- Founded
- 1832
- Students
- 750
- Programmes
- 4
About Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach
The Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach (HfG Offenbach) is a state university of art and design in Hesse, Germany. Tracing its origins to the Offenbacher Handwerkerschule founded in 1832, it gained university status in 1970. The institution is among the smallest dedicated art and design universities in Germany, with approximately 750 enrolled students and a strong emphasis on individual mentorship.
The HfG operates two departments - Art and Design - offering Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), and Master of Arts (MA) programmes. The school positions itself as a laboratory for shaping society through art and design, drawing on the traditions of the Bauhaus and the Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm. Admission is highly selective and portfolio-based.
The university is currently based at Isenburger Schloss (Isenburg Castle) in Offenbach am Main. A new building in the Offenbach harbour district is under planning, with completion targeted around 2028.
Hessen state university of art and design; tradition back to 1832 as a craftsmen's school, art college with university status since 1970.
Two departments: Department of Art (BFA/MFA/MFA Expanded Theory) and Department of Design (BA/MA); switched from diploma to bachelor/master structure in winter semester 2022/23.
Bundesweit einzigartig doctoral model since 2010 combining scientific-theoretical and artistic components (Dr. phil.).
Teaching model references Bauhaus and HfG Ulm; new building planned in the Offenbach harbour (expected around 2028).
Key facts
- Type
- Kunst- und Musikhochschulen
- Founded
- 1832
- Students
- 750
- Faculties
- 2
- Programmes
- 4
Study programmes
4 accredited degrees at Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach.
Showing 1–4 of 4 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Hesse does not charge tuition fees at public universities, including HfG Offenbach. Students pay only a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag), which covers administrative costs and includes a Deutschland-Semesterticket for nationwide public transport. The exact amount for WS 2026/27 was listed as not yet confirmed (N.N.) on the official site; historical contributions have been in the range applicable to small Hessian art colleges. There are no additional non-EU surcharges.
Admission requirements
Admission is portfolio-based and open once per year for the winter semester only (no summer intake). The application window is 1-15 April each year. Applicants submit a portfolio (PDF, max 20 MB) online. Design applicants may alternatively complete a creative aptitude assignment by 25 May. Entrance exams and interviews follow in late May through early July. International applicants with qualifications from India, China, or Vietnam must provide an APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate. German language proficiency at B2 is required at the application stage; C1-level certification (DSH-2, TestDaF TDN 4, telc C1 Hochschule, or Goethe C1) must be submitted by 15 September. Proof of higher education entrance qualification (e.g. Class XII / equivalent leaving certificate) and, for transfer applicants, a proof of prior enrolment are required.
Application deadlines
Degree-seeking applicants: portfolio application between 1 and 15 April, winter-semester intake only (HfG International Office deadlines page). Incoming exchange nominations/applications: 15 May for winter semester, 15 November for summer semester.
How international applicants apply
Direct application with portfolio; the International Office directs degree-seeking international applicants to the hfg-jetzt.de application portal, with applications accepted 1-15 April and admission only for the winter semester. No uni-assist VPD procedure is documented on the International Office pages; applicants from China, India and Vietnam need the APS certificate (administered via uni-assist's Akademische Prüfstelle). Exchange students apply after nomination by their home university (Erasmus+/SEMP/free mover) by 15 May (winter) or 15 November (summer). Contacts: [email protected] (Registrar/Study Information Centre), [email protected].
Languages of instruction
Programmes are taught primarily in German. German proficiency at B2 level is required for admission; C1 (DSH-2, TestDaF TDN 4, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, or Goethe-Zertifikat C1) must be provided by 15 September of the enrolment year. Some Master's programmes may accept C1-level English where German C1 is not yet available.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Student accommodation
What Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
From the university
Student housing in Frankfurt am Main is available for incoming students at approximately €300/month.
Campuses & locations
Schlossstraße 31, 63065 Offenbach am Main; historic castle campus
Under planning as of 2023; targeted completion ~2028 in Offenbach docks district
Living in Offenbach am Main
Offenbach am Main is a city of approximately 122,000 inhabitants in Hesse, directly bordering Frankfurt on the south bank of the River Main. It is one of Germany's most diverse cities, with foreign nationals historically making up around 37% of the population. Students benefit from immediate S-Bahn access to Frankfurt's cultural, employment, and transport infrastructure while living in a smaller, more affordable urban environment with a creative and multicultural character.
Student life & support
HfG Offenbach's small size (approximately 750 students) fosters close interaction between students and the 24 professors and 56 lecturers. The Buddy Programme pairs incoming international students with HfG students to ease arrival and integration. The campus is housed in a historic castle setting. Student housing in Frankfurt am Main is available for incoming students at approximately €300/month. The university's proximity to Frankfurt provides access to a wide range of galleries, museums, design studios, and internship opportunities.
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