Organizational Matters: Studying and Living in Germany
For the most important information and frequently asked questions, please have a look at our handbook.
Handbook for Full-Time International Students
Application Requirements
Preliminary Recognition of Certificates:
All international applicants who do not have a German university entrance qualifications must have their qualifications recognized by the Studienkolleg of the HTWG. You can find more information on their website: https://www.htwg-konstanz.de/en/academics/center-for-international-students-konstanz/start-page
To get your certificates preliminarily recognized please upload the following documents on the application portal:
- Application form
- Curriculum vitae
- A copy of your passport (no certification necessary)
- Copies of your certificates (high school diploma and, if applicable, bachelor’s degree + transcript of records, and grading system of your previous university)
- Translations of your certificates, if they are not in English or French
- APS certificate, if applicable
Note: The application without certified copies of the German Embassy/Consulate is ONLY valid for the application to SET/Sustainable Engineering and Future Technologies!
Final Recognition of Certificates: To meet the enrollment requirements, you will need an official recognition document (paper document, signed and stamped) issued by the Studienkolleg. To obtain this document, you will be informed about further steps after a positive preliminary recognition.
Orientation Test:
The Orientation Test is a mandatory admission requirement for all applicants to universities in Baden-Württemberg. It is designed to assess your academic qualifications and determine whether your educational background meets the standards required for studying in Germany.
You must complete this test as part of your application process and upload the certificate of participation to the portal (please note, there is no need to upload your results or grades). For more information and to take the test, please visit: https://www.was-studiere-ich.de/dashboard and complete the "Interessenstest" (test of interests), which takes about 15 minutes.
Language Requirements:
All applicants to the SET program must have B2 level English skills or higher. It is highly recommended, to have A2 German skills when they start their studies. Please contact set-international@htwg-konstanz.de for further information or assistance if you need a preparatory A2 German course.
Application deadlines:
You can either start your studies in the winter semester (Deadline: June 01) or in the summer semester (Deadline: November 01).
Application for Summer Semester 2026 starts 20 October 2025! Apply on the application portal until 1 November 2025.
Support:
If you need assistance with the application/certificate recognition, please contact Darja Ljubownikow.
Application Process
Applications for this programme are not submitted via the Hochschulstart system as is the case for other bachelor programmes, but exclusively via the university's own portal HIS-in-One (only available in German).
You can register and submit your application via this link under "Applicants/Bewerber*innen" from approximately 4 weeks before the application deadline. For the application for the winter semester, the portal will be open approximately from the 1st of May, for the summer semester from 20th of October.
Our english checklist will guide you through the application process:
Checklist application SET (pdf)
Additional information about the documents you´ll need for your application process are listed in our statutes on admission and the university selection procedure for the bachelor degree program Sustainable Engineering and Future Technologies (SET) without preselection (ZuSEToVor) linked down below: Statutes on admission and the university selection procedure
If you need help regarding your application process, feel free to contact Darja Ljubownikow or Student Administration Services or for further assistance.
Tuition fees
International students in the state of Baden-Württemberg are required to pay a tuition of 1,500 Euro per semester.
Students from the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as from HTWG Konstanz partner colleges and dual degree programs are exempted. Students who completed their high school degrees (Abitur) in Germany but do not have German citizenship (all nationalities) are also exempted. Refugees don't have to pay tuition fees either.
You can find more information about tuition fees for foreign students at the website of the HTWG Konstanz.
Learning German
Preparatory German Course
In addition to English skills (B2 level or higher) it is highly recommended, to have A2 German skills when they start their studies.
For those that are interested, the University of Applied Sciences Konstanz offers a preparatory German course (level A2) that takes place during the four weeks before the start of the semester. Please contact set-international@htwg-konstanz.de for further information or assistance if you need a preparatory A2 German course.
More German courses are offered at the HTWG by the International Office or also at the University of Konstanz. Or maybe you are interested in learning German with a tandem partner? More information and the registration can be found with the Intercultural Center.
You can also find further private German classes e.g. at Inlingua, Humboldt-Institut of VHS in Konstanz and also at at the Goethe Institute online.
Student life in Konstanz
Housing / Dorms
It is possible to find an affordable room in Konstanz. Just try to get started looking early so you have enough time to find the right place.
General info about accomodations in Konstanz
The Seezeit – Student Union Lake Constance operates 13 dorms in Konstanz with rooms for about 3,000 students.
More about Seezeit´s dorms and private accomodation´s database
Work while you study
Many students in Germany work in their spare time. Some of them might be research assistants (wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft – HiWi) in universities, research institutes or libraries, while others are waiters or babysitters. Students from abroad can also work in Germany alongside their studies.
Students from EU/EEA countries are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week during the semester, just like German students are. There is no limit to how much they can earn during semester breaks. Anyone from a country outside the EU can work 120 full days or 240 half-days without the consent of the Federal Employment Agency (BA). Generally, either an internship or working as a self-employed person is an option while pursuing academic studies as an international student. However, it is important to note that any self-employment activity need consent of the competent Foreigners' Authority beforehand. Among other things, the Authority will determine whether the occupation will hinder or delay the student in the pursuit of their academic goals.
You will find more information on the website of the Deutsches Studentenwerk and on the Study in Germany website.
Where should I look for job openings?
You can find find a number of job advertisements for work both on and off campus on the university’s notice boards
- in front of the canteen
- in the departmental corridors
as well as in various online portals, e.g. Seezeit job portal (in German)