Hochschule Clara Hoffbauer Potsdam - University of Applied Sciences
Brandenburg, Germany
About Hochschule Clara Hoffbauer Potsdam - University of Appli
Hochschule Clara Hoffbauer Potsdam (HCHP) was a small private, state-recognised University of Applied Sciences located on the Hermannswerder peninsula in Potsdam, Brandenburg. It was established in 2016 (building on a predecessor Berufsakademie operating since 2011) under the Hoffbauer Foundation, an evangelical educational foundation founded in 1901 and named after Clara Hoffbauer (1830–1909).
The institution specialised exclusively in practice-integrated dual bachelor's programmes at the intersection of social work and aesthetic-communicative disciplines — combining social pedagogy with music pedagogy, language pedagogy, movement and dance, or media education. A master's programme in International Social Work and Peace Education was launched in autumn 2023. The university was small by design, with slightly over 100 students, emphasising close student-teacher relationships and individualised guidance.
HCHP ceased operations on 1 April 2024. Its bachelor's programmes in Social Work (B.A.) and Childhood Education (B.A.) were transferred to HSD Hochschule Döpfer, where former HCHP students could continue their studies seamlessly. The official website hchp.de remains indexed but the TLS certificate is no longer valid as of 2025.
Key facts
- Founded
- 2016
Unique dual bachelor's programmes combining social work with music, language, movement/dance, or media pedagogy
Small cohorts (~100 students total) enabling individualised mentoring
Practice-integrated: two days per week in a partnering social institution throughout the degree
Accredited by the German Science Council (Wissenschaftsrat) in 2015/2016
Located on the scenic Hermannswerder peninsula in Potsdam, adjacent to Berlin
CLOSED as of 1 April 2024 — programmes transferred to HSD Hochschule Döpfer
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
Monthly tuition fees were €520. For dual-track students, fees were typically covered by the partnering placement institution. No semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) structure has been confirmed separately.
Admission requirements
The institution accepted applicants holding a Hochschulreife (Abitur), fachgebundene Hochschulreife, or Fachhochschulreife. No Numerus Clausus (NC) applied; admission was via an internal selection process including an aptitude interview and, for some programmes, a presentation. Dual-study contracts with a social-sector placement institution were a prerequisite for the dual-track programmes. Note: the university closed on 1 April 2024 and no longer accepts new applicants.
Languages of instruction
German (all programmes were taught in German)
Campuses & locations
Main campus on the Hermannswerder peninsula, Potsdam. Additional teaching facilities included Bertheau & Morgenstern music school and Potsdam Waschhaus dance studios.
Living in Brandenburg
Potsdam is the state capital of Brandenburg, directly bordering Berlin to the southwest. It is home to the historic Sanssouci palace complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the University of Potsdam, several other higher-education institutions, and a thriving cultural scene. The city has a student-friendly infrastructure and is well connected to Berlin by S-Bahn (approx. 25 minutes to Berlin Hauptbahnhof).
Student life & support
Given its small size of around 100 students, campus life at HCHP was intimate. The dual-study model meant students split their time between academic learning and supervised practical placements in social institutions two days per week. Practical arts facilities — including a music school (Bertheau & Morgenstern) and dance studios (Waschhaus) — supported the aesthetic-communicative focus of the programmes.
8
Accredited Programmes
7
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
1
Master
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