Furtwangen Campus

The Furtwangen Campus, the original and largest of our 3 campuses, is located in the centre of the small, picturesque town of Furtwangen (Furtwangen street view), in the heart of the scenic Black Forest region. At first sight Furtwangen may look like a traditional, sleepy Black Forest town, but in reality it is a bustling student town and truly international. HFU welcomes students from around the world –  from France, Hungary and the Czech Republic in Europe, for example, and from as far away as India, Pakistan, China, Taiwan and South Korea. Students come to Furtwangen to take academic courses which are often more cutting-edge than anything offered in universities in the big cities. Our international visitors love the tranquility and slower way of life in Furtwangen, where distances are short, the streets are safe at any time of day or night, and the locals are friendly – even if you don’t speak German! As one of our international students told us, "It isn‘t a city full of shops, so we saved our money, but it is a city full of kind-hearted people, so we learned how to be more open and kind." There is a great sense of community in Furtwangen. Being small makes it easier to meet other people, whether it’s in the common room of the student halls of residence, at the swimming pool or the gym, or at student parties or events such as the International Festival.

We admit, Furtwangen is a little off the beaten track, and it does take a while to get here by bus, but the spectacular landscape you travel through on the way makes it worthwhile. In Furtwangen you are surrounded by unspoilt countryside of mountains, forests and farms, offering endless opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, hiking and mountain biking. And in winter Furtwangen transforms into a winter wonderland making it a paradise for cross-country skiers. Students who have never seen snow before describe the fairy-tale landscape as an unforgetable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. One student described the atmosphere in Furtwangen as, "…this feeling of freedom in every breath."

The Black Forest is world-famous for its cuckoo clocks and Furtwangen was historically an important clockmaking town. The university itself can trace its origins back to the clockmaking school established in 1850 by the Archduke of Baden. The modern campus is now home to 5 faculties offering innovative degree programmes designed to prepare our graduates for the modern workplace, and which reflect the strong tradition of engineering and computer science for which we are reknowned — the first engineering degree programmes were introduced in 1947 and the first computer science degrees date back to 1971.

Approximately 3,300 students in total study at the 5 faculties on the Furtwangen Campus:

Computer Science
Business Information Systems
Digital Media
Business Administration and Engineering
Mechanical and Medical Engineering
Health, Safety and Society

Students on our Furtwangen campus enjoy ideal study conditions. While our programmes are innovative, and facilities cutting-edge, the campus has retained an intimate atmosphere, where small student classes mean students and staff get to know each other well. Our outstanding student services mean there will always be someone to help out if you have a problem. And when you want to take a break from your studies, the great outdoors and clean, fresh forest air is not far away. In the evenings and at weekends, if you are not taking part in some of the many student activities organised on campus, you can relax in one of the cosy, traditional pubs and restaurants of the town with a glass of traditionally brewed local beer and a some typical German food.

With a bit of planning (mobility options available), there are plenty of fun and interesting places to visit in the surrounding area and further afield at the weekends. The medieval walled town of Villingen and the university city of Freiburg can both be reached in about 45 minutes by bus, while the French province of Alsace, the Swiss city of Basel and beautiful Lake Constance are all close enough for day-trips. Our international exchange students love the inexpensive excursions and activities the International Center organises every semester. They are a great way to get to know other students and see other parts of Germany.These include trips to Heidelberg or Berlin, visits to the opera in Stuttgart or to a Black Forest cuckoo clock factory, and skiing and hiking trips.

External link opens in a new window:Furtwangen's finest spots