- Founded
- 2009
- Students
- 12,000
- Programmes
- 74
- Taught in English
- 30
About Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin
Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR Berlin), also known as the Berlin School of Economics and Law, is a public university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in Berlin. It was formed through the merger of two established Berlin universities of applied sciences and is one of the larger higher education institutions in the German capital, currently enrolling more than 12,000 students across five departments and the Berlin Professional School.
HWR Berlin focuses on business, economics, public administration, law, cooperative (dual) studies, police and security management, and continuing professional education. It offers 57 degree programmes and conducts applied research across 15 research institutes. The university maintains partnerships with over 170 universities worldwide and approximately 700 companies.
With roughly 1,500 international students from more than 110 countries and 12 English-taught bachelor's programmes plus one English-taught master's (International Security Management), HWR Berlin is an accessible destination for internationally mobile students seeking applied, professionally-oriented programmes in Germany's capital.
Over 12,000 students enrolled; one of Berlin's larger universities of applied sciences
57 degree programmes across business, law, public administration, cooperative studies, and security management
12 English-taught bachelor's programmes and one English-taught master's (International Security Management) - above-average for a German Fachhochschule
Largest provider of dual (cooperative) study programmes in Berlin with over 2,000 dual study places
No tuition fees for any student regardless of nationality; semester contribution ~€380 includes a full Berlin public transport pass
Over 170 international partner universities and ~700 company partners; strong applied research with 15 research institutes
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 2009
- Students
- 12,000
- International
- ~1,531 international students from 110+ countries
- Faculties
- 5
- Programmes
- 74
Study programmes
74 accredited degrees at Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin, 30 of them taught in English.
Showing 73–74 of 74 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
HWR Berlin charges no tuition fees for bachelor's or consecutive master's degree programmes, including for non-EU/EEA international students. Berlin state does not apply differential tuition for non-EU students. Students pay a semester contribution of approximately €379.77 per semester (full-time, Winter 2026/27 figure), which covers an administration fee (€50.00), student union contribution (€85.00), student body fee (€17.97), and a semester ticket for Berlin public transport (€226.80).
Admission requirements
International applicants with non-German qualifications must apply through uni-assist, which handles credential verification and equivalency assessment. Bachelor's applicants require a recognised secondary school leaving certificate equivalent to the German Abitur; master's applicants need a first degree equivalent to a German bachelor's in a related field. The anabin database (ZAB) and the DAAD admissions database are the standard references for degree recognition. German-taught programmes require a minimum C1 German proficiency (DSH-2, TestDaF TDN4, or equivalent). English-taught programmes require demonstrated English proficiency. Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants should note that the APS certificate is a mandatory requirement for the German student visa - HWR Berlin's own pages reference uni-assist for qualification verification, but the APS obligation is set by the German embassy and applies regardless of the institution.
Application deadlines
Winter Semester (starting October): bachelor's programmes 1 June-15 July; International Management bachelor's for non-German qualifications 1 April-15 May; master's programmes with non-German qualifications via uni-assist (Dept. 1) 15 March-15 May, (Depts. 3 & 4) 15 March-15 April. Summer Semester (starting April): bachelor's programmes 1 December-15 January; master's in International Security Management for non-German qualifications via uni-assist 15 September-15 November. The date of receipt is decisive, not the postmark date.
How international applicants apply
Used (full processing via uni-assist). HWR Berlin (= Berlin School of Economics and Law) appears on uni-assist's official member list as BSEL Campus Lichtenberg and Campus Schoeneberg, and its application-procedure page states: holders of a non-German university entrance qualification must apply for bachelor programmes via Uni Assist; international applicants already enrolled at another university applying for a higher subject-specific semester also apply via Uni Assist; and ALL international applicants for master programmes (first or higher semester) apply via Uni Assist. Uni Assist checks the documents against HWR criteria (result typically within 4-6 weeks), forwards valid applications to HWR Berlin, which runs the selection procedure and notifies on admission. Exceptions: several Fachbereich 4 (Rechtspflege) and Fachbereich 5 (Polizei und Sicherheitsmanagement) programmes have their own application routes per the department tables; German-HZB applicants apply via the HWR online portal.
Languages of instruction
Most bachelor's and master's programmes are taught in German, requiring a minimum C1 German language level (accepted certificates: DSH-2, TestDaF TDN4, Goethe Zertifikat C2, Telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule). Twelve bachelor's programmes and one master's programme (International Security Management) are offered in English, making HWR Berlin one of the more accessible German Fachhochschulen for English-track students in business and management fields.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin
10 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Berliner Startup Stipendium
Supports founders with a first business concept preparing for market entry. Goal is company founding and market launch. Provided b...
bachelor, master
DAAD-Preis fuer internationale Studierende der HWR Berlin
Annual prize awarded by HWR Berlin to outstanding international students, financed with funds provided by the DAAD. It recognises...
bachelor, master
DAAD-Preis für internationale Studierende der HWR Berlin
Annual prize awarded by HWR Berlin to outstanding international students, financed with funds provided by the DAAD. It recognises...
Amount: EUR 1,000 one-time
bachelor, master
Deutschlandstipendium an der HWR Berlin
HWR Berlin takes part in the Deutschlandstipendium programme; the university maintains a dedicated scholarship page and recruits c...
Amount: EUR 300 per month (statutory amount under StipG)
Deadline: 31 January 2027 (for 2027/28 funding year)
bachelor, master
Förderstudium Wirtschaftsrecht (Business Law Sponsored Study)
Sponsored study programme for the Business Law degree. Offered by the Federal Employment Agency with financial and academic suppor...
bachelor
Fulbright Stipendium
Annual travel scholarships for study in the USA arranged and (part-)financed through German-American university partnership progra...
bachelor, master
HWR Talente
HWR Berlin identifies the top 4% of students in each degree programme annually. They receive a Talente certificate at a winter sem...
Amount: Certificate (non-monetary)
bachelor, master
Politeia-Preis
Annual award for written works on women's and gender research by students and graduates of all disciplines. One Politeia Prize of...
Amount: EUR 1,000 (Prize) / EUR 400 each (Medals, up to 3)
bachelor, master
Studienabschlussstipendium (DAAD STIBET Final Semester Scholarship)
Supports international students in their final semester to focus on exams and thesis writing free of financial worries. Total appr...
Amount: EUR 500 per month (total approx. EUR 2,000 for 4 months)
Deadline: 5 May (start of summer semester, subject to DAAD fund availability)
bachelor, master
Vollstipendium Öffentliche Verwaltung Informatik (Public Administration Informatics Full Scholarship)
Up to 20 full scholarships per year for the Public Administration Informatics programme (Department 3). Cooperation with the Berli...
Amount: Full scholarship (living costs covered)
bachelor
Student accommodation
What Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studierendenwerk Berlin
Not by the university. Apply to them directly, and expect a waiting list.
From the university
HWR Berlin does not operate on-campus student housing; students are directed to Studierendenwerk Berlin for subsidised accommodation and to platforms such as wg-gesucht.de, HousingAnywhere, and ImmobilienScout24 for private rentals. Average monthly living costs are approximately €870, with rent typically ranging from €300-€600.
Where to apply
Named on this university's own pages.
Campuses & locations
Location of the International Office; address: Badensche Straße 52, 10825 Berlin
Second main campus in Berlin
Living in Berlin
Berlin is Germany's capital and largest city, with a population of approximately 3.7 million. It is a major European hub for technology, start-ups, culture, and public administration, offering students an exceptionally wide range of internship, networking, and career opportunities. The cost of living is lower than Munich or Frankfurt, though rental costs have risen significantly in recent years. Berlin has an extensive public transport network (BVG), which HWR students access at no additional cost via the semester ticket included in the semester contribution.
Student life & support
HWR Berlin does not operate on-campus student housing; students are directed to Studierendenwerk Berlin for subsidised accommodation and to platforms such as wg-gesucht.de, HousingAnywhere, and ImmobilienScout24 for private rentals. Average monthly living costs are approximately €870, with rent typically ranging from €300-€600. The International Office (Campus Schöneberg) serves as the central point of contact for exchange and incoming international students, covering visa-related questions, enrolment, and study support. The university's General Studies programme and Language Centre offer settlement workshops and language support for international students.
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