Hochschule Bielefeld - University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI)
Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
About HSBI
Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI) was founded in 1971 as one of Germany's first Fachhochschulen. It is the largest university of applied sciences in the East Westphalia-Lippe (OWL) region, enrolling approximately 10,000 students across three campuses in Bielefeld, Minden, and Gütersloh. The university holds system accreditation by AQAS, granting it authority to validate its own academic programmes internally.
HSBI operates six faculties covering design and art, engineering and mathematics, social sciences, business, health, and a dedicated Minden campus faculty. It offers 43 bachelor's, 29 master's, and 7 certificate programmes in both German and English. Research activity is anchored in six institutes and two research groups, with strong ties to regional industry and public-sector partners in Ostwestfalen-Lippe.
As of December 2024, HSBI hosts 920 international students, representing roughly 9% of total enrolment. The university holds a Erasmus+ charter and runs a buddy programme supported by DAAD and the German Federal Foreign Office, providing structured onboarding for incoming international students.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1971
- Students
- 10,000
- International
- ~9% (920 international students as of December 2024)
- Faculties
- 6
Founded 1971 — one of Germany's first Fachhochschulen; largest university of applied sciences in the OWL region
System-accredited by AQAS, allowing HSBI to self-validate all its academic programmes
No tuition fees for all public bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes (NRW does not charge non-EU student fees)
Seven English-taught degree programmes across engineering, business, and data science
APS certificate mandatory for applicants from India, China, and Vietnam
Semester contribution includes the nationwide Germany student transport ticket (Deutschlandticket)
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
HSBI is a public university in North Rhine-Westphalia. There are no tuition fees for bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes regardless of nationality — NRW does not charge non-EU student fees. The semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) for 2026/27 is approximately €356.55 in Bielefeld, €354.80 in Minden, and €248.80 in Gütersloh; this covers the Germany-wide student transport ticket (Deutschlandticket), student union services, sports, culture, and social welfare. Some engineering programmes at Gütersloh/Minden add a materials fee of €112–126 per semester. Part-time (berufsbegleitend) master's programmes carry significantly higher semester fees of €1,250–€2,000 per semester.
Admission requirements
International applicants with qualifications obtained abroad apply through uni-assist, which issues a Preliminary Review Documentation (VPD; processing time approximately 4–6 weeks). Applicants from India, China, and Vietnam must additionally submit an APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate before their application can be processed. Based on the VPD outcome, applicants are admitted either directly (foreign qualification recognised for immediate university entry) or indirectly (qualification maps to Studienkolleg level). Indirect-admission applicants can alternatively qualify via TestAS (minimum 90 points paper / 50 points digital, core and subject modules) or an ITB test (minimum 90 points). German-taught programmes: C1 German is required (TestDaF minimum 16 points, DSH-2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, Goethe C2, or DSD-2 accepted). Applicants targeting open-admission programmes may apply with B2 plus proof of C1 exam registration. English-taught engineering programmes (Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics and Automation, Data Science): IELTS minimum 5.5 or TOEFL iBT minimum 72. English-taught M.A. International Business Management: IELTS minimum 7.0 or TOEFL iBT minimum 95, plus German A2 proof.
Application deadlines
Application periods open on 1 June for the winter semester and 1 December for the summer semester. Deadlines: restricted-admission (NC) programmes — 15 July (winter) and 15 January (summer); open-admission programmes — 31 August (winter) and 28/29 February (summer). International applicants should submit their uni-assist VPD request well in advance, as processing takes 4–6 weeks.
Languages of instruction
Most programmes are taught in German and require C1 proficiency. HSBI also offers a set of fully English-taught programmes: at bachelor's level — Industrial Engineering, Industrial Engineering (work-integrated), International Studies in Management, Mechatronics and Automation, and Mechatronics and Automation (work-integrated); at master's level — International Business Management and Research Master Data Science. The Language Center provides preparatory and semester-accompanying German courses for international students.
Campuses & locations
Primary campus; hosts most faculties including Design and Art, Engineering and Mathematics, Social Sciences, Business, and Health
Dedicated faculty campus in Minden
Located in the 'Gleis 13' building; hosts English-taught engineering programmes (Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics and Automation, Data Science)
Living in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Bielefeld is a mid-sized city of approximately 340,000 inhabitants in the Teutoburg Forest region of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is a manufacturing and logistics hub — home to companies such as Dr. Oetker, Schüco, and Gildemeister — offering students access to internships and graduate employment in both traditional industry and a growing tech sector. The city has a relatively low cost of living compared to Cologne or Düsseldorf, with student accommodation available through the Studierendenwerk OWL. Bielefeld is well connected by rail to Hannover (approx. 1 hour) and Cologne (approx. 2 hours).
Student life & support
The International Office supports incoming students through Welcome Weeks, an INTutoring programme, and a DAAD-funded Buddy Programme that matches international students with local mentors for airport pickup, campus orientation, and administrative guidance. Housing assistance is available via [email protected], with the Studierendenwerk OWL operating student residences in Bielefeld and Minden. The Language Center offers preparatory German courses (Studienvorbereitende Deutschkurse) and semester-accompanying German instruction. A self-study orientation course ('Broaden your Horizon') covers practical life and study topics for new arrivals. Psychosocial counselling and BAföG/scholarship guidance are available through the Zentrale Studienberatung.
100
Accredited Programmes
51
Master
47
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
2
Other
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