Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Medien Offenburg

Key Highlights

• Public university of applied sciences supervised by Baden-Württemberg’s science ministry
• Founded in 1964 as a state engineering school
• Campuses in Offenburg and Gengenbach
• Approximately 3,700 students and 130 professors reported by the university in 2026

Student Life & Environment

Student life is divided between Offenburg and Gengenbach, so daily experience depends on the location of the chosen program. New undergraduate students receive peer mentoring: the university assigns them to groups on orientation day and organizes subsequent meet-and-greet activities. Academic advising, libraries at both principal campuses, tutoring, learning support, the International Center, and Studierendenwerk counseling provide practical points of contact. Activities include university sports, an orchestra, a choir, a sailing group, and interdisciplinary project teams. Current project options include robotics teams, the Black Forest Formula Team, a sustainability club, and student media work. The AStA student body represents students and organizes cultural and sports activities, while recurring events include a language café, film events, pub or game evenings, and campus celebrations. Housing requires advance planning. The university reported a tight Offenburg-area market in May 2026, particularly as new international programs increased demand for 2026/27. Student residences operate in Offenburg, while private rooms and shared accommodation are also used. The International Center helps new international students search, but its private-accommodation placement service is restricted to international master’s and exchange students. The official exchange information quoted furnished dormitory rooms at approximately €290–€370 and private furnished accommodation at approximately €350–€480, subject to availability; degree-seeking students should confirm current eligibility and prices directly.

Location & Surroundings

The university is based in the Ortenau area of southwestern Germany. Its Offenburg campus is at Badstraße 24, while the Gengenbach campus occupies a separate location in the nearby historic town. Applicants should verify their program’s campus before arranging housing or planning a commute, because the two sites are locations of one institution rather than interchangeable branches for every course. Offenburg lies between Karlsruhe and Freiburg, near the Black Forest and the French border. The university presents the Southern Upper Rhine as an economically active cross-border region with global companies, small and medium-sized businesses, and opportunities for applied projects, placements, theses, and graduate employment. Strasbourg is readily accessible, and France and Switzerland broaden the surrounding cultural and professional setting. Local travel can involve buses, bicycles, and regional rail. The university’s 2026 Open Campus directions identified the S8 bus between Offenburg station and the university stop, as well as bicycle parking and a bike-share station on campus. Gengenbach has no university-listed student residence, making transport and private-housing availability especially important for students based there.

Costs & Career Outcomes

The standard university charges currently listed are an €80 administrative fee, a €65 Studierendenwerk social contribution, and a €25 student-body contribution, totaling €170 per semester for most enrolled students. Certain teacher-training combinations add a €28 local-transport contribution. These are semester charges rather than a universal tuition price, and exemptions can apply to particular exchange or scholarship categories. Baden-Württemberg charges tuition of €1,500 per semester to many non-EU/EEA international students, subject to statutory exemptions including specified family, educational, refugee, and exchange circumstances. A €650 second-degree fee may apply to eligible students pursuing another degree. International Graduate School master’s programs can carry a €150 service contribution, while continuing-education and MBA programs may have separate tuition. Students must consult their program page and admission letter because categories can overlap differently and special programs have distinct rules. Housing and living expenses are additional, and the university’s 2026 reporting indicates that accommodation availability is constrained. Career preparation is built into the applied curriculum through practical semesters, company projects, StudiumPLUS arrangements, and theses frequently developed with employers. The Career Center provides seminars, application support, employer contacts, and a digital career portal. The university’s annual career fair was scheduled for 4 November 2026 and advertised participation by more than 120 companies, with opportunities spanning internships, final projects, and entry-level positions. These connections can improve access to employers, but the university does not provide a verified universal placement rate or salary outcome, so applicants should review prospects for their particular discipline.