Theologische Hochschule Elstal

The Theologische Hochschule Elstal is the theological training institution of the Union of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany (BEFG), the German Baptist union. Its history goes back to 1880, when it was founded in Hamburg-Horn as a seminary for German Baptist preachers. In 1997 it moved to Wustermark-Elstal near Berlin. In October 2003 it became the first university of applied sciences in Germany to receive state recognition for a theology degree programme, and in 2015 it was granted permanent recognition as a private university.