All good again 💙 — Some of you couldn't sign in or submit your profile evaluation for a little while — a small technical hiccup on our side. It's all fixed and running smoothly again. Thank you for your patience! If anything still looks off, just refresh the page and try again, or message us anytime.

Fachhochschulen / HAW

Hochschule Pforzheim - Gestaltung, Technik, Wirtschaft und Recht

Baden-Württemberg, Germany

About Hochschule Pforzheim - Gestaltung, Technik, Wirtschaft und R

Hochschule Pforzheim – University of Applied Sciences is a public institution in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, organised across three faculties: Design (Gestaltung), Engineering (Technik), and Business & Law (Wirtschaft und Recht). It is ranked among the largest universities of applied sciences in Baden-Württemberg, with approximately 6,000 enrolled students, around 480 professors and teaching staff, and more than 100 international partner universities.

The university offers 47 degree programmes in total — 28 bachelor's and 19 master's — spanning jewellery and accessories design, industrial engineering, international business, and related fields. Exchange students can access English-language courses across design, business and law, and industrial engineering tracks. The institution holds Fairtrade University and energy management certifications and is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).

Pforzheim University operates research institutes including the Institute for Applied Research and the Jewelry Technology Institute, as well as multiple Steinbeis Transfer Centres that facilitate cooperation with industry.

Key facts

Students
6,000
International
~300 degree-seeking international students; ~150 exchange students per semester
Faculties
3

Three specialist faculties: Design, Engineering, and Business & Law — an unusual combination for a single applied sciences university

47 degree programmes (28 bachelor's, 19 master's) across all three faculties

Over 100 international partner universities worldwide

Renowned for its Design faculty and links to Pforzheim's jewellery and accessories manufacturing tradition

Non-EU tuition fee: €1,500 per semester (Baden-Württemberg state-wide fee)

Estimated monthly student living costs ~€650 — below the German national average

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

Non-EU international students pay €1,500 per semester in tuition fees (as of the university's own published cost page, confirmed June 2024). This applies on top of the regular semester contribution (Sozialbeitrag) of approximately €160 per semester for regular students (exchange students ~€120). EU/EEA students enrolled in consecutive degree programmes are not subject to the non-EU tuition fee. Baden-Württemberg introduced this €1,500/semester non-EU fee state-wide; it is separate from living costs.

Admission requirements

International degree-seeking applicants must demonstrate equivalence of their foreign higher-education qualification, typically via the International Office or Studienkolleg Konstanz. Bachelor's applications are processed through the university's online campus portal; programmes with restricted admission (NC) additionally require registration via hochschulstart.de. Application deadlines for international bachelor's applicants are 15 July (winter semester) and 15 January (summer semester); equivalency documentation deadlines are 1 May (winter) and 1 November (summer). German-taught programmes require DSH level 2/3 or TestDaF TDN 4 (minimum); equivalent certificates (telc C1 Hochschule, Goethe C1/C2, ÖSD C1) are accepted. The Design faculty requires a three-month preliminary internship and an artistic aptitude assessment. Business Administration, Business Engineering, and Business Law programmes include a selection interview (50% weight) alongside grade average. APS certificate: Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants are required to obtain an APS certificate from the respective German embassy before applying — this is a German-federal requirement independent of the university's own admission process.

Application deadlines

Bachelor's (international degree-seeking): 15 July for winter semester (October start); 15 January for summer semester (April start). Equivalency/qualification documents: 1 May (winter) and 1 November (summer). Master's deadlines vary by programme — check individual programme pages. Exchange/incoming students apply via Mobility Online after nomination by their home institution; nomination deadlines are published in the annual Fact Sheet.

Languages of instruction

The majority of programmes are taught in German. English-language courses are available for exchange students across Design, Business & Law, and Industrial Engineering. Specific master's programmes (e.g. International Business) require B2 English from German applicants, indicating an international teaching component. German-taught programmes require DSH-2 or TestDaF TDN 4 minimum.

Campuses & locations

Pforzheim (main campus)

Single city campus in Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg

Living in Baden-Württemberg

Pforzheim is a city of approximately 130,000 inhabitants in the northern Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg, situated between Stuttgart (40 km east) and Karlsruhe (30 km north-west) with direct S-Bahn connections to both. Known historically as the 'City of Gold' for its jewellery and watchmaking industry, Pforzheim offers lower living costs than major German cities — the university estimates average monthly living costs of around €650 for students, compared to the German average of €992.

Student life & support

The International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) is the central point of contact for international students and coordinates incoming exchange programmes, scholarships, and study-abroad options. An ESN (Erasmus Student Network) buddy programme pairs incoming international students with local peers. Student housing guidance is provided through the International Office; on-campus or affiliated student dormitories are available but students typically need to apply early. The semester contribution covers access to student services including the student union (Studierendenwerk). German language courses and arrival orientation support are referenced on the university's general information pages for international students.

69

Accredited Programmes

29

Master

40

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus

Apply Now

Interested in Studying at Hochschule Pforzheim - Gestaltung, Techn...?

Our team can help you with the application process, documentation, and everything you need to get started.