- Founded
- 1971
- Students
- 1,400
- International
- 3%
- Programmes
- 5
- Taught in English
- 1
About Hochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung Kehl
Hochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung Kehl (Kehl University of Applied Sciences) is a specialised public Fachhochschule founded in 1971, widely regarded as one of Germany's oldest and most renowned universities dedicated exclusively to public administration. Its core mission is to train qualified professionals for managerial roles across Baden-Württemberg's public sector - state agencies, municipalities, districts, and publicly supervised institutions.
The university offers two bachelor's programmes (Public Management; Digitales Verwaltungsmanagement) and four master's programmes (Europäisches Verwaltungsmanagement, Public Management, Management von regionalen Innovationsökosystemen, Public Management in International Cooperation). Research is conducted through two dedicated institutes: the Kehler Institut für Angewandte Forschung (KIAF) and the Europäisches Kompetenz- und Forschungszentrum Clustermanagement (EKFC).
Its cross-border location - directly opposite Strasbourg on the Rhine - gives the university a distinctly European character, supported by a Filière Française (French-language study track), a Language Centre, and strong Erasmus partnerships across Europe.
Founded in 1971 - one of Germany's oldest universities specialising in public administration
Single-campus institution with a tight-knit cohort of approximately 1,400 students
Cross-border campus: 15-minute tram ride to Strasbourg and the European Parliament quarter
Filière Française offers a fully French-language study track unique among German public-administration universities
Research institutes KIAF and EKFC embedded in the university for applied public-sector research
Master's programme 'Public Management in International Cooperation' targets development and global governance careers
Key facts
- Type
- Verwaltungshochschule
- Founded
- 1971
- Students
- 1,400
- International
- ~3%
- Faculties
- 2
- Programmes
- 5
Study programmes
5 accredited degrees at Hochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung Kehl, 1 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–5 of 5 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
No tuition fees for EU/EEA students. Under Baden-Württemberg state law (in force since WS 2017/18), non-EU/EEA international students pay €1,500 per semester. Exchange students on Erasmus or bilateral university agreements are exempt. A standard semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) covering administrative costs and public transport is payable by all students; the exact amount should be confirmed with the university.
Admission requirements
Bachelor's programmes are primarily designed for future Baden-Württemberg civil servants and typically require an Abitur (or equivalent school-leaving qualification) plus a public-sector training contract or equivalent pathway. International applicants whose prior qualification is from India, China, or Vietnam must hold a valid APS certificate before applying. For master's programmes open to external applicants (e.g. Public Management in International Cooperation), a relevant bachelor's degree and proof of German language proficiency (at minimum B2; C1 for German-taught programmes) are required. Applicants should verify current entry requirements directly with the university's admissions office ([email protected]) as conditions vary by programme.
Application deadlines
The application portal for the civil-servant-track Bachelor Public Management (BPM) opens on 1 September each year for the intake starting the following autumn; in the last cohort over 1,850 applicants competed for 1,000 places. Master programmes (Europäisches Verwaltungsmanagement, Public Management, MRI, PMIC) have separate application procedures via the university portal.
How international applicants apply
No uni-assist. Civil-service administration university in Baden-Wuerttemberg: the bachelor programmes Public Management and Digitales Verwaltungsmanagement are open only to German or EU/EWR citizens because every student is a Beamtenanwaerter/in auf Widerruf; application runs exclusively via the university's own Studienportal (portal.hs-kehl.de), which opens 1 September for the autumn intake two years ahead, includes selecting the Einfuehrungspraktikum training authority, with an HZB deadline of 15 July. Master programmes (Europaeisches Verwaltungsmanagement MEPA, Public Management, MRI, PMIC) accept international applicants (German C1 for MEPA, English B2/C1 requirements) but likewise apply directly through the university portal - uni-assist plays no role.
Languages of instruction
Primarily German. French-language track (Filière Française) available. The master's programme 'Public Management in International Cooperation' has English-language components. Language Centre on campus offers additional language courses.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Student accommodation
What Hochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung Kehl publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
From the university
Student accommodation is available through Studentenwerk FH (217 furnished single apartments, ~€365/month including utilities), shared WG rooms from ~€298/month, and the City Campus Kehl design apartments near the railway station.
Campuses & locations
Kinzigallee 1, 77694 Kehl - single central campus directly on the Rhine, 15 minutes from Strasbourg by tram
Living in Kehl
Kehl is a town of approximately 38,000 residents in Baden-Württemberg, situated on the east bank of the Rhine directly across from Strasbourg (Alsace, France). Students can reach Strasbourg's city centre by tram in around 15 minutes, giving easy access to a major European city with museums, restaurants, and the European Parliament. The campus itself is compact and walkable; the Rhine riverfront and the Kinzig confluence are nearby.
Student life & support
Campus life centres on the Mensa (hot lunches daily, always one vegetarian/vegan option) and an on-site cafeteria open from 07:30. Student accommodation is available through Studentenwerk FH (217 furnished single apartments, ~€365/month including utilities), shared WG rooms from ~€298/month, and the City Campus Kehl design apartments near the railway station. The SSV (Student Self-Administration) organises sports (volleyball, football, yoga, fitness), cultural events, and trips to Strasbourg and the wider region. The AStA (student council) provides academic and welfare support. Psychological counselling and chaplaincy services are also on offer.
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