Hochschule Geisenheim University

Hochschule Geisenheim University (HGU) was founded in 2013 as the result of a merger between the Geisenheim Research Institute and the Geisenheim faculty of the Hochschule RheinMain. We are Germany’s first "Hochschule neuen Typs", a new type of university that combines comprehensive research and application-oriented teaching methods across a unique range of subjects, including wine, beverages, food, horticulture, and landscape architecture. The increasingly important issues of climate protection and sustainability also play a vital role in each of our degree programs and are a core focus of our research.

Our Approach

Although we are a new type of university, we are proud to have over 150 years of history behind us. Our origins date back to October 1872, with the founding of the Royal Prussian College for Fruit Growing and Viticulture in Geisenheim.

At the center of our approach is the holistic consideration of the entire value chain of specialty crops, including grapevines, fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants. As such, we are committed to studying the diverse production and processing methods of these crops, as well as food safety, food logistics and the economics and marketing of wine and other beverages. Other focus areas at the university include cultural landscape development, urban open space design, landscape architecture, and conservation.

Our Mission

Research, education, praxis: this triad is at the beating heart of Hochschule Geisenheim University. Our goal is to find new and unique ways to make use of the interplay between these three areas. We conduct both applied and basic research, go far beyond fundamental teaching approaches with a range of regular and practice-oriented study programs, and promote the transformation of knowledge into real-world applications.

We currently offer a total of eight practice-oriented bachelor’s degree programs, each leading to a professional qualification. Five of these are also available to be completed as integrated work-study programs. In addition, we offer ten research-based master’s degree programs and have the right to award doctoral certificates.

With around 50 professors and numerous scientific staff members, our students are offered extensive support and an excellent learning atmosphere. Our students and researchers can also benefit from our global network of renowned partner universities, institutions and companies. Our degree programs, including two programs that are taught entirely in English, bring together students from over 50 different nations; approximately 14% of our current 1,600 students are from countries outside of Germany.

With more than 550 employees, Hochschule Geisenheim University is also a major regional employer. Our campus is nestled in the unique cultural landscape of the Rheingau and has excellent connections to the broader Rhine-Main metropolitan area.