AFachhochschule (German:[ˈfaxhoːxʃuːlə]^ⓘ; pluralFachhochschulen), abbreviatedFH, is auniversity of applied sciences (UAS), in other words aGerman tertiary education institution that providesprofessional education in many applied sciences and applied arts, such as engineering, technology, business, architecture, design, andindustrial design.

Fachhochschulen were first founded in Germany and were later adopted inAustria,Liechtenstein,Switzerland,Cyprus, andGreece. An increasing number ofFachhochschulen are abbreviated asHochschule, the generic term in Germany for institutions awarding academic degrees in higher education, or expanded asHochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften (HAW), the German translation of "universities of applied sciences", which were primarily designed with a focus on teaching professional skills. This is reflected in the fact that the ratio of the number of students to the number of professors is significantly better than at traditional universities. However, there are also a number of subjects, such as social work or the legal sub-discipline of social law, which are traditionally underrepresented at traditional universities. In these areas, universities of applied sciences make a significant contribution to research. UAS professors are also increasingly attracting national and international third-party funding. To support their research activities, they can apply for a significant reduction in their teaching load.Swiss law callsFachhochschulen and universities "separate but equal".^[1] In terms of student numbers, universities of applied sciences are on average smaller than traditional universities. However, there are also a number of HAW, such as TH Köln or UAS Frankfurt, which can keep up with large universities in this respect.

Due to theBologna process, universities andFachhochschulen award legally equivalentbachelor's andmaster's degrees.^[2] Excepting research-intensive institutions in Hesse, Saxony Anhalt, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria^[3][4]Fachhochschulen do not awarddoctoral degrees themselves but sometimes in cooperation with award-granting partner universities.^[5] In the meantime, however, some professors at HAW also have additional habilitations and can therefore directly supervise doctoral students at their home university. This and the rule that they give priority to hiring professors with a professional career of at least three years outside the university system additional to the doctoral degree are the two major ways in which they differ from traditional universities.

Due to theBologna process, most GermanUniversitäten andFachhochschulen have ceased admitting students to programs leading to the traditional GermanDiplom (FH), but now apply the new degree standard of Bachelor's and Master's degrees. In line with the Bologna process, bachelor's and master's degrees awarded by both types of universities (Universitäten andFachhochschulen) are legally equivalent.

With a Master's from either, one can now enter a doctoral degree program at aUniversität, but a graduate with a bachelor's degree from either is normally unable to proceed directly to a doctoral degree program in Germany. Also, with the master's degree of either of the institutions a graduate can enter thehöheren Dienst (higher service) career forcivil servants.^[2][6]

TheFachhochschule orUniversity of Applied Sciences and Arts is a type of German institution of higher education that emerged from the traditional Engineering Schools and similar professional schools of other disciplines. It differs from the traditional university (Universität) mainly through its more practical orientation.^[7] Subjects taught atFachhochschulen include engineering, computer science, business and management, arts and design, communication studies, social service, and other professional fields.

The traditional degree awarded at aFachhochschule was theDiplom (FH). Coursework generally totaled six semesters (three years) of full-time study, with various options for specialization. In addition, there were one or two practical training semesters to provide hands-on experience in real working environments. The program concluded, usually after 3.5 – 4 years, with the final examination and a thesis (Diplomarbeit) which is usually an extensive project on a current practical or scientific aspect of the profession.

In an effort to make educational degrees more compatible within Europe, the GermanDiplom degrees were mostly phased out by 2010 and replaced by the European bachelor's and master's degree.

TheFachhochschule represents a close relationship between higher education and the employment system. Their practical orientation makes them very attractive to employers.^[8]

Today,Fachhochschulen also conduct research. Research projects are either publicly funded or sponsored by industry. Nevertheless, in Germany the right to conferdoctoral degrees is still generally reserved toUniversitäten.^[9] In 2016, however,Fulda University of Applied Sciences became the firstFachhochschule to be conferred this right for its graduate center for social sciences.^[10] SeveralFachhochschulen run doctoral programs where the degree itself is awarded by a partner university in Germany or abroad (similar to the doctoral programs in Germanresearch institutes, such as theFraunhofer Society or theMax Planck Society).

There are a few universities, such asCatholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt andBundeswehr University Munich, which runFachhochschule courses in addition to their normal courses. It is also important to note that in the 1990s, some universities of applied sciences were developed from former GDR universities with the right to award doctoral and post-doctoral degrees in order to cut costs. These include, for example, the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and the university of technology in Leipzig (now HTWK Leipzig). In these institutions, the classic university spirit lives on to this day.

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The Austrian government decided to establishFachhochschulen (FH) in 1990. In the academic year of 2010/11, there were twenty-one institutions officially considered asFachhochschulen plus a number of other providers ofFachhochschulstudiengängen with a total of over 27,000 students. About a third of the 136Fachhochschulstudiengänge are organized as part-time courses of studies.

Name	City	Province	Type	Founded	Students 2008/09	Students 2009/10	Difference
Fachhochschule Burgenland	Eisenstadt	Burgenland	Fachhochschule	1994	1.451	1.453	+2
Fachhochschule Kärnten	Spittal an der Drau	Kärnten	Fachhochschule	1995	1.518	1.664	+146
Fachhochschule Krems	Krems	Niederösterreich	Fachhochschule	1994	1.779	1.750	-29
Fachhochschule St. Pölten	Sankt Pölten	Niederösterreich	Fachhochschule	1994	1.715	1.698	-17
Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt	Wiener Neustadt	Niederösterreich	Fachhochschule	1994	2.658	2.763	+105
Theresian Military Academy	Wiener Neustadt	Niederösterreich	Fachhochschul-Einrichtung	1751	324	314	-10
Fachhochschulstudiengang Oberösterreich	Wels	Oberösterreich	Fachhochschul-Einrichtung	1994	4.154	4.434	+280
FH Gesundheitsberufe Oberösterreich	Linz	Oberösterreich	Fachhochschul-Einrichtung	2010
Fachhochschule Salzburg	Puch/Urstein	Salzburg	Fachhochschule	1995	2.184	2.267	+83
Campus 02 Fachhochschule der Wirtschaft	Graz	Steiermark	Fachhochschule	1996	1.028	1.106	+78
FH Joanneum	Graz	Steiermark	Fachhochschule	1995	3.383	3.428	+45
FH Kufstein	Kufstein	Tirol	Fachhochschule	1997	1.030	1.070	+40
FH Gesundheit Tirol	Innsbruck	Tirol	Fachhochschul-Einrichtung	2007	247	413	+166
Management Center Innsbruck	Innsbruck	Tirol	Fachhochschul-Einrichtung	1995	1.883	2.052	+169
Fachhochschule Vorarlberg	Dornbirn	Vorarlberg	Fachhochschule	1989	1.005	1.054	+49
Fachhochschule des bfi Wien	Vienna	Vienna	Fachhochschule	1996	1.431	1.502	+71
Fachhochschule Technikum Wien	Vienna	Vienna	Fachhochschule	1994	2.654	2.939	+285
Ferdinand Porsche Fern-Fachhochschule	Vienna	Vienna	Fachhochschul-Einrichtung	1997	85	305	+220
FH Campus Wien	Vienna	Vienna	Fachhochschule	2001	2.439	3.215	+776
FHWien	Vienna	Vienna	Fachhochschule	1994	1.779	2.362	+583
Lauder Business School	Vienna	Vienna	Fachhochschul-Einrichtung	2003	253	296	+43

The Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences UAS arevocational universities established in Switzerland in 1995 following the model of the German Fachhochschulen. They are calledFachhochschule in German,Haute école specialisée in French andscuola universitaria professionale (SUP) in Italian. The Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences offer third level education, continuing education, services businesses and institutions, and produce applied research activities. In 2013 there are seven public UAS approved by theSwiss Federal Council in 1998 and two private UAS approved by the Federal Council in 2005 and 2008.^[11] The public UAS are run by one or morecantons.^[12]

UAS have the institutional mandate to provide degree programmes (Bachelor's degrees andMaster's degrees), continuing education and training, to conduct applied research and to offer services to companies and institutions. Students with a finished apprenticeship and a Fachmatura (subjectMatura) and students with theMatura and a practical year in a company can access further education within the Universities for Applied Science. The UAS and theirBachelor's andMaster's degrees are federally accredited.

The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) and is in charge of the accreditation of the UAS which are requested to meet the federal legislative requirements.^[1] The UAS are supported by the cantons, theFederal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), theState Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)^[11] and by the Rector's Conference of Swiss Universities (swissuniversities).^[13]

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