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Tourism Schools and Programs in Germany

Tourism Studies in Germany

Tourism in Germany is studied mainly as tourism management, a business degree with a strong practical side. Many programmes are taught at universities of applied sciences (Hochschulen für Angewandte Wissenschaften, HAW), and there is also a vocational route outside higher education. Teaching is mostly in German, so language preparation is part of the plan for most international students.

SpainExchange currently lists one school in Germany under Tourism: the Institut für Internationale Kommunikation (IIK) in Düsseldorf. It is a language institute, not a tourism school. It teaches German as a foreign language for study and for work, which is the step many foreign students take before a German-taught degree.

How tourism studies are organised

According to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Germany has more than 200 universities of applied sciences, and around 40 percent of all students in the country are enrolled at one. Their degrees are oriented towards a profession, and internships or practical semesters tend to be compulsory. Since the Bologna Process, their bachelor's and master's degrees are equivalent to those of traditional universities.

The bachelor's degree in Tourismus Management at the Hochschule München, a university of applied sciences in Bavaria, is an example of how such a degree is built:

  • Bachelor of Arts with 210 ECTS credits
  • six theory semesters and one practical semester, with an internship of at least 18 weeks
  • taught in German and English
  • a first semester on four core areas: business administration, the tourism economy, intercultural competence and methods
  • a second foreign language, and the option of a semester at one of more than 50 partner institutions

The same faculty also offers master's degrees, among them Hospitality Management and Strategie und Innovation im Tourismus.

The vocational route is dual training (Ausbildung) in a company and a vocational school. The occupation Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Tourismus und Freizeit (tourism and leisure management assistant) is recognised by the state under a federal training regulation, and the training lasts three years. This is a vocational qualification, not a university degree.

Admission and language

Enrolment at a university of applied sciences requires a higher education entrance qualification. A school-leaving certificate from an EU or EEA country or Switzerland that gives access to university there is usually accepted. Other applicants may first need a Studienkolleg, a preparatory course. DAAD adds that, depending on the subject, applicants often need to show a preliminary internship. Applicants from outside the EU and EEA apply through uni-assist or directly to the institution. At the Hochschule München, the application periods shown for Tourismus Management are 2 May to 15 July for the winter semester and 15 November to 15 January for the summer semester.

Most institutions require German at B2 level of the CEFR or above, according to DAAD, proven with a test such as TestDaF, offered in around 100 countries, or the DSH, taken in Germany. IIK in Düsseldorf offers preparation courses for the TestDaF, DSH and telc exams and offers the DSH, TestDaF, TestAS and telc C1 Hochschule exams. It also sells a programme that combines an intensive German course with attendance at a Studienkolleg.

Costs and visa

DAAD states that state institutions generally charge no tuition fees for bachelor's degrees and most master's degrees, while private institutions may charge substantial fees. Students from outside the EU pay €1,500 per semester in Baden-Württemberg and may be charged fees in Bavaria, where each institution decides. All students pay a semester contribution of between €70 and €430. DAAD estimates living costs at between €900 and €1,200 per month. Language school fees come on top and are set by each school.

Citizens of EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland only need a valid identity card. Other students usually need a visa from the German embassy or consulate in their home country. According to DAAD, applicants had to prove funds of €992 per month as of 1 January 2025, and a visa can take months to be issued.

Careers

Tourism management degrees prepare for business roles in the sector. The Munich programme, for example, covers tour operators and travel distribution, destination management, hospitality and transport. Its faculty names tour operators and travel agencies, destinations, tourism organisations, transport companies and airlines, congress and event management, hotels and restaurants as employers in the sector. Graduates of a bachelor's degree can continue with a master's degree.

Frequently asked questions

Where is tourism taught in Germany?

Mainly at universities of applied sciences, as a tourism management degree. There is also a three-year vocational training as Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Tourismus und Freizeit.

How long does a tourism degree take?

It depends on the institution. The bachelor's degree in Tourismus Management at the Hochschule München has 210 ECTS credits and seven semesters, one of them a practical semester.

Do I need German to study tourism in Germany?

Usually yes. Most institutions ask for German at B2 level of the CEFR or above for German-taught programmes. Language institutes such as IIK in Düsseldorf prepare for the TestDaF, DSH and telc exams.