University, Hochschule, Fachhochschule: The Differences

The difference between a university, a Hochschule and a Fachhochschule in Germany lies mainly in focus, degrees and the right to award doctorates. Hochschule is the umbrella term for all higher education institutions where you can study. This guide shows what each type of institution stands for and how you can use that information for your own decision.

The Most Important Points in Brief

• Hochschule is the umbrella term. Universities, Fachhochschulen and art and music academies all belong to it.
• Universities hold the right to award doctorates. Fachhochschulen usually award doctorates only together with a university.
• Fachhochschulen emphasise application and practical relevance, while universities focus on academic qualification.
• The bachelor’s degree is the standard degree in the first study cycle. State examinations exist only in some subjects.
• The right choice depends on your interest in theory or practice, your career goal and your entrance qualification.

What Does Hochschule Mean as an Umbrella Term?

In the German higher education system, Hochschule is the collective term. The German education server, the joint information portal of the federal government and the states, names universities, Fachhochschulen and art and music academies as the main types. When a job advert, law or funding programme refers to Hochschulen, it normally means all three.

There are also other institutions with their own rules, such as administrative Fachhochschulen. To check whether an institution is officially recognised and which degrees it may award, look at the university’s website or at the directory of the German Rectors’ Conference (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz).

What Distinguishes a University from a Fachhochschule?

The differences show up mainly in the range of courses, the relationship to research and the right to award doctorates. The table summarises the information from the German education server. Where the source makes no statement, we leave the field open rather than invent one.

For you, this means: if you want to do a doctorate later, the route almost always leads through a university. If you want practical experience early on, a Fachhochschule can be a good fit. A detailed comparison is in our guide Fachhochschule or university: what suits you better (in German).

How Many Students Study at Each Type of Institution?

Figures from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) show how large each type of institution is. For the winter semester 2025/26, Destatis reports a preliminary total of 2,876,900 students. The distribution across institution types looks like this:

Calculation example (calculated): 1,668,200 universities students divided by 2,876,900 students in total gives 0.58, so about 58 percent. The shares are rounded and therefore do not add up to exactly 100 percent. The source is the Destatis press release of 28 November 2025. Final results for summer 2026 were not available when this guide was written.

Which Degrees Lead Where?

Under the Bologna system, studies are structured into bachelor’s and master’s degrees. According to the German education server, the bachelor’s degree is the standard completion of the first study cycle and the first professional qualification at a Hochschule. The master’s degree usually forms the second stage, while a doctorate is a separate qualification based on research.

1. Bachelor: first professional degree, possible at universities and Fachhochschulen alike.
2. Master: builds on the bachelor’s degree, either consecutive or continuing professional education, depending on the subject. A professional degree from a Hochschule is required.
3. Doctorate: awarded by universities. Fachhochschule graduates often pursue a doctorate through cooperative procedures.
4. State examination: law, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, food chemistry and many teacher-training programmes end with a state examination rather than a bachelor’s degree.

According to the German education server, a master’s programme usually lasts 2 to 4 semesters. Whether you do a master’s at a Fachhochschule or a university depends on the subject and the programme, so the study regulations are the best place to check.

Which Type of Institution Suits Me?

Choosing a type of institution means choosing a learning style, a career goal and an entry route. You do not have to settle everything at once. These questions help you sort your options:

1. Do you prefer learning through theory and models, or do you want to work early on with projects, internships and application?
2. Do you have a career goal that requires a specific degree, such as a regulated profession with a state examination, or a doctorate?
3. Which university entrance qualification do you have? The states and the institutions set the entry requirements.
4. How important are proximity to home, tuition-free study and support such as internship supervision to you?

A choice of institution type is not a final decision either. Changing between institutions is possible, for example when moving from a bachelor’s to a master’s programme at another Hochschule. The examination regulations of the receiving institution determine which study achievements are credited, so ask early.

If the terms are still unfamiliar, our overview of university vocabulary (in German) helps you get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Fachhochschule worth less than a university?

Both types award professional degrees. What matters is what you study and what you plan to do afterwards. The value of a degree depends strongly on the field and the programme, not only on the type of institution. There is no general ranking.

Can you do a doctorate at a Fachhochschule?

Not independently. According to the German education server, Fachhochschulen have no own right to award doctorates and work only in cooperative procedures with universities. If you want to do a doctorate, clarify this early with a university.

What does Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften mean?

Many Fachhochschulen now use this name or a similar one. The designation is regulated differently in each federal state. In substance, the focus stays on application and practical relevance, which is what the name expresses.

How can I tell which type of institution offers a programme?

The type usually appears in the official name of the institution and on the homepage of its website. For each programme you will also find the study regulations and module descriptions. They show how practical the course is, which internships are planned and whether a thesis with links to companies is possible. Compare several programmes side by side before you decide.

Are bachelor’s degrees from both types comparable?

They are structured similarly within the Bologna system and are based on ECTS credit points, which make the recognition of study achievements easier. Whether a degree is sufficient for a particular job depends on the employer and the professional requirements.

What Should You Do Now?

1. Write down your interests and your career goal before you compare institutions.
2. Check the websites of the institutions to see which programmes match your interests, and read the study regulations.
3. Clarify early the entry requirements and application deadlines of each institution.
4. Talk to the student counselling service or visit an open day before you commit.

Related Articles

• Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared
• Health Insurance Gap Between Bachelor and Master: What Applies
• Studienkolleg: preparatory college and health insurance
• Fachhochschule oder Universität: Was passt besser zu dir? (in German)
• Student ID card in Germany: functions, loss and digital version

Sources: Destatis, press release on student numbers, winter semester 2025/26 (in German, 28 November 2025, preliminary); German education server, The Higher Education System in Germany at a Glance (in German, page updated 11 December 2024).

Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.