Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd
Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Founded
- 1776
- Students
- 577
- Programmes
- 5
About Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd
Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd (HfG) is a small, state-funded university of applied sciences in Baden-Württemberg, specialising exclusively in design disciplines. It is one of the few higher-education institutions in Germany dedicated entirely to design and celebrated 250 years of design education in 2026.
The university enrols approximately 577 students across four Bachelor of Arts programmes - Interaction Design, Communication Design, Product Design, and Digital Product Design and Development - and one Master of Arts programme in Strategic Design. Its compact size means students and faculty know each other personally, contributing to a reported 98% completion rate within the standard study duration.
HfG operates ten laboratories and workshops, hosts an Institute for Applied Research (IAF), supports student start-ups, and maintains partnerships with approximately 45 international partner institutions. The main building is a restored Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) structure equipped with modern facilities.
State design school with five locations in Schwäbisch Gmünd, five study programmes and 10 labs/workshops (hfg-gmuend.de).
98% of students graduate within the standard study period (self-reported on hochschule page).
50 years as a Hochschule ('Jahre Bestehen auf langer Tradition'), roots in longer craft/design tradition (existing record: founded_year 1776 per geschichte page).
Bachelor programmes include Communication Design, Interaction Design, Product Design, Digital Product Design and Development; Master in Strategische Gestaltung.
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 1776
- Students
- 577
- International
- Not published as a percentage; the school reports more than 20 exchange students per semester against about 577 enrolled students (hfg-gmuend.de).
- Programmes
- 5
Study programmes
5 accredited degrees at Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Showing 1–5 of 5 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
HfG is a state university in Baden-Württemberg. German and EU/EEA students pay no regular tuition fees - only a semester administrative contribution (Verwaltungskostenbeitrag) of approximately €148 per semester. Non-EU international students (studying for a degree) pay €1,500 per semester in tuition fees, introduced from Winter Semester 2017/18 under the Baden-Württemberg non-EU student fee regulation, in addition to the administrative contribution. Students pursuing a second degree (Zweitstudium) pay €650 per semester in addition to the administrative contribution.
Admission requirements
International applicants seeking a degree must have their higher-education entry qualification recognised by the Studienkolleg Konstanz (Center for International Students), which issues a certificate with a converted German grade - submitted at no cost alongside the original certificate. For the Master's programme (Strategische Gestaltung), a completed bachelor's degree in design or a media-oriented field is required (ideally 210 ECTS; 180 ECTS accepted with supplementary credits). International applicants must provide proof of German language proficiency at TestDaF 4 or DSH 2 level. Applicants from China specifically require an APS certificate from the Cultural Department of the German Embassy in Beijing. APS is not listed as a requirement for Indian or Vietnamese applicants on the official site, but Indian and Vietnamese students whose prior qualification is from those countries should verify the general APS requirement independently, as it is a Germany-wide rule for those nationalities. For Bachelor's programmes, a portfolio of 12-15 self-created work samples is mandatory for Product Design; optional for Interaction Design and Communication Design.
Application deadlines
Bachelor's: 15 May (for Winter Semester / October start) and 15 November (for Summer Semester / March start). Application portals open in early April and early October respectively. Master's: 15 May and 15 November, with the same early-April and early-October opening windows. Interview dates for Summer 2026: 15-16 June. Exchange students (incoming): 1 May for Winter Semester; 1 November for Summer Semester. Selection notification within four weeks.
How international applicants apply
Direct application to the HfG via its own application process; no uni-assist documented. International degree-seekers must first have their higher-education entrance qualification recognised by the Center for International Students ('Studienkolleg') at HTWG Konstanz - recognition is free of charge - and submit the grade-conversion certificate together with a copy of the original certificate with their application (hfg-gmuend.de/studium/international-students). Exchange students are nominated by their home institution and send documents to [email protected] by 1 May for the following winter semester or 1 November for the following summer semester.
Languages of instruction
All Bachelor's and Master's programmes are taught in German. Exchange students at undergraduate level may attend a range of English-language courses; a free weekly German course is also provided. Master's exchange students must demonstrate fluency in German.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Student accommodation
What Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
The university's housing page
Deadlines and application forms are published here, and they change every intake.
Open housing pageFrom the university
More than 20 incoming exchange students are welcomed each semester, supported by a Buddies programme that assists with orientation, accommodation searches, and administrative tasks. Student housing is available through Studierendenwerk Ulm at the Neißestraße dormitory.
Campuses & locations
Five locations within the city; main building is a restored Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) structure
Living in Schwäbisch Gmünd
Schwäbisch Gmünd is a historic town of approximately 60,000 inhabitants in the Ostalbkreis district of Baden-Württemberg, roughly 50 km east of Stuttgart. Known as a centre of goldsmithing and jewellery craftsmanship, the town hosted the Federal Garden Show (Bundesgartenschau) in 2014. Its compact, medieval old town and affordable cost of living make it an attractive student location, with Stuttgart accessible by regional train in under an hour.
Student life & support
The university has an active student body (Verfasste Studierendenschaft) and regular semester exhibitions, including a digital semester show accessible remotely. More than 20 incoming exchange students are welcomed each semester, supported by a Buddies programme that assists with orientation, accommodation searches, and administrative tasks. Student housing is available through Studierendenwerk Ulm at the Neißestraße dormitory. Entrepreneurship support and startup programmes are offered alongside academic work.
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