- Founded
- 2001
- Students
- 5,500
- Programmes
- 37
- Taught in English
- 7
About Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart
Hochschule der Medien (HdM) Stuttgart is a public university of applied sciences specialising entirely in media disciplines. Founded in 2001 through the merger of the Hochschule für Druck und Medien and the Hochschule für Bibliotheks- und Informationswesen, it offers approximately 30 degree programmes spanning print, digital, audiovisual, and interactive media, design, media informatics, publishing, library and information science, and media business.
With around 5,500 students and strong ties to Stuttgart's media and technology industry, HdM emphasises practical, project-based learning under the motto "Studieren. Wissen. Machen." (Study. Understand. Do.). The university holds system accreditation and has been certified as a family-friendly institution. It maintains exchange partnerships with universities across more than 80 countries.
HdM is organised into three faculties: Print and Media, Electronic Media, and Information and Communication. The main campus is located in the Vaihingen district of Stuttgart on a shared university campus, with easy S-Bahn access to the city centre.
Germany's only public university of applied sciences dedicated entirely to media disciplines
Founded 2001 by merger of two specialist institutions; over 5,500 students
Three faculties covering print/packaging, electronic media, and information/communication
English-taught bachelor's in Print Media and Packaging Technologies - no German required at entry
Active campus radio (Horads 88,6), student newspaper, and semester-end MediaNight showcase
Non-EU tuition €1,500/semester (Baden-Württemberg state fee); most German-taught programmes otherwise tuition-free for EU students
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 2001
- Students
- 5,500
- International
- Students from over 80 countries
- Faculties
- 3
- Programmes
- 37
Study programmes
37 accredited degrees at Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart, 7 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–24 of 37 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU/EEA students €1,500 per semester for bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes. All students additionally pay a semester contribution of approximately €191.50 (€80 administration + €96.50 Studierendenwerk + €15 student representation). Non-consecutive master's programmes carry higher fees: Business Management master's €2,970/semester, Data Science master's €4,620/semester. EU/EEA students are exempt from the €1,500 non-EU surcharge for standard programmes.
Admission requirements
International applicants must hold a higher education entrance qualification recognised in Germany (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung). For most German-taught bachelor programmes, proof of German language proficiency at the required level is needed. The English-taught Print Media and Packaging Technologies bachelor requires English at CEFR B2 / IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 72+; no prior German is required but German courses are part of the curriculum. For master's programmes, a relevant bachelor's degree (minimum 180 ECTS) is required; applicants with fewer than 210 ECTS may face harmonisation requirements. Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants whose prior qualification was obtained in those countries must hold an APS certificate before applying for a student visa; HdM itself does not issue APS but the German Embassy/Consulate in the applicant's home country does. Applications are submitted via the HdM online portal (SELMA); most programmes also require registration on hochschulstart.de.
Application deadlines
Winter semester (October start): 15 July for most programmes; non-EU applicants for the English-taught Print Media Technologies bachelor should apply by 19 July. Summer semester (March start): 15 January. Part-time and continuing education programmes have rolling or extended deadlines via the Continuing Education Centre.
How international applicants apply
Not used. HdM Stuttgart does not appear on the official uni-assist member list for Baden-Wuerttemberg; its documented international-admission pages never mention uni-assist or a VPD. Bachelor applications run via hochschulstart.de (DoSV) plus the university's own portal bewerbung.hdm-stuttgart.de (deadlines 15 July winter / 15 January summer); masters apply via the HdM online portal. Instead of uni-assist, HdM requires certificate recognition BEFORE applying: German citizens with a foreign school-leaving certificate have it recognised by the Regierungspraesidium Stuttgart, while foreign applicants with foreign certificates must go through the Studienkolleg Konstanz recognition procedure (which also converts grades to the German scale) and attach the recognition certificate to their direct application. Additional requirements for internationals: German C1-level proof at matriculation (TestDaF TDN 4 average, DSH-2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, etc.), and non-EU/non-EWR citizens pay EUR 1,500 per semester tuition under the Baden-Wuerttemberg fee rule.
Languages of instruction
Most programmes are taught in German. One bachelor's programme - Print Media and Packaging Technologies - is taught primarily in English (first two years). Master's programmes are predominantly German-taught; the Computer Science and Media master's has English-language components. Mandatory German language courses are included in the English-taught bachelor.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart
1 scheme run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Student accommodation
What Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studierendenwerk Stuttgart
Not by the university. Apply to them directly, and expect a waiting list.
The university's housing page
Deadlines and application forms are published here, and they change every intake.
Open housing pageRoom types mentioned
What that page describes. Availability varies by intake.
From the university
On-campus facilities include the Sendepause cafeteria and proximity to student residences in the Vaihingen student village.
Campuses & locations
Main campus at Nobelstrasse 10, 70569 Stuttgart; shared university district with student residences and sports facilities
Living in Stuttgart
Stuttgart, capital of Baden-Württemberg, is a prosperous city of around 630,000 known as the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Bosch. The HdM campus sits in the leafy Vaihingen district, three S-Bahn stops from the city centre. Students benefit from rich cultural infrastructure - the Staatsgalerie, Mercedes-Benz Museum, State Theatre (opera, ballet, theatre), and a lively nightlife scene in Stuttgart-West - alongside easy access to the Swabian Alb, Lake Constance, and Tübingen for weekend excursions. Students aged 26 and under can use the Deutschland-Ticket JugendBW for €1/day for public transport across Germany.
Student life & support
Campus life at HdM is shaped by hands-on media production. Student initiatives include Horads 88,6 (campus radio station broadcasting around the clock), MEDIAkompakt (student-run print newspaper), Edit Magazine (online publication), and the MAJAM Big Band. The semester culminates in MediaNight, a public showcase where students present projects to industry professionals and a wide audience. On-campus facilities include the Sendepause cafeteria and proximity to student residences in the Vaihingen student village. Students have access to the University of Stuttgart's sports programme at discounted rates.
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