OpenFieldThe Thuringian University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (Thüringer Fachhochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung - VFHS) in Gotha is the state academy training senior executive civil servants, police inspectors, and municipal administrators for the Free State of Thuringia.
Situated on a historic campus in Gotha, VFHS operates two specialized faculties: the Faculty of Public Administration and the Faculty of Police and Security Law. As an internal state university (Verwaltungsfachhochschule), all enrolled students are appointed as civil service candidates (Beamtenanwärter) and receive an official monthly training salary while alternating between academic theory and practical ministerial internships.
Admission requires participation in the centralized Thuringian state civil service selection examination (Auswahlverfahren des Thüringer Landesverwaltungsamtes), possession of the German Fachhochschulreife or Abitur, medical fitness for civil service appointment, and German or EU citizenship. No tuition fees are charged, and candidates receive monthly civil service stipends.
Three-year dual degree qualifying graduates for the elevated administrative service (gehobener nichttechnischer Verwaltungsdienst) in state ministries and municipal district authorities.
Three-year professional policing degree preparing candidates for the rank of Police Inspector (Polizeikommissar), covering constitutional law, criminalistics, operational tactical leadership, and forensics.
Modern specialized degree addressing digital municipal citizen portals, administrative database architecture, cybersecurity compliance, and IT project management for state public authorities.
Two-year executive master's program for practicing public sector leaders, focusing on strategic organizational reform, public budgeting, human resource leadership, and public sector legal governance.
Official state fellowship scheme appointing students as civil service candidates on revocable terms (Beamte auf Widerruf) throughout their degree tenure.
Annual graduation prize awarded by the Thuringian Ministry of the Interior to graduating students submitting outstanding practical theses improving municipal workflows.
Professor of Public Law and Administrative Jurisprudence · Faculty of Public Administration
Prof. Dr. Müller specializes in Thuringian municipal constitutional law, legal limits of administrative discretion, and judicial review of local government decisions.
View research profile ↗Professor of Public Management and Municipal Finance · Faculty of Public Administration
Prof. Dr. Fischer researches fiscal sustainability in rural municipalities, municipal double-entry accounting reforms, and strategic resource allocation in public administrations.
View research profile ↗Professor of Administrative Informatics and E-Government · Department of Administrative Information Technology
Prof. Dr. Becker investigates implementation strategies for the German Online Access Act, data protection compliance in municipal clouds, and automated citizen services.
View research profile ↗University profile compiled from official University of Public Administration academic bulletins and institutional directories reviewed on 2026-10-15. OpenField is an independent research guide.