- Founded
- 1991
- Students
- 4,268
- International
- 7.5%
- Programmes
- 42
- Taught in English
- 5
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.
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
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 1991
- Students
- 4,268
- International
- 7.5% international students (winter semester 2025/26; 4,268 students in total) per Studis Online.
- Faculties
- 6
- Programmes
- 42
Study programmes
42 accredited degrees at Fachhochschule Erfurt, 5 of them taught in English.
Showing 25–42 of 42 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
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.
How international applicants apply
Required for international applicants. Full-degree applicants with foreign certificates apply via uni-assist (EUR 75 first application, EUR 30 each additional study wish; upload school leaving certificate, prior study records, APS certificate for China/Vietnam/India/Mongolia, proof of internships if applicable). No fixed deadlines for international applicants - applications possible year-round, processing up to three months. 8% of places in NC-restricted programmes are reserved for international applicants. Exceptions applying directly via a special form: partnership/exchange students, transfers from other German universities, dual-programme applicants.
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+).
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Fachhochschule Erfurt
8 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Deutschlandstipendium (FH Erfurt)
Merit-based scholarship for particularly gifted and high-achieving students enrolled at FH Erfurt. Awarded independently of BAföG...
Amount: EUR 300 per month
Deadline: Round I: 15 Jan - 28 Feb (decision April); Round II: 15 Jul - 31 Aug (...
Bachelor, Master
Härtefalldarlehen - Studierendenwerk Thüringen
Emergency loan for students in exceptional financial hardship.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Ongoing
Bachelor, Master
Kinderessen - Studierendenwerk Thüringen
Meal subsidies for students with children at FH Erfurt.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Per semester
Bachelor, Master
Kurzdarlehen - Studierendenwerk Thüringen
Interest-free emergency loan for FH Erfurt students in financial hardship.
Amount: Up to EUR 800
Deadline: Ongoing
Bachelor, Master
PROMOS mobility scholarships (FH Erfurt)
Listed by the university's student-finance ecosystem as a PROMOS outgoing-mobility scholarship administered by FH Erfurt (study ab...
Amount: Partial stipend + travel allowance (varies by destination)
Deadline: Reported rounds: 31 Jan and 30 Jun (confirm with International Office)
Bachelor, Master
Reisekostenzuschüsse - Thüringer Kompetenznetzwerk Gleichstellung
Travel grants for FH Erfurt students, administered via the university's financing page.
Amount: EUR 250
Deadline: Per call
Bachelor, Master
Studienpreise - Freunde und Förderer der FH Erfurt
Study prizes awarded by the Friends and Sponsors Association of FH Erfurt for outstanding academic achievements.
Amount: EUR 500
Deadline: 30 Jun annually
Bachelor, Master
Studienstarthilfe 'StudiumThüringenPlus'
Start-up grant for new students at Thuringian universities including FH Erfurt.
Amount: EUR 500
Deadline: 25 Mar and 15 Sep annually
Bachelor
Student accommodation
What Fachhochschule Erfurt publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studentenwerk Thüringen
Not by the university. Apply to them directly, and expect a waiting list.
From the university
The Studentenwerk Thüringen manages affordable student housing and canteen (Mensa) services across Erfurt's campuses.
Campuses & locations
Altonaer Straße 25, 99085 Erfurt - main campus, International Office located here
Leipziger Straße 77, Erfurt
Schlüterstraße 1, Erfurt
Living in Erfurt
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.
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