Fachhochschule Erfurt

About Fachhochschule Erfurt

Fachhochschule Erfurt is an independent state university of applied sciences and a public-law corporation under the higher-education framework of Thuringia. It began operating on 1 October 1991, building on Erfurt’s engineering-school traditions in horticulture and construction. Its current role combines degree education, applied research, professional preparation and engagement with regional organizations and employers. The institution is organized into six faculties covering 12 subject areas: applied computer science; architecture; civil engineering; childhood education; forestry; horticulture; building and energy technology; landscape architecture; social work; urban and spatial planning; transport and logistics; and business. This breadth is unusual for a specialized applied-sciences institution because it connects technical, environmental, spatial, commercial and social fields within one university. Study takes place across three Erfurt locations. Most students and central services are at Altonaer Straße, while landscape architecture, horticulture and forestry use the greener Leipziger Straße site with outdoor experimental areas and greenhouse facilities. Architecture and urban planning are based at Schlüterstraße. Prospective students should therefore check the location attached to their subject rather than assume that all teaching and services are on one campus. The university remains operational and was accepting applications for winter semester 2026/2027. Its official program catalogue contains bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as selected dual, part-time and continuing-education formats.

Applications for winter semester 2026/2027 opened on 1 May 2026, but the university assigns different application windows to individual programs. Candidates must consult the current program catalogue for the exact closing date, entry semester and admission status of their intended course. Applications and, where applicable, direct online enrolment are handled through the Mein FHEcampus portal. For 2026/2027, the restricted-admission bachelor’s programs in Architecture, Social Work, Forestry and Ecosystem Management, and the foundational Urban and Spatial Planning program also require prior registration through Hochschulstart. Other bachelor’s and master’s programs do not generally require that additional registration. Open-admission bachelor’s applicants can proceed through online enrolment, subject to document review, payment of the semester contribution and the required electronic health-insurance notification. Master’s applicants submit documents in the institutional portal and must meet the course-specific entry requirements. Applicants whose educational qualification was not obtained in Germany are directed to Uni-assist. For bachelor’s entry, the international guidance requires a school-leaving qualification comparable to the German Abitur. Most programs and classes are taught in German, so appropriate German proficiency is normally essential; the exact accepted evidence must be checked for the selected degree. International applicants should not rely on the exchange-course list as proof that a full degree is available in English.

The academic portfolio is structured around applied study in people, nature, space and technology. The six faculties bring together applied social sciences; architecture and urban planning; civil engineering and conservation-restoration; building technology and computer science; landscape architecture, horticulture and forestry; and business, logistics and transport. Students can pursue both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, while selected subjects offer dual or employment-compatible formats. Program structures and admissions conditions vary materially. For example, the 2026/2027 catalogue lists both restricted-admission and open-admission courses, different application periods, and programs beginning only in winter alongside some with summer entry. Applicants should use the individual program page for the applicable curriculum, standard duration, entry semester and subject-specific prerequisites. A university-wide deadline should not be assumed. The applied-sciences model is visible in the disciplinary mix and facilities. The Leipziger Straße location supports landscape, horticulture and forestry teaching through its park, tree and perennial collections, outdoor experimental areas and experimental greenhouse. Technical, business and social subjects are primarily located at Altonaer Straße, while architecture and planning have a separate location at Schlüterstraße. The university also maintains applied research priorities related to sustainable planning and construction, mobility, logistics and infrastructure, land use and resource management, and social transformation. Students interested in international experience can obtain guidance from the International Office for study or internships abroad. Most home-degree programs and courses are nevertheless designed primarily in German, so international candidates must check both the general language rules and the requirements of their chosen program.

Key Highlights

• Public university of applied sciences and autonomous public-law corporation
• Founded in Erfurt on 1 October 1991
• Six faculties spanning 12 subject areas
• Teaching and services distributed across three Erfurt locations

Student Life & Environment

Student life is spread across three urban sites, with Altonaer Straße functioning as the principal hub. It houses the central administration, Student Office, examinations office, general academic advising, university library, language center, computing center and a dining hall. The university library provides study space, research services, courses and tutorials. Students should expect some daily life to depend on their assigned faculty location rather than a single residential campus. International students can use the International Office for pre-arrival, administrative and transition support. The university describes mentoring and integration activities such as “Fremde werden Freunde,” which connects international students with Erfurt residents, as well as networking events, excursions and career workshops. Exchange students may use university facilities and services provided by Studierendenwerk Thüringen after enrolment. Housing is not automatically supplied by the university. Its international guidance directs students to apply to Studierendenwerk Thüringen for a room or apartment and also mentions private shared-housing options. Early independent planning is therefore sensible. Wider support includes central academic advising, psychosocial services through the student-services organization, diversity contacts and assistance for students with family responsibilities. The Altonaer Straße site includes a family room, while Studierendenwerk Thüringen operates flexible childcare in central Erfurt.

Location & Surroundings

Fachhochschule Erfurt is located in Erfurt, the capital of the German state of Thuringia. It is an urban, multi-site institution rather than a self-contained campus university. The official campus guide says its three locations are separated by short journeys and are readily accessible from the city center. The principal site at Altonaer Straße 25 accommodates most students, central administration and major shared services. Leipziger Straße 77 is about a 15-minute walk from the main site and houses landscape architecture, horticulture and forestry in a greener setting with a park, plant collections, field-testing space, greenhouses, teaching buildings and a dining hall. Architecture and urban planning are based at Schlüterstraße 1 in the northern part of the city. This distribution gives different subjects distinct working environments, but it also makes program location a practical factor when choosing housing and planning travel. The semester contribution for 2026/2027 includes a Germany-wide semester transport ticket and a culture ticket, which can support commuting among university sites and participation in city life. The transport ticket is provided digitally rather than through the physical student card.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For winter semester 2026/2027, the regular semester contribution is €333.80. It comprises €95.00 for Studierendenwerk Thüringen, €229.80 for the Germany semester ticket including a culture ticket, and €9.00 for the student council. Newly enrolling students pay €353.80 because the first student card costs an additional €20.00. These are semester charges, not estimates of rent, food, insurance or other living expenses. The university also states that a €500 long-term-study fee may apply when students exceed the relevant standard-study limits under Thuringian rules. Individual students should confirm whether an exemption, suspension or hardship provision applies. The official materials reviewed did not provide a current institution-wide housing price or complete student budget, so applicants should obtain current residence rates directly from Studierendenwerk Thüringen and budget separately for accommodation, health insurance and daily expenses. Career preparation is supported through the university’s Career Center and its JobTeaser portal. Listings can include part-time student work, domestic and international internships, bachelor’s or master’s thesis projects, and graduate positions. Career planning and entry support are available to students and graduates, while a separate start-up service assists those considering entrepreneurship or self-employment. These services provide access and guidance; the reviewed sources do not substantiate employment rates, starting salaries or guarantees of placement.