State University

State universities are funded by the government and are open to the general public. These institutions must adhere to certain state guidelines. A private university, on the other hand, is self-financed and largely independent; however, it also costs students significantly more.

HAWK is a state university.

Differences between state and private higher education institutions in Lower Saxony

State University:

• Publicly financed
• Lower semester fees
• Broad spectrum of subjects
• High student numbers
• Government requirements and regulations
• Public research funding

Private University:

• Self-financed or privately financed
• Higher tuition fees
• Specialises in specific fields
• Smaller classes and more personal attention
• More flexible study models
• esearch funding dependent on sponsors and tuition fees