Theologische Hochschule Reutlingen der Evangelisch-methodistischen Kirche
Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Founded
- 1877
- Students
- 68
- International
- 25%
- Programmes
- 4
About Theologische Hochschule Reutlingen
Theologische Hochschule Reutlingen (Reutlingen School of Theology, RST) is the only United Methodist institution of theological higher education in German-speaking Europe, serving the Evangelisch-methodistische Kirche in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It is a state-recognised university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) with federal accreditation, offering Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Theology as well as programmes in Social Work and Diaconia.
The school traces its roots to a Preachers' Seminary founded in 1877 by the Evangelical Association. After church unification in 1968 it became the theological college of the newly formed United Methodist Church; in 2005 it gained formal Fachhochschule accreditation, and in 2008 adopted its current name. The student body is intentionally diverse, drawing from multiple denominations and cultural backgrounds, and the school emphasises spiritual formation alongside academic theology.
The educational mission rests on three pillars: sound scholarship, praxis-orientation, and personal faith development. Graduates are prepared for full- or part-time ministry, social-diaconal work, and broader engagement in church and society.
Only United Methodist institution of theological higher education in German-speaking Europe
State-recognised Fachhochschule with federal accreditation since 2005
Very low tuition of EUR 250/semester regardless of nationality
Offers B.A. and M.A. in Theology plus Social Work and Diaconia programmes
Strong emphasis on spiritual formation alongside academic scholarship
Active international exchange network spanning multiple continents
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 1877
- Students
- 68
- International
- ~20-25%
- Programmes
- 4
Study programmes
4 accredited degrees at Theologische Hochschule Reutlingen.
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What it costs
Tuition is EUR 250 per semester for all students, irrespective of nationality - significantly below the standard Baden-Württemberg non-EU surcharge (EUR 1,500/semester) because the institution is church-affiliated and privately governed. Additional semester contribution (canteen and school services): EUR 87.50; student council fee: EUR 5. Total per semester approximately EUR 342.50. No institution-specific scholarships are advertised; the school directs students to external portals (Stipendienlotse, EVStudienwerk, DAAD).
Admission requirements
Entry qualification: German Abitur, Fachhochschulreife, or an internationally recognised equivalent. International applicants from outside the EU who hold a foreign school-leaving certificate must first obtain a certificate of university entrance qualification from Ausländerstudienkolleg Konstanz (ASK) and submit it with their application. Required documents include authenticated copies of educational credentials, a personal résumé explaining study motivation and professional plans, a curriculum vitae with brief spiritual autobiography, and one letter of reference. APS certificate: required for applicants from India, China, and Vietnam (standard German requirement). Application is submitted via the online portal at th-reutlingen.opencampus.com.
Application deadlines
Winter semester (October start): enrolment deadline 15 September. International applicants are advised to apply earlier to allow time for credential recognition and administrative processing. The DAAD database lists 15 March as an indicative deadline for the B.A. Theology programme - verify directly with the institution.
How international applicants apply
Direct application - uni-assist and hochschulstart are NOT used; this federally accredited seminary of the United Methodist Church runs its own admission. Applications (documents sent by post/e-mail to [email protected], online submission also via th-reutlingen.opencampus.com) comprise a personal statement explaining study interest and professional plans, authenticated copies of prior credentials, a CV including a brief spiritual autobiography, and a letter of reference. Both B.A. and M.A. courses start once a year in the winter term (early October); the enrolment deadline is 15 September, and internationals are asked to make contact well before it. Entrance qualification is Abitur/Fachhochschulreife or equivalents; international applicants seeking a UAS entrance certificate in Baden-Wuerttemberg obtain the ASK certificate from the Auslaenderstudienkolleg Konstanz (Fachhochschule Konstanz, Brauneggerstrasse 55, 78462 Konstanz) and include it with their application.
Languages of instruction
Instruction is primarily in German. A few courses are offered in English. German-taught programmes require TestDaF TDN 4, DSH-2, or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Student accommodation
What Theologische Hochschule Reutlingen publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
The university's housing page
Deadlines and application forms are published here, and they change every intake.
Open housing page- Quoted on that page
- €25 €23
Room types mentioned
What that page describes. Availability varies by intake.
Campuses & locations
Single campus at Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 31, D-72762 Reutlingen. Three buildings: main building (auditorium, library, seminar rooms A-F), Haus Schempp (canteen, TV facilities), and Haus Sommer ("Glass palace").
Living in Reutlingen
Reutlingen is a city of approximately 115,000 inhabitants in Baden-Württemberg, situated around 30 km south of Stuttgart at the foot of the Swabian Alb. It is a compact university city with good rail connections to Stuttgart and Tübingen, affordable living costs relative to larger German cities, and a lively old town centred on the Gothic Marienkirche. The city is home to Reutlingen University (Hochschule Reutlingen) and the Theologische Hochschule, giving it a student-friendly character.
Student life & support
The campus functions as a close-knit residential and academic community. Students participate in communal life through shared meals in the canteen (Haus Schempp), library work, and garden maintenance as part of the semester contribution arrangement. Spiritual formation activities - retreats, devotional exercises, and community worship - are integral to campus life. The school maintains international exchange partnerships worldwide and welcomes students from diverse denominational backgrounds.
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