NBS Northern Business School - University of Applied Sciences

About NBS Northern Business School - University of Applied Science

NBS Northern Business School is a state-recognised private university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in Hamburg, founded in 2007 and operated as a non-profit foundation (Norddeutsche Bildungsstiftung). It holds institutional accreditation from the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) and offers bachelor and master programmes in business administration, security management, social work, and management, alongside an MBA.

The school deliberately limits class sizes to foster personal mentoring and individual support rather than mass-lecture teaching. All programmes are available in full-time and part-time formats, with part-time courses scheduled on evenings and Saturdays to accommodate working students. A partnership with the WBS GRUPPE was established in March 2023.

With approximately 1,000 enrolled students, over 2,000 alumni, 29 professors, and six research institutes, NBS is a compact institution focused on practice-oriented education and strong employability outcomes. There is no numerus clausus for any programme.

Key facts

Founded: 2007
Students: 1,000

State-recognised private Fachhochschule with institutional Wissenschaftsrat accreditation

No numerus clausus — all programmes are admission-restriction-free

Small study groups with individual mentoring rather than large lecture-hall teaching

Flexible full-time and part-time study models (evening/Saturday classes for working students)

Six research institutes including fields of unmanned systems, security management, and Northern European economics

Over 40 international partner universities; Erasmus+ participation for outgoing and incoming students

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

NBS is a private institution and charges tuition fees for all students regardless of nationality; there is no tuition-free track and no separate non-EU surcharge. Fees are structured as monthly instalments over the programme duration. Indicative rates (2025/26): Bachelor full-time ~€480–542/month over 42–48 months; Bachelor part-time ~€294–335/month over 48–54 months; Master full-time ~€570–755/month; MBA ~€400–500/month. A lump-sum payment earns a 5% discount. Thesis fees: €500 (Bachelor), €700 (Master). Full-time students also pay a semester ticket for public transport.

Admission requirements

International applicants must hold a school-leaving certificate equivalent to the German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife; documents not in German must be accompanied by a certified German translation. German language proficiency at B2 (CEFR) is required for non-German-speaking international applicants. All programmes are admission-restriction-free (kein N.C.) with no entrance examination. Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants who completed prior schooling in their home country should verify APS certificate requirements with the international office before applying, as NBS's own pages do not address this explicitly. Vocational qualification holders and applicants without a traditional Abitur may also be admitted via recognised professional pathways or an entrance examination.

Application deadlines

Winter semester (start ~September 15): application deadline August 1. Summer semester (start ~March 15): application deadline February 1. The institution states late enrolment is often possible beyond these dates.

Languages of instruction

German (primary language of instruction for most programmes); English available for selected courses and the MBA programme.

Campuses & locations

Studienzentrum AlsterCity (ACY)

Weidestraße 122c, 22083 Hamburg (Barmbek Nord); programme administration, student counselling, marketing — U3 Saarlandstraße/Dehnhaide/Hamburger Straße

Studienzentrum Quarree (QUA)

Wandsbeker Marktstr. 103–107, 22041 Hamburg (Wandsbek); rectorate, examination office, international office, library — U1 Wandsbek Markt

Living in Hamburg

Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city and its primary port, home to around 1.9 million people. It is a major media, logistics, aviation, and trade hub with a strong start-up scene and one of the highest graduate employment rates in Germany. The city's multicultural Schanzenviertel, Speicherstadt warehouse district (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and extensive Alster lake system make it a popular destination for international students.

Student life & support

NBS students benefit from small cohort sizes and a community atmosphere across two Hamburg study centres. The school integrates personal development modules into its curricula and organises regular networking events with regional businesses. An Erasmus+ programme and partnerships with over 40 universities worldwide enable outgoing exchange semesters and internships. Both campuses are accessible by Hamburg's U-Bahn and S-Bahn networks.

International Office: [email protected] International students page →

Accredited Programmes

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus

Master