Hochschule Karlsruhe - Technik und Wirtschaft
Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Founded
- 1878
- Students
- 6,940
- Programmes
- 47
- Taught in English
- 5
About HKA - Hochschule Karlsruhe
Hochschule Karlsruhe (HKA) - officially Hochschule Karlsruhe - Technik und Wirtschaft - is one of the largest and most research-intensive universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in Baden-Württemberg. Founded in 1878, it offers a broad spectrum of applied programmes spanning engineering, computer science, economics, architecture, and design across six faculties. The university enrols approximately 6,900-7,800 students and is known for a significantly higher-than-average international student share compared to peer institutions.
HKA operates both German-taught and English-taught degree programmes at bachelor's and master's level, and is a member of the INGENIUM European University alliance (8 partner universities). It maintains over 180 international partner universities and offers dual-degree programmes. Research is conducted through more than 15 specialist institutes with active industry collaboration and technology transfer.
The campus is located in central Karlsruhe, with facilities at Moltkestraße and Karlstraße. Karlsruhe is a mid-sized tech-oriented city (~313,000 inhabitants) and home to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) as well, making it one of Germany's densest student and technology ecosystems.
One of the largest and most research-intensive Fachhochschulen in Baden-Württemberg
Founded 1878 - over 140 years of applied sciences education
Member of the INGENIUM European University alliance (8 European partner universities)
180+ international partner universities; dual-degree programmes available
English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes in engineering and technology
Located in Karlsruhe - Germany's technology and legal hub, affordable student city
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 1878
- Students
- 6,940
- International
- More than 1,000 students from abroad; international share described as significantly above the average for comparable universities of applied sciences
- Faculties
- 6
- Programmes
- 47
Study programmes
47 accredited degrees at HKA - Hochschule Karlsruhe, 5 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–24 of 47 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU/non-EEA students €1,500 per semester in tuition fees for first-degree bachelor's and master's programmes (introduced 2017). Exemptions apply for recognised refugees, holders of German permanent residence, students who obtained their entrance qualification in Germany, and exchange programme participants. All enrolled students also pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) of approximately €194.70 per semester (€108.70 student union fee + €70 administrative fee + €16 AStA contribution). There is no tuition fee for EU/EEA students beyond the semester contribution.
Admission requirements
International applicants apply directly via HKA's own online portal (no uni-assist required). For bachelor's programmes, 8% of places are reserved for international applicants. Entry qualification must be recognised as equivalent to the German Hochschulreife; applicants whose school leaving certificate is not directly recognised may need Studienkolleg or one year of home-country university study. APS certificate is required for applicants with Indian, Chinese, or Vietnamese prior qualifications before the German consulate will issue a student visa. Language requirement for German-taught programmes: typically German B2/C1 (TestDaF, DSH, Goethe, or telc certificate); English-taught programmes require proof of English proficiency (IELTS or equivalent). Applications are submitted through HKA's own portal; uni-assist is not used.
Application deadlines
Winter semester (October start): bachelor's portal opens ~May; master's portal opens beginning of May; visa-track recommended deadline approximately 15 May. Summer semester (March/April start): bachelor's and master's deadline approximately 15 January. Applications handled through HKA's own portal; some programmes use hochschulstart.de for allocation of restricted places.
How international applicants apply
Direct portal - no uni-assist. Applications are submitted exclusively via the HKA Bewerberportal. Foreign higher education entrance qualifications are handled outside uni-assist: non-EU applicants must have their HZB recognised by ASK-Konstanz (Ausländerstudienkolleg Konstanz, with APS certificate for China/India/Vietnam), German citizens with a foreign HZB go through the Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, while EU-HZB applicants apply directly and recognition is checked by the HKA International Office.
Languages of instruction
German-taught programmes (majority of bachelor's and master's); English-taught degree programmes available including Sensor Systems Technology, Geomatics, and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (EEIB). Several master's programmes are offered entirely in English.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at HKA - Hochschule Karlsruhe
3 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Deutschlandstipendium an der HKA
105 Germany Scholarships advertised for the programme year 2026/27 (distributed across faculties). Central selection criterion is...
Amount: EUR 300 per month
Deadline: 1 June - 31 July 2026 (annual call, advertised each winter semester)
Bachelor, Master
Kooperationsstipendien der HKA
HKA's own scholarship programme funded by private partners, awarded in various disciplines and study phases. Applicants target a s...
Amount: In der Regel rund EUR 300 im Monat (financial component; plus practica...
Bachelor, Master
Talent Award der HKA
Early talent identification and long-term funding: rewards students who convince through special achievements and competences with...
Amount: Monetary prize plus subsequent Kooperationsstipendium (2 - 4 semesters...
Bachelor, Master
Student accommodation
What HKA - Hochschule Karlsruhe publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
From the university
Shared apartments (WGs) are the dominant housing form; on-campus student residences are available through the Studierendenwerk.
Campuses & locations
Main campus; International Office and administration located here (Moltkestraße 30, 76133 Karlsruhe)
Additional facilities in central Karlsruhe
Living in Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe is a mid-sized city of around 313,000 residents in the Rhine Valley, bordering France and Switzerland. Known as Germany's 'internet capital' (the country's first email was sent from Karlsruhe in 1984), the city is a dense technology and legal hub - home to both HKA and KIT as well as the Federal Court of Justice and the Federal Constitutional Court. Students benefit from an affordable cost of living relative to Munich or Berlin, an extensive tram and bus network (KVV semester ticket), short cycling distances, and a lively cultural scene including the Badisches Staatstheater, the ZKM Centre for Art and Media, and regular festivals.
Student life & support
HKA students have access to KIT's extensive sports facilities, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) for events and arrival support, and an active student union (AStA) that organises social events and provides discount vouchers. The International Office runs a WeCare support programme specifically for international students, and a Tandem Plus language exchange programme pairs students for mutual language practice. Shared apartments (WGs) are the dominant housing form; on-campus student residences are available through the Studierendenwerk. Karlsruhe's flat terrain and compact layout make cycling the primary mode of student transport. City highlights include weekly farmers' markets, the Schloss Karlsruhe and its gardens, the Schlosslichtspiele light display, and proximity to the Black Forest and Rhine cycling routes.
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