Blog Universität Witten-Herdecke | Why study at Witten/Herdecke University?

If your only goal is to get a degree in Philosophy, Politics or Economics, you will find a place for this almost anywhere in the world. If you are looking for a flexible, tailored programme that combines these different perspectives, offers small classrooms and in-depth discussions in small groups, however, you should come to Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H). Our international students appreciate the openness, the approachability of the teaching staff, and the quality of education deriving from this close-knit network.

The flexibility in creating your own curriculum reaches even beyond Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Every Thursday, students of all faculties meet for “Stufu day” – general studies in liberal arts and humanities. They work together on topics concerning society and culture, philosophy and history, literature and arts, as well as economy and health. They can choose anything they are interested in from a broad range of courses and usefully complement their studies this way. It is this freedom to arrange your own schedule and plan your own academic curriculum to suit your individual goals, which makes our PPE programme so special and unique in the world.

Witten is NOT New York City, London or Tokyo. We’ve got that. However, it is still special and an ideal place for your studies. There is a strong community of students, who participate in and initiate many extracurricular activities. Our students have a voice and vote in the University's affairs; they build large networks of friends and acquaintances while living in Witten. 

Unlike several other institutions, we offer affordable fees even for non-EU students and let them participate in our famous “study now, pay later” model (reverse generational contract). Moreover, rent in Witten is not as expensive as in cosmopolitan cities. The composition of classes shows the diversity of our international programmes by bringing together international and local students. This is important to our international students who are looking to study in Germany and not just anywhere in the world. You will still be able to explore different disciplines, make friends from all continents, and learn about many cultures and about yourself by living abroad.

While Germany has a great reputation for its quality of education, UW/H – as its oldest and most renowned private university – always offers a bit more than public universities. You will find smaller classes as well as better instruction, and get better acquainted with the community and culture. After graduating, you are likely to have better job opportunities.

We choose our students through individual interviews and have flexible admission criteria. At other institutions, you might be rejected based on your certificates already. To us, people are more than that because personality is what counts the most. Everybody will get a fair chance!

Bureaucracy can be a hassle for non-EU students, however. We know that and try to help whenever and wherever we can. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if there is anything we can help you with or check our FAQs about studying in Germany.

We will not leave you alone! “There is always someone willing to help” – this is what our international students tell us and like most about Witten/Herdecke University. On campus, you will always find someone you can ask for help if needed. We also try to assist with off-campus issues whenever we can; e.g. we support you in finding accommodation, provide the information you need before arrival so you can set up smoothly, and offer free language courses for you to integrate easily. We also organise a career market where you can meet recruiters from German companies to talk to and keep in touch; sometimes they even hire students right on that day. We have a sustainable network of renowned academics, businesspersons and politicians who hold lectures or conferences. Being at a smaller university with less students makes it easy to interact with these guests in order to benefit from their knowledge.

In case you have any further questions or concerns, you can always turn to the Erasmus Student Network Witten/Herdecke (ESN) for advice. They offer support, activities and trips for international students. To increase your mobility, you will receive a “semester ticket”, which allows you to use public transportation in North Rhine-Westphalia, including city and regional buses, subways, trams, and regional trains. Thus, you can reach nearby cities such as Dortmund, Essen, Dusseldorf or Cologne without any additional charge.

Nonetheless, you will probably be spending most of your time in Witten. Studying at a small university in a town rather than a big city helps foster an intense community experience among students. Our international students really enjoy this atmosphere and the cultural diversity at UW/H. So, despite the fact that Witten is not New York City, studying here might prove to be the greater experience for you – and a better start to your career!