Campus life

Welcome to the science and digital city of Darmstadt! With an impressive 44,000 students and a total population of 165,000, Darmstadt is definitely a city of students - and you can see that in the cityscape. However, Darmstadt is not only known nationally, but also internationally: Highly qualified people from abroad are attracted by well-known companies such as Merck, Coty, Kao, Röhm, Evonik, Schenck and Software AG as well as the large international organizations ESA, GSI and FAIR. There are also many research institutions, such as the three state universities and three institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Darmstadt is also a city of culture: the Art Nouveau center with the "artists' colony" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021. And last but not least, Darmstadt is also a city of sport with various events such as the Heinerfest triathlon, the Darmstadt Marathon, many gyms and swimming pools, skate parks and numerous sports clubs. Campus life at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences is as diverse as the city itself and, above all, like the students at h_da.

There are several excellent cafés right next to the buildings of the Department of Mechanical and Plastics Engineering: the AStA's Glaskasten is run by students for students and invites you to relax and chat in its large, modern lounge. The Studierendenwerk provides coffee and cake, while a good lunch is not neglected. The student café of the Department of Architecture is known for the best coffee in the world. If you feel like it, you can also use the meadows between the buildings to recharge your batteries. The urban gardening projects at the university can also be found here.

The central meadow is the venue for the annual h_da campus festival with thousands of visitors, live acts, food trucks and lots of fun. But there are also parties at the university almost every week, with the student councils organizing most of the parties and happy to provide advice. Those who prefer a more traditional approach will find a good alternative in the city's numerous student pubs, cafés and beer gardens. The Goldene Krone is an absolute insider tip.

With the semester ticket developed by students at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, sustainable travel on public transport is no longer a problem. Anyone who wants to can use it to explore the exciting Rhine-Main region free of charge. If you prefer cycling, you can park your bike at one of the many racks on campus or use the discounted Call-a-bike rental bikes from Deutsche Bundesbahn.

Culture is not neglected either. Every year, the Studierendenwerk, together with Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences and the Cultural Office of the City of Darmstadt, puts together a nice collection of discounts and vouchers for first semester students. In addition, there is a cultural ticket for the Darmstadt State Theater, for example, with which almost all events can be attended free of charge. This was also invented at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. The CampusCard combines many functions and discounts. It allows you to use public transport, visit the canteen, theater and cinema as well as access to the library. It can also be used as a key for rooms at the university.

If you would like to find out more about all the offers, you can find them at the Studierendenwerk and the AStA of Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences.