About Hochschule Fresenius
Hochschule Fresenius – University of Applied Sciences is a private, state-recognised institution founded in 1848 as the Chemisches Laboratorium Fresenius in Wiesbaden. Recognised as a Fachhochschule by the Hessian Ministry of Science in 1971, it has grown into one of Germany's largest independent private higher-education groups, operating under the Carl Remigius Fresenius Education Group. In 2021 it received a 10-year re-accreditation from the German Science Council (Wissenschaftsrat).
The university offers bachelor's and master's programmes across five academic departments covering chemistry and biology, health and social sciences, design, business and media, and online education. Study formats include full-time, part-time, dual, and distance learning. Its main legal seat and founding campus is in Idstein (Hessen), with additional locations in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Cologne, Munich, and Wiesbaden, plus a virtual Online Campus.
As a private institution, Hochschule Fresenius charges tuition fees that vary by programme and study format; fees are paid monthly. It is not state-funded, so the tuition-free model that applies to most public German universities does not apply here. International students seeking English-taught programmes will find a selection of master's programmes delivered in English, primarily through the hs-fresenius.com portal targeting international applicants.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1848
- Faculties
- 5
Founded in 1848 as Chemisches Laboratorium Fresenius — one of Germany's oldest private higher-education lineages
State-recognised private Fachhochschule since 1971; 10-year re-accreditation by Wissenschaftsrat in 2021
10 study locations across Germany (9 physical campuses + Online Campus), with flexible inter-campus transfers
5 academic departments: Chemistry & Biology, Health & Social Sciences, Design, Business & Media, and Online Education (Onlineplus)
English-taught master's programmes available via the international portal (hs-fresenius.com) in management, health economics, engineering management, e-commerce, and bioanalytical chemistry
Part of the Carl Remigius Fresenius Education Group, one of Germany's largest private and independent education groups
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
Hochschule Fresenius is a private institution and charges tuition fees for all programmes; there is no tuition-free offer. Fees are paid monthly and vary by programme, level (bachelor/master), and study format (full-time, part-time, dual, distance). Exact fee amounts are published on individual programme pages and are not listed centrally. A mandatory semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) also applies and includes benefits such as a semester transport ticket. No distinction between EU and non-EU fee levels is stated on the official website. German state non-EU surcharges (e.g. Baden-Württemberg €1,500/semester) do not apply as the main campus is in Hessen, which has not introduced non-EU surcharges. Non-EU applicants pay a €3,000 security deposit — not an extra fee, but an advance payment offset against the tuition of the final six months of the programme. English-language programmes cost around €750–900 per month (payable monthly or per semester). Visa & financial proof: a German student visa costs €75, and applicants must prove financial resources of at least €11,904 for the first year (the official estimate of living costs, ~€992/month, tuition excluded) — most commonly via a blocked account; check with the German diplomatic mission which proof is accepted.
Admission requirements
International applicants with a foreign secondary school qualification are assessed individually. Those whose credentials do not directly meet German university entrance requirements may sit the institution's own entrance examination (120-minute written online test plus 30-minute oral examination); recognised standardised test scores (SAT, ACT, A-levels, ITB, Gaokao) can exempt applicants from this test. Hochschule Fresenius also operates a Studienkolleg NRW and a Pre-Bachelor preparatory pathway for applicants requiring additional preparation. No fixed application deadlines are published — the university accepts applications year-round via an online form. APS certificate requirements for applicants from India, China, or Vietnam are not addressed on the official website; however, the APS certificate is a German consulate requirement for the student visa (not set by the university), so Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants must obtain their APS certificate before applying for the visa regardless.
Languages of instruction
The majority of programmes are taught in German. A selection of English-taught master's programmes is offered through the international portal (hs-fresenius.com), including International Management (M.A.), International Health Economics & Pharmacoeconomics (M.Sc.), Industrial Engineering and International Management (M.Sc.), E-Commerce & Logistics (M.Sc.), and Bioanalytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis (M.Sc.). Specific language proficiency requirements (IELTS/TOEFL scores or German level) are not published centrally; consult individual programme pages.
Campuses & locations
Main/founding campus (Hessen); headquarters; chemistry labs and health/social programmes
Modern facilities across multiple subject areas
Two multifunctional sites with a broad range of programmes
Health and Social Sciences; classes held in a hospital setting
Modern campus near the Alster waterfront
Business, psychology, and health programmes
Centrally located campus
Campus with green spaces and well-equipped facilities
Newest campus; historic city; the original institutional location before 1995 move to Idstein
Virtual live-study option; location-independent learning
Living in Hessen
Idstein is a small historic town in the Taunus hills of Hessen, roughly 30 km north-west of Frankfurt am Main. It is well connected to Frankfurt by regional rail (approx. 30 minutes), giving students access to one of Germany's major economic and cultural centres. The town itself is known for its well-preserved half-timbered old town (Altstadt) and a compact, student-friendly environment. Students at other Hochschule Fresenius locations — Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Heidelberg, and Wiesbaden — benefit from the respective city's public-transport network, cultural offer, and labour market.
Student life & support
Hochschule Fresenius maintains an International Office (Auslandsprogramme team) that provides individual counselling for students planning study abroad or exchange. The institution participates in the Erasmus+ programme and offers short-term international programmes (3–14 days) at partner institutions in New York, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, London, Dublin, and Barcelona. BAföG state grants are accessible to eligible students (German citizens, EU citizens, and permanent residents) processed via Studierendenwerk Kassel (or Studierendenwerk Heidelberg for the Heidelberg campus). On-campus housing information is not published centrally on the official site; students are advised to contact the advisory team. German language course provision for international students is not detailed on the public website.
244
Accredited Programmes
136
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
107
Master
1
Other
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