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How much does University for Social Design (HfGG) cost for international students?
HfGG is a private, non-profit university, and it does not set a fixed tuition fee for students starting in winter 2026/27. Instead, each student agrees a solidarity contribution based on what they can afford, the "Was-gerade-geht-Beitrag"; the arrangement applies for the whole degree and is part of a trial phase the university evaluates continuously. Students who enrolled earlier pay under the previous fee regulations. The same rules apply to EU and non-EU students.
| Item | Cost for international students |
|---|---|
| Bachelor (Social Design, 6 semesters) | Solidarity contribution set by the student |
| Master (Social Design, 4 semesters) | Solidarity contribution set by the student |
| Enrolment fee (once) | 150 EUR |
| Student house contribution | 90 EUR per semester (finances overnight stays during seminar blocks) |
| Deutschlandticket (arranged at student rates) | 226.80 EUR per semester |
Because there is no fixed fee, ask HfGG how your admission letter will state the study costs if you need a visa.
A flexible contribution does not remove the proof-of-funds requirement. For the student visa you still need to show 11,904 EUR for the year, usually in a blocked account, and that money has to be transferred months before the semester starts.
What are the application deadlines?
HfGG publishes one set of dates for all applicants, not a separate non-EU deadline. There is no summer intake. Places are awarded in rounds, and remaining places may be awarded after the last round, so applying early secures a place. Admission includes a personal interview. You apply directly through HfGG's TraiNex portal, not uni-assist.
| Degree | Intake | Deadline (non-EU) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor and Master in Social Design | Winter (1 October) | Application rounds: 20 May, 15 June, 15 July, 15 August |
If your school or university certificates are not issued in German, English or French, add a certified translation. If you need a visa, apply in an early round.
How many programmes are taught in English?
No programme at HfGG is taught in English. The Bachelor's (6 semesters) and Master's (4 semesters) in Social Design are taught in German, and international applicants must prove their German language skills. The required level is not published, so ask HfGG before you apply.
About University for Social Design (HfGG)
The University for Social Design (Hochschule für Gesellschaftsgestaltung, HfGG) is a private, state-recognised, non-profit university in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, founded in 2015 as the Cusanus Hochschule. It offers a Bachelor's and a Master's in Social Design, focused on plural economics, sustainability and social transformation, plus an MBA. Study is full-time but organised in seminar blocks of about two and a half days in Koblenz, and intakes are about 20 to 25 students per year.