Hochschule Furtwangen - Informatik, Technik, Wirtschaft, Medien, Gesundheit
Furtwangen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Founded
- 1850
- Students
- 4,338
- Programmes
- 69
- Taught in English
- 31
About Hochschule Furtwangen - Informatik, Technik, Wirtschaft, Med
Hochschule Furtwangen University (HFU) is a public university of applied sciences founded in 1850, making it one of the oldest technical universities of applied sciences in Germany. Located in the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg, HFU operates across three campuses in Furtwangen, Villingen-Schwenningen, and Tuttlingen, and is widely regarded as one of the most research-oriented universities of applied sciences in Baden-Württemberg.
HFU offers 64 degree programmes across four faculties - Computer Science and Applications; Engineering and Technology; Health, Medical and Life Sciences; and Business, Design and Media - at bachelor's and master's level. Of these, 15 programmes are taught entirely in English, 10 are bilingual, and 39 are in German, giving international students a broad range of English-medium study options. The university enrolls students from over 90 countries.
The university has a strong emphasis on applied research and industry partnerships with regional companies, ranging from traditional SMEs to high-tech hidden champions in the Baden-Württemberg manufacturing corridor. A School of Languages and Cultures (SLC) runs more than 75 language courses per semester across German, English, and Spanish, and also operates as a certified examination centre for internationally recognised language tests.
Founded in 1850 - one of the oldest universities of applied sciences in Germany
64 degree programmes including 15 fully English-taught and 10 bilingual at bachelor's and master's level
Four faculties spanning Computer Science, Engineering, Health & Life Sciences, and Business/Design/Media
Three campuses across the Black Forest region: Furtwangen, Villingen-Schwenningen, and Tuttlingen
97% student recommendation rate across reviewed programmes
Ranked among the most research-active universities of applied sciences in Baden-Württemberg; strong links to regional high-tech industry
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 1850
- Students
- 4,338
- International
- students from over 90 countries
- Faculties
- 4
- Programmes
- 69
Study programmes
69 accredited degrees at Hochschule Furtwangen - Informatik, Technik, Wirtschaft, Med, 31 of them taught in English.
Showing 25–48 of 69 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
As a public university in Baden-Württemberg, HFU charges non-EU/EEA international students a tuition fee of €1,500 per semester, in addition to the standard semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) applicable to all students. EU/EEA students and German nationals are generally exempt from the non-EU tuition fee. The university website lists Julia Hennig (Furtwangen Campus) as the contact for tuition fee queries; specific fee amounts are not published on the public website pages reviewed.
Admission requirements
Applicants need a recognised university entrance qualification (Abitur equivalent or a completed bachelor's degree for master's programmes). International applicants should apply via the university's MIO online portal (mio.hs-furtwangen.de) and, where applicable, register at hochschulstart.de. Language requirements vary by programme - applicants should filter programmes by teaching language on the HFU website. For Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants, the APS certificate (from the respective German Embassy) is required before a student visa can be issued, though the university's own pages do not detail this - confirm via the German consulate in the applicant's country. The university directs degree-seeking international students to the HFU-cares Team for personalised guidance.
Application deadlines
Bachelor's programmes: 15 July for the winter semester (1 July for Midwifery Science); 15 January for the summer semester. Master's programmes: deadlines vary by programme - check the individual programme page on the HFU website.
How international applicants apply
Not used; direct portal. Furtwangen University (HFU) does not appear on uni-assist's official member list, and its own international-admission pages do not mention uni-assist. Foreign-certificate applicants (including EU) and stateless applicants must first obtain recognition/conversion of their certificates from the Studienkolleg Konstanz (Center for International Students of the Baden-Wuerttemberg universities of applied sciences), which decides between direct higher-education entrance, Feststellungsprüfung or DSH; the resulting certificate is uploaded with HFU's own online application. Germans with foreign certificates go through the Regierungspraesidium Stuttgart recognition office instead. Application is made directly in the HFU online portal (deadline 1 May for restricted programmes); for master's programmes the procedure can deviate per programme.
Languages of instruction
64 degree programmes in total: 15 fully English-taught, 10 bilingual (German and English), 39 German-taught. International students with strong English but limited German can access master's and bachelor's programmes entirely in English. The School of Languages and Cultures offers German, English, and Spanish courses (75+ courses per semester in groups of up to 23).
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Hochschule Furtwangen - Informatik, Technik, Wirtschaft, Med
2 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship) at HFU
HFU participates in the federal Deutschlandstipendium programme, which its website describes as supporting talented, high-achievin...
Amount: EUR 300 per month (statutory amount under StipG)
bachelor, master
STIBET Graduation Scholarship
The International Center awards a STIBET graduation scholarship to international students who expect to complete their degree with...
Deadline: 1 May
bachelor, master
Student accommodation
What Hochschule Furtwangen - Informatik, Technik, Wirtschaft, Med publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studentenwerk Freiburg
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
Student accommodation near all three campuses is coordinated partly through Studentenwerk Freiburg (SWFR), which operates an online room exchange. The Furtwangen campus has the Großhausberg hall of residence (230 furnished apartments of ~15 m² plus 36 multi-room units with cable and internet). The Schwenningen campus has 146 Studentenwerk rooms across two buildings.
Campuses & locations
Main campus; Robert-Gerwig-Platz 1, 78120 Furtwangen im Schwarzwald
Jakob-Kienzle-Straße 17, 78054 VS-Schwenningen
Kronenstraße 16, 78532 Tuttlingen
Living in Furtwangen
Furtwangen im Schwarzwald is a small town of around 9,000 inhabitants set in the southern Black Forest at approximately 870 m above sea level. The area is characterised by low population density, affordable rents relative to German urban centres, clean air, and direct access to outdoor recreation including skiing, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and hiking. Freiburg im Breisgau and the Swiss city of Basel are accessible within roughly an hour. The Villingen-Schwenningen and Tuttlingen campuses sit in larger urban centres with additional services and transport links.
Student life & support
Student accommodation near all three campuses is coordinated partly through Studentenwerk Freiburg (SWFR), which operates an online room exchange. The Furtwangen campus has the Großhausberg hall of residence (230 furnished apartments of ~15 m² plus 36 multi-room units with cable and internet). Additional private shared flats and micro-loft options are available from approximately €430/month including utilities. The Schwenningen campus has 146 Studentenwerk rooms across two buildings. The International Center (IC), with offices on all three campuses, supports incoming international students; the email [email protected] covers all campuses. The School of Languages and Cultures offers structured German language courses each semester - essential for students on English-taught programmes who plan to work in Germany after graduation. Students in Furtwangen and Schönwald may apply for a municipal welcome allowance when registering their primary residence.
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