There are various admission requirements for studying at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences. You can apply for a program if you meet one of the following criteria:

• General higher education entrance qualification
• Specialized higher education entrance qualification
• Subject-specific higher education entrance qualification
• Successful completion of the master craftsman exam or an equivalent vocational qualification
• Successful completion of a program to become a state-certified technician or state-certified business economist
• Successful completion of another vocational qualification, provided it is recognized by regulations

For more details, especially regarding professional qualifications, you can find further specifications here.

If you completed your school education abroad, you can find information here on how to apply.

No, all Bachelor's programs are open for admission. If you have a university entrance qualification (as outlined in point 1), you will be admitted to the program and have a legal right to study, provided you apply within the deadlines.

No problem, you can still apply. For now, we only require your anticipated average grade. You can simply provide this during the application process, with a note that it is not final yet.

The application periods vary depending on the type of program and whether you're applying for a Bachelor's or Master's degree.

For German Bachelor's & Master's programs:

➡️ Winter semester: April 1 – July 15
➡️ Summer semester: October 1 – January 15

If the application period is extended, we will inform you via news & social media.

For English-taught Bachelor's & Master's programs:

➡️ Winter semester (applications open from February 1)
🔹 Until May 15: Mechatronics & Robotics (M.Eng.) + Applied Computer Science (M.Sc.)
🔹 Until June 15: International Business & Economics (B.A. & M.A.) + Finance (M.Sc.)

➡️ Summer semester (applications open from September 1)
🔹 Until November 15: Mechatronics & Robotics (B.Eng.)
🔹 Until December 15: All other Bachelor's & Master's programs

📌 Important: Not all programs start in both the summer and winter semesters. Check the exact deadlines on your desired program’s webpage.

Applications with a valid university entrance qualification must be submitted exclusively online through our application portal. During the process, you will be asked for all the information and documents you need. No documents need to be sent by mail.

Apply Online

For university transfer students and applicants for trial studies, the application must be submitted in writing.

An exception applies to continuing education programs: Applications for these programs are not processed through our portal. You can find all the details here.

📌 No Tuition Fees in Thuringia!
In Thuringia, there are no general tuition fees – meaning you can study at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences free of charge.

📌 Semester Contribution – What Will You Pay?
Even though there are no tuition fees, all students are required to pay a semester contribution. This is made up of:

✔️ Social Contribution – Supports the student services organization, which is responsible for services like cafeterias, student housing, and counseling.
✔️ Contribution to the Student Representation – Funds the student council, which advocates for your interests.
✔️ Thuringia Ticket (DB Regio) – With this ticket, you can use public transportation across all of Thuringia for free.

📌 How Much Is the Semester Contribution?
You can find the current amount of the semester contribution here. It is paid by students during the re-registration process each semester.

🔍 Additional Costs
In addition to the semester contribution, you should also consider costs for rent, living expenses, study materials, and possibly fees for additional services. However, Schmalkalden offers affordable living costs, so you can finance your studies well.

➡️ More information on study costs and financing options: Scholarships and more.

You can also apply for a dual study program online via our portal.

BISS degree
For a degree course integrated with vocational training, you first complete one year of your relevant training and then apply to us at the university for the following winter semester.</p>

Studium Praxis+
For a degree course integrated with practical training, you use our online portal and apply for your desired degree course. A practical contract with your company must also be concluded, but separately from the application.

You want to apply for master programmes? Proof of a Bachelor's or engineering degree is required for applications to a Master's degree program. If this degree was not obtained in Germany, it must be checked individually at the university. A verification fee of EUR 50 per process is due for this (amount per application for a degree program). The fee is paid during the application process in the online portal.

No - the requirements for language certificates are clearly regulated.

For an English-language degree program, one of the following certificates is accepted:

• English is the mother tongue
• IELTS: min. 6.5 points
• TOEFL: min. 86 points (internet-based) 

For a German-language degree program, one of the following certificates will be accepted if required:

• German is the mother tongue
• DSH-2 
• TestDaf 4x4

Alternative proof of language level cannot be accepted.

No - You can only apply online via our application portal. Applications sent by post cannot be considered.

You can check the status of your application at any time in the online portal. If it has not changed since your last visit, there is no news. You will be notified of any missing documents.

We try to inform all applicants about their status as early as possible. Due to the high number of applications (especially for the English Bachelor's programs), it is likely that we will be able to inform you about the admission decision at the earliest 4 weeks after the application deadline.

If you want to edit your application, click on "Withdraw and edit application". After editing and saving, the application will be resubmitted. The resubmission does not have a negative effect on the processing time if the withdrawal and resubmission take place on the same day.