INU - Innovative University of Applied Sciences

About INU - Innovative University of Applied Sciences

INU – Innovative University of Applied Sciences is a private, state-recognised distance-learning university located in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It received approval from the German Council for Science (Wissenschaftsrat) in September 2022, full programme accreditation through the Akkreditierungsrat in December 2022 (valid until March 2031), and official state recognition from the NRW Ministry for Culture and Science in January 2023, with study operations beginning in Summer Semester 2023.

INU operates as a fully online university of applied sciences, delivering all programmes through its proprietary INU App with 24/7 AI-coach support. Programmes span business, psychology, and technology at bachelor and master level, all taught in English. The model is designed for flexible full-time or part-time study, marketed explicitly to students who wish to study while working or travelling.

The university is a private institution and charges monthly tuition fees. There is no public tuition-free status. Three bachelor programmes (Psychology, Business Psychology, International Business Administration) are BAföG-eligible, allowing German-resident students to apply for federal student aid of up to €934/month.

Key facts

Founded: 2022

Fully accredited private online university of applied sciences, state-recognised by NRW since January 2023

All programmes taught in English — accessible to international students without German language skills

Flexible full-time and part-time study via proprietary INU App with 24/7 AI-coach support

Three bachelor programmes (Psychology, Business Psychology, International Business Administration) are BAföG-eligible

Application handled via uni-assist — standard German credential evaluation pathway for international students

Study while working or travelling — no campus relocation required

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

INU is a private university; there is no tuition-free option and no public semester contribution model. Tuition is charged monthly. Indicative fees from the FAQ: Full-time programmes ~€545/month (total ~€19,620 over 36 months); part-time ~€430/month (total ~€20,640 over 48 months). Fees are capped: no additional charges apply after the standard programme duration. There is no stated non-EU surcharge — the same fee schedule applies to all nationalities. Three bachelor programmes are BAföG-eligible. Verify current figures at inu.de/en/fees-financing/ before publishing.

Admission requirements

International applicants must have their foreign school or university certificates evaluated through uni-assist.de before applying. Accepted entry qualifications include the German Abitur or equivalent foreign higher education entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife / subject-specific qualification). Bachelor admission is also possible via vocational advanced training, professional experience, entrance examination, or a trial study course, even without a formal school-leaving certificate. For English-taught programmes, B2 English proficiency is required. Accepted certificates: IELTS Academic 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, Cambridge B2 First/Advanced, Pearson PTE 59–75, TELC English B2. School certificates from Australia, Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, or New Zealand satisfy this requirement automatically. APS certificate: INU does not appear to require an APS certificate as an admission condition; eligibility check runs through uni-assist. Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants should still verify with uni-assist and their own consulate requirements, since a student visa for Germany still requires APS for these nationalities before the visa appointment. Intakes: Summer Semester (starts 1 April) and Winter Semester (starts 1 October). Application deadline for Winter Semester 2026/27 is not published; applicants should check the online application portal.

Application deadlines

Rolling admissions with two annual intakes: Summer Semester (1 April start) and Winter Semester (1 October start). No hard cut-off deadline is publicly listed; applications are processed on a rolling basis. Prospective students complete a pre-check via uni-assist, then apply through the INU online portal.

Languages of instruction

All programmes are taught entirely in English.

Campuses & locations

Cologne Campus

Widdersdorfer Straße 262, 50933 Cologne. Administrative headquarters; all teaching is fully online.

Living in Nordrhein-Westfalen

INU is administratively based in Cologne (Köln), Germany's fourth-largest city, located on the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia. Cologne is a major business, media, and cultural hub with a large international student population, excellent rail connections across Germany and to the Netherlands and Belgium, and a vibrant city life. Because INU is fully online, students do not need to relocate to Cologne to study.

Student life & support

Student life at INU is primarily digital. The university uses its proprietary INU App for lectures, coursework, and a 24/7 AI-coach. The cohort-based learning model aims to build a study community despite the remote format. INU runs an Innovation Scholarship programme and maintains a network of business partners (including Linde Engineering and Allianz) for internships and practical projects. Physical events are optional rather than mandatory.

International Office: [email protected] International students page →

Accredited Programmes

Master

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus