About Fachhochschule Erfurt
Fachhochschule Erfurt (University of Applied Sciences Erfurt) is a public university of applied sciences founded on 1 October 1991, emerging from two predecessor engineering schools established in 1946 and 1947 in Thuringia's state capital. It offers practice-oriented bachelor's and master's degrees across six faculties and 12 departments, with disciplines ranging from architecture and civil engineering to social work, horticulture, forestry, computer science, and business.
As of Winter Semester 2025/26, the university enrolls approximately 4,268 students with around 1,389 new enrolments per year. The teaching staff comprises 122 professors and 103 scientific staff members. The university maintains partnerships with roughly 100 universities worldwide and has a dedicated International Office supporting incoming and outgoing student mobility.
FH Erfurt operates three campuses across central Erfurt and is known for connecting academic rigour with applied, industry-relevant training. It is particularly strong in built-environment disciplines (architecture, urban planning, civil engineering, building services) and applied social sciences.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1991
- Students
- 4,268
- Faculties
- 6
Founded 1991; over 30 years of applied-sciences tradition in Thuringia
Six faculties covering architecture, civil engineering, building services, landscape/forestry, social sciences, and business
No non-EU tuition fees; semester contribution only ~€315.80
Applications accepted year-round for most international degree-seeking students (no fixed deadline)
APS certificate required for applicants from India, China, Vietnam, and Mongolia
Partnerships with ~100 universities worldwide; active Erasmus and exchange programmes
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
No general tuition fees for non-EU/international students — Thuringia does not charge non-EU tuition fees. A semester contribution of €315.80 per semester is payable by all students for re-enrolment. Long-term study fees (€500, one-time notification) apply when the standard programme duration is significantly exceeded. Initial student ID card (Thoska) costs €20.
Admission requirements
International applicants apply through uni-assist.de (first application €75, additional programmes €30). A foreign higher education entrance qualification equivalent to the German Abitur is required for bachelor's entry; a recognised relevant bachelor's degree is required for master's entry. Applicants from India, China (via Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou), Vietnam, and Mongolia must submit an APS certificate issued by the Academic Evaluation Centre in their country — this is verified at the application stage. Indian applicants holding a digitally signed DigZert (issued from April 2023 onwards) are accepted. German language proficiency at C1 is required for German-taught programmes; conditional admission with B2 is available if C1 is submitted by the end of the second semester. Eight per cent of restricted-admission programme places are reserved for international applicants. The university explicitly offers the possibility of direct university admission to some foreign students without an obligatory Studienkolleg (foundation year). Uni-assist processing can take up to three months.
Application deadlines
Degree-seeking international students: no fixed application deadline — applications accepted year-round through uni-assist. Restricted-admission (NC) programmes: apply by 15 July for winter semester entry. Exchange/Erasmus students — winter semester: nomination by 15 July, application by 31 July; summer semester: nomination by 15 January, application by 31 January.
Languages of instruction
Most degree programmes are taught in German; German C1 (TestDaF 4×4, DSH-II, or equivalent) is required for German-taught programmes, with conditional admission possible at B2. One English-taught programme (M.Eng. Sustainable Engineering of Infrastructure) requires English B2 (IELTS 6.0+ or TOEFL iBT 75+).
Campuses & locations
Altonaer Straße 25, 99085 Erfurt — main campus, International Office located here
Leipziger Straße 77, Erfurt
Schlüterstraße 1, Erfurt
Living in Thüringen
Erfurt is the capital of Thuringia (Thüringen) in central Germany, with a population of around 215,000. It is one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities, featuring the Krämerbrücke (a historic bridge lined with timber-framed houses), the Erfurt Cathedral, and a compact, walkable old town. Erfurt has excellent rail connections to Berlin (1h 40min), Frankfurt (1h 30min), and Munich (~2h 30min via ICE). The cost of living is notably lower than in western German university cities, making it attractive for budget-conscious students.
Student life & support
FH Erfurt runs the TANDEM mentoring project pairing international newcomers with German student tutors, and the Café International programme organises weekly joint events (country evenings, discussion rounds) together with the University of Erfurt. The Studentenwerk Thüringen manages affordable student housing and canteen (Mensa) services across Erfurt's campuses. An internationalization strategy covering all six faculties was formally adopted in 2022, reflecting the university's commitment to expanding global engagement.
42
Accredited Programmes
22
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
20
Master
More universities in Thüringen
View all in Thüringen →Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Universitäten · 46 programmes
Duale Hochschule Gera-Eisenach
Duale Hochschule · 10 programmes
Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena – University of Applied Sciences
Fachhochschulen / HAW · 50 programmes
Friedrich Heimerer Hochschule
sonstige · 1 programme
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Universitäten · 182 programmes
HMU Health and Medical University Erfurt
Hochschulen eigenen Typs · 3 programmes
Interested in Studying at
Fachhochschule Erfurt?
Our team can help you with the application process, documentation, and everything you need to get started.