Catholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine-Westphalia
Church-affiliated university of applied sciences for social work and healthcare professions, sponsored by four dioceses across Aachen, Cologne, Münster, and Paderborn.
since 1971
The Catholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine-Westphalia (known as katho) is a private, state-recognised institution spread across four campuses in Aachen, Cologne, Münster, and Paderborn. The rectorate and central administration are based in Cologne.
At a Glance
- Sponsorship
- The (Arch-)Dioceses of Aachen, Cologne, Münster, and Paderborn as shareholders of a non-profit GmbH
- Students
- approx. 5,300, of whom around 4,200 are women (as of 12/2024)
- Fields of study
- Social Work, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Nursing & Midwifery Science, Theology
- Annual budget
- €25.8 million (2025), largely funded by the state of NRW
- International
- over 60 partner universities worldwide; holder of the ERASMUS University Charter
Age comparison
Age compared with other places in Cologne.
History
Founded in 1971 as part of the first wave of German universities of applied sciences, katho emerged from the merger of 14 higher vocational schools for social work, social education, and special education, together with an institute for religious education — all under Catholic auspices. Some predecessor institutions date back to 1916, including the Soziale Frauenschule (Social Women's School) in Cologne. On its 50th anniversary in 2021, the university introduced a new logo and adopted the lowercase spelling "katho." Its first rector was economist and welfare scholar Teresa Bock.
Campuses and Departments
Every campus has a Department of Social Affairs. Cologne has additionally hosted a Department of Health Sciences since 1994, while Paderborn offers a Department of Theology. Programmes include bachelor's and master's degrees in Social Work, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Nursing & Midwifery Science, and Applied Theology, as well as continuing education and postgraduate offerings.
International Engagement
Katho maintains partnerships with over 60 universities worldwide and participates in the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme as a holder of the ERASMUS University Charter. Since 2001, the Cologne campus has been partnered with Bethlehem University in Palestine, bringing students together annually around social work topics. The Aachen campus has offered the cross-border "Euregio Certificate in Social Work" since the 2004/05 winter semester: five universities in Aachen, Belgium, and the Netherlands jointly run courses, and students complete a placement in one of the neighbouring countries.
Research
Several in-house institutes are affiliated with katho, including the Centre for Antisemitism and Racism Studies and the Institute for Participation Research. The German Institute for Applied Nursing Research (dip), founded in Cologne in 1999, is affiliated as an associated institute.
Map
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Address
Wörthstraße 10
50668 Köln
Contact
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Sources & links
- Official website
- Official website (retrieved 2026-07-17)
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-06-30)
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-06-30, rev 261229042)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-30
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