What's the difference between a Universität and a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences)?

Equal degrees: Since the Bologna reform, both types of institution award the same bachelor's and master's degrees, and these are legally equal. Job ads also usually don't distinguish between them.

Universität: Focused on research and theory, with a wide range of subjects; medicine, law and the natural sciences are usually here. Universities have the right to award doctorates. If you're considering an academic career or a doctorate, a university master's makes that easier.

Fachhochschule / HAW: Most now call themselves Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften (HAW) or simply Hochschule. They are practice-oriented, with smaller classes, lots of projects and compulsory internships, and many lecturers come from industry. They're strong in fields such as engineering, business, IT, social work and design, and more often offer part-time programmes for working people.

A doctorate after an HAW: With an HAW master's you can do a doctorate at a university, though some universities may set extra requirements. There are also cooperative doctorates run jointly by an HAW and a university. In some states, such as Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia, research-strong HAWs can also award their own doctorates.

How to choose: Look at the programme itself more than the type of institution: the curriculum, internship options, where graduates work and the language of instruction. Two programmes with the same name can differ more than a university and an HAW do.