University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE)
Quick Snapshot & Key Statistics
| Official Name | University of Europe for Applied Sciences |
| Parent Group | Member of Global University Systems (GUS) |
| Established | 2000 (Formed by the merger of BiTS Iserlohn and BTK University of Art & Design) |
| Campuses in Germany | Berlin (Central), Hamburg, Potsdam Innovation Hub, Iserlohn (Original seat) |
| International Branch | Dubai Campus (UAE – One of the first German universities in Dubai) |
| Accreditation & Quality | State-recognised by the Senate & Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat), ZEvA system accredited, FIBAA |
| Student Body | ~4,500+ students from 100+ nations (~60% international) |
| Medium of Instruction | 100% English (International tracks) & German (Dual-study & local tracks) |
| Tuition Fees (Undergraduate) | ~€9,420 – €11,380 / year (Non-EU full-time Bachelor's) |
| Tuition Fees (Postgraduate) | ~€12,600 – €14,300 / year (Master's) | ~€14,825 – €19,350 total (MBA) |
| Post-Study Work Permit | Fully eligible for Germany's 18-Month Post-Study Work Permit |
About University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE)
Founded in 2000, the University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) is a private, state-accredited German university (Fachhochschule). Formed through the merger of BiTS (Business and Information Technology School) and BTK (University of Art & Design), UE combines interdisciplinary studies across Art, Design, New Media, Business, Software Engineering, Psychology, and Sports Management.
Owned by the Global University Systems (GUS) network, UE emphasises project-based education, cross-faculty collaboration (e.g., business students working alongside game designers), mandatory international semesters, and corporate partner integrations including ALBA BERLIN, Borussia Dortmund, and major creative agencies.
Campus Locations
UE operates across four distinct campuses in Germany, plus an international branch in Dubai:
- Berlin Campus (Museumsinsel / Central): Focus: Art & Design, Communication, Digital Media, Game Design, Business, and UX/UI Design. Located in Berlin's creative district.
- Potsdam Campus (Innovation Hub): Focus: Technology, AI, Software Engineering, Data Science, and Sustainable Tech. Located in the Potsdam Science Park district.
- Hamburg Campus (Altona): Focus: Brand Design, Sports Management, Corporate Management, and Logistics. Situated in the Altona creative district.
- Iserlohn Campus (Seecampus): Focus: Business Psychology, Football/Sports Management, Software Engineering, and Dual-Study programs. A green, traditional residential campus set beside Lake Seilersee.
- Dubai Campus (UAE): Focus: International Business, Data Science, and Tech Management degrees delivered in One Central (Dubai World Trade Centre).
Admission Requirements
UE operates on an NC-Free (No Numerus Clausus / No Cutoff GPA) policy, evaluating candidates holistically through background reviews, portfolios, and selection interviews.
1. Undergraduate (Bachelor's - B.A. / B.Sc.) Requirements
- Secondary School Certificate: High School Diploma, A-Levels, IB Diploma, or equivalent secondary leaving certificate recognised in Germany (Abitur, Fachhochschulreife, or 12th Grade).
- Academic Transcripts & Resume / CV.
- Artistic Portfolio (Art & Design Tracks Only): Applicants for Game Design, Communication Design, Illustration, Photography, or Film/Motion Design must submit a digital portfolio containing 5–10 creative works.
- Selection Interview: Online video interview evaluating motivation, project ideas, and career fit.
2. Postgraduate (Master's - M.A. / M.Sc.) Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree: Completed undergraduate degree (180 to 240 ECTS equivalent) in business, STEM, design, or social sciences from an accredited university.
- Design Portfolio: Mandatory for creative Master's programs (e.g., Visual & Experience Design, Media Spaces, Innovation Design Management).
- APS Certificate: Mandatory for applicants holding degrees from India, China, or Vietnam.
- Selection Interview & CV.
3. Master of Business Administration (MBA) Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree: Undergraduate degree in any academic discipline.
- Professional Work Experience: Minimum 1 to 2 years of post-graduation work experience.
- Format: Available in 1-Year (60 ECTS) and 1.5-Year (90 ECTS) tracks.
Popular Academic Programs
Undergraduate Programs (Bachelor's Degrees — 3 Years / 180 ECTS)
1. Art, Design & Game Development
- B.A. Game Design
- B.A. Communication Design & Illustration
- B.A. Film + Motion Design
- B.A. UX/UI Design
2. Tech, Data & Software Engineering
- B.Sc. Software Engineering
- B.Sc. Digital Business & Data Science
3. Sports, Event & Business Management
- B.Sc. Sport & Event Management
- Specialised Tracks
- B.A. International Business Management
Postgraduate Programs (Master's & MBA Degrees — 1 to 2 Years)
1. Design & Creative Management
- M.A. Innovation Design Management
- M.A. Visual & Experience Design
- M.A. Media Spaces
2. Technology & Data Analytics
- M.Sc. Data Science
- M.Sc. Software Engineering
- M.Sc. AI and Sustainable Technologies
3. Executive, Business & Sports Management
- Global MBA (60 & 90 ECTS): General management, strategic decision-making, financial strategy, and corporate transformation.
- M.A. International Sport & Event Management
Language Requirements
Degree programs at UE are offered in 100% English or German. German language proficiency is not required for English-taught tracks.
English Language Proficiency Cutoffs
| Exam / Qualification | Undergraduate (Bachelor's) | Postgraduate (Master's & MBA) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Overall 5.5 – 6.0 | Overall 6.0 – 6.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | Minimum 72 points | Minimum 80 points |
| Duolingo English Test | 100 – 105 points | 110 – 115 points |
| PTE Academic | 56 points | 58 points |
- English Waiver: Available if secondary or university education was completed 100% in English (verified via an official Medium of Instruction [MOI] certificate).
Fee Structure & Estimated Living Expenses
1. Program Tuition & Administrative Fees
| Program Level | Standard Duration | Estimated Annual Tuition Fee | Total Estimated Course Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's (Non-EU) | 3 Years (180 ECTS) | ~€9,420 – €11,380 / year | ~€28,260 – €34,140 total |
| Master's (Standard Track) | 2 Years (120 ECTS) | ~€12,600 – €14,300 / year | ~€25,200 – €28,600 total |
| Global MBA (60 ECTS) | 1 Year | N/A | ~€14,825 total |
| Global MBA (90 ECTS) | 1.5 Years | N/A | ~€19,350 total |
Additional Charges
- Enrolment Deposit (Non-EU): €1,500 (Deducted from first-year tuition).
- Registration Fee: €490 (One-time).
2. Estimated Monthly Living Expenses
Non-EU international students must provide proof of funds via a German Blocked Account (Sperrkonto):
- Official Blocked Account Amount: €11,904 per year (~€992 per month).
- Average Monthly Budget: €860 – €1,290 per month (Iserlohn and Potsdam are ~15–20% cheaper than Berlin and Hamburg).
Let's plan your path to studying at UE
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The fusion of BiTS, famous for business, sports management, and IT and BTK, famous for fine arts, game design, and visual communication, created UE's hybrid model. Students in business or software engineering regularly collaborate on joint practical projects with design, game development, and media students.
UE maintains exclusive corporate partnerships with major sports organisations, including an official college partnership with ALBA BERLIN (basketball) and collaborations with Borussia Dortmund (BVB). Students in the Sport & Event Management track complete internships, game-day logistics projects, and executive workshops directly inside these professional sports clubs.
While Berlin focuses on arts, media, and design, and Hamburg emphasises brand management and logistics, the Potsdam Innovation Hub is specifically dedicated to tech, software engineering, AI, data science, and digital business, positioned directly alongside the Potsdam Science Park.
UE campuses feature specialised creative infrastructure, including motion-capture labs, VR/AR testing suites, green-screen TV/radio studios, Mac editing pools, 3D printing workshops, sound engineering rooms, and high-end camera equipment rental facilities accessible to all enrolled students.
Beyond general sports management, UE offers dedicated undergraduate specialisations in Football Management, eSports Studies focusing on competitive gaming tournaments, team management, and broadcasting, and Basketball Management.
Yes. Students enrolled at UE Germany can choose to complete a semester or study module at UE Dubai (located in Dubai World Trade Centre), giving them exposure to the Middle Eastern tech and trade market while remaining enrolled in an accredited German degree track.
For creative degrees such as Game Design or Illustration, UE evaluates potential over pure technical skill. Applicants who lack a traditional art school portfolio can participate in an interactive portfolio workshop or submit creative sketches, storyboards, or digital prototypes to demonstrate visual conceptual thinking.
UE does not enforce a rigid grade point average (Numerus Clausus) cutoff. Admissions focus on verifying university entrance eligibility, reviewing motivation letters, evaluating project portfolios (for design), and conducting a personal selection interview.
The M.A. Innovation Design Management is a bridge program designed for professionals who want to lead creative teams. It teaches business managers how to apply design thinking and guides artists and designers on managing corporate budgets, agile product development, and brand strategy.
UE offers dual-study Bachelor's tracks in fields like Software Engineering, BMS & Tax, and Digital Media & Marketing. Under this model, partner companies cover 100% of students' tuition fees and provide a monthly salary for practical work completed alongside university lectures.
To assist with local integration and job search preparation, UE offers free intensive German language courses (up to 10 hours per week) during the first semester, alongside optional conversational courses in French, Spanish, and Mandarin.
UE operates an internal Career Centre that organises annual job fairs (UE Career Days), portfolio review sessions with creative directors, and direct job board access connecting students with employers like Zalando, BMW, Amazon, Ubisoft, and local advertising agencies.
Unlike the urban city-centre locations in Berlin and Hamburg, the Iserlohn Campus offers a traditional American-style green residential campus situated next to Lake Seilersee, featuring on-campus dormitories, sports grounds, and lower overall living costs.
If an applicant receives an official visa rejection from the German Embassy or Consulate, UE refunds advanced tuition payments, excluding non-refundable administrative deposit fees upon presentation of the official embassy rejection letter. Alternatively, students can defer their start date to the next semester.
Programs like the M.Sc. AI and Sustainable Technologies offered at the Potsdam Innovation Hub combine machine learning and software engineering with environmental impact analysis, ethical AI deployment, and sustainable supply chain data modelling.
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Photo credits: Friedrichstrasse business district, Berlin by Jörg Zägel, CC BY-SA 3.0; Vitra Design Museum (Frank Gehry) by Gunnar Klack, CC BY-SA 4.0. Via Wikimedia Commons. All image credits
