About Hochschule des Bundes für öffentliche Verwaltung
The Hochschule des Bundes für öffentliche Verwaltung (HS Bund), known in English as the Federal University of Applied Administrative Sciences, is Germany's sole interministerial university dedicated to training personnel for higher-level federal civil service roles. Founded in 1979, it operates through a central campus in Brühl (North Rhine-Westphalia) and ten associated departmental branches distributed across the country, covering fields from foreign affairs and federal police to financial administration and meteorological services.
All programmes follow a dual-study model spanning three years, alternating theoretical coursework with practical phases in federal agencies. Degrees awarded include Diplomas in public, business, or financial administration; Bachelor degrees (B.A., LL.B.); and postgraduate qualifications (M.P.A., M.A., M.Sc.). Admission is exclusively through recruitment by the relevant federal authority — the university does not admit students through the standard German Hochschulzulassung process.
Since its founding the institution has trained approximately 70,000 graduates. Enrolment grew from around 3,000 students in 2015 to approximately 7,000–8,000 by the early 2020s. The university holds the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (valid to 2027) and has conducted Erasmus+ lecturer mobility and student international internships.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1979
- Students
- 7,000
- Faculties
- 10
Germany's only interministerial federal university — trains civil servants across all major federal agencies
Dual-study model: students are paid federal employees throughout their 3-year degree
10 specialised departments nationwide covering foreign service, police, finance, intelligence, meteorology, and more
Approximately 70,000 graduates since 1979; current enrolment around 7,000 students
Erasmus Charter for Higher Education valid to 2027 — enables student and staff mobility
No tuition fees; students receive civil-service trainee salary (Anwärterbezüge)
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
No tuition fees. Students are employed by federal authorities and receive a salary (Anwärterbezüge) during the dual-study programme. There are no semester fees or semester contributions beyond the standard social-welfare charges typical of public universities.
Admission requirements
Admission to HS Bund programmes is not open to independent applicants. Prospective students must be recruited and employed by a participating federal authority (Bundesbehörde) for a civil-service apprenticeship track. The federal employer selects candidates, who then study at HS Bund as part of their civil-service preparation. Standard German Hochschulzulassung (Numerus Clausus / uni-assist) does not apply. For international students from India, China, or Vietnam the APS certificate requirement is therefore irrelevant — enrolment is conditional on federal employment, not a direct university application.
Languages of instruction
German is the primary language of instruction. The Master of Public Administration (MPA) includes some English-language components. The university website provides a limited English-language interface.
Campuses & locations
Main campus in Brühl, NRW; hosts basic studies (Grundstudium), the DACS programme, central administration, Mensa, residential accommodation, and student services. A second campus in Erftstadt-Liblar is planned for around 2027.
Berlin — Foreign Service department
Lübeck — Federal Police department
Mannheim — Federal Defence Administration department
Münster — Financial Administration department
Kassel — Agricultural Social Insurance department
Berlin and Bochum — Social Insurance department
Langen (Frankfurt area) and Fürstenfeldbruck — Meteorological Service department
Living in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Brühl is a small city of around 45,000 inhabitants in the Cologne/Bonn metropolitan region of North Rhine-Westphalia, approximately 15 km south of Cologne. It is best known for the Augustusburg and Falkenlust palaces (UNESCO World Heritage Sites). The central campus integrates study and residential facilities on one site, and the city is well connected to Cologne and Bonn by S-Bahn rail.
Student life & support
The Brühl campus provides on-site residential accommodation, a Mensa and cafeteria, university sports programmes, psychosocial counselling, and support services for students with disabilities. Because students are federal employees during their studies, campus life has a strongly professional character, with close ties to supervising federal agencies throughout the degree.
8
Accredited Programmes
6
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
2
Master
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