Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft Ludwigshafen
Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
About Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft Ludwigshafen
Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft Ludwigshafen (HWG-LU) is a mid-sized public university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in Rhineland-Palatinate, specialising in business administration, social sciences, healthcare, and applied management. As of winter semester 2024/25 the university enrolled 4,148 students across four departments and offered more than 40 degree programmes in full-time, part-time, dual, and distance formats. The institution traces its roots to predecessor colleges established in 1948 and 1965, with the current merged university adopting its present name in 2019.
HWG-LU emphasises practice-oriented study and maintains close ties to regional industry in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan area, home to major employers including BASF. Ninety-six professors and a teaching staff of 248 lecturers deliver programmes across four departments covering management and controlling, marketing and human resource management, services and consulting, and social and health services. The university operates a Cross Cultural Mentoring Programme and a Buddy Programme to support incoming international students.
Applications to HWG-LU are handled directly by the university and not via uni-assist. The primary language of instruction is German; most programmes require at least C1 German, though a dedicated pathway for students at B2 level (combined German course plus bachelor studies) is offered. A small number of master's and specialist programmes are taught in English or bilingually.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1971
- Students
- 4,148
- International
- 589 international students (WS 2024/25)
- Faculties
- 4
4,148 students enrolled in WS 2024/25 across four applied-science departments
589 international students in WS 2024/25
96 professors and 248 external lecturers delivering practice-oriented teaching
More than 40 programmes including bachelor's, master's, MBA, dual, and distance formats
Applications handled directly (not via uni-assist); no application fee
Located in the Rhine-Neckar region — one of Germany's strongest economic zones with BASF and SAP as nearby employers
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
No tuition fees are charged for standard bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes at this public university in Rhineland-Palatinate (the Baden-Württemberg non-EU fee of €1,500/semester does not apply here). Students pay a semester contribution of approximately €150 per semester for re-registration and student services. Second-degree programmes are no longer subject to additional fees as of WS 2025/26.
Admission requirements
International applicants apply directly through the HWG-LU online portal or DoSV; applications are not processed via uni-assist. The standard entry requirement for bachelor's programmes is a recognised higher education entrance qualification and a minimum C1 German language certificate (exceptions and a B2 pathway exist for specific programmes). For master's programmes, a relevant bachelor's degree is required alongside the applicable language certificate. Visa applicants must present a blocked account (Sperrkonto) of €11,904 per year as financial proof. No APS certificate requirement is mentioned on the official site, but Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants must obtain an APS certificate as a German consulate requirement before the student visa is issued. Applications for winter semester 2026/27 are open; typical deadlines range from 1 August to 15 August for most bachelor's programmes and from 1 January to 15 January for summer semester programmes. Some restricted-admission programmes have earlier cut-offs (around 15 July). Contact: [email protected].
Application deadlines
Winter semester: 1 August (most programmes), 15 July for some restricted-admission programmes. Summer semester: 1 February (most programmes), some programmes 15 January or 31 January. Exact per-programme deadlines are listed in the degree programme finder at hwg-lu.de.
Languages of instruction
The primary language of instruction is German. Most programmes require C1 German for direct admission; a special B2-track combining a bachelor's programme (Business Administration – Logistics for Internationals) with integrated German courses is also available. Several master's programmes and MBA programmes are offered in English or bilingually (German/English), including MBA Digital & IT Management, MBA International Business Management, Advanced Practice Nursing (M.Sc.), Viticulture and Enology (M.Sc.), and International Marketing and Psychology (M.Sc.).
Campuses & locations
Ernst Boehe Str. 6, 67059 Ludwigshafen am Rhein; a new construction project is underway
Living in Rheinland-Pfalz
Ludwigshafen am Rhein (population ~170,000) is the second-largest city in Rhineland-Palatinate and sits on the Rhine directly opposite Mannheim, at the heart of the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. The area is home to BASF, Europe's largest chemical cluster, and is within easy reach of Heidelberg, the Palatinate Forest, and the Alsace. Cultural attractions include the Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, the Festival of German Cinema on Parkinsel, and the Pfalzbau theatre. The Rhine-Neckar region hosts over 134,000 companies and is ranked among Germany's top life sciences and IT hubs, providing strong internship and graduate employment opportunities.
Student life & support
The International Office (located in Building C, Ernst Boehe Str. 6) supports international students from application through arrival and daily campus life. Services include a Cross Cultural Mentoring Programme, a Buddy Programme (volunteer student mentors who assist with airport pickup, city orientation, and administrative tasks such as bank accounts and residence registration), and referrals to preparatory German language courses at partner providers in Mannheim and Heidelberg (Goethe-Institut, Volkshochschule, F+U Academy). Student housing is not managed directly by the university; the International Office provides tips on residential neighbourhoods well connected to campus by public bus (lines 75, 76, 80), particularly Hemshof, Prinzregentenstraße, and Kanalstraße. The StudierendenServiceCenter (SSC) handles enrolment, exam administration, and student administration. Scholarships and funding information is available through the university's financing and scholarships portal.
47
Accredited Programmes
26
Master
21
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
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