Hochschule für Forstwirtschaft Rottenburg
Rottenburg am Neckar, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Founded
- 1954
- Students
- 1,200
- International
- 2.2%
- Programmes
- 8
About Hochschule für Forstwirtschaft Rottenburg
Hochschule für Forstwirtschaft Rottenburg (HFR) - officially the University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg - is a small, specialist Fachhochschule in Baden-Württemberg dedicated entirely to sustainability-oriented disciplines. It is situated on the Schadenweilerhof estate on the outskirts of Rottenburg am Neckar and has around 1,200 enrolled students across 5 bachelor's and 3 master's degree programmes.
The institution's teaching and research cover forestry, wood economics, renewable energies, water resource management, sustainability management in spatial development, and resource-efficient construction. On-site facilities include an experimental teaching forest, arboretum, GIS laboratory, climate station, central analytical laboratory, and operational renewable-energy installations, giving all programmes a strong applied-science character.
HFR holds multiple quality marks: five UNESCO designations for Education for Sustainable Development, EMAS environmental management certification, and Fairtrade University status since 2016. It was also recognised by the Stifterverband der Deutschen Wissenschaft in the competition for excellence strategies among small and medium-sized universities, earning the informal title 'smallest excellence university in Germany'.
Only Fachhochschule in Germany specialising entirely in forestry and sustainability-related disciplines
Five UNESCO designations for Education for Sustainable Development
EMAS-certified campus with operational renewable-energy installations used for teaching
Fairtrade University since 2016 - one of the first in Baden-Württemberg
Experimental teaching forest and arboretum on campus for hands-on learning
International partnerships with institutions in over 65 countries including English-medium specialisations at Dutch partner universities
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 1954
- Students
- 1,200
- International
- 2.2% international students (reporting year 2023, official higher-education statistics)
- Programmes
- 8
Study programmes
8 accredited degrees at Hochschule für Forstwirtschaft Rottenburg.
Showing 1–8 of 8 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Tuition-free for EU/EEA students at all bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes. Non-EU international students are subject to the Baden-Württemberg non-EU tuition fee of €1,500 per semester (introduced 2017). A semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) is charged to all students; exact amount not published on the website - contact Studierendenverwaltung ([email protected]) for current figures. Second-degree programmes incur additional fees.
Admission requirements
International applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification must have their credentials assessed through the Studienkolleg für ausländische Studierende at Hochschule Konstanz (the central point for Baden-Württemberg universities of applied sciences). Exceptions apply for holders of DSH-2/3, TestDaF (4.0 in each skill), or DSD II certificates, who may apply directly without Studienkolleg. Bachelor's intake is once per year in the winter semester; application to Studienkolleg must reach Konstanz by 1 May for the subsequent winter semester. Master's programmes have two intakes (winter and summer); application deadlines are 15 January (summer) and 15 July (winter), with 20 places allocated per year across master's programmes. APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle): required for applicants whose prior qualification is from India, China, or Vietnam before a German student visa is issued - check with APS India (apsindia.in) for current procedures. Exchange/mobility students from partner institutions: nominated by 1 May (winter) or 1 November (summer); application submission deadline 31 May / 30 November. Contact: [email protected].
Application deadlines
Bachelor's: once per year, winter semester only. Studienkolleg Konstanz application deadline 1 May for the following winter semester. Master's: winter semester deadline 15 July; summer semester deadline 15 January.
How international applicants apply
No uni-assist; Baden-Wuerttemberg recognition route instead. Bachelor applications run through the HFR's own HISinOne Bewerbungsportal (hisinone.hs-rottenburg.de). The official Hochschulzugang page directs applicants with foreign certificates to obtain Zeugnisanerkennung from the Studienkolleg Konstanz (the central Baden-Wuerttemberg office for certificate recognition, counselling and DSH/TestDaF; request by 1 May for the winter semester), while German nationals with a foreign Abitur apply to the Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle of the Regierungspraesidium Stuttgart. No uni-assist or VPD step is documented anywhere on the official admission pages.
Languages of instruction
Primarily German-taught. One English-language master's programme (M.Sc. SENCE - Sustainable Energy Economics and Technology) is offered in cooperation with partner universities. English-medium specialisations (Tropical Forestry, International Timber Trade) are available at Dutch partner institutions.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Student accommodation
What Hochschule für Forstwirtschaft Rottenburg publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim
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 pageFrom the university
The Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim operates two student residence halls on Magdeburger Straße in Rottenburg, approximately 10-15 minutes from campus by car with a nearby bus stop.
Campuses & locations
Main and only campus, located on the historic Schadenweilerhof estate on the outskirts of Rottenburg am Neckar, Baden-Württemberg.
Living in Rottenburg am Neckar
Rottenburg am Neckar is a mid-sized town of around 44,000 inhabitants in the Tübingen district of Baden-Württemberg, roughly 12 km south-west of Tübingen and 50 km south-west of Stuttgart. The town sits in a valley flanked by orchards, vineyards, and the Rammert forest, providing ample outdoor recreation. Its historic centre features Gothic and Baroque architecture including the Catholic cathedral. The larger university city of Tübingen is easily reachable by local transport, offering a fuller range of student amenities.
Student life & support
The small campus size (around 1,200 students) fosters a close-knit community. The Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim operates two student residence halls on Magdeburger Straße in Rottenburg, approximately 10-15 minutes from campus by car with a nearby bus stop. The HFR runs a buddy programme pairing international incoming students with local students, and offers German language courses for international arrivals. Campus facilities include an experimental forest, rope-climbing training centre (SKT-certified), and hunting and aquatic teaching areas. Rottenburg town centre has around 50 cafes, pubs, and restaurants, and the student city of Tübingen is a short trip away for broader social and cultural activities.
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