Eat
Mensa
Run by the Studierendenwerk. Several dishes daily, with vegetarian options. Pay with your thoska card for the student price.
Thuringia · 98574 Schmalkalden
Hochschule Schmalkalden
Schmalkalden· Affordable city
No extra conditions listed
Blechhammer campus from above, with the dorm behind the Mensa. Photo: Maxl2003, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
~19,000
people in town, about 2,500 students
5
faculties, every campus a few minutes' walk apart
€231–300
dorm room per month, bills included (official prices)
~3.5 h
by train from Frankfurt Airport
Before you choose
GJU conditions for this university
Note on the GJU host-university list
No extra language, GPA or fee conditions are listed for this university.
German levelStandard GJU requirement
Minimum GPANo extra minimum listed
Extra feesNone listed
Location98574 Schmalkalden, Thuringia
Conditions, fees and deadlines can change at any time. This is general information only; confirm with the GJU German Year office and the host university before you submit your choices.
Watch before you go
Campus, dorms and student life
Campus tours, room tours and student vlogs about Hochschule Schmalkalden. Each video plays here or opens on YouTube.
On campus
Hochschule Schmalkalden
A small university of applied sciences founded in 1991, with about 2,500 students in five faculties: Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Business and Economics, and Business Law. Everything on campus is a few minutes' walk apart.
Your card
thoska
Student ID, Mensa wallet, library card, printing, and proof of your semester ticket. Top it up at the machines in the Mensa.
Help
International Office
Your first stop for orientation, the buddy programme, residence-permit questions and learning agreements.
Study
Library
On campus, with group rooms and long opening hours in exam season.
Social
Student council and club
The StuRa runs events, and the student club holds weekly themed parties. Join the Schmalympics, the summer games between faculties.
Move
University sports
Football, volleyball, climbing, fitness and more, mostly free. A public swimming pool is next to campus.
Bookmarks
Hochschule SchmalkaldenMain website in EnglishInternational OfficeOrientation, buddy programme, permitsMensaMenus and opening hoursPaying the semester fee€331.80 for winter 2026/27, deadlines, bank detailsSemester fee breakdownStudierendenwerk ThüringenTown of SchmalkaldenBürgerbüro appointments, events, tourist informationMuseum Schloss WilhelmsburgOpening hours and ticketsCampus on Google MapsBlechhammer, 98574 Schmalkalden
Housing
Where to live in Schmalkalden
Most GJU students live in a Studierendenwerk dorm: cheap, furnished and with bills included. If you miss out, use the private portals below and start early.
*Estimate*Estimated cost. Prices are subject to change. Everyday prices are estimated ranges; fixed official fees are shown at their exact 2026 rate.
Dorm room
€231–300 / month
Bills included
WG room
€230–350 / month
Ask if rent is warm or cold
One-room flat
€320–480 / month
Deposit up to 3 months
Dorm · On campus
Blechhammer 9b
€231–300 / month, by room sizeDeposit €300
- 285 places, directly on campus behind the Mensa
- Single rooms of 9–20 m² in 2- and 3-person flats; 10 single apartments of 19 m²
- Furnished, fitted kitchen, own shower/WC per flat, LAN in every room
- Washing machines, dryers, bike room; very few parking spaces
Dorm · About 8 min walk
Martin-Luther-Ring 38
€244–299 / month, by room sizeDeposit €300
- 258 places, close to the old town and shops
- Single rooms of 11–20 m² in 3- and 4-person flats; 18 single apartments of 20 m²
- Furnished, fitted kitchen, shower/WC, LAN in every room
- Washing machines, dryer, bike room
Dorm rules to know. Rent includes water, electricity and heating. Internet is billed separately by the provider (Telesystems Thorwarth). Prices assume you stay at least one full semester; shorter stays cost more and are billed in whole months. Rental office: vermietung-schmalkalden@stw-thueringen.de
Apply
Official housing
Dorm application formStudierendenwerk Thüringen, online onlyAll Studierendenwerk dormsOverview, room types, rulesLiving in SchmalkaldenThe university's own housing pageWohnungsgenossenschaft SchmalkaldenHousing cooperative, flats across townWohnungsbau GmbH SchmalkaldenThe town's own housing companyFind dorms in SchmalkaldenSearch the Studierendenwerk dorm list for this city
Search “Schmalkalden”
WG rooms and private flats
WG-GesuchtMost usedThe main shared-flat portal in Germany. Turn on email alerts and message fast.KleinanzeigenClassifieds for rooms, sublets, bikes and cheap furniture.ImmoScout24The largest listing site for flats. Landlords often ask for a SCHUFA credit report.ImmoweltThe second big listing site for flats.Studenten-WG.deStudent-only room listings.WG-Suche.deA smaller WG portal, worth checking in smaller towns.HousingAnywherePayment protectionBook a room from Amman with payment protection. Prices are higher; few listings in small towns.WunderflatsFurnished flats for 1–12 months. Good for the internship half of the year.Facebook groupsSearch "[City] WG" and "[University] students". Ask GJU students from last year: they often hand their rooms on.
Avoid scams. Never send a deposit before you have seen the room in person or on a live video call. Never pay through Western Union or a gift card. Ask GJU students from the previous year: they often hand their rooms on.
Prices
Prices for everything in Schmalkalden
Estimated ranges for a student in Schmalkalden, based on German averages and adjusted for a affordable city. Prices change constantly.
*Estimate*Estimated cost. Prices are subject to change. Everyday prices are estimated ranges; fixed official fees are shown at their exact 2026 rate.
| Item | Price in Schmalkalden | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees & paperwork | ||
| Semester fee | €280–420 / semester | Set by each university and includes the €226.80 Deutschlandsemesterticket. Hochschule Schmalkalden: €331.80 for winter 2026/27. |
| Blocked account payout | €992 / month | Official 2026 amount for study visas: €11,904 for 12 months. Providers charge a one-off fee. |
| Public health insurance | €141.16 / month | TK student rate for 2026, under 23. From 23 without children: €146.29. Other public insurers differ by a few euros. |
| Visa (national D visa) | €75 once | Paid at the German embassy in Amman. |
| Residence permit | €100 once | First permit at the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). Extending it by more than 3 months costs €93. |
| Broadcast fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) | €18.36 / month | Per flat, split among flatmates: €6.12 each with three. |
| Biometric photos | €9–13.50 once | Photo booth or drugstore (dm, Rossmann). |
| Housing extras | ||
| Deposit (Kaution) | €300–1,500 once | Dorms usually a few hundred euros; private flats up to 3 months of cold rent. |
| Home internet | €9–27 / month | Dorm LAN is sometimes extra, or split a WG contract. |
| Furniture & kitchen basics | €45–180 once | Kleinanzeigen, IKEA, leftovers from outgoing students. |
| Bedding & towels | €35–70 once | IKEA, Primark, TK Maxx. |
| Household liability insurance | €2.70–5.50 / month | Haftpflicht: cheap and strongly recommended. |
| Food & groceries | ||
| Groceries | €135–205 / month | Cooking at home, shopping at Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Penny and Kaufland. |
| Mensa main meal | €2.30–4.50 / meal | Student price with your student card. |
| Bread rolls (Brötchen) | €0.40–0.70 / piece | Supermarket rolls are cheaper than bakery ones. |
| Halal chicken (1 kg) | €6.50–10 / kg | Turkish or Arabic supermarkets. |
| Rice (1 kg) | €1.40–2.70 / kg | Basmati costs more. |
| Hummus / tahini jar | €1.80–3.50 / jar | Arabic shops and big supermarkets. |
| Milk (1 L) | €0.90–1.20 / litre | |
| Eggs (10) | €2.30–3 / pack | |
| Eating out & drinks | ||
| Döner / falafel | €6.50–8 / meal | The student staple. |
| Pizza in a restaurant | €8–12.50 / meal | |
| Restaurant main course | €11.50–20 / meal | |
| Shawarma plate | €9–13.50 / meal | Arabic restaurants in bigger cities. |
| Coffee / cappuccino | €2.30–4 / cup | Cheaper in the Mensa café. |
| Soft drink / juice in a café | €2.70–4 / glass | |
| Water bottle (supermarket) | €0.30–0.70 / bottle | Plus a small deposit you get back. Tap water is safe to drink. |
| Ice cream scoop | €1.60–2.30 / scoop | |
| Transport | ||
| Regional trains & buses, all Germany | €0 extra | The Deutschlandsemesterticket is part of the semester fee at almost every host university: €226.80 a semester (€37.80 a month) from winter 2026/27. |
| Deutschlandticket (no semester ticket) | €63 / month | Only if your university has no semester ticket. Monthly subscription, cancel any month. |
| My BahnCard 25 (under 27) | €39.90 / year | 25% off ICE and IC tickets, 2nd class. Cancel at least 6 weeks before the year ends, or it renews. |
| ICE / IC long-distance train | €18–80 / trip | Book early for Sparpreis tickets. |
| FlixBus to big cities | €10–35 / trip | |
| Used bike | €70–180 once | Kleinanzeigen or university bike markets. Buy a good lock. |
| E-scooter ride | €2.70–5.50 / ride | Lime, Tier and Voi in bigger cities. |
| Taxi (5 km) | €13.50–20 / ride | |
| Flight to Amman (return) | €220–480 / return | From Frankfurt, Berlin or Munich. Book 2–3 months ahead. |
| Services & phone | ||
| Prepaid SIM with data | €8–15 / month | Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect, Congstar, Fraenk. |
| Bank account | €0–6 / month | Online banks (N26, DKB, C24) are usually free. |
| Haircut | €13.50–22.50 / cut | Barbers are often cheaper. |
| Laundry (dorm machine) | €1.40–2.70 / wash | |
| Printing (per page) | €0.05–0.10 / page | University printers with your student card. |
| Doctor visit | €0 / visit | Covered by public health insurance. Bring your card. |
| Prescription medicine | €5–10 / item | Co-payment set by law: 10% of the price, at least €5 and at most €10 per item. |
| Gyms & sport | ||
| University sports courses | €0–30 / semester | Football, volleyball, climbing, fitness: often free or almost free. |
| Budget gym (McFit, FitX, clever fit) | €18–30 / month | Check the contract length and sign-up fee. |
| Public swimming pool | €2.70–5.50 / entry | Student discount with ID. |
| Climbing / bouldering hall | €9–13.50 / entry | |
| Football boots / sports gear | €27–70 once | Decathlon is the budget choice. |
| Fun & activities | ||
| Cinema | €7–11.50 / ticket | Cheaper on discount days (often Tue or Wed). |
| Museum | €3.50–9 / entry | Student prices with ID; many museums are free on certain days. |
| Castle / palace visit | €4.50–13.50 / entry | |
| Bundesliga football ticket | €13.50–40 / ticket | Standing tickets are cheapest. Book early. |
| Escape room / bowling | €11–22.50 / person | |
| Student party entry | €2.70–9 / entry | |
| Christmas market snack | €2.70–5.50 / item | Roasted almonds, crêpes, children's punch. |
| Weekend trip (hostel + food) | €55–135 / trip | Travel is free on regional trains with your ticket. |
| Clothes & seasonal | ||
| Winter jacket | €55–135 once | You will need it from November to March. |
| Winter boots | €35–90 once | Waterproof. Snow and slush are common. |
| Rain jacket / umbrella | €13.50–55 once | |
| Toiletries & drugstore | €22.50–35 / month | dm and Rossmann. |
Monthly budget
Will your monthly budget be enough?
Move the sliders to match your life. The dashed line is your blocked-account payout.
*Estimate*Estimated cost. Prices are subject to change. Everyday prices are estimated ranges; fixed official fees are shown at their exact 2026 rate.
Schmalkalden · Dorm · Typical
Covered€875
€117 left of your €992 monthly payout
€992
- Rent€265
- Fixed costs€250
- Food€230
- Trips€60
- Fun€70
- Gym€0
Fixed costs every month (€250)
Health insurance €141.16 · Semester fee ÷ 6 €55.30 · Phone ~€12* · Broadcast fee ÷ 3 €6.12 · Toiletries ~€35*
Internship semester
Internships near Schmalkalden
Employers in Thuringia that take interns, with companies closest to Schmalkalden first. Click a company to search its openings.
ZEISS
Jena
Optics and medical technology.
Engineering
Jenoptik & SCHOTT
Jena
Photonics and specialty glass.
Engineering
Bosch
Eisenach
Automotive electronics.
Engineering
Opel (Stellantis)
Eisenach
Car plant.
Engineering
CATL
Arnstadt
Battery cell plant.
Engineering
Intershop
Jena
E-commerce software.
Computer Science
Career fairs
- Usually autumn and springCompany fairs at TU Ilmenau, EAH Jena and FH ErfurtIlmenau, Jena, Erfurt
- Each semester (dates vary by city)bonding company fairsAachen, Berlin, Bochum, Braunschweig, Dresden, Erlangen, Hamburg, Kaiserslautern, Karlsruhe, Magdeburg, Munich, StuttgartFree student-run engineering and IT fairs.
- All yearVDI Recruiting TagMany citiesEngineering recruiting days by the Association of German Engineers.
- Usually once or twice a yearYour host university's FirmenkontaktmesseOn campusAlmost every university runs its own company fair. Ask the career service on day one.
Cultural survival map
Halal food & mosques in Schmalkalden
Halal butchers, Turkish and Arab supermarkets, Arabic restaurants and mosques, on a live map. In small towns, students often shop in the nearest big city.
Schmalkalden
Open in Google MapsNearest budget airports
- LEJLeipzig/Halle FlightsRyanairEurowingsAbout 1.5 h from Erfurt, Jena or Weimar
- NUENuremberg FlightsRyanairEurowingsFrom Ilmenau and Schmalkalden
- FRAFrankfurt FlightsLufthansaCondorRoyal JordanianDirect to Amman; about 3 h from Schmalkalden
- ERFErfurt-Weimar FlightsHoliday chartersSmall airport, tram from Erfurt
The town
Schmalkalden and around
Old town
Altmarkt
The main square with the town hall, the Gothic church of St. Georg and the Christmas market in December.
Castle
Schloss Wilhelmsburg
A Renaissance palace above the town, with a museum and one of Germany's oldest playable organs.
History
Lutherhaus & Hessenhof
Where Luther stayed in 1537, and the oldest secular wall paintings in Germany (Iwein frescoes).
Sweet
Viba Nougat-Welt
The local nougat factory, with a shop and café.
Hike
Rennsteig & Inselsberg
The Großer Inselsberg (916 m) has wide views. Trusetal has a waterfall.
Winter
Oberhof
Sledging, skiing and biathlon events a short trip away.
Arriving
Frankfurt Airport to Schmalkalden
- About 3–4 hours by train from Frankfurt Airport, usually changing in Eisenach and Wernshausen, or via Erfurt and Zella-Mehlis.
- Get off at Schmalkalden Fachhochschule for the campus and the Blechhammer dorm; the stop is under a minute's walk away.
- Use Schmalkalden station for the old town and Martin-Luther-Ring.
- Try to arrive on a weekday before 18:00 so you can collect your keys.
| Destination | By train | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Meiningen | ~45 min | Famous theatre, castle, shopping |
| Eisenach | ~1 h | Wartburg castle (UNESCO), Bach and Luther houses |
| Suhl / Zella-Mehlis | ~40 min | Shopping centre, swimming, cinema |
| Erfurt | ~1.5–2 h | Thuringia's capital, Krämerbrücke, IKEA, Arabic grocery shops, mosque |
| Würzburg | ~2.5 h | Residenz palace, the Main river |
| Frankfurt | ~3 h | Big city, airport, large Arab community |
| Leipzig / Berlin | 3–5 h | Weekend city breaks (faster by ICE) |
Your region
Thuringia
Events, festivals, things to do, transport, halal food, and every host university nearby.
Explore the regionCompare
Other host universities in Thuringia
Arrival checklist, phrasebook & emergencies
Everything that is the same in every German city.