- In Germany, different types of university-level institutions are available for tertiary education: traditional universities (Universitaten) and-since the 1970s-universities of applied science (Fachhochschulen) as well as universities of cooperative education (Berufsakademien). The present study investigates differences in key areas related to students' academic choices and success: do students at different types of university differ significantly in terms of cognitive performance, personality or social background? We compared N = 1.230 students at traditional universities, universities of applied science, and universities of cooperative education (Baden-Wurttemberg Cooperative State University) on the basis of a large scale longitudinal study in the German federal state of Baden-Wurttemberg. Students of the different university types differed significantly in all three key areas (cognitive performance, personality, and social background) within the fields of technical sciences and economics. We determine the relative importance ofIn Germany, different types of university-level institutions are available for tertiary education: traditional universities (Universitaten) and-since the 1970s-universities of applied science (Fachhochschulen) as well as universities of cooperative education (Berufsakademien). The present study investigates differences in key areas related to students' academic choices and success: do students at different types of university differ significantly in terms of cognitive performance, personality or social background? We compared N = 1.230 students at traditional universities, universities of applied science, and universities of cooperative education (Baden-Wurttemberg Cooperative State University) on the basis of a large scale longitudinal study in the German federal state of Baden-Wurttemberg. Students of the different university types differed significantly in all three key areas (cognitive performance, personality, and social background) within the fields of technical sciences and economics. We determine the relative importance of these key areas for differences between university types and we discuss the implications of our findings.…
