Tuttlingen Campus

The newest and smallest HFU campus is located in Tuttlingen (c. 35,000 inhabitants), a busy town approximately 30 kilometres east of Schwenningen and 60 kilometres east of Furtwangen. As a shopping and services hub for the surrounding area, there are many businesses, shops and restaurants in and around the pedestrianized town centre, and weekly markets are held in the central marketplace. Although Tuttlingen is situated in a lush green valley surrounded by unspoilt countryside, the town and region of Tuttlingen form Europe's biggest medical technology cluster, home to more than 400 surgical equipment companies in the town and immediate vicinity. Among these are a number of global players, the largest employing almost 3000 people in the development and production of innovative surgical instruments and state-of-the-art implant technologies. Fifty percent of the world's surgical equipment is manufactured here.

The town has a long history of precision and craftmanship, represented by the modern "Instrument maker" sculpture in the centre of the marketplace. The first iron works, set up at the end of the 17th century to take advantage of local raw materials and to use the River Danube for water power and transport, led to the establishment of nailworks and cutlers, and Tuttlingen became well-known for the production of table knives. In the second half of the 19th Century some cutlers began specialising in the production of medical instruments, laying the foundations for the flourishing medical instruments industry of today.

Tuttlingen grew up around the medieval castle on the Honberg Hill. Today the wooded hill, topped with its castle ruin, is the landmark of the town and a picturesque location for events and concerts in summer. The rest of the town is relatively "modern" having been completely rebuilt after the great fire of 1803, with wide streets and houses built in a chessboard pattern around a central square. This gave rise to the town's nickname, the "square town" which is reflected in the town logo. The beautifully landscaped Danube Park stretches along the banks of the River Danube through the centre of Tuttlingen. In summer, people enjoy the mediterranean atmosphere, strolling along the waterfront, relaxing on terraced seating or recliner benches, eating in the outdoor restaurants, or even getting out on the water in rented boats.

Two well-known cycle paths run through the park, making Tuttlingen a great place to start exploring the stunning scenery of the surrounding area. The Swabian Alb region around Tuttlingen, with its forested foothills, dramatic caves and rugged limestone cliffs in the Danube River valley, is one of the most scenic areas in Baden-Württemberg, making it popular for hiking, cycling, climbing, canoeing and winter sports. In addition to unspoilt nature, the towns and cities of the area are famous for their picturesque, historic half-timbered houses and idyllic market places, as well as the many well-preserved medieval castles.

HFU's youngest campus in Tuttlingen was set up in 2009 in partnership with local and regional authorities and industry to meet the high demand of local and regional industry for skilled employees. It is an academic model unique in Germany, where industry works hand-in-hand with the University to design cutting-edge, workplace-relevant courses. Industry specialists teach on the programmes, case studies and assignments are sourced directly from partner companies, and students gain practical experience on their doorstep in local companies. The campus currently has one faculty — The Faculty of Industrial Technologies — which offers a range of practical and innovative engineering courses. Around 600 students are currently taking bachelor's and master's degrees in Tuttlingen. The campus itself is a fascinating combination of contemporary architecture and industrial renovation, reflecting Tuttlingen's manufacturing legacy. Close to the campus is the latest addition to HFU in Tuttlingen, the Innovation and Research Centre (IFC), which opened its doors in summer 2018. Besides providing facilities for HFU research and development projects, the IFC also supports regional SMEs, entrepreneurs and start-ups by providing access to the R&D facilities of HFU and opportunities to network.

According to our students, what makes the HFU campus inTuttlingen so special is the friendly atmosphere and personal support. Because the campus is small, it's easy to get to know staff and students from other courses. Contact with professors is easy thanks to an open door policy, and service staff in the library and student centre, for example, are always happy to help and give advice. Tuttlingen also has a very active campus life. The students' union runs various sports clubs and regular campus events, such as parties, football and laser tag tournaments, and barbecues in summer. There are football, climbing, swimming, bouldering and ultimate frisbee clubs, and for only €35/semester, students also have access to the complete sports programme of the Tuttlingen Sports Club. The location of the campus in the centre of town makes it convenient for everything, and a range of student discounts for bars, restaurants, the thermal baths and even boat rentals, make it easy for our students to take advantage of what the town has to offer off-campus, too.