- Founded
- 1971
- Students
- 13,500
- International
- 23%
- Programmes
- 80
- Taught in English
- 13
About Hochschule Darmstadt
Hochschule Darmstadt (h_da) is a state university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in Hessen, Germany, with approximately 13,500 enrolled students. It offers over 70 Bachelor's, Diploma, and Master's degree programmes across 12 faculties, spanning engineering, computer science, natural sciences, economics, social sciences, architecture, and media and design.
h_da is a member of the European University of Technology alliance (EUT+), the HAWtech network of technical universities of applied sciences, and holds system accreditation. The university's research orientation is centred on applied sciences and societal transformation, with a stated focus on applied computer science, sustainable transformation, and communication and media.
The university operates two campuses: the main campus in Darmstadt (Schöfferstraße 3) and the Mediencampus in Dieburg, approximately 15 km away, which hosts the Media and Business faculties and serves around 2,000 students.
Member of European University of Technology alliance (EUT+) alongside leading European applied-science universities
Two campuses: main campus in Darmstadt and Mediencampus in Dieburg (Media and Business faculties)
Over 70 degree programmes across 12 faculties, including multiple English-taught Master's programmes
Semester contribution of €401 (WS 2025/26) includes a nationwide public transport ticket - no additional non-EU tuition fee
Located in Darmstadt, Germany's self-styled 'City of Science', adjacent to ESOC, GSI, and Fraunhofer research institutes
System-accredited and member of HAWtech network; holds family-friendly employer certification
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 1971
- Students
- 13,500
- International
- ~23%
- Faculties
- 12
- Programmes
- 80
Study programmes
80 accredited degrees at Hochschule Darmstadt, 13 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–8 of 8 matching programmes
Clear filtersAdmissions & fees
What it costs
Hochschule Darmstadt does not charge tuition fees beyond the statutory semester contribution. The semester contribution for Winter Semester 2025/2026 is €401, which includes: administration fee (€50), student union fee (€103), nationwide semester ticket for public transport (€226.80), student body fee (€15.51), culture ticket (€2.71), and rental bike system membership (€2.98). Exchange students are exempt from this contribution. No additional non-EU tuition surcharge is reported on the official website; Hessen state law does not currently impose a general non-EU tuition fee.
Admission requirements
International applicants with foreign school-leaving certificates or degrees must apply through uni-assist e.V., which conducts initial document verification before forwarding applications to h_da. Applicants with qualifications equivalent to the German Abitur may apply for Bachelor's programmes; those whose qualification does not meet this standard must complete a Studienkolleg (preparatory college) first. Master's applicants need a first academic degree equivalent to a German Bachelor's degree. For German-taught programmes, a recognised German language certificate is required (typically DSH or TestDaF TDN 4). For English-taught programmes, an English proficiency certificate is required. Specific levels are stated in individual programme profiles. Applicants from India, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), and Vietnam are required to obtain an APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate before applying. The APS certificate must be presented as part of the application. Contact for international admissions: [email protected].
Application deadlines
Bachelor's (restricted admission / NC): 2 June - 15 July for Winter Semester; December - 15 January for Summer Semester. Bachelor's (open admission): 2 June - 1 September for Winter Semester; December - 1 March for Summer Semester. Master's (restricted admission): 2 June - 1 June (effectively by 1 July) for Winter Semester; December - 15 January for Summer Semester. Master's (individual admission requirements): 2 June - 1 September for Winter Semester; December - 1 March for Summer Semester. Selected Master's programmes (Animation and Game, Expanded Media, Media Technology and Society) accept applications until 1 August (Winter Semester) or 1 February (Summer Semester). All applications via uni-assist for foreign certificate holders.
How international applicants apply
Full uni-assist application (forwarding model) - external applicants with a foreign Hochschulzugangsberechtigung apply via uni-assist e.V. for bachelor, diploma AND master programmes; on positive assessment uni-assist forwards the application to the faculty. h_da explicitly does NOT accept a VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation) as university entrance qualification. Restricted (NC) bachelor programmes additionally require prior registration at hochschulstart (BID/BAN entered in the uni-assist application). Deadlines e.g. unrestricted bachelor WiSe May - 1 Aug, NC 15 Jul, masters up to 1 Aug.
Languages of instruction
The majority of programmes are taught in German. A growing number of Master's programmes are offered in English or bilingually (German/English), including: Animation and Game (M.A.), Expanded Media (M.A.), International Media Cultural Work (M.A.), Electrical Engineering and Information Technology - International (M.Sc.), Mechatronics (M.Sc., German/English), Media Technology and Society (M.Sc.), and the MBA. At Bachelor's level, Augmented and Virtual Reality Design (B.A.) and Motion Pictures (B.A.) are available in English. A Language Centre is available on campus.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Hochschule Darmstadt
3 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Stipendien fuer mehr Chancengerechtigkeit (scholarships for more equal opportunities)
h_da grants support to international students facing particular challenges: flight/refugee background, caring for children or depe...
Amount: EUR 450 per month for 6 months (total EUR 2,700)
Deadline: 2026 round closed; next call expected January 2027
bachelor, master
Studienabschluss-Stipendium (final-phase scholarship) for international students - Bachelor
Paid by the h_da Student Service Center so that non-EU international students can concentrate on their thesis during the final stu...
Amount: EUR 450 per month for 3 months plus EUR 150 completion lump sum
Deadline: Complete documents due 15 Feb / 15 May / 15 Aug / 15 Nov each year
bachelor
Studienabschluss-Stipendium (final-phase scholarship) for international students - Master
Same scheme as the bachelor variant, run by the Student Service Center for non-EU international master students in their thesis ph...
Amount: EUR 450 per month for 6 months plus EUR 150 completion lump sum
Deadline: Complete documents due 31 March (summer semester) and 30 September (wi...
master
Student accommodation
What Hochschule Darmstadt publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studentenwerk Darmstadt
Not by the university. Apply to them directly, and expect a waiting list.
From the university
The International Student Services team at h_da offers non-academic support for international students, including assistance with accommodation, residence permit questions, and general integration. Student accommodation is available through the Studentenwerk Darmstadt, which manages dormitories in the city; private housing assistance is also provided.
Campuses & locations
Primary campus at Schöfferstraße 3, 64295 Darmstadt; hosts most faculties including Architecture, Engineering, Computer Science, Chemistry and Biotechnology, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Design, Social Work, and Political and Social Sciences
Located approximately 15 km from Darmstadt; hosts the Media and Business (Wirtschaft) faculties; approximately 2,000 students
Living in Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city of approximately 160,000 residents in southern Hessen, located 30 km south of Frankfurt am Main. It is home to a significant technology and science cluster, hosting the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, the Fraunhofer Institute, and the Merck headquarters. The city is well-connected by S-Bahn and regional rail to Frankfurt and Heidelberg and is known for its Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) architecture on the Mathildenhöhe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021.
Student life & support
The International Student Services team at h_da offers non-academic support for international students, including assistance with accommodation, residence permit questions, and general integration. A buddy programme pairs newly arrived international students with experienced peers. Orientation sessions ('Basis courses') cover first steps in Germany, study organisation, and life in Darmstadt. The university runs a VisaFlow platform (access code HSDARMSTADT25) to help students with visa preparation. A language café and intercultural tutoring programme support integration and language development. Student accommodation is available through the Studentenwerk Darmstadt, which manages dormitories in the city; private housing assistance is also provided. The semester contribution includes a nationwide transport ticket (Deutschlandticket equivalent) valid across all German public transport networks.
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