Studierende im Gespräch

About Universities of Applied Sciences

Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) were established in the early 1970s to help German industry maintain its international competitiveness. With their new approach they put higher education on a solid academic footing based on practice-oriented education and -increasingly- applied research.

Universities of applied sciences differ from other universities by preparing students through application-oriented and interdisciplinary instruction. Although research is becoming increasingly important to UAS, teaching and practical experiences in non-academic settings are very important parts of the education. Their objective is to enable graduates to apply systematic theoretical and rigorously methods-based knowledge to resolve practical problems flexibly. This enables UAS graduates to integrate quickly into the business environment after graduation and thus provides them with a strong competitive edge for their future careers.

Major Strengths

Studierende in Gruppenarbeit

Small Groups

Classes are structured like highschool environments in small groups of about 30. Only few lectures and courses will be taught in lecture halls with about 100 students. The small group size allows for individual supervision and mentorship by professors.

Experienced Lecturers

In addition to their academic qualifications, lecturers have a minimum of 3 to 5 years professional experience in industry or commerce. This experience allows them to teach students highly relevant practical and workforce-oriented skills. In addition, they often provide valuable business connections for the university, researchers and students.

Lecturer in front of a group of students
Students working with tools

Hands-on Teaching 

Universities of applied sciences focus on a pratice-oriented education. Classes are meant to prepare students for the workforce. Therefore labs, tutorials, simulations, case studies, projects and field trips are integral components of the curriculum.

Practical Semesters 

The majority of curricula includes a practical semester - an internship done at a company, with full credit opportunities. Often, students also write their final thesis at a company, analyzing and resolving a practical topic tailored to the company's needs. These experiences provide them with a competitive edge for their future careers.

A female student operating a machine

 

Two female students working at a research lab

Applied Research 

In cooperation with companies and application-oriented research institutes, students and researchers work on innovative solutions for the needs of society. Our universities provide state-of-the-art labs and equipment for researchers to be able to remain competitive and to contribute to research on a global scale.

Regional & International Networks

While deeply regionally rooted, universities of applied sciences have a strong international orientation, often integrating study terms or internships abroad into the curriculum. UAS7 has three offices on three continents. Our seven university members count more than 1,000 international partnerships around the world, providing ample opportunities for our faculty, researchers and students. Increasingly, we offer digital opportunities for international experiences, such as a virtual internship with the UAS7 New York office. Students who are not able to go abroad enjoy the international atmosphere at our campuses.

4 students sitting on a bench outside

 

3 students looking at a computer

Employability 

Close cooperation with business and industry allows for an excellent transition into the labor market. In many cases, students are offered positions at companies that hosted their internships or where they wrote their final thesis. Because of all the practical skills our students acquire, they are in high demand with employers as soon as they graduate - locally and globally.

Dual Study Programs

Dual study programs, available at UAS7 as Bachelor and Master programs, combine theory and practice: Simultaneously, students study part-time at a University of Applied Sciences, and train and work part-time on the premises of a company, where they are also getting paid. This type of program allows students to study theoretical subjects at a UAS and acquire important skills for their entry into professional life “on-the-job”. Students will have to apply directly to the company in order to be accepted into a dual study program. Upon completion of the program, they will graduate from university with an internationally recognized Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

Students discussing. Text: Dual Study Programs