Theologische Hochschule Elstal
About Theologische Hochschule Elstal
Theologische Hochschule Elstal (TH Elstal) is a state-accredited private university of applied sciences in Elstal, Brandenburg, about 30 km west of Berlin. It is maintained by the Bund Evangelisch-Freikirchlicher Gemeinden (BEFG) — Germany's largest free church association (approx. 80,000 members) — and trains pastors, church workers, and social-theological practitioners. The institution received its university accreditation from the Wissenschaftsrat in 2007 and was reaccredited in 2013; all degree programmes are accredited by AQAS e.V.
The institution traces its roots to a Baptist seminary founded in Hamburg in 1888. It relocated to its current campus in Elstal in 1997 and was formally renamed from Theologisches Seminar to Theologische Hochschule in 2015. Teaching follows the motto Wissen — Sein — Tun (Knowledge — Being — Doing), combining academic theology with personal formation and practical ministry preparation.
TH Elstal offers a Bachelor of Arts in Evangelical Theology and two consecutive Master of Arts programmes — Evangelical Theology and Diaconia and Social Theology — as well as a non-consecutive continuing-education master's in Theology and Innovative Parish Development. The campus library holds over 75,000 volumes. The institution cooperates with five international partner universities and offers Erasmus mobility exchanges.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1888
Germany's only university maintained by the Baptist-rooted Bund Evangelisch-Freikirchlicher Gemeinden (BEFG)
State-accredited university of applied sciences since 2007, all programmes accredited by AQAS e.V.
Traces its origins to the Hamburg Baptist Seminary founded in 1888
Library of over 75,000 volumes accessible around the clock to enrolled students
Residential campus community in Elstal, 30 km west of Berlin, with on-campus housing from ~€250/month
Erasmus exchange partnerships and cooperation with five international partner universities
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
No tuition fees are charged. A semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) of €360 per semester applies to full-time students; this is described as refinanceable through campus jobs. A semester ticket (Germany-wide rail travel) costs an additional €208.80 per semester. On-campus housing in shared dormitory rooms is available for approximately €250 per month. TH Elstal is located in Brandenburg, which does not levy the non-EU surcharge introduced in Baden-Württemberg (€1,500/semester) or the Bavarian non-EU fee introduced from WS 2025/26.
Admission requirements
Entry to the B.A. programme requires Fachhochschulreife or Hochschulreife (German secondary school certificate or equivalent). Under Brandenburg higher-education law, applicants with a Sekundarstufe-I school-leaving certificate plus a completed vocational qualification and at least two years of relevant work experience may also be considered. For the M.A. in Evangelical Theology a B.A. in theology is required, including completion of a 7-week supervised church internship. For the M.A. in Diaconia and Social Theology a B.A. in a social-science discipline (social work, sociology, health/nursing sciences) is required. The continuing-education M.A. requires a bachelor's degree outside theology plus at least one year of professional experience. All programmes are taught in German; a strong command of German is effectively required for study. No explicit minimum German-language certificate level is stated on the official admissions page, but candidates should expect at least C1 proficiency given the academic theological curriculum. APS certificate is required for Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants before applying for a German student visa. Church membership and a statement of faith motivation are required application documents — admission is therefore restricted in practice to students with a Protestant free-church background or affiliation.
Application deadlines
Winter semester (October start): 15 September. Summer semester (April start): 31 January. Earlier applications by personal arrangement are noted on the official admissions page.
Languages of instruction
All taught programmes are in German. No English-taught degree programmes are listed on the official site.
Campuses & locations
Johann-Gerhard-Oncken-Straße 7, 14641 Wustermark OT Elstal, Brandenburg; single residential campus approx. 30 km west of Berlin
Living in the city
Elstal is a small village in the municipality of Wustermark in western Brandenburg, approximately 30 km west of central Berlin. The campus sits in a quiet semi-rural setting with direct S-Bahn and regional-rail access to Berlin; students make regular use of the wider Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region for churches, cultural events, and internships. The area is part of the historic Havelland district.
Student life & support
TH Elstal is a residential campus community; students are actively encouraged to live on site in shared apartments (2–5 persons) or couple/family flats. Communal kitchens, a dining hall, and a 24-hour library support daily life. Sports facilities include volleyball, basketball, and football pitches. Spiritual life is integrated into campus rhythm through regular worship services and prayer groups. The campus is also home to Akademie Elstal, which hosts continuing-education events and provides additional networking. A student representative body (Studierendenschaft) is active.
3
Accredited Programmes
1
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
2
Master
Interested in Studying at
Theologische Hochschule Elstal?
Our team can help you with the application process, documentation, and everything you need to get started.