FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management

About FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management

FOM is an independent, degree-granting university of applied sciences rather than a business training provider. The Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia lists it among the state’s recognized higher-education institutions. FOM reports that its state recognition, first granted in 1993, was most recently extended through 2030. Its programs carry the German Accreditation Council seal, and the university operates under institutional quality assurance through system accreditation. The university was founded in 1991, received state recognition in 1993 and enrolled its first students in Essen in the 1994/95 winter semester. Its original purpose—making academic study compatible with employment and vocational training—continues to shape its timetable and teaching formats. FOM is a private nonprofit institution initiated by a nonprofit education and science foundation. Tuition revenue is used for teaching, research, university administration and campus or studio facilities. FOM now teaches across more than 30 German university centers as well as through Digital Live study. Prospective students should distinguish the institution-wide portfolio from what is actually offered in person in Essen: availability varies by degree, study format and intake. Campus-Studium+ emphasizes scheduled group teaching at a university center, supplemented by selected interactive live-online modules. Digital Live programs are delivered through synchronous broadcasts from FOM studios. This structure offers flexibility, but students should expect a timetable-based course rather than self-paced distance education.

Admission depends on the degree level and study model. For a work-compatible bachelor’s program, applicants generally need a German higher-education entrance qualification and current full- or part-time employment. Accepted access routes include Abitur, Fachabitur, or qualifying vocational pathways such as completed vocational training followed by at least three years of relevant professional experience or an advanced vocational qualification. Program-specific conditions may apply. Dual bachelor’s applicants need Abitur or Fachabitur. Applicants who already have an apprenticeship, traineeship, internship or similar placement can enter the dual model directly; FOM also describes a pathway for students still seeking an appropriate practical position. Full-time bachelor’s applicants need a recognized higher-education entrance qualification and must demonstrate English at B2 level by the end of the first semester. This B2 rule belongs to FOM’s full-time model and should not be generalized to every program. Master’s admission normally requires a first university degree and current employment. Many programs also require specified prior academic content or relevant professional experience, and some prescribe a preparatory course. Requirements therefore need to be checked on the individual program page. Applications are submitted through FOM’s online form with supporting documents uploaded for review. FOM reports no institution-wide Numerus Clausus or fixed cap on study places and recommends enrollment around six to eight weeks before the semester begins. This is guidance rather than a guaranteed deadline; applicants should verify the exact intake, document rules and start date for their chosen program and Essen delivery format.

FOM awards accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Its current portfolio contains more than 60 programs across areas such as business and management, business law, business psychology, health and social management, information technology and engineering. Exact program availability must be checked for Essen because some degrees are offered only at selected centers or through Digital Live study. Awards represented in the portfolio include BA, BSc, LLB and BEng at bachelor’s level and MA, MSc, LLM and MBA at master’s level. The academic model is applied and closely connected to professional practice. FOM says instructors use workplace examples and students’ professional experience alongside academic theory. Campus-Studium+ combines in-person group teaching with selected interactive virtual lectures; before each semester, students may have options to take additional modules digitally, move into Digital Live study or change university center, subject to program availability. Online-campus resources include scripts, instructional videos, case studies, simulations, web-based training, exercises and further readings. Recognition of prior learning is a practical part of the model. Relevant vocational education, advanced professional qualifications and previous university study may be assessed for transfer when content, scope and level are comparable. This can reduce the modules a student must complete and may shorten study time or reduce fees. Applicants should obtain an individual assessment rather than assume automatic credit. International options include compact programs, freemover semesters and Erasmus+ exchanges; credit recognition is assessed through the applicable academic process and, for Erasmus+, documented in a Learning Agreement.

Key Highlights

• State-recognized private nonprofit university with recognition extended through 2030
• Founded in 1991; teaching began in Essen in the 1994/95 winter semester
• Campus-Studium+ is available through more than 30 German university centers
• Digital Live programs use synchronous, interactive online lectures

Student Life & Environment

FOM’s student experience is structured primarily around study, employment and vocational training. At the Essen center, students attend scheduled classes in teaching rooms and lecture halls, receive local academic and organizational guidance, and can use digital learning resources between sessions. The campus model supports recurring contact with a cohort and instructors, while Digital Live study offers real-time interaction for students who cannot attend locally. This is a commuter-oriented environment rather than a traditional residential campus. Student advising is available centrally and through the Essen center by telephone, email, messaging and personal appointment. Prospective students can also attend information events, campus visits and sample lectures. FOM’s online campus provides course materials such as scripts, videos, case studies, exercises and simulations, which are useful for students balancing study with work. International participation is available but is not automatic. Erasmus+ students may study for up to two semesters at eligible European partner institutions, subject to program requirements, available places, language ability and selection. The International Office manages applications and nominations. Compact international programs and independently arranged freemover semesters provide additional possibilities. FOM does not present Essen as a residential campus, and the reviewed official sources do not document university-operated housing, meal plans or a broad campus-club system. Students needing accommodation should therefore investigate Essen’s independent rental market and confirm any desired extracurricular or accessibility services directly with the university.

Location & Surroundings

The Essen university center is located at Herkulesstraße 32, 45127 Essen, close to the city center. FOM describes the site as centrally located and provides both public-transport and parking guidance. From Essen Hauptbahnhof, several bus routes connect to the Hollestraße stop; tram routes 103 and 109 provide access from the Rathaus area. Parking is available directly behind the building via Volkeningstraße. Essen lies within the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, giving students access to a large and interconnected employment market. The city hosts major energy, industrial, logistics, retail and media businesses, while nearby Ruhr cities expand the range of potential employers and professional networks. That setting is relevant to FOM’s work-compatible model because many students integrate their degree with an existing job, apprenticeship or other practical placement. The center offers teaching rooms and lecture halls rather than a self-contained residential campus. Prospective students should evaluate commuting time, evening or weekend travel and independent housing costs when choosing between Essen-based Campus-Studium+ and Digital Live study. They should also verify that their intended program and preferred timetable are offered at Essen for the relevant intake.

Costs & Career Outcomes

FOM charges tuition because it is a private nonprofit university. As displayed on its official website in August 2026, monthly tuition generally ranges from €365 to €595 depending on the program. This is not a single institutional price: total tuition, number of installments, examination charges and any enrollment fee vary by degree. Applicants should use the current page for their exact program and intake before signing a study contract. FOM offers installment arrangements and points students toward scholarships, public or private funding programs and education loans. It also states that support may be available in financial hardship. Recognition of at least 20 ECTS of eligible prior learning can reduce tuition, while smaller or differently assessed transfers may affect study time without producing the same fee reduction. Tax treatment depends on the student’s circumstances and should be checked with a qualified adviser or tax authority. No university housing or meal-plan cost was identified for the Essen center, so living expenses should be budgeted separately. Students should include rent, transport, books, equipment and any travel required by their timetable. Career value is tied closely to the work-integrated format. Many students continue employment or vocational training while studying, and teaching incorporates applied business contexts. FOM reports an extensive network of company, association and municipal partners, but that does not guarantee an internship, job or salary outcome. Applicants should assess the curriculum, accreditation, timetable and relevance to their own occupation rather than rely on generalized employment claims.