- Founded
- 2007
- Students
- 482
- Programmes
- 7
About IB Hochschule für Gesundheit und Soziales
IB Hochschule für Gesundheit und Soziales - now operating under the name Health Innovation University of Applied Sciences (HIU) - is a small, state-recognised private university headquartered in Berlin. Founded in 2006-2007 under the auspices of the Internationaler Bund (IB), it specialises exclusively in health and social-science disciplines, offering bachelor's and master's programmes in applied psychology, therapy professions (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology), health education, digital health, social work, and medical radiology technology.
The Berlin campus relocated in 2023 to the Gesundheitscampus at Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin (ukb) in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district, placing students in direct proximity to one of Germany's largest trauma hospitals (~1,000 beds, ~110,000 patients/year, 96-hectare park campus). A new permanent university building on the ukb grounds was targeted for completion in early 2025. Additional study centres operate in Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Coburg.
Enrolment is small - around 482-518 students as of 2024/25 - which results in highly personalised, cohort-based teaching. The institution is accredited by the Berlin Senate Department for Science, Health and Care (Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit und Pflege). Study formats include full-time, part-time, and work-integrated (dual) options. Selected master's programmes are offered in English, making the university accessible to international students without advanced German.
Specialist health and social-sciences university - all programmes focused on healthcare, therapy, psychology, and social work
Campus embedded within the Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin (ukb) hospital grounds, enabling direct clinical proximity
English-taught master's programmes available (Digital Health M.Sc., Health Care Education M.A.) for non-German-speaking international students
Small cohort sizes (~480 students university-wide) deliver personalised, interview-based admission and interactive teaching
State-recognised by the Berlin Senate; accredited under German higher-education law
Seven study locations across Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Coburg)
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 2007
- Students
- 482
- Faculties
- 2
- Programmes
- 7
Study programmes
7 accredited degrees at IB Hochschule für Gesundheit und Soziales.
Showing 1–7 of 7 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Private university - tuition fees apply to all students regardless of nationality. Physiotherapy M.Sc.: approximately €5,688 per semester (€11,376/year); one-off enrolment fee ~€250 and examination fee ~€690. Applied Psychology B.A.: one-off enrolment fee ~€330 and examination fee ~€690 (per-semester tuition not publicly listed). Digital Health M.Sc.: promotional tuition rates and scholarships available for April 2026 intake. There is no tuition-free status; BAföG and educational loans are available for eligible students. Exact per-programme fees should be confirmed directly with the university as they vary by programme and intake.
Admission requirements
Applicants must hold a recognised higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) or an equivalent foreign school-leaving certificate. For German-taught programmes, proof of German language proficiency at C1/C2 level (TestDaF, DSH, Goethe, telc, or ÖSD) is required. English-taught programmes require proof of English proficiency. All shortlisted applicants are invited to a personal admission interview with programme coordinators. Selective admission - entrance examination results and past academic records are considered. Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants whose prior qualification is from those countries must hold an APS certificate before applying for a student visa (APS is not always required by the university itself for application, but is a German consulate visa prerequisite). No specific IELTS/TOEFL band thresholds are published by the university - contact the International Office to confirm current requirements.
Application deadlines
No fixed universal deadlines published. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis. The university invites qualified applicants to an admission interview; notification follows shortly after. Prospective international students should apply several months before the target semester start (October for winter semester, April for summer semester) to allow time for visa processing. Contact the International Office for programme-specific deadlines.
How international applicants apply
Not documented - direct application via the successor's own portal. Health Innovation University (HIU, renamed from IB Hochschule fuer Gesundheit und Soziales Berlin in March/April 2026) collects applications through its own online application portal: choose a programme, upload transcripts, language certificates, CV and motivation letter; the admissions committee decides within 2-4 weeks and several programmes admit via an internal selection procedure. No uni-assist step is mentioned on the application or international pages, and HIU does not appear on uni-assist's official member list.
Languages of instruction
Primarily German. Select master's programmes (Digital Health M.Sc., Health Care Education and Educational Management M.A.) taught in English. German-taught programmes require TestDaF, DSH, Goethe C1/C2, telc C1, or equivalent.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Campuses & locations
Gesundheitscampus at Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin (ukb), Warener Str. 7, 12683 Berlin - Marzahn-Hellersdorf district; relocated here in 2023
Study centre
Study centre
Study centre
Study centre
Study centre
Study centre
Living in Berlin
Berlin is Germany's capital and largest city, with a population of approximately 3.7 million. It is a major hub for health-tech startups, research hospitals, and life-sciences companies, making it a practical location for health and social-science graduates. The Marzahn-Hellersdorf district where the HIU campus sits is well connected to central Berlin by S-Bahn and U-Bahn. Berlin has a relatively affordable cost of living compared to Munich or Frankfurt, with student monthly costs (including rent, food, transport) typically in the range of €900-€1,200.
Student life & support
Due to the small cohort size (under 500 students), campus social life is limited compared to large public universities. Students benefit from a highly personalised learning environment and close contact with lecturers. The Berlin campus's integration into the ukb hospital grounds provides direct access to clinical placements and healthcare professionals. The university offers orientation programmes, language courses to support German acquisition, and mentoring to help international students navigate university procedures. Student union resources and the Berlin public transport semester ticket are available.
Want our guides higher up in Google?
Mark GradGermany as a preferred source and Google gives our pages more room when you search about studying in Germany. Takes one tap, and you can undo it any time from the same screen.
More universities in Berlin
View all in Berlin →Akademie für Musik Berlin
12 programmes
Akkon Hochschule für Humanwissenschaften
Fachhochschulen / HAW · 13 programmes
Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin
Fachhochschulen / HAW · 18 programmes
Bard College Berlin, A Liberal Arts University
Universitäten · 3 programmes
Barenboim-Said Akademie
Kunst- und Musikhochschulen · 3 programmes
bbw Hochschule
Fachhochschulen / HAW · 21 programmes
Interested in Studying at
IB Hochschule für Gesundheit und Soziale...?
Our team can help you with the application process, documentation, and everything you need to get started.