Hochschule Trier - Trier University of Applied Sciences
Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
About Hochschule Trier - Trier University of Applied Sciences
Hochschule Trier – Trier University of Applied Sciences is a public university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in Rhineland-Palatinate, operating across three campuses: the Main Campus at Schneidershof in Trier, the Campus for Design and Art in Trier city centre, and the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld. As of winter term 2025/2026, it enrols 6,509 students across 100 degree programmes (67 bachelor's, 33 master's) and employs 792 staff including 178 professors.
The university positions itself around three applied research priorities: Applied Material Flow Management, Intelligent Technologies for Sustainable Development, and Life Sciences. It recorded €17.26 million in third-party research funding in 2023, the highest among universities of applied sciences in the region. Teaching emphasises project- and team-oriented methods, combining academic depth with industry-relevant practice.
International students account for 28.3% of total enrolment. The university offers several fully English-taught degree programmes and participates in international exchange through its International Office. Applications from non-German-qualified applicants are processed via uni-assist.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1996
- Students
- 6,509
- International
- ~28% (28.3% of 6,509 students, winter term 2025/2026)
6,509 students enrolled across three campuses as of winter term 2025/2026, with international students making up 28.3% of enrolment.
100 degree programmes offered: 67 bachelor's (including 17 dual/cooperative) and 33 master's (including 6 continuing education).
Several fully English-taught degree programmes available, including International Business (B.A.) and International Material Flow Management (M.Sc./M.Eng.).
Environmental Campus Birkenfeld is a dedicated sustainability-focused campus and houses one of Germany's leading applied research centres in material flow management.
Germany's oldest continuously running fashion programme (est. 1922) is offered at the Campus for Design and Art.
No tuition fees for non-EU international students in bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes; Rhineland-Palatinate does not apply a non-EU fee surcharge.
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
As a public university in Rhineland-Palatinate, Hochschule Trier charges no tuition fees for bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes for all students including non-EU nationals. Rhineland-Palatinate does not levy the non-EU surcharge introduced in Baden-Württemberg. A semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) covering administrative costs and student services is payable each semester; the exact current amount is not published centrally on the official English pages and should be confirmed at enrolment. Continuing-education (Weiterbildung) master's programmes carry separate fees.
Admission requirements
International applicants without German school-leaving qualifications apply through uni-assist. Applications for German-qualified applicants use the Studis-Hochschulportal. Entry qualifications and language requirements vary by programme: German-taught programmes typically require proof of German proficiency (generally B2–C1 / TestDaF TDN 4); English-taught programmes require English proficiency documentation. APS certificates are required for applicants whose prior qualifications are from India, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), or Vietnam, as mandated by German consulate visa rules — the university itself references uni-assist for credential assessment. Specific minimum grade thresholds per programme are not published centrally; applicants should check individual programme pages or contact the admissions office at [email protected] (Main Campus / Design Campus) or [email protected] (Campus Idar-Oberstein).
Application deadlines
The university states the online application for winter semester 2026/2027 is open. Application windows for international applicants via uni-assist typically close several weeks before the semester start (winter term begins early October; summer term begins late March). Specific cut-off dates are not centrally published on the English site; applicants should check the uni-assist portal and individual programme pages for deadlines, as these vary by programme and campus.
Languages of instruction
The primary language of instruction is German. Several degree programmes are offered fully in English: International Business (B.A.), Sustainable Business and Law (B.A.), Sustainable Business and Technology (B.Eng.), Interdisciplinary Engineering (M.Sc.), International Material Flow Management (M.Sc./M.Eng.), and Gemstones and Jewellery (M.F.A.). Multiple English-taught semester-exchange tracks also exist across engineering, computer science, and environmental sciences. The university operates a test centre for TestDaF (German), TOEIC (English), and DFP-CCIP (French) through its Institute for International and Digital Communication.
Campuses & locations
Located above Trier city at Schneidershof; 3,613 students (WS 2025/26); established at this site in 1979/80; hosts engineering, sciences, business, and most degree programmes; site of the International Office.
Located at Paulusplatz and Irminenfreihof in central Trier; 1,197 students (WS 2025/26); traces roots to the Baugewerkeschule (1830) and Werkkunstschule (1900), including Germany's oldest continuously running fashion programme (est. 1922).
Located in Birkenfeld/Neubrücke, ~50 km from Trier; 1,699 students (WS 2025/26); opened winter 1996/97 on a converted former US military hospital site; focus on sustainability, environmental engineering, and applied material flow management.
Living in Rheinland-Pfalz
Trier is located in southwestern Rhineland-Palatinate near the Luxembourg and French borders, on the Moselle River. With a population of approximately 115,000, it is one of the oldest cities in Germany, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Roman monuments including the Porta Nigra, the Imperial Baths, and the Amphitheatre. The city offers a compact, walkable environment with relatively moderate living costs compared to larger German cities, good rail connections to Luxembourg City (a major financial centre), and easy access to the Moselle wine region.
Student life & support
The International Office (located on the Main Campus at Schneidershof, building G, room G 108) provides pre-arrival and on-arrival support for degree-seeking and exchange students. An International Buddy Programme is offered to help incoming international students integrate. Student housing in Trier is managed through the Studierendenwerk Trier (student services organisation), which operates dormitories across the city; accommodation applications should be submitted to the Studierendenwerk independently. A Centre for Language and Intercultural Communication (ZSI) is being established at the university to expand language support. German language course provision and sports/cultural activities are coordinated through the respective campus student services, though details are not centrally listed on the English site. Each campus maintains its own contact points within the International Office.
122
Accredited Programmes
67
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
51
Master
4
Other
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