Studying and Living in Schwäbisch Gmünd
Student life in Schwäbisch Gmünd
700 prospective designers study at the HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Some years ago, the Financial Times Germany has attributed Schwäbisch Gmünd as „Germany’s Secret Design Capital“ since there are numerous design agencies, advertising and multimedia companies, architects and creative service providers
Schwäbisch Gmünd with its 60.000 inhabitants is located in the metropolitan area of Stuttgart and is surrounded by forests, meadows, and farmland. Street cafés, traditional wine bars, markets, variety of shops, and rich and lively cultural scene give the town its special flair.
Housing cost is affordable and distances are short, as most of our students prefer living in the central area of the medieval towncenter with its historic buildings, half-timbered houses, and Baroque buildings. The countryside is a paradise for sports and open-air fans with excellent facilities for cycling, riding, hiking, climbing and most indoor sports.
Stuttgart, the state capital of Baden-Württemberg, is only 40 minutes away by train or car and offers a huge variety of cultural events and shopping opportunities.
Housing
Schwäbisch Gmünd is an ideal place for students to live. The cost of renting a flat is moderate, and the quality of life in this lovely city is high. We would be happy to assist you, if you are in need of accommodation, and will send you information as soon as we receive your application.
We cooperate with Studierendenwerk Ulm who provide student housing off campus. The student housing is located nearby in Neißestraße 20, Oberbettringen in close proximity to the university. There is a bus connection to the university available and within short distance of 5km accessible. The rooms are furnished with a bed, clothes cupboard, bookshelves, desk and chair. There are fully-equipped shared kitchens on each floor – even with a TV set, laundry facilities and a sauna are on the ground floor. There is internet access in each room.
Buddy Program
The HfG is fortunate to be supported by the International Team, a group of students, who assists our incoming exchange students with all their concerns when coming to Schwäbisch Gmünd.
They also organize the Buddy Program. Each exchange student will be assigned to a German fellow student. Your buddy will give you support during the first days of your stay and will answer your questions during the semester. Buddies will help you with administrative matters, finding accommodation, orientation in and around the university and help you with the selection of courses.
The International Team also rents bikes to our international students. During the semester they organize plenty of events and activities for all exchange students, for instance, international dinners, bar crawls, trips to other cities and museums and, of course, a trip to the world-famous fun fair “Cannstatter Volksfest” in Stuttgart. Fun guaranteed!
Visa – What documents do I need?
For European citizens a valid ID card is sufficient. Non-EU citizens need a passport and a visa to enter and stay in Germany. Students coming from China, Costa Rica, Brazil and India have to get their visas before entering Germany. Students coming from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Japan and South Korea can get a visa until two weeks after arrival. The following documents are required:
- Two passport copies
- Two copies of your visa provided you already have one
- Your health insurance document plus one copy of it
- If you are awarded a scholarship, please bring the document confirming the scholarship. This is needed for the Foreign Office as you have to prove that you have sufficient funds — 735 euros per month — to live in Germany.
- Your letter of acceptance and/or the enrolment paper which confirms that you are accepted to study at the HfG.
More useful information concerning your exchange studies in Germany: www.study-in-germany.de/de/
What about health insurance?
All students are required to have a health insurance. For European Citizens, the European Health Insurance Card is sufficient. Non-European citizens have to have a German health insurance. It costs about 100 € per month. In case you need more information, please contact the International Office.
Financial Support during your exchange semester
Most of our exchange students are financially supported by their home institution. We furthermore offer a few scholarships for exchange students coming from countries outside of Europe.
Erasmus+
Students from our European and Israeli partner institutions are usually supported by the Erasmus+ program. Please contact your university for further information on this program. The International Office will sign all the necessary documents: Learning Agreement, Certificate of Arrival or Certificate of Attendance.
Baden-Württemberg Stipendium and other scholarships
If you come from a country outside of Europe and you can account for excellent academic results you may apply for a „Baden-Württemberg-Stipendium“, a scholarship from the federal state of Baden-Württemberg.
We offer a few other scholarships which are sometimes linked to certain partner institutions. Please contact the International Office for further information.