zentrale Fortbildung Hessen

Operates simultaneously as a state university and a police authority — a legally unique status in Germany

Approximately 3,569 students across four campuses: Wiesbaden, Kassel, Gießen, Mühlheim am Main

Holds 'Elite Sports University' designation since 2009

Annual budget of approximately €102.5 million (2025 plan)

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

No tuition fees for state-nominated students. External employers who send staff to HöMS programmes pay a flat fee of €3,000 per student for a three-year degree programme (since 2007). There is no semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) published for standard state-track students.

Admission requirements

HöMS does not offer open admission to the general public or to international applicants. All students must first be appointed as civil-service trainees (Beamtenanwärter) or accepted employees by a Hessian state authority (police or public administration) which then nominates them to the university. There is no independent application process via hochschulstart, uni-assist, or the institution itself. International students wishing to study public administration or policing in Germany should look at conventional public-administration Fachhochschulen with open-admission bachelor's programmes instead.

Languages of instruction

German only. All degree programmes are taught exclusively in German.

Campuses & locations

Wiesbaden

Headquarters; Schlossplatz 6, 65183 Wiesbaden

Kassel

Branch campus

Gießen

Branch campus

Mühlheim am Main

Branch campus

Living in Hessen

The HöMS headquarters is located in Wiesbaden, the state capital of Hesse, situated on the eastern bank of the Rhine opposite Mainz. Wiesbaden is home to approximately 290,000 residents and is one of Germany's oldest spa cities. It has excellent rail connections to Frankfurt am Main (20 minutes by S-Bahn), a low cost of living relative to Frankfurt, and a compact city centre with a vibrant cultural scene.

Student life & support

Because enrolment is tied to civil-service employment, HöMS students typically receive a monthly salary or training allowance during their studies, which distinguishes their experience significantly from conventional university students. Campus life is centred on the four locations across Hesse; the Wiesbaden campus is the administrative and academic hub. The institution holds an Elite Sports University designation (since 2009) and an Elite Sports Partner University designation (since 2011), reflecting active support for student-athletes in competitive sport.

Accredited Programmes

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus

Master