

Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
- Last Updated on: May 15, 2025 by
- Sridhar Kongara
Offenburg University of Applied Sciences (HSO) is a trailblazer in innovative and pragmatic education, it fosters and encourage innovative learning, and ensuring students are well-prepared to overcome professional challenges with competence and relevant skills. University emphasizes rational teaching, solution-oriented research activities, with cooperation of societal participation and industry, it is well regarded for diverse academic portfolio, specializing in major disciplines of engineering, business and media. It believes in ethos of oneness, inclusivity and diversity, offering dynamic environment for both students and staff for worthwhile contribution to sustainable development
Courses Offered
** Fees mentioned here are approximate and are per year, Unless specified otherwise
Why Choose this Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
Pragmatic Approach & Personalized Mentorship
- HSO emphasizes on practical-oriented learning, it promotes application based research, with industry collaborations and internships opportunities, letting students to gain hands-on experience, facilitating effortless transition from academic to professional world
- University believes in personalized development of students, smaller classrooms intensifies the cause, enabling students to get individualistic attention for thriving careers
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Career Prospects & Strategic Location
- HSO offers rewarding career opportunities, with close proximity to industry of the region, it provides valuable opportunities of practical learning and career-oriented opportunities. As university accentuate practical based education, the graduates has huge demand in global job market
- University with two campuses located one each at Offenburg and Gengenbach, offers seamless fusion of world-class education and conducive tranquil environment. It has flawless connectivity to major cities of the region, allowing students to travel to places during free time
Extensive Academic Programs & Diversified Community
- University offers a plethora of programs taught in English language, ensuring overseas students get the opportunity to pursue education, ample exchange programs and PhD opportunities fosters international academic collaborations
- HSO hosts a substantial international students strength, fostering inclusivity and diversity at the campuses, it provides a respectable and supportive atmosphere to all students irrespective of cultural backgrounds
Extracurricular Activities & Accessible Education
- University provides an enriching campus life, engaging students in various cultural and academic activities, the programs like pepperMINT and First LEGO league allows students to interact and improvise their creativity. It also offers music events and discussion on fascinating topics like AI with community-oriented activities
- Affordable and accessible education is prime motto of the university, low tuition fee with ample scholarship opportunities makes education accessible to students from all over the world
Sustainability & Support for Newcomers
- HSO adheres to sustainable practices, offering substantive contribution to tackle global environment issues, with commitment to provide innovative solutions in education and research for betterment of global environment
- Newly enrolled students at the university gets complete support such as language enhancement courses and orientation programs for smoother transition to campus life, its starting preparatory program in mathematics and physics helps students to interpret university level studies easily
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Campus Facilities at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
Futuristic Laboratories & Advanced Library
- HSO boasts cutting edge laboratories for engineering and media disciplines, equipped with latest technology, these labs plays a vital role in developing professional skills with application of classroom understanding to practical context
- Sufficiently stocked library provides comprehensive academic and research resources, separate study spaces, including group study and access to resourceful journals and databases is hallmark of the library
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Campus Location & Accommodation
- HSO operates via two campuses, one each at Offenburg and Gengenbach, the main administrative campus of Offenburg hosts majority of faculties, while the Gengenbach campus is situated amidst natural surroundings, offering peaceful atmosphere for studies
- Both the campuses provides desired accommodation to students, in association with local housing providers, HSO ensures affordable and comfortable accommodation to students such as dormitories and private residences
Cafeteria & IT Facilities
- On-campus cafeteria provides affordable, nutritious and delicious food, catering to diverse tastes, it also offers vegetarian and vegan options, and it serves as main socialization space for students
- Lightening fast internet facility is available at both the campuses, ensuring unstoppable internet connectivity for students. UniNOW app provides students the information about university activities and help them in managing course material and schedule
Transportation & Classrooms Features
- Ample connectivity via public transport systems is available for students, convenient to and fro from different parts of the region to campus makes it easy for students, moreover students can also explore cities like Strasbourg and Freiberg
- Advanced classrooms with sufficient technology support is provided to students, latest technology such as smart boards, video conferencing tools and projectors enhance the study experience at the university
Sustainability & Recreational Facilities
- HSO adheres to sustainable practices, offering substantive contribution to tackle global environment issues, with commitment to provide innovative solutions in education and research for betterment of global environment
- Cultural events, academic forums and recreational activities are regular norm at the university, fostering sense of unity and community, student led initiatives such as sports, cultural and academic clubs are also available at the campuses
Students Services Offered by Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
Career & Psychological Counseling
- HSO Career Center facilitates various support services to students, it offers services such as Resume enhancements, job postings and interview preparations. Internships and employment opportunities are also provided by university’s network and industry collaborations
- Psychological counseling by trained counselors is provided to students who are struggling with personal, academic and financial issues, social counseling addresses issues such as housing, finance and legal matters
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Academic Advise & Mentorship
- Academic advisors at the university, ensures that students get appropriate guidance in academic related challenges such as course selection, program details and academic requirements. The advisors can be reached at office hours for addressing queries
- Personalized mentorship is provided to overseas students, enabling them to adjust with campus life, the mentoring continues for rest of their stay at campus, ensuring thorough preparation for future endeavors
Financial & Special Needs Support
- HSO offers assistance to students in identifying various scholarships, students loans and other external sources of finances, appropriate tips and advices are also offered for balancing budget and finances
- With the commitment to provide equal access to educational resources, university offers complete assistance to students with disabilities and chronic health conditions, support such as compatible accommodation and disability-friendly campus facilities
Cultural Integration Support & Online Resources
- HSO helps overseas students to integrate themselves with German culture through cultural events, language enhancement courses and network opportunities, the International office is an important part of the university, helping students with accommodation and visa assistance
- Online resources such as course syllabi, Moodle and intranet connectivity are accessible to students for seamless academic support, Uninow app provides students the information about university activities and help them in managing course material and schedule
OSKAR Card & Legal Support
- The OSKAR Card provided to registered enrolled students at the university, serves as a multi-tasking option, enabling students with access to library borrowing, printing facilities and payments at cafeteria, thereby ensuring complete convenience
- University also provides legal support to students, it offers advice in the matters such as housing, visa and other legal matters pertaining to academic pursuance
Students Life at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
Cultural Activities & Support Network
- Students at HSO get access to diversified cultural activities such as music concerts, festivals celebration and exhibitions, enabling students to get insights of cultural richness of the university, various clubs, sports events and associations suffice the hobbies of the students in their respective interests
- Enriching mentoring programs and initiatives by HSO, let international students to know about the German culture and adjustments to campus life, the International Office and Career Center helps students with visa guidance, internships and employment opportunities
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Convenience & Affordability
- HSO campuses are situated in calm and tranquil region of Germany, allowing high standards of education at peaceful atmosphere, it offers multiple urban amenities and historical richness, the region is also connected feasibly with other major cities of south Germany
- The living cost of the region is far more less than other cities of Germany, allowing budget-friendly education to students, apart from inexpensive accommodation, students get concessional transportation and discounted access to events and entertainment programs
Cross-Cultural Atmosphere & Close-Knit Students Community
- HSO hosts around 600 overseas students at the campuses, fostering multi-cultural and inclusive environment, students get to interact with peers from different parts of the world, enhancing global perspective and communication skills
- University’s students community is compact, offering individualistic academic and social experience, classrooms with optimum strength allows students with meaningful interactions with the teaching faculty
Sustainability Importance & Valuable Excursions
- HSO has firm resolution for adherence to sustainable practices, it promotes various environment friendly initiatives, contributing to greener and eco-friendly environment. Its Unweltnacht program helps in promoting sustainability awareness and community importance
- Meaningful excursions are frequently organized by HSO, trips to local natural landscapes like forests and valleys let students to explore natural traits. With proximity to international destinations like Switzerland and France, students get once in a lifetime opportunity to visit these countries
Extracurricular Activities & Accessibility
- HSO organizes events such as academic competitions, workshops and hackathons, allowing students to enhance their skills and knowledge. The pepperMINT program let students to discover their innovative and teamwork abilities
- Students at the university gets unlimited access to campus facilities like library, study spaces, sports facilities and cafeterias. Uninow app provides students the information about university activities and help them in managing course material and schedule
Scholarships at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
Printus Stipendium : This scholarship is offered to students who are pursuing specified postgraduate program of Master’s in Dialog Marketing & E-Commerce, with aim to assist them academically, for eligibility, students must be enrolled in the specified master’s program with academic brilliance and demonstrated potential in the concerned field. It offers €500 per month to recipient students, entirely sponsored by Printus GmbH, applications are accepted throughout the year
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Emergency Grant for International Students: Emergency financial grants are provided by Graduate School of HSO to overseas students who encounters an unexpected financial hardship during the course of study, eligibility criteria involves, enrolled international students at the university with genuine need for financial grant. The financial grant is provided to cover living expenses, although application deadlines vary, but it generally accepted till the month of June each year
Scholarships of the Verein Der Freunde Und Förderer: This scholarship offers assistance for students who are undertaking academic activities such as internship abroad, academic projects and final thesis. This scholarship is available to all students who are undertaking the aforementioned activities with evidence of engagement and purpose to seek financial assistance, applications are entertained as per project timeline, it is sponsored by Friends of University Organization
Spenersche Stiftung Scholarship: This scholarship is meant for financially backward students with low income classification, it supports the deserving students for maximum one semester. Eligibility criteria requires proven financial hardship and satisfaction of income criteria set by the foundation, scholarship amount is based on Hartz IV Rate, March 15th and September 15th are the deadlines for applications every year
Deutschland stipendium (German Scholarship) : This German scholarship is open to all students, including overseas students at the university, to be eligible, students must be registered enrollees at HSO with outstanding academic achievements and commitment towards social activities. It offers €300 per month for an academic year with renewal option to the recipients , equal donation is done federal government and private sponsors. Applications are accepted every year, generally at the commencement of winter semester
Thomas Gessmann Foundation Scholarship: This scholarship is offered to students from technical disciplines at HSO, helping them financially to complete their studies within the specified time limit, this scholarship is open to all students from technical programs with proven financial constraints and dedication towards the technical subject. The assistance differs as per student’s financial need, application can be made twice in an year, in the months of May and November
Additional Information : HSO encourage students to explore other external financial sources such as, Stipendienlotse, offers wide ranging funding options, sponsored by Ministry of Education & Research Germany and My stipendium, an extensive database of over 21000 scholarships for students studying at Germany
Internships & Placements at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
Types of Internships Offered by HSO
Laboratory Internships: Exchange program students from partnered universities can apply for non-remunerative internships at cutting edge and advanced labs at HSO, the internship consists of research projects under the appropriate guidance of concerned faculty
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Integrated Internships : With strong emphasis on practical training, HSO integrates mandatory internships in majority of the programs, enabling students gain professional skills and experience during course pursuance, for instance, programs such as Communication & Media Engineering and International Business Consulting have a compulsory internship semester scheduled during third semester
Industry Internships : HSO offers valuable internships with its partnered organizations across Germany and rest of the world, students get to learn workplace practices in major industries like IT, Biotechnology, Business and Media
Placement Assistance & Career Center Support
- As HSO has strategic tie-ups with leading organizations across domestic and international levels, these companies invites students for internships, placements and research collaborations, during the pursuit of internships, these companies offers full-time employment to many students, purely on basis of world-class education and exceptional academic pampering of the university
- The Career Center of HSO provides comprehensive support to students for securing desired internships and employment, services such as Workshops for Resume enhancements, cover letter and interview preparations, online job and internship listings, helping students to seek internships aligning with their course pursuance and Network opportunities such as events and fairs, allowing students to connect with prospective employers
Exchange Students Support & Overseas Placements
- HSO provides individualistic support to exchange program students in securing an international Internship, the international office provides ample support like visa formalities, accommodation issues and internship opportunities to aspiring students
- Students can undertake international internships, facilitated by HSO partnership with global universities and organizations, programs like International Mobility and ERASMUS+ KA171 provides internships along with funding options for students
Overseas Placements Timeline & Success Stories
- Both undergraduate and postgraduate programs are different timeline for internship placements, general bachelor’s students get internship opportunity in advanced stage of studies, ensuring students have required knowledge, while postgraduate programs get internships in third semester
- Most of the students at HSO has secured full-time employment at acclaimed organizations such as IT, Business, Media and Engineering. University’s emphasis on practical training let the students with required skills and preparedness to dominate the global job market
Entry Requirements at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
General Requirements
Academic Qualification
- Applicants aspiring for undergraduate programs at HSO must have secondary school certificate at par with German Abitur or similar international qualification
- For Postgraduate programs, typically needs a bachelor’s degree in relevant subject with strong academic grades
Language Proficiency Requirements
German Language Proficiency : Programs taught in German language need at least B2 level or more, other accepted tests are DSH or TestDaf
English Language Proficiency
- As some programs are entirely taught in English language at HSO, applicants must possess the required proficiency, accepted tests are, TOEFL iBT – overall score of 79, few programs may demand score up to 87 or higher, IELTS – minimum overall score of 6.0, some courses ask for 6.5 or higher
- Applicants from English speaking countries or studied their prior education in English medium gets exemption from language proficiency proof
Specified Requirements for Postgraduate Programs: Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in the relevant fields of Business, Media, Engineering and Biotechnology, few professional programs like MBA (International Business & Consulting) requires at least 02 years or professional experience
Specified Language Proficiency Requirements
- Programs such as MSc (Communication & Media Engineering) need at least 6.0 in IELTS or minimum 79 in TOEFL iBT
- MSc (Biotechnology) requires at 6.0 in IELTS or minimum 79 in TOEFL iBT
- MBA (International Business & Consulting) need minimum 79 in TOEFL iBT or 6.0 or more in IELTS
Requirements for Cooperative PhD Programs
- Typically needs a master’s degree with excellent grades and strong research proposal aligning with research domain
- Applicants aspiring for an entry at doctoral programs at HSO must contact the designated office and concerned coordinator for know more about the requirements and admission process
Key Notes for Overseas Students
- APS (Academic Evaluation Center) certificate is mandatory for applicants from countries such as India, China and Vietnam. After successfully gaining admission at HSO, students must apply for students visa with evidence of financial sources like blocked account
- The deadlines for applications differs as per the program, however, typically winter semester have deadline by mid July and summer semester have mid January as official deadline. Applicants are advised to check accurate deadlines for the applying program
Important Tips for Applicants : Applicants are advised to translate their academic documents either in English or German language, they must check the requirements thoroughly, as they differ, online portal like Uni-Assist and HSO admission website are useful resources for accurate application process and deadlines
Rankings & Awards of Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
Rankings at All Levels : HSO has bestowed with respectable standings at local, national and international levels, HSO was ranked at 174th position in Germany, placed at 1194th rank in European Union and 4463rd rank in the world (rankings provided by EduRank), while university took 28th rank in Baden – Württemberg region.
Subject Specific Ranking : HSO has consistently performed well in the rankings of CHE Rankings, disciplines like Mechatronics, Medical Engineering and Engineering & Information Technology received top slots. Moreover, HSO has been recognized as a top institution of applied sciences in the region.
Achievements
- HSO has been honored with the title of ‘Reform University’, the alumni and former students has expressed their gratitude for university for exceptional career outcomes
- University lays strong focus on practical learning, ensuring students get remunerative and desired employment, entirely credited to high standards of academic impartation and career related opportunities
Acceptance Rate of Offenburg University of Applied Sciences (HSO)
- Although the acceptance rate of HSO has no accurate data due to varied requirements according to programs, but approximately, it has an acceptance rate between 20% – 37%, highlighting the acute competency for gaining an entry into the university. The entry criteria is highly competitive, making it one of the most competent university
- The key factors that influence the admission at HSO are, Academic Excellence, Program Specific Requirements and Language Proficiency Requirements
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