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View of Schmalkalden from above in good weather, green hills in the background
©Henry Czauderna – stock.adobe.com

Studying in Schmalkalden

Schmalkalden offers you 5 degree programmes in English at 1 higher education institution.

Are you looking for peace and nature? Then Schmalkalden might be the right choice for you. The small town has a medieval centre full of half-timbered houses and is quaintly located close to the Thuringian Forest and the Rennsteig hiking trail. The campus is cosy as well: living and studying are conjoined, and everybody knows each other. And once a year you can compete with your fellow students in the Schmalympics sports event.

Schmalkalden is a town straight out of a picture book with idyllic cobblestone streets and picturesque half-timbered houses. With 20,000 inhabitants, the city is also quite cosy and boasts short distances. That's why it's best to get to know Schmalkalden on a relaxed walk: You will notice many works of art on the facades of the houses. The murals will not only guide you toward the beautiful corners of the city but also make you think and reflect. They create a unique blend of timeless architecture and modern art.

You’ll find one university of applied sciences in town, the Hochschule Schmalkalden, with five faculties: electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, business law, and business and economics. Around 2,500 students are registered here, so the courses are rather small and the atmosphere is relaxed. When you walk around the campus in Schmalkalden, you're sure to run into fellow students you know - this will help you form spontaneous study groups or find people for a pub crawl, and you also quickly make new friends. In addition, the size of the university of applied sciences allows you to work independently in the labs and try out your own projects in peace and quiet or in small groups.

Life in Schmalkalden

20,000 residents

  • High-speed train connections

    Eisenach train station in 30 km distance

  • International airport

    Nuremberg airport in 144 km distance

  • Coast

    North Sea in 350 km distance

  • Mountain range

    Thuringian Forest in close vicinity

  • Other countries

    Czech Republic in 130 km distance

  • Attractions within 100 km

    • Wilhelmsburg Castle in close vicinity

    • Trusetal water fall in 9 km distance

    • Goetz cave in 18 km distance

    • Ebertswiese mountain lake in 9 km distance

1 higher education institution in Schmalkalden

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Subject groups of degree programmes in Schmalkalden

There is a wide range of degree programmes in Schmalkalden. Here you can see the main subject groups. Currently, degree programmes in Schmalkalden are mainly offered in the subject group Economic Sciences, Law, followed by Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Natural Sciences. Find out more information here about the subject groups and degree programmes offered in Germany.
  • 0

    Agricultural and Forest Sciences

  • 1

    Humanities and Social Sciences

  • 9

    Mathematics, Natural Sciences

  • 0

    Art, Music, Design

  • 0

    Language and Cultural Studies

  • 0

    Medicine, Health Sciences

  • 19

    Economic Sciences, Law

  • 14

    Engineering Sciences

  • 0

    Teaching Degrees

Young people stand and sit on a walk-on platform above an artificial water basin surrounded by green plants.
©Hochschule Schmalkalden

After some fresh air and nature, you’ll find it easier to return to the library

The city of Schmalkalden also calls itself the city of nougat, and here you can learn a lot about the sugary treat.

Schmalkalden may be small, but there is plenty going on here: students in particular throw their own parties – which often spontaneously results in a fun and relaxed evening. But there are also bars and pubs where you can spend the evening with friends. And if you feel like dancing, then you can go to the club at the Hochschule, which is organised specifically for students: here, in addition to motto parties, there are also relaxed get-togethers or game nights. Students even give it names like "Schmalibu" or "Schmaledives." In general, word creations with “Schmalkalden” seem to be popular here. This is also the case with the Schmalympics with sports like volleyball, bowling or swimming - but also more unusual disciplines like table football or beer-athlon are part of the Schmalympic Games. So, if you'd like to be active, just join in! Or you can simply cheer on your fellow students in a fun atmosphere.

There are also city events to look forward to, such as the "Cultural Summer" and the "City Festival". Here you can dance to live music in the open air, watch a good movie at the summer movie nights and enjoy delicious food. And by the way - it gets especially crazy at carnival time: this is a big thing and celebrated quite wildly in Schmalkalden!

And if you ever feel like you just need to relax in the open air, nature is never far away in Schmalkalden. From the Hochschule, for example, you can quickly reach the Jahnteich pond, which lets you cool off on warm summer days. Or you can go to the Westendpark. Many students come here after or between their classes to study, relax or simply have a good time together. The Schmalkalde River also meanders along here and accompanies your time out with a soothing sound. For longer excursions into nature, the surrounding forests and mountains offer varied hiking trails and opportunities for outdoor activities.

A young woman walks through the city
A young woman walks through the cityJan von Allwörden / DAAD

You can find more information at study-in-germany.de

For more information on living and studying in Schmalkalden, visit the city portraits at study-in-germany.de