Evangelische Hochschule Ludwigsburg, Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit, Diakonie und Religionspädagogik - staatlich anerkannte Fachhochschule der Evangelischen Landeskirche Württemberg

About Evangelische Hochschule Ludwigsburg

Evangelische Hochschule Ludwigsburg (EH Ludwigsburg) is a state-accredited university of applied sciences (Hochschule fur angewandte Wissenschaften) operating under the sponsorship of the Evangelical Church in Württemberg. It specialises in the fields of social work, diaconia, education, nursing, and religion — making it a specialist institution rather than a broad general university.

The main campus is located in Ludwigsburg with an additional satellite campus in Reutlingen offering the Social Work B.A. programme. The university enrols approximately 1,300 students at its Ludwigsburg campus and 140 at Reutlingen, with more than 40 professors and over 85 lecturers on staff. It offers twelve bachelor's degree programmes and six master's degree programmes.

International engagement is a stated priority: the university maintains partnerships with over 40 universities in Europe and beyond, offers a B.A. in International Social Work with bilingual (German/English) instruction, and holds a double-degree agreement with VIVES University of Applied Sciences (Belgium).

Key facts

Founded: 1951
Students: 1,440

Specialist university for social work, diaconia, education, nursing, and religion — not a generalist institution

B.A. International Social Work programme taught in German and English, with double-degree option via VIVES University (Belgium)

Over 40 international university partnerships within and outside Europe

Two campuses: main campus in Ludwigsburg and satellite in Reutlingen

Church-affiliated (Evangelical Church of Württemberg) but several programmes open to students of all faiths

Well connected to Stuttgart by S-Bahn; students benefit from VVS semester ticket

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

EH Ludwigsburg charges no programme tuition for standard bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes. Students pay a semester contribution of approximately €239.90–€259.90 per semester (WS 2026/27 figures), comprising an administrative fee (~€135–€155), student services contribution (~€96.50), and AStA (student council) fee (~€8.40). Some master's programmes carry an additional study contribution of €500/semester from WS 2026/27. As a Baden-Württemberg institution, non-EU international students are subject to the state-mandated study fee under the Landeshochschulgebührengesetz (LHGebG) of €1,500 per semester, in addition to the standard semester contribution. The StudiTicket for the VVS public transport network is included in the semester contribution.

Admission requirements

International degree-seeking students apply directly to EH Ludwigsburg through the student services office. A recognised higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) is required. German-taught programmes require German language proficiency at B2 level or higher; the B.A. International Social Work requires at least B1 English for courses conducted in English. For students from India, China (PRC/HK/Macau), and Vietnam, an APS certificate is required before a German student visa can be obtained — this is a consulate requirement, not university-specific. The university also hosts exchange students from partner institutions; exchange applicants need B1 English or B2 German depending on chosen courses.

Application deadlines

Winter semester (October start): applications typically open 1 May and close 15 July for most programmes; Nursing Care integrated has a deadline of 3 September. Summer semester (April start): selected programmes (International Social Work B.A., Social Work B.A., Diaconal Studies M.A., Religious Education M.A.) accept applications 15 November – 15 January. Management, Ethics and Innovation in Non-Profit Sector M.A.: 1 April – 31 August.

Languages of instruction

Primarily German. The B.A. International Social Work programme is taught in both German and English. Limited English-language seminars are available, particularly within the International Social Work cluster.

Campuses & locations

Main Campus Ludwigsburg

Paulusweg 6, 71638 Ludwigsburg — main campus with approximately 1,300 students

Campus Reutlingen

Satellite campus offering the B.A. Social Work programme; approximately 140 students

Living in Baden-Württemberg

Ludwigsburg is a city of approximately 93,000 inhabitants in the Stuttgart metropolitan region, Baden-Württemberg. It is well connected to Stuttgart by S-Bahn (S4/S5 lines, approximately 20 minutes) and sits within the VVS public transport network. The city is known for its large baroque Residenzschloss palace complex, the Blühende Barock garden festival, and a compact, walkable historic centre. Living costs are moderate by German standards, somewhat lower than Stuttgart proper.

Student life & support

Campus life is centred on the Paulusweg campus in Ludwigsburg. The Mensa (cafeteria) operates on Karlshöhe 3 during lecture periods. The AStA (student council) meets bi-weekly and organises student activities. Weekly ecumenical services reflect the church-affiliated character of the institution. The Studierendenwerk Stuttgart and Tübingen provide external services including subsidised housing and counselling. Campus-wide WiFi is available. The VVS StudiTicket is included in the semester contribution, providing semester-long access to the regional public transport network.

International Office: [email protected] International students page →

Accredited Programmes

Master

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus