DHBW (Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University): Top Master Programs (2026/27)

Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) is Germany's first public cooperative university, founded in 2009 as successor to the Berufsakademie. As the original dual university, it combines academic study with hands-on work: you alternate every three months between campus and your partner company and earn a salary throughout. With around 33,000 students across nine locations and three campuses in Baden-Württemberg, DHBW is the state's largest university. In business, engineering, social work, and healthcare, it offers more than 30 bachelor's programs with over 100 specializations, plus work-integrated master's degrees. All degrees are accredited and recognized as intensive programs worth 210 ECTS credits. As a European University (EU4Dual), DHBW is also connected across Europe.

Admission: How to get in

Applying to DHBW works fundamentally differently from most other universities – you don't apply to the university, but directly to a company. You need three things:

• University entrance qualification (HZB): usually the Abitur or a matching subject-linked entrance qualification. With a university of applied sciences entrance qualification or vocational qualification, admission is possible via the Deltaprüfung or an aptitude test. Foreign qualifications are checked for equivalence (credential assessment); where needed, a Studienkolleg or a university-specific entrance exam leads to admission.
• Language skills: German-taught programs require proof of German at C1 level; English-taught programs require corresponding English skills.
• Contract with a company: the heart of it – before your studies begin, you sign a study and training contract with a partner company. Only this contract secures your place.

Well prepared for your studies

If you don't yet meet all requirements, there's no need to wait: DHBW offers several programs that build the language, academic and organizational basis for a dual study program.

• Bridge Year: A one-year program at DHBW Heidenheim with an intensive German course, application support and intercultural training – its language preparation is currently being expanded further.
• Studienkolleg: Prepares international applicants with foreign school-leaving certificates for their studies at DHBW.
• StartDualInternational: Helps international talents find their way into a dual study program and to a partner company.