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How much does NBS Northern Business School – University of Applied Sciences cost for international students?
NBS is a private, non-profit university and charges tuition in monthly instalments. The fees are the same for all students; there is no separate rate for non-EU students. The table shows the full-time fees with the standard monthly rate (you can also stretch payments over six extra months at a lower rate, or pay once with a 5% discount).
| Programme (full-time) | Cost for international students |
|---|---|
| Business Administration (B.A.), 7 semesters | 542 EUR per month, 22,764 EUR in total |
| Communication Management / Security Management (B.A.), 6 semesters | 552 EUR per month, 19,872 EUR in total |
| Social Work (B.A.), 6 semesters | 535 EUR per month, 19,260 EUR in total |
| Studium Individuale (B.A.), 6 semesters | 530 EUR per month, 19,080 EUR in total |
| Controlling & Finance / Real Estate Management (M.Sc.), 3 semesters | 755 EUR per month, 13,590 EUR in total |
| Corporate Security and Interdisciplinary Criminology (MBA), 3 semesters | 833 EUR per month, 14,994 EUR in total (lower introductory price for the first cohort) |
| Thesis fee | 500 EUR (Bachelor's) / 700 EUR (Master's) |
| Semester ticket (Deutschlandticket, compulsory for full-time students) | 226.80 EUR per semester (37.80 EUR per month) |
There is no registration or enrolment fee and no other semester contribution. Fees as published by NBS in October 2026; please confirm them before you sign your study contract.
Tuition fees come on top of the proof of funds. For the student visa you still need to show 11,904 EUR for the year, usually in a blocked account, and that money has to be transferred months before the semester starts.
What are the application deadlines?
| Intake | Classes start | Last registration (late admission) |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | 15 March | 15 April |
| Winter | 15 September | 15 October |
NBS has no fixed deadline. Places are given on a rolling basis, without NC or selection procedure, until a cohort is full. NBS recommends securing your place by 1 March or 1 September. If you need a visa, apply several months earlier so you have time for your visa appointment, and confirm with the NBS study advisory service (studienberatung@nbs.de) that your foreign certificates are accepted.
How do you apply to NBS Northern Business School – University of Applied Sciences?
Talk to the study advisory service
Contact NBS (studienberatung@nbs.de) to check that your school-leaving certificate or first degree gives you access to your programme, and which German certificate you need.
Register online
Secure your place through the NBS online registration. There is no NC and no selection procedure; places are given in order of registration.
Sign the study contract
NBS sends you a study contract. Choose the full-time model and a payment plan.
Apply for your visa
With your NBS confirmation and proof of funds, apply for a student visa at the German embassy. Plan to study on campus in Hamburg.
Enrol
Before classes start, submit proof of health insurance and your registration of address in Hamburg.
How many programmes are taught in English?
NBS offers no degree programme taught in English that is currently open; only some modules are held in English. All 8 full-time degree programmes are taught in German: the Bachelor's in Business Administration (with ten specialisations), Communication Management, Security Management, Social Work and Studium Individuale, the Master of Science in Controlling and Finance and in Real Estate Management, and the MBA in Corporate Security and Interdisciplinary Criminology. The Modern Leadership MBA is part-time only.
A new English-taught Bachelor's in European Security and Defence Studies is planned, but it is a 100% online programme still in accreditation (expected start summer 2027) and is not suitable for a student visa. NBS does not publish a German level for degree applicants (exchange students need B2), so ask the study advisory service which certificate you need.
Visa note: in the full-time "Smart Flex" model you can choose each day between classes in Hamburg and live online classes, and all exams can be taken online. For a German student visa you must live in Hamburg and actually study on campus; studying from abroad or mainly online does not qualify.
About NBS Northern Business School – University of Applied Sciences
NBS Northern Business School was founded in 2007 on the initiative of companies and business associations in the Hamburg metropolitan region. It is run as a non-profit company, is state-recognised by the City of Hamburg and institutionally accredited by the German Council of Science and Humanities, and today belongs to the WBS Group.
NBS teaches business administration with ten specialisations, communication management, security management, social work and an individually designed Bachelor's, plus Master's programmes in controlling and finance, real estate and corporate security. Every programme can be studied full-time or part-time; the part-time models are mainly online. Classes are held in small groups at two study centres in Hamburg-Wandsbek, and full-time Bachelor's students complete a practical semester.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at NBS in English?
No. All open degree programmes are taught in German. The planned English Bachelor's in European Security and Defence Studies is online-only and not yet accredited.
Can I get a student visa for NBS?
Only if you study full-time on campus in Hamburg. NBS's full-time model also allows online attendance, and part-time programmes run mostly online, but a student visa requires regular on-campus study in Germany.
Is there an enrolment fee at NBS?
No. NBS charges no registration or enrolment fee. You pay monthly tuition, a thesis fee at the end (500 EUR Bachelor's, 700 EUR Master's) and, as a full-time student, the semester ticket.
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