Applied science universities rise in popularity

The number of students at universities of applied science in North Rhine-Westphalia has increased by nearly 50 per cent in the past 10 years, according to science minister Svenja Schulze.

Schulze said at the start of the academic year on 17 September that 22 per cent of all students in North Rhine-Westphalia are at a university of applied science, which are similar to the former UK polytechnics. Schulze added that 64 per cent of university of applied science students were from non-academic households, compared to 49 per cent at traditional universities.