Work and Study in Germany

Welcome to iba | University of Cooperative Education, Germany’s largest state-recognised university of cooperative education! We offer dual work-study undergraduate programmes at twelve campuses throughout Germany.

Dual work-study-programmes are increasingly popular in Germany, with students and employers alike. Students work at a company while studying for a bachelor’s degree at the same time. This means they gain valuable work experience during their studies and thus have excellent employment opportunities in the competitive German job market.

iba’s study programmes are delivered jointly with approved companies/organisations that employ the students as trainees for the duration of their studies. iba has a ‘split-week’ study model based on a 40-hour-working-week: students spend ca. 20 hours/week studying (contact time & self-study), and 16-20 hours in work-based learning at a partner company. By the time they graduate, iba-students have an ideal combination of academic and practical competence.

iba is part of the F+U group of companies. F+U has more than 40 years of experience in the education sector and operates schools, language schools, vocational colleges and universities.

For our international applicants, we provide intensive support, including consultation throughout the admission process and assistance with finding a partner company.

Why iba?

Choose from twelve campuses located in major cities throughout Germany
Benefit from the high level of academic and administrative support
Combine classroom-based education and professional training on a weekly basis
Gain invaluable professional experience during your studies and a head-start in the labour market with excellent career prospects
Tuition fees are usually paid by your partner company
Earn while you learn – your partner company will normally pay you a monthly salary
Take a preparatory German course at our language school, the Academy of Languages, online or in-person in Heidelberg

Feel free to contact us for more information:

International Office
Contact
+49 151 74231860

Kershaw

Dr. Matthew Kershaw
Head of the International Office

*The study program „Business Administration“ will be offered with the revised curriculum presented here starting from the winter semester 2025, subject to successful reaccreditation and state recognition by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art, and will continue to be called „Business Administration“.

**The study program „Business Administration International Management“ will be offered with the revised curriculum presented here starting from the summer semester 2025, subject to successful reaccreditation and state recognition by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art, and will then be called „Business Administration Intercultural Competence“.

***The original study program „Social Pedagogy & Management“ will be offered with the revised curriculum presented here starting from the winter semester 2024, subject to successful reaccreditation and state recognition by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art, and will then be called „Social Work & Management“.

****The original study program „Social Pedagogy, Management & Coaching“ will be offered with the revised curriculum presented here starting from the summer semester 2024, subject to successful reaccreditation and state recognition by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art, and will then be called „Social Work, Management & Coaching“.

*****in preparation