The West Coast University of Applied Science (FHW) was founded in 1993 at the initiative of farsighted entrepreneurs and politicians in the region. It started operating in rented room and was able to bid its first graduates farewell in 1997.

The 2000, the University moved into its newly constructed building in the east of Heide. In 2008 there were about 400 freshmen students so that in 2009 there were already around 1,200 students enrolled at the FHW. Within the framework of the Higher Education Pact, the FHW has taken the largest package of potential students in the state. This has led to more than 1,500 students being enrolled for the start of the Winter Semester 2014/15.

The FHW began the changeover to the new degree courses "Bachelor" and "Master's" in 2004. Thus, our university was the first in Schleswig-Holstein to complete the Bologna Process.

At the same time, the FHW pushed for more internationalisation: Today, our university has contact to more than 20 universities ranging across all of the continents, giving it a very strong global position. This primarily benefits the students, but the West Coast region also profits.