Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen, Bocholt, Recklinghausen
Gelsenkirchen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
- Founded
- 1992
- Students
- 7,149
- International
- 16%
- Programmes
- 102
- Taught in English
- 7
About Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen, Bocholt, Recklinghaus
Westfälische Hochschule (Westphalian University of Applied Sciences) is a state-funded university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in North Rhine-Westphalia, operating three campuses in Gelsenkirchen, Bocholt, and Recklinghausen under a single institutional brand. Founded as an independent institution in 1992, the university is organised into eight departments spanning engineering, computer science, business, business law, and natural sciences, with a strong applied-research orientation and close ties to the regional industrial base of the Ruhr and Westphalia regions.
As of 2025 the university enrols approximately 7,149 students and employs around 800 staff. All international applications for degree programmes are processed through uni-assist, and the university covers uni-assist processing fees for applicants. The International Office provides personal guidance through the entire admission and enrolment process, and runs orientation events each semester as well as the #WHvereint intercultural community programme.
Public university of applied sciences - no tuition fees for any student, including non-EU nationals
Three campuses: Gelsenkirchen (main), Bocholt, and Recklinghausen - one institution, one degree
8 departments covering engineering, computer science, business, business law, and natural sciences
~7,149 students enrolled as of 2025, with approximately 800 employees
All international applications processed through uni-assist, with the university covering uni-assist fees
EMAS environmental certification achieved in 2025; family-friendly institution certification since 2020
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 1992
- Students
- 7,149
- International
- ~16% international students (ETER report year 2023); the university's own profile text states that just under 10% of its total student body has an international background
- Faculties
- 8
- Programmes
- 102
Study programmes
102 accredited degrees at Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen, Bocholt, Recklinghaus, 7 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–24 of 102 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Westfälische Hochschule is a public university in North Rhine-Westphalia. There are no tuition fees for any student regardless of nationality; NRW does not charge non-EU tuition fees. All enrolled students pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag), which covers the student services organisation (AKAFÖ), student union (AStA), and the semester transport ticket valid across the NRW public transport network. The exact current amount is published on the university's enrolment pages; students should verify the figure at the time of enrolment.
Admission requirements
International applicants (Bildungsausländer) apply through uni-assist with officially certified German or English translations of all certificates. For bachelor's admission, applicants must hold a recognised university entrance qualification equivalent to the German Hochschulreife or Fachhochschulreife. German-taught programmes require a C1-level German certificate (DSH-2, TestDaF ≥16 points, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, or Goethe C1); proof of examination registration is accepted at the time of application, with the final certificate due by 15 October (winter) or 14 April (summer). Applications for foreign qualifications from India, China, and Vietnam are subject to APS certificate requirements as mandated by the German embassy in the applicant's country of residence - the university itself directs applicants to complete the APS process before applying. Most bachelor's programmes are admission-free (no numerus clausus); a small number of programmes (e.g. Business Studies, Molecular Biology) have capacity restrictions.
Application deadlines
Winter semester 2026/27 - NC-restricted bachelor's: 6 May-15 July 2026; selected programmes (e.g. Business Studies, Molecular Biology): 6 May-15 August 2026; all other admission-free bachelor's and all master's: 6 May-15 September 2026. Summer semester 2026 - international applicants (all bachelor's and master's): 18 December 2025-15 March 2026. Programme changers/higher-semester entry: 15 July-15 September 2026.
How international applicants apply
Full uni-assist processing for all international applicants. The official page 'Bewerbung Internationals - Bachelor-Studiengaenge' lists the path as: create uni-assist account, select programme, upload documents, submit - then 'Pruefung durch uni-assist und die W-HS' before admission and online enrolment ('Internationale Bewerbungen erfolgen ueber uni-assist'). Also applies to programme changes and applications for a higher subject semester extern. Uni-assist fees cover up to three applications per semester; advanced German (DSH-2/TestDaF 16/telc C1 HS/Goethe C1) may be proved until 15.10. (WS) resp. 14.04. (SS). Listed on the uni-assist member map as 'Gelsenkirchen University of Applied Sciences'.
Languages of instruction
The primary language of instruction is German. German-taught bachelor's and master's programmes require a recognised C1-level German certificate (DSH-2, TestDaF minimum 16 points total, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, or Goethe-Zertifikat C1). The university's Language Centre (Sprachenzentrum) offers tuition in English, Dutch, French, Spanish, and Portuguese depending on campus. A limited number of modules and exchange-student tracks are available in English via the international exchange programme.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen, Bocholt, Recklinghaus
2 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Abschlussbeihilfe (completion grant for international students)
Financial support so that successful international students can concentrate fully on their thesis during their final semester. App...
Deadline: Rolling within the calendar year: 31 January, 31 March, 30 June, 30 Se...
bachelor, master
Deutschlandstipendium (Westfaelische Hochschule)
Merit-based national scholarship scheme co-financed by the federal government and private sponsors (companies, foundations, indivi...
Amount: EUR 300 per month
Deadline: Current round for funding starting 01.10.2026: 26 August - 8 September...
bachelor, master
Student accommodation
What Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen, Bocholt, Recklinghaus 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 pageFrom the university
Student housing is managed by the Akademische Förderungswerk (AKAFÖ): one residence hall in Gelsenkirchen (Wodanstraße) and shared-flat arrangements in Bocholt (three partial apartments plus one 3-person and six 2-person flats in the Alte Staatsanwaltschaft building). No university-managed housing exists in Recklinghausen; students there use private platforms such as WG-gesucht, ImmobilienScout24, and the AStA housing exchange (wohnen.asta-wh.de).
Campuses & locations
Main campus; International Office and central administration located here (Neidenburger Str. 43, 45897 Gelsenkirchen)
Full campus with student housing available
Full campus; no university-managed student housing - private rental market recommended
Living in Gelsenkirchen
The main campus is in Gelsenkirchen, a city of approximately 265,000 in the Ruhr metropolitan area of North Rhine-Westphalia, roughly 30 km north of Dortmund. Gelsenkirchen is well connected by S-Bahn and regional rail to neighbouring cities including Bocholt and Recklinghausen. The city has a lower cost of living compared with larger German cities and is known for its industrial heritage, the Zoom Erlebniswelt zoo, and FC Schalke 04. The Bocholt campus is located in the Westmünsterland region near the Dutch border; Recklinghausen sits at the northern edge of the Ruhr area.
Student life & support
Student housing is managed by the Akademische Förderungswerk (AKAFÖ): one residence hall in Gelsenkirchen (Wodanstraße) and shared-flat arrangements in Bocholt (three partial apartments plus one 3-person and six 2-person flats in the Alte Staatsanwaltschaft building). No university-managed housing exists in Recklinghausen; students there use private platforms such as WG-gesucht, ImmobilienScout24, and the AStA housing exchange (wohnen.asta-wh.de). The International Office organises orientation weeks at the start of each semester and runs the #WHvereint programme - a social and intercultural events series (picnics, sports, city tours) open to all students regardless of origin. German language courses for international and refugee students are offered through the university's Language Centre.
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