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Totally wacky: The craziest courses of study at German universities

Pursuing a university degree in the 21st century comes with endless opportunities. There are some classic fields of study that many people go for, but they are not for everyone. For those who like to stand out and are not afraid to fiercely pursue their interests, there are now more options than ever before. With a list of 16 crazy study options at higher education institutions in Germany, this article will entertain you, but perhaps also guide you towards your dream studies.

19.02.2021
Totally wacky: The craziest courses of study at German universities

Studying at university is often a lengthy, mentally and physically demanding, and challenging time in anyone’s life. With the usual Bachelor’s degree taking anywhere from 6 to 10 academic semesters, students are no strangers to long nights, impending deadlines and stressful exams. The typical path many school graduates take begins with the selection of a degree, continues with a few years of hard work and concludes with the much-earned title.

The most popular degree programs in Germany include the fields of business, health, social sciences, engineering, law, psychology, architecture, IT, communication and journalism. Many prospective students choose those areas specifically because of future job opportunities and prestige. However, truth be told, the most common courses can tend to be a bit boring. For those thrill-seekers who prefer to think out of the box, there are various non-conventional studies that might even raise a few eyebrows. This article will reveal the most interesting and craziest courses of study in Germany, which you can enroll in today!

German universities: diverse, colorful and full of opportunities

Germany is a country that welcomes and encourages diversity in all its forms. That applies to its higher education institutions as well, where traditional and common degree programs are taught at a top level, but weird ones are no exception. There are a total of 426 higher education institutions in Germany, including 106 universities, 216 universities of applied sciences, 52 colleges of art and 16 theological universities. The country prides itself on its high-quality education and cultural variety, gathering students from all over the world.

There are over 300,000 foreign and almost 3 million students altogether enrolled in German universities in the current academic year. Perhaps what makes the country such an attractive scholar destination is not only the quality of education, but also the opportunities it provides. One can pave their own path and develop in any field they wish. Some fields are even hard to imagine, but perhaps it is your lifelong dream to study oenology and drink wine for a living? If so, read along!

Top 16 craziest university studies in Germany

Everyone knows study programs such as mechanical engineering, law, medicine and journalism, but not everyone has heard of personal hygiene as a university course. Here are the sixteen weirdest and most unusual studies at German universities that will broaden your horizons.

1. Coffee Management

What do you do first thing in the morning? If your answer is “have a cup of coffee”, then look no further – this is the program for you. The Northern Business School in Hamburg offers a Bachelor of Arts in Coffee Management degree that is targeted towards real coffee lovers. With in-depth coffee-specific content, such as international trade, international financing, coffee marketing and sales, quality management and sustainability, the course also provides basic business knowledge and professional expertise. Subjects are taught by renowned lecturers from the coffee industry and board members of the coffee association. The main aim of the degree is to help students embark on a career in their chosen field – the coffee industry.

2. Esotericism

Esotericism, by definition, is the state or quality of being esoteric – something that can be understood by only by a small number of people with special knowledge. The University of Freiburg has developed a program that gives students the quality of having an inner or secret meaning. As vague and obscure as it may sound, it could be enough to awaken the interest of those who are curious about universal secrets and different approaches.

3. Everyday Culture and Health

Freiburg seems to be a good destination for unconventional degrees, because the University of Education offers a program in Everyday Culture in Health that focuses on nutrition and preparation. However, subjects like fashion and shopping behavior, everyday life, common guiding perspectives of education, sustainable development and prevention are also part of the curriculum. Students gain insights about the food and fashion market, but also study the relationship between people, body and health. A mixture of topics and subjects, this program is hard to define. The good thing – career prospects are broad.

4. Applied Leisure Sciences

How about focusing your studies on what everybody likes best: leisure? The Bremen University of Applied Sciences offers the international Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Leisure Sciences. A branch of social sciences, the program focuses on understanding and analyzing leisure, with the most common topics being recreation and tourism. The course provides in-depth knowledge of operational fundamentals, marketing strategies, product insight and development, as well as sensitivity and empathy, knowledge of group dynamics and skills, conflict resolution skills, creativity and resourcefulness, open-mindedness and tolerance.

5. Space Master

Many kids dream of being an astronaut when they grow up, but few actually pursue their dream. The Julius Maximilians University Würzburg offered a Space Master program up until 2018/2019, which provided interdisciplinary training in space systems design as well as in various application areas, such as earth observation and satellite communication. Candidates can now enroll in its brother program - Satellite Technology. The focus in the elite course is on the use of modern computer science and electronics methods.

6. Personal Hygiene

A topic everyone should not only be familiar with, but be an expert in – personal hygiene. As weird as it may sound, it is completely possible to study that at the Technical University Darmstadt. Although not offered as a standalone degree, Personal Hygiene is part of the teacher training course. If you are passionate about keeping clean, you can learn how to teach others about personal care techniques, keeping organized and having clean laundry.

7. Technology of Cosmetics and Detergents

While on the topic of hygiene, why not explore the products used to stay clean? At the Technical University of Ostwestfalen-Lippe you can study the development and production of cosmetic products and detergents and cleaning agents. Students gain detailed knowledge of the wide range of products and the multitude of new raw materials and technologies. So, although it sounds kind of silly, this course requires a lot of technical knowledge and skills.

8. Applied Sexology

Although the name of the program may give the wrong impression, it does not include the practical execution of sexual matters. The degree at Merseburg University of Applied Sciences is based on the scientific analysis of sexuality. The program delves into subjects like Interdisciplinary Sexology, Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Sexual Diversity, Family Planning, Sexual Violence, Sexuality and Media, and more. Also part of the course - diseases that are transmitted during the act.

9. Walk Science

Most people learn to walk by the age of one. However, there is a whole science, called promenadology, dedicated to the act of walking. In this field of study, it is not important to go for a walk, but to perceive the environment. The study focuses on how landscapes and cities are organized, and how the places follow each other in a logical order. Promenadology is not its own degree, but part of architecture and urban and landscape planning, or often taught during seminars.

10. Crystallography

If your passion is crystals and gems, this is definitely the program for you. The University of Freiburg teaches everything about crystals, especially how they are grown. Students have the opportunity to explore the structures and properties of crystalline substances that are used in a wide variety of technological areas. With special expertise in the areas of crystal growth, structural quality analysis using various X-ray diffraction methods and synchrotron topography, the program at the University of Freiburg stands out. This course is not unique to this particular university, though – it can be studied at various higher education institutions and continued with further research.

11. Name Research

If “Say my name” by Destiny’s Child was a university program, it would be this one. Onomastics is the study of the etymology, history, and use of proper names. Available as a minor for social or linguistic studies, the field explores everything about the history and the meaning of the names. The University of Leipzig has a whole Name advice center, dedicated to the research of names.

12. Brewing and Beverage Technology

Who does not love a nice cold beer on a hot summer day, laying on the beach or watching football at home? If you are so passionate about beer that you want to dedicate a few years of your life to studying it in detail, here is the course for you. The University of Munich offers a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Brewing and Beverage Technology that teaches not only how to brew beer, but also how other beverage production works. The best part of the program? Practical projects and research in breweries and in the beverage industry.

13. Viticulture and Wine Industry

Speaking of beverages, if wine is more up your street – you can also pursue it as a university degree. Available at University of Applied Sciences Geisenheim, among other higher education institutions in Germany, the Bachelor of Science explores the whole process from the pressing, through the maturation of the wine, to the actual end product and its sale. The learning content is in particular agricultural technologies, scientific fundamentals, and the successful marketing of the product. Analogously to the beer degree, you get to visit wineries and get a taste of the end product. Cheers!

14. Art of Movement

You have probably heard of the disco pop duo Eurythmics, but have you heard of the academic study of Euryhtmy? Alanus University for Art and Society offers it as a degree, which in more basic terms means the art of movement. An extremely practice-oriented course, it not only explores the human body, its shape, and how it serves as an instrument and tool, but it also lets students apply it in practice on a daily basis. If you love to dance, but are also interested in the way the human body conducts itself, look no further.

15. Gerontology

Aging is an inevitable part of life and a process that naturally occurs, whether you like it or not. That being said, at the University of Vechta it is more than that – it is also a degree program. The study is mainly focused on the process of aging and how to age well, as well as the physical, mental, and social aspects and implications of aging. As a gerontologist, your main aim is to improve the quality of life and promote the well-being of people as they age through research, education, practice, and the application of interdisciplinary knowledge of the aging process and aging populations. Someone’s gotta do it, right?

16. World Heritage Studies

There are currently 1130 world heritage sights on the UNESCO list, and they can all be studied in depth at the Brandenburg University of Technology. The international Master’s program equips students with knowledge and skills needed for the identification, protection, management and presentation of cultural and natural heritage sites. One for the curious geography and history loving individuals, the degree integrates the academic studies of humanities, architecture, conservation, ecology, cultural geography, management, tourism, marketing, public relations and beyond. Psst, you may also get to visit some of the sights, so consider this program seriously.

 

There is a university degree program out there for everyone’s taste: there is virtually nothing that does not exist! If the suited 9 to 5 office life is not for you, then perhaps you will find something that fits your interests in this list. Just because people consider some courses of study weirder and more unusual than others, that does not mean that the quality of education will be worse, or that you cannot enjoy them. The time to be creative and pursue your dreams is now!