CODE University of Applied Sciences

About CODE University of Applied Sciences

CODE is an independent, state-recognized private university of applied sciences. The Berlin Senate’s current register places it among the private higher-education institutions headquartered in Berlin. Under Berlin’s recognition framework, institutions in this category may conduct degree programs, administer higher-education examinations, and award bachelor’s and master’s degrees with the same formal entitlements as degrees from state institutions. CODE also received institutional accreditation from the German Science and Humanities Council in 2022. The institution concentrates on digital product development rather than offering a broad disciplinary catalogue. Its official 2026 website presents three bachelor’s degrees and two master’s degrees spanning software engineering, digital design, entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology management. Programs are delivered in English, despite the database record’s German-language designation, and the bachelor’s pages identify Berlin as the on-site study location. CODE’s educational model is deliberately less prescriptive than a conventional lecture-led program. Students pursue projects, choose modules and suggested specialization paths, and work across program boundaries. Professors and lecturers serve as mentors while workshops, presentations, feedback sessions, and group projects supply structured learning. Prospective students should view this flexibility as a substantive academic choice: it rewards initiative, comfort with teamwork, and the ability to manage an individualized study path. The institution remains operational and was advertising active 2026 and 2027 entry points as of August 2026.

Bachelor’s applicants must hold a qualification that permits entry to higher education in Germany. International credentials must satisfy the relevant German higher-education entrance requirements. Because the degree programs are taught in English, applicants must demonstrate at least B2 English through an accepted educational background or credential; CODE lists IELTS Academic, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, Cambridge certificates, and certain school qualifications among the possible forms of evidence. It does not require proof of German proficiency for its English-taught programs. The bachelor’s selection process begins with a written online application containing documents and responses to admissions questions; prior technical knowledge is not required. Selected applicants proceed to a personal video call and then an Admission Day in Berlin involving a group project and final interview. Applicants needing a German student visa should start preparations early. CODE notes that non-EU students generally need a passport, German-valid health insurance, proof of secure financial resources, and an admission letter for the visa process. Master’s applicants submit a motivational statement, CV, bachelor’s diploma, proof of English proficiency, and other required formal documents, followed by an interview. The Technology & Management program requires a bachelor’s degree in any field, at least one year of professional experience gained after that degree, and English at B2 or above. The official master’s admissions page listed December 31, 2026 as the deadline for the Spring 2027 semester beginning February 1, 2027. Bachelor’s applicants should verify their applicable intake deadline directly in the live application portal.

At bachelor’s level, CODE currently offers Software Engineering (B.Sc.), Business Management & Entrepreneurship (B.A.), and Digital Design & Innovation (B.A.). The Software Engineering degree covers areas such as algorithms and data structures, databases, web technologies, cybersecurity, machine learning, data science, and clean code. Business Management & Entrepreneurship addresses the business and product side of technology, while Digital Design & Innovation focuses on identifying user needs and creating and validating digital experiences. Bachelor’s students can choose modules in a flexible order and use suggested study paths to shape a focus. Published examples include web development, software operations, data science, and applied artificial intelligence within Software Engineering; product management, digital marketing, AI innovation, and entrepreneurial leadership within Business Management & Entrepreneurship; and design research, digital media, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence within Digital Design & Innovation. Because modules can cross program boundaries, project teams can combine engineering, business, and design perspectives. The current master’s portfolio comprises Technology & Management (M.Sc.) and Innovation Design (M.A.). Technology & Management is designed for graduates from varied academic backgrounds who want technical literacy alongside management and leadership capabilities. It offers 60-, 90-, and 120-ECTS tracks, with full-time and part-time formats determining duration. Its published curriculum includes programming and software-engineering foundations, AI technologies and applications, digital product development, and technology leadership. Applicants should consult the applicable study and examination regulations for binding curriculum, assessment, and track requirements rather than relying solely on promotional program summaries.

Key Highlights

• State-recognized private university of applied sciences in Berlin
• Active bachelor’s and master’s degree portfolio in 2026
• All listed degree programs are taught in English
• Institutionally accredited by the German Science and Humanities Council

Student Life & Environment

Student life is centered on CODE’s on-site campus and its collaborative learning model. The university moved in summer 2024 from Factory Berlin Görlitzer Park to the KALLE building in Neukölln. Official campus information describes spaces for workshops, projects, informal meetings, and shared activities, including common areas and a shared kitchen. Since academic work frequently takes place in teams, the campus functions as both a study environment and the main setting for peer interaction. Students can participate in initiatives, provide feedback on university life, and elect a Student Council annually. CODE’s student-community page also portrays an international group connected by interests in technology, design, entrepreneurship, and creative work. This can provide a socially integrated environment for students willing to initiate projects and engage actively, although the experience is different from that of a large, comprehensive public university with extensive faculties and traditional campus organizations. CODE does not operate student residences. Students arrange accommodation independently in Berlin, while the university says its team can provide housing-company and search-platform information and that students share housing leads with one another. Applicants—especially those relocating internationally—should therefore begin housing and visa planning early and budget for commuting and private-market rent.

Location & Surroundings

CODE’s official address is Donaustraße 44, 12043 Berlin, in the Neukölln district. The university has occupied the KALLE building there since summer 2024. This is an urban campus rather than a self-contained residential complex, placing students within an established Berlin neighborhood and the wider city’s technology, creative, and startup networks. Berlin is particularly relevant to CODE’s academic focus because students study software, digital design, entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology management. The university uses connections with companies and practitioners through activities such as workshops and Partner Days. These links may help students encounter working professionals and identify internships or working-student roles, but they do not guarantee employment. Students should expect normal large-city practicalities. Housing is not provided on campus, and accommodation in Berlin must be secured separately. International students should account for the time required to obtain a visa, health insurance, proof of financial resources, and housing before arrival. Programs are primarily designed around attendance in Berlin, so applicants should not assume they can complete them as distance degrees.

Costs & Career Outcomes

CODE is a private institution and charges tuition. Its official tuition page, current when checked in August 2026, states that fees are typically €650 to €1,250 per month depending on the program. The published bachelor’s payment examples include Stretch Pay at €650 per month for six years and direct payment at €1,250 per month for three years. An income-share arrangement may allow eligible students to defer tuition, but availability and individual contract terms matter; it should not be treated as automatic financial aid. The Technology & Management master’s page separately lists pay-later financing or €1,250 per month. Students must also fund accommodation and other living expenses. CODE has no campus residence and suggests budgeting at least €1,200 per month for rent and general living costs, though actual expenses depend on personal circumstances and housing. Potential financing routes described by the university include BAföG for eligible students, scholarships, student loans, education funds, and part-time work. International eligibility varies, so applicants should confirm conditions with the relevant provider rather than assuming access. Career preparation is embedded in project work rather than guaranteed placement. Students develop portfolio evidence through interdisciplinary projects, while company Partner Days can provide opportunities to explore internships, working-student positions, and graduate roles. Likely fields align with the degree portfolio: software development, data and AI, digital product work, design, entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology management. Outcomes depend on the student’s chosen modules, projects, language skills, experience, and legal right to work.