With almost 13,000 students, The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) is one of the largest universities in Germany.
Nevertheless, our students benefit from manageable study groups and a good student-to-staff ratio.
HSNR has 9 faculties spread across three locations in the neighbouring cities of Krefeld and Faculties in Mönchengladbach.
There is a wide range of academic and non-academic activities on offer for our students at all locations.
HSNR offers a wide range of BA and MA degree programmes with a practical focus.
Many of our German-language degree programmes include modules taught in English, which can be selected by exchange students.
Incoming exchange students can also choose individual project modules or write their thesis at HSNR provided both host and home university approve.
We offer four degree programmes taught in English and an international minor:
If you have any questions about the content of the individual degree programmes, please contact our respective coodinator within our faculties.
The international student community GLOBUS regularly organises networking meetings and exchange activities.
The university sports centre also offers a wide range of different sports.
The HSNR is also very conveniently located: excursions to Düsseldorf, Cologne or Aachen can easily be made by public transport.
Your university nominates you for one or two exchange semesters at HSNR by sending an e-mail to inboundexchange(at)hs-niederrhein.de.
Details required for a successful nomination:
Study period (1 or 2 semesters)
Please note the following nomination deadlines:
Your university nominates you for one or two exchange semesters at HSNR by sending an e-mail to inboundexchange(at)hs-niederrhein.de.
Details required for a successful nomination:
Please note the following nomination deadlines:
A nomination by the home university is not necessary in this case.
Students who would like to come to HSNR as a freemover for one or two exchange semesters can contact HSNR's international office directly.
Once the home university as well as HSNR have agreed upon a freemover arrangement, students will be able to apply via HSNR's online application tool.
Please note the following deadlines for a freemover arrangement:
Once we have received and accepted your nomination, we will send you a link to our online application portal.
Please note the following application deadlines:
This video tutorial explains the essential steps of the application via Mobility Online.
After a successful application, we will provide you with further information by e-mail.
Once we have received and accepted your nomination, we will send you a link to our online application portal.
Please note the following application deadlines:
This video tutorial explains the essential steps of the application via Mobility Online.
After a successful application, we will provide you with further information by e-mail.
Once your stay at HSNR has been coordinated with your home university, we will provide you with a link to the application portal.
Please note the following application deadlines:
This video tutorial explains the essential steps of the application via Mobility Online.
After a successful application, we will send you further information by e-mail.
When logging on to Mobility Online for the first time, you will be asked to create your own account.
Then please fill in your personal data as well as information about your university and your degree programme.
Once you have uploaded all required documents (→ Application Step 2), we will review your application.
If your application has been submitted successfully, we will inform you and ask you to set up the Learning Agreement.
Please note that we reserve the right to reject applications that are incorrect or not submitted on time.
Please upload these documents as part of your application:
*For all German-taught degree programmes, you will rquire German language skills at level B2 CEFR (at least B1.2 CEFR at the time of application).
List of recognised certificates
For all English-taught degree programmes, you will require English language skills at level B2 CEFR (at least B1.2 CEFR at the time of application).
List of recognised certificates
Please either submit the relevant certificate or have your language level confirmed by a representative of your university.
ERASMUS+ studies
If your university works with EWP (Erasmus without paper), please complete the digital Learning Agreement (LA) in your university's online tool.
Once your unversity has approved the selected course, it will notify HSNR.
We will then link your LA with your applicaiton.
If your university does not work with EWP, please contact us.
Students from non-EU countries or freemovers
Please fill in the courses of your choice into the online application tool Mobility Online under the tab “Learning Agreement”.
Once HSNR has approved the selection, please download the Learning Agreement as word document (see below), have it signed by your home university and then sign it yourself. You can then upload the signed copy to your account in Mobility Online.
You can find the semester and lecture times on the Student Services website.
Our Welcome Day for international students and exchange students usually takes place on the last Friday before lectures start.
The exact date will be announced by the International Office on our events page.
HSNR Invitation Letter
Once your application and your Learning Agreement has been agreed upon, we will issue an Invitation Letter for all incoung exchange students coming from non-EU countries.
The InvitationLetter will be required in order to apply for a visa at the local embassy.
Further information
How do I get a student visa for Germany → FAQ Federal Foreign Office
Student visa for Germany → Studying in Germany
Visa regulations and types of visa → Study in Germany
For the most current amount please refer to the Student Services website.
For more information on the semester ticket please click here.
Health insurance in Germany
Please take out health insurance in Germany if you do not have a European Health Insurance Card.
Further information
Health insurance for international students in Germany → Studying in Germany
Once the Learning Agreement has been completed and we have issued your Acceptance Letter, we will proceed with registration as quickly as possible.
Prior to your enrolment, please submit prove of
Upon registration, you will receive data to create your student e-mail account and to access all HSNR online services.
HSNR has a limited number of rooms in a hall of residence in Krefeld and a hall of residence in Möchengladbach, both of which are run by the Studierendenwerk Düsseldorf.
If you have indicated to the Incoming Exchange Student Advisor that you need accommodation, we will forward you a link to the Studierendenwerk after you have completed your application.
You can register under the link and will be sent an activation link later. If you activate this link within 5 days, you will receive a rental offer for a room in one of the student halls.
If you are not allocated a room, we will support you in your search for accommodation by forwarding links to rental offers or corresponding networks.
The HSNR Language Centre offers free language courses during the semester.
Further information on our language centre
Please click here to see the courses on offer.
The following grades are awarded in the German higher education system:
1 = very good = an outstanding performance
2 = good = a performance that significantly exceeds average requirements
3 = satisfactory = a performance that meets average requirements
4 = adequate = a performance that, despite its shortcomings, still meets the requirements
5 = unsatisfactory = performance that no longer meets the requirements due to significant shortcomings
To further differentiate the assessment, grades reduced or increased by 0.3 can be awarded; grades 0.7, 4.3, 4.7, and 5.3 are not applicable.
When calculating grades from intermediate values, a calculated value
up to 1.5 results in the grade “very good”
above 1.5 to 2.5 results in the grade “good”
above 2.5 to 3.5 results in the grade “satisfactory”
above 3.5 to 4.0 results in the grade “sufficient”
above 4.0 results in a grade of “unsatisfactory.”
In this case, intermediate values are only taken into account with the first decimal place; all further places after the decimal point are deleted without rounding.
A graded exam is passed if the exam performance has been graded at least as “sufficient” (4.0).
An ungraded exam is assessed as “pass” or “fail.”
The exam is “passed” if the performance meets the requirements or still meets them despite its shortcomings.
The exam is “failed” if the performance no longer meets the requirements due to significant shortcomings.
HSNR has developed an app to provide students with all details about their studies and campus life.
You can download the app here.
The introductory pages are currently only available in German, but the more detailed pages can often be switched to the English version.
If you have any questions regarding installing the app, we will be happy to help you at our Welcome Day.
You can find the current course catalogue here.
When setting up the Learning Agreement, it is helpful to use the course catalogue or the module manual of the respective degree programme.
However, please check again a few weeks before your stay at HSNR - when the new course catalogue is available - to make sure that all courses can be taken as desired. The international coordinators of the faculties can also help you here.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer airport pickups.
Please click here for directions to our campuses.
Here you will find HSNR's site plans.
Helpful information upon arrival you will find here: Study in Germany - First things to do
Registration of address
Within two weeks of your arrival, please register with the local residents office.
For students living in student halls IN MÖNCHENGLADBACH:
Please read the information on this website carefully :
https://service.moenchengladbach.de/suche/-/egov-bis-detail/dienstleistung/1084/show
Then enter your personal details on this website to arrange for an appointment:
https://termine.moenchengladbach.de/select2?md=5
For students living in student halls IN KREFELD:
For an appointment please go to:
56 - Fachbereich Migration und Integration
Am Hauptbahnhof 5, 47798 Krefeld
0 21 51 / 86-0
auslaenderamt(at)krefeld.de
https://service.krefeld.de/anmeldung-wegzuege-drittstaatsangehoerige-eu-staatsangehoerige
Office hours
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays: 08.30 - 12.00 hrs
Mondays: 14.00 - 15.30 hrs
Thursdays: 14.00 - 17.00 hrs
Important documents
Non-EU students:
EU-Students:
Please note that is necessary for you to have already moved into halls and have all the required documents at hand for the registration to go through successfully.
How to borrow books and use the library services
Below, we have compiled the most important information about borrowing books and using the library services for you.
Who can borrow/check out items?
Loan period / extension
Fees and overdue loans
The following overdue fees apply depending on the length of the delay in returning or extending the loan:
1-10 calendar days: 2 euros per item
11-20 calendar days: 5 euros per item
21-30 calendar days: 10 euros per item
31-40 calendar days: 20 euros per item
41 calendar days or more: 20 euros per item + 25 euro administration fee per item + compensation for the value of each item
What is not available for loan?
Further information
… is available
The HSNR Buddy Programme is an initiative of the International Office and brings new international students and exchange students together with experienced HSNR students.
In this way, HSNR newcomers receive support and helpful tips from students from higher semesters and find their way into everyday university life more quickly.
The Buddy Programme is run on a voluntary basis and is free of charge for international students.
Participating international students and exchange students
get to know the university and the campus more quickly and easily;
receive support from an HSNR student when starting their studies;
find their way around the city more quickly with a buddy who knows the area and gain valuable cultural experience;
come into contact with fellow students more easily and quickly;
are accompanied and supported when dealing with authorities;
take part in activities as part of the Buddy Programme (Buddy Meetings organised by the International Office, GLOBUS events).
Students who make themselves available as HSNR buddies (mentors),
Interested HSNR students can find additional information in the Buddy Programme flyer and guidelines.
Please send us your registration via the links below by:
15 October (winter semester)
15 March (summer semester)
The data to be provided for the Buddy Programme will be used exclusively for the purpose of networking between the Buddies.
If you have any questions about the Buddy Programme, please send an e-mail to the International Office.
GLOBUS is the international student network of The Hochschule Niederrhein and an initiative of the International Office.
With the great support of the student GLOBUS teamers, the network is actively lived and promoted on campus.
The focus is on joint activities to promote dialogue between international students, including exchange students, of all semesters and sponsors.
For example, we regularly organise our Welcome Day for first-year students, various excursions and other joint activities.
Save the Date:
17.10.2025 International Food Day
27.11.2025 Regulars' table (international regulars' table)
12.12.2025 Christmas Market
Further information on the events will follow shortly.
On 19 September 2025, the International Office (IO) warmly welcomed our new international students to the Krefeld South Campus.
Many thanks to everyone who attended and made the event a successful start.
We hope to meet all those who were unable to attend at one of the next events.
We wish you a good start to your studies and great experiences along the way!
"I am part of GLOBUS because I want to enrich the university and cultural experience of my fellow students through fun activities where people can come together and interact with each other."
"For me, being a GLOBUS Teamer is special because I enjoy meeting new people, making contacts and learning about different cultures. Our university offers the perfect opportunity for this, as it brings together many students from different disciplines and countries, both international and German. I see it as my way of giving something back to the community and the country that gave me the opportunity to study by supporting new students and helping with the organisation."
Here you can send a message to David and Mitansh:
Schwalmstrasse 301 Monforts Quartier
Please arrange an appointment in advance.
by arrangement
By appointment via mail
by arrangement
by appointment (registration by e-mail)
by arrangement
By arrangement
The Hochschule Niederrhein has committed itself to this with its Code of Conduct. It has joined the "National Code of Conduct for Foreign Students at German Universities". The contents of the Code of Conduct are explained in the following brochure.
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