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Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences is Germany’s largest private university for technology.

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Our History

Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt Darmstadt – founded in 1996 by Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Börje Holmberg as the first president and Bernd Schachtsiek as chancellor – offered its first course (Computer Science) in 1997. More than 300 students registered for it in the first year. Two further courses in Mechatronics and Electrical Engineering soon followed, and the process of switching to the two-tier system with bachelor’s and master’s degrees started in 2007.

The study program has since been expanded to include further courses in Computer Science, IT Management and Media Informatics, Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Technology Management. Since 2011, departments have been pooling their scientific core competencies in our Graduate School, which takes an intensive and interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research. It focuses on technical postgraduate courses and therefore provides high-level master’s degrees to develop students’ leadership qualities and prepare them for a career in international corporations.

Today, Wilhelm Büchner University is the largest private university for technology in Germany with more than 6,000 students.

Significant Milestones

2015 Launch of master’s degree courses taught in English for our international students
2014    More than 25 different bachelor’s and master’s degree courses
2013 Opening of the Energy, Environmental, and Process Technology department
2010   Opening of the Industrial Engineering and Technology Management department
2009 Launch of the first master’s degree courses in Business Information Systems and Media Informatics
2008 Institution renamed to Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences
2007 Switch to the two-stage system with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Accreditation and launch of the first bachelor’s degree courses in Computer Science, Mechatronics, and Electrical Engineering
2003 Launch of the Diplom course in Electrical Engineering
2002 Launch of the Diplom course in Mechatronics
1997 Teaching begins with the Diplom course in Computer Science
1996    Founded as “Private FernFachhochschule Darmstadt”
<span style="font-size:11px;">Formal presentation of the official authorization document at the Hessen State Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.&thinsp;c. mult. Börje Holmberg, founding rector, Bernd Schachtsiek, founding chancellor and Rolf Praml, state secretary (from left to right)</span>

Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Börje Holmberg became head of education at Hermods, Sweden in 1956, which was then the largest distance education organization in Europe. In 1976, he became one of the first professors of FernUniversität Hagen, Germany, also heading their central institute for research in distance education. In 1997, he became the founding president of Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt (the former “Private FernFachhochschule Darmstadt”). Professor Holmberg has received several awards and honors because of his various accomplishments, including honorary doctorates of Deaken University, Australia, and  the Open University, UK.

Bernd Schachtsiek, first chancellor of Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt (formerly “Private FernFachhochschule Darmstadt”) and sponsor of the Börje-Holmberg Award, which is awarded annually by Wilhelm Büchner University for outstanding achievements. Bernd Schachtsiek has more than 45 years of experience in corporate management, including adult education, and was president of the European Association for Distance Learning EADL from 1991 to 2005.

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Ostendstrasse 3
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