Hochschule der Bundesagentur für Arbeit - Staatlich anerkannte Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft in Mannheim und Schwerin (University of Applied Labour Studies of the Federal Employment Agency)

About Hochschule der Bundesagentur für Arbeit - Staatlich anerkann

The Hochschule der Bundesagentur für Arbeit (HdBA) — University of Applied Labour Studies — is a state-recognised university of applied sciences (Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften) established in 2006 and accredited by the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat). It is operated directly by the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) and is unique in Germany as a specialist institution dedicated entirely to labour market, employment counselling, and career guidance studies.

The university admits approximately 500 students per year across its two campuses in Mannheim and Schwerin. All study programmes are structured as fully funded dual programmes: bachelor's students receive a monthly stipend of €1,925 (as of May 2026), and graduates are offered guaranteed employment within the Federal Employment Agency. Disciplines span economics, law, and social sciences, with an applied, practice-oriented methodology.

The HdBA offers two dual bachelor's degree programmes (Labour Market Management; Counselling for Education, Career and Employment) and one master's programme (Labour Market-Oriented Counselling). Given its direct institutional link to the Federal Employment Agency, the admission process runs through the Agency's recruitment portal rather than through a standard university application system.

Key facts

Founded: 2006
Students: 500

Operated directly by the German Federal Employment Agency — one of a kind in Germany

Fully funded dual bachelor's programmes: students receive €1,925/month stipend during studies

Employment guarantee at the Federal Employment Agency on programme completion

Accredited by the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) since 2007

Two campuses: Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg) and Schwerin (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)

Interdisciplinary curriculum combining economics, law, and social sciences

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

No tuition fees are charged. Bachelor's students receive a monthly stipend of €1,925 (increased from €1,895 in May 2026) plus annual bonus payments and capital formation benefits (Vermögenswirksame Leistungen). Students are employed by the Federal Employment Agency during their studies. Semester administrative contribution amount is not published on the official site.

Admission requirements

Admission to the bachelor's programmes is not via a standard university application portal. Applicants must apply through the Federal Employment Agency's recruitment portal (BA-Karriere). Selection is conducted by regional employment agencies and typically opens approximately one year before the September start date. Entry requirement is Allgemeine Hochschulreife (Abitur) with a grade average of 2.9 or better, or Fachhochschulreife with 2.4 or better, or equivalent qualifications recognised by the relevant state authority. Professional qualifications may also confer access under applicable state higher education law. A selection process (aptitude tests and interviews) is carried out by regional agencies. German language proficiency is required as all programmes are taught in German; acceptable certificates include TestDaF, DSH, and Goethe-Zertifikat. The institution does not publish a dedicated international admissions pathway; international applicants should contact the student services office directly. APS certificate is not mentioned on the official site, but Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants planning to use foreign secondary qualifications should expect the standard APS requirement to apply.

Application deadlines

Applications open approximately one year before the programme start in early September each year. Specific deadlines are published via the Federal Employment Agency's BA-Karriere job portal and vary by regional agency. No fixed central deadline published on the official website.

Languages of instruction

German (all bachelor's and master's programmes are taught in German). Website available in English.

Campuses & locations

Campus Mannheim

Seckenheimer Landstr. 16, 68163 Mannheim. Main administrative campus. Contact: +49 621 4209-0

Campus Schwerin

Wismarsche Str. 405, 19055 Schwerin. Second campus serving northern Germany. Contact: +49 385 5408-3

Living in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Mannheim is a major city in Baden-Württemberg with around 310,000 inhabitants, known for its grid-plan city centre, the University of Mannheim, and a strong industrial and tech-sector economy. It is well connected to Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Heidelberg. Schwerin is the state capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in north-east Germany, a smaller city of around 100,000 with a historic old town, castle lake, and lower cost of living than western German cities.

Student life & support

The HdBA is a small specialist institution with a close-knit student community split across Mannheim and Schwerin. Because all students are concurrently employed by the Federal Employment Agency, campus life is structured around the alternating academic and practical phases of the dual programme. Students have access to student services offices at both campuses. The institution emphasises diversity, international exchange, and intercultural competence as part of its counselling curriculum.

Accredited Programmes

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus

Master

Study Programmes

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B.A. Deutsch €1,895/sem

Arbeitsmarktmanagement, B.A.

Hochschule der Bundesagentur für Arbeit - Staatlich anerkannte Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft in Mannheim und Schwerin (University of Applied Labour Studies of the Federal Employment Agency)

9 Sem. Mannheim, Schwerin

Business & Management

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M.A. Deutsch Free