It came in third place in the category “under 5,000 students” – the award is based purely on student ratings.
Great joy at Hof University of Applied Sciences: The Upper Franconian university is one of the big winners of the StudyCheck Award 2026, ranking third nationwide in the category “Top Universities with fewer than 5,000 students.” The award is based exclusively on student reviews on the independent review portal StudyCheck.de. Over 87,000 reviews of 583 German colleges and universities were evaluated. Hof University of Applied Sciences has a recommendation rate of 97 percent.
This continues Hof University of Applied Sciences’ extraordinary success in recent years. In 2023 and 2024, it was already named “Germany’s Most Popular University” by StudyCheck.de. This latest award is impressive confirmation that teaching and research at Hof University of Applied Sciences continue to be of an excellent standard.
Confirmation from the students themselves
The StudyCheck Award is presented annually on the basis of thousands of authentic testimonials. Among other things, course content, lectures, lecturers, facilities, organization, and the general study atmosphere are evaluated. What makes this award special is that it comes directly from the target group itself – the students. This makes the award particularly credible and practical, as it is not decided by a jury, but is based solely on the satisfaction of current and former students.
University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann sees the award as clear confirmation of the path taken:
“We are extremely grateful and proud to once again be among the highest-rated universities in Germany. The StudyCheck Award is a strong sign of confidence from our students. It shows that our practical teaching, our application-oriented research, and above all, the family atmosphere at Hof University of Applied Sciences are convincing in the long term.”
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann
At the same time, the award is an incentive to consistently further develop the quality of studies, teaching, and support.
Family atmosphere as a success factor
In addition to the academic quality, students repeatedly highlight the personal, family atmosphere at Hof University in their evaluations. Short distances, personal support from professors, and direct exchange between teachers, students, and administration characterize the study period.
This special culture contributes significantly to students feeling at home at Hof University – an aspect that is also reflected in the consistently high ratings.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dietmar Wolff, Vice President of Teaching and Continuing Education
StudyCheck Award: Guidance for prospective students
The StudyCheck Award serves as an important guide for prospective students when choosing the right university. The award seal signals at a glance: People enjoy studying here and are successful. With this renewed award, Hof University of Applied Sciences underscores its reputation as one of the most popular and highest-performing universities of its size in Germany.
About StudyCheck
StudyCheck.de is one of the largest independent review portals for degree programs and universities in German-speaking countries. The StudyCheck Award is presented annually on the basis of authentic reviews by students and is one of the most important awards in the higher education sector.
