- Founded
- 1983
- Students
- 3,500
- Programmes
- 23
- Taught in English
- 7
About Universität Witten/Herdecke (UW/H)
Universität Witten/Herdecke (UW/H) is Germany's first state-recognised private university, founded in 1983 in Witten, North Rhine-Westphalia. It operates under a non-profit legal form (gGmbH) and holds system accreditation from the Wissenschaftsrat for the maximum ten-year term. The university is recognised by the NRW Ministry of Science and holds programme-level accreditations through AHPGS, AQAS, and FIBAA.
The university enrolls approximately 3,500 students across 14 degree programmes in two faculties - Faculty of Health (Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing Science, Community Health) and Faculty of Business and Society (Management, Psychology, Philosophy/Politics/Economics, Business/Politics/Law). It employs more than 900 staff and maintains a network of 39 affiliated clinics, over 500 practice partners, and 70 partner universities across five continents.
UW/H is a fee-charging private institution with a distinctive financing model called the "Umgekehrter Generationenvertrag" (Reverse Generational Contract / UGV), which allows students to study with no upfront payment and repay an income-linked share after graduation. The university does not operate a numerus clausus; admission is based on a holistic review including a personal interview.
Germany's first state-recognised private university (founded 1983, NRW-recognised)
Unique tuition financing via the Umgekehrter Generationenvertrag (UGV): study now, repay a share of post-graduation income over ten years
No numerus clausus - admission based on personal interview and holistic review
Wissenschaftsrat system accreditation for the maximum 10-year term
Two English-taught master's programmes: M.A. Philosophy, Politics & Economics and M.Sc. Management
Network of 39 affiliated clinics and 500+ practice partners supports applied learning in health programmes
Key facts
- Type
- Universitäten
- Founded
- 1983
- Students
- 3,500
- International
- No official percentage published by UW/H. Context: several Master's programmes are taught entirely in English, the university cooperates with more than 70 partner universities on five continents, and about 2,500 students were enrolled overall (Wikipedia, citing 2019 figures).
- Faculties
- 2
- Programmes
- 23
Study programmes
23 accredited degrees at Universität Witten/Herdecke (UW/H), 7 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–23 of 23 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
UW/H is a private fee-charging university. Tuition is paid via one of three models: (1) immediate monthly payments during studies; (2) income-linked deferred repayment after graduation (8% of income for Bachelor, 12% for Bachelor+Master or Medicine, 14% for Dentistry, over ten years); or (3) a 50/50 hybrid. Under the immediate-payment model, indicative monthly fees are: Medicine €1,280/month (total ~€76,800); Dentistry €1,840/month (total ~€110,400); Management Bachelor €1,052/month (total ~€37,872); Psychology Bachelor €818/month (total ~€29,448); Philosophy/Politics/Economics Bachelor €880/month (total ~€31,680); Management Master €1,386/month (total ~€33,264); Psychology Master €1,082/month (total ~€25,968). Extra semesters are fee-free. The university does not publish a separate non-EU surcharge. North Rhine-Westphalia does not charge the non-EU semester fee applicable in Baden-Württemberg or Bavaria.
Admission requirements
UW/H uses a holistic, interview-based admissions process with no numerus clausus. All applicants - including international students - complete an online application followed by a selection interview (on campus or digital). Standard German university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung or recognised equivalent) is required. Non-EU students must apply for a student visa at a German embassy or consulate after receiving an admission letter. Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants are required to present an APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle) as part of their visa application. Language requirements depend on the programme: German-taught programmes require proof of German proficiency (typically DSH-2 or TestDaF TDN 4); English-taught programmes (PPE M.A., Management M.Sc.) require proof of English proficiency (IELTS or equivalent).
Application deadlines
Bachelor programmes: 15 February (summer semester start), 15 August (winter semester start). Early-bird deadline waiving the application fee: 15 December (summer) / 15 June (winter). Psychology B.Sc. has different windows: 1 July-30 September (summer) and 1 December-28 February (winter). Master programmes (PPE, Management M.Sc., Witten MBA): rolling admissions year-round, final deadline 15 August for winter semester. Psychology M.Sc.: 1 October-15 January (summer), 1 April-15 June (winter). Medicine state exam: 1 June-15 July (summer), 1 December-1 February (winter). Dentistry: specific annual windows published per intake cycle.
How international applicants apply
Direct application via the university's own online application form - no uni-assist. Documented process on uni-wh.de/en/studies/international/international-students: (1) online application form, (2) invitation to a (digital) admission interview, (3) study-place confirmation then visa application for non-EU nationals, (4) enrolment with health-insurance proof, supported by the International Office. Income Share Agreement (reverse generational contract) available for financing.
Languages of instruction
The majority of programmes are taught in German. Two programmes are offered in English: the M.A. Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) and the M.Sc. Management. All other bachelor's, master's, and state examination programmes (Medicine, Dentistry) are German-language. Prospective international students should verify language requirements per programme before applying.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Universität Witten/Herdecke (UW/H)
2 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Deutschlandstipendium (Witten/Herdecke University)
The flagship scholarship open to UW/H students of ALL disciplines; co-funded half by private sponsors and half by the federal gove...
Amount: EUR 300 per month (statutory Deutschlandstipendium rate)
bachelor, master, state_examination
Income Share Agreement (ISA) reverse financing model
Not a classic scholarship but the university's signature financing instrument: tuition can be deferred ('study now, pay later') an...
Amount: Deferred tuition repayment, income-dependent after graduation (capped)
bachelor, master, state_examination
Student accommodation
What Universität Witten/Herdecke (UW/H) publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
The university's housing page
Deadlines and application forms are published here, and they change every intake.
Open housing pageRoom types mentioned
What that page describes. Availability varies by intake.
From the university
The university does not operate its own student dormitories; students find private shared apartments (WGs) in Witten via platforms such as WG-Gesucht, Immoscout24, and Kleinanzeigen. Rents in Witten are described as reasonable by regional comparison.
Campuses & locations
Single main campus at Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50, 58455 Witten, NRW. Includes lecture halls, library, cafeteria, dental clinic, psychological health centre, and green outdoor spaces.
Living in Witten
Witten is a mid-sized city in the Ruhr metropolitan region of North Rhine-Westphalia, bordering Bochum and Dortmund. The region is one of the largest urban agglomerations in Europe, offering strong public transport connections, a lively cultural scene, and relatively affordable living costs compared to Frankfurt or Munich. Witten itself is compact and student-friendly, with several neighbourhoods popular for shared student apartments (Witten-Annen, Witten-Mitte, Witten-Heven near the Kemnader Stausee). The university campus is set in a green environment away from city-centre congestion.
Student life & support
The university does not operate its own student dormitories; students find private shared apartments (WGs) in Witten via platforms such as WG-Gesucht, Immoscout24, and Kleinanzeigen. Rents in Witten are described as reasonable by regional comparison. The International Office - staffed by Judith Schmitz (Head), Dagmar Koch (outgoing global), Louisa Thamer (outgoing Europe), and Raphaela Held (incoming coordinator) - supports degree-seeking and exchange international students with admissions guidance, visa procedures, and settling-in advice. The university's "Studium fundamentale" programme provides over 100 interdisciplinary and personal-development courses available to all students alongside their degree. Language courses and intercultural exchange activities are facilitated by the International Office.
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