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Study in Heidenheim district

Heidenheim is a district of industrial towns and Swabian Alb countryside, with dual study, regional rail links and walking routes.

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Hellenstein Castle in Heidenheim an der Brenz
Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

In short

Heidenheim is a rural district (Landkreis) in Baden-Württemberg with 135,235 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). It has one university: Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Heidenheim (Heidenheim an der Brenz). Summers average 17 °C and winters -0.1 °C, with about 836 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).

Heidenheim district in numbers

Population

135,235Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Area

627.13 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

People per km²

216Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Universities in the district

1Where Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)

Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Heidenheim

Average temperature

8.4 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Rain

836 mm a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Sunshine

1,595 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Frost days

99 a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

About Heidenheim district

Heidenheim combines industrial towns with the countryside of the eastern Swabian Alb. Heidenheim an der Brenz, Giengen and Herbrechtingen are useful starting points for exploring the district, while Steinheim am Albuch sits within a meteorite crater. (District tourism (opens in a new tab))

Engineering and outdoor life sit close together here: Voith has its headquarters in Heidenheim, while the surrounding Brenzregion offers wooded valleys, karst springs and walking routes. Hellenstein Castle and Giengen’s Steiff Museum are distinctive local landmarks. (Voith (opens in a new tab), Brenzregion tourism (opens in a new tab))

Main towns

Universities here

Universities in Heidenheim district, biggest first.

DHBW Heidenheim is the district’s university. Its dual model combines academic study with workplace training; degree applicants need a contract with a partner employer and appropriate German proficiency. (DHBW (opens in a new tab)) Nearby university options include Aalen, Ulm and Schwäbisch Gmünd. Direct trains connect Heidenheim with Aalen and Ulm, but check the complete journey to your campus before choosing housing. (Brenzbahn timetable (opens in a new tab)) This is worth considering if you want employer-linked study and easy access to walking country.

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Housing

Do not assume that a smaller town means an effortless housing search. DHBW says affordable student rooms are in high demand and advises securing accommodation before arrival. Its International Office offers information and forwards landlord offers, but cannot arrange accommodation for you. (DHBW housing guidance (opens in a new tab))

How to find a place

Student residences

Cost of living

For transport, the Deutschlandticket costs €63 per month in 2026. (htv (opens in a new tab)) Eligible students under 27 can use the €45 monthly D-Ticket JugendBW; htv specifies a minimum one-year contract, which matters for short exchange stays. (htv JugendBW (opens in a new tab)) Compare complete housing offers, including utilities, deposits and travel costs. The sources checked do not establish a reliable overall saving compared with a large German city.

Jobs & employers

Engineering and healthcare products provide concrete places to look for student work. Voith’s Heidenheim site includes its Hydro, Paper and Turbo divisions and offers dual study and vocational training. HARTMANN is headquartered in the town and recruits students. These are useful starting points for applications, rather than a guarantee of a suitable vacancy. (Voith (opens in a new tab), HARTMANN careers (opens in a new tab))

Typical student jobs

Major employers

Getting around

The Brenzbahn connects Aalen, Heidenheim, Giengen and Ulm. Published 2026 services take approximately 18–24 minutes from Heidenheim to Aalen Hbf and 32–47 minutes to Ulm Hbf, depending on the train; these are station-to-station times. (Brenzbahn timetable (opens in a new tab)) htv publishes the town and district bus timetables, so check evening and weekend journeys for any prospective address. (htv timetables (opens in a new tab)) The Deutschlandticket covers local and regional public transport; long-distance journeys need separate consideration. (htv (opens in a new tab))

Main stations
Nearest airport

Memmingen Airport (FMM), by road from Heidenheim town

Heidenheim’s visitor guide lists approximately 93 km by road to Memmingen Airport, compared with 115 km to Stuttgart Airport. (Travel information (opens in a new tab)) A public-transport option is to travel to Ulm and connect with the airport coach at Ulm-Böfingen; this coach stop is separate from Ulm Hbf. (Airport Express (opens in a new tab))

Weather & seasons

Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Heidenheim/Brenz (4 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.

Winter

-0.1 °C

68 mm rain a month

1.7 h sun a day

Spring

8.3 °C

65 mm rain a month

5.3 h sun a day

Summer

17 °C

84 mm rain a month

7.2 h sun a day

Autumn

8.2 °C

62 mm rain a month

3.1 h sun a day

Bring layers, a waterproof jacket and shoes with good grip: winters are cold and frequently frosty, while summers are generally mild but still wet enough to interrupt outdoor plans. Spring and autumn suit walking between study days, and summer brings the opera festival. (Opernfestspiele (opens in a new tab)) In the Eselsburger Tal, caves must not be entered from October to March to protect overwintering bats. (Official walking guide (opens in a new tab))

Culture, language & food

Local identity brings together industrial history and the Swabian Alb’s countryside, including shepherding and walking traditions. The summer opera festival adds a substantial cultural programme to this setting. (Brenzregion tourism (opens in a new tab), Opernfestspiele (opens in a new tab)) For student social life, DHBW’s Connect-Team pairs incoming exchange students with German student buddies and organises meetings and trips. (DHBW (opens in a new tab))

Plan evenings around specific events and student activities. The regional calendar includes concerts, poetry slams and theatre; check what is scheduled during your stay rather than assuming a large-city nightlife scene. (Regional events calendar (opens in a new tab))

DHBW offers English-taught classes through its international exchange programme, but its regular degree admission guidance requires proof of German proficiency, with telc C1 Hochschule among the examples accepted. (Exchange programme (opens in a new tab), Degree admission guidance (opens in a new tab)) For housing calls, everyday errands and workplace conversations, aim to build practical German rather than relying entirely on English. Swabian is part of the local linguistic identity; standard German is the useful starting point for learners. (Local background (opens in a new tab))

Local food

  • Maultaschen

    A regional dish to look for locally: Hotel Restaurant Hirsch in Heidenheim-Mergelstetten serves homemade Maultaschen in traditional and contemporary versions. (District tourism (opens in a new tab))

  • Spätzle

    The regional pasta also appears among local farm-shop products: the Hörger family in Sontheim an der Brenz sells homemade Spätzle. (District tourism (opens in a new tab))

Places & events

Places to see

Events

  • Giengen an der Brenz town hall viewed from the south

    Giengen an der Brenz town hall viewed from the south

  • The former Falkenstein castle site in the Eselsburger Tal

    The former Falkenstein castle site in the Eselsburger Tal

Student experiences

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Studying in Heidenheim district: FAQ

Is Heidenheim a good place to live as a student?

Heidenheim is worth considering for employer-linked study and access to countryside. DHBW offers a dual study model, and the surrounding Brenzregion has walking and cycling routes. (DHBW (opens in a new tab), District tourism (opens in a new tab))

Is there a university in Heidenheim district?

Yes. DHBW Heidenheim is in Heidenheim an der Brenz and combines academic study with workplace training. Degree applicants need a contract with a partner employer. (DHBW (opens in a new tab))

Can I commute from Heidenheim to Aalen or Ulm?

Yes. Direct regional trains take approximately 18–24 minutes to Aalen Hbf and 32–47 minutes to Ulm Hbf in the published 2026 timetable. Allow additional time between home, the stations and your campus. (Brenzbahn timetable (opens in a new tab))

Is student accommodation easy to find in Heidenheim?

DHBW warns that affordable rooms are in high demand and recommends securing a room before arrival. Its International Office can provide advice and forward landlord offers, but does not arrange accommodation. (DHBW (opens in a new tab))

What jobs can students find in Heidenheim?

Verified examples include technical working-student roles and engineering internships at Voith, plus marketing working-student roles and holiday work at HARTMANN. Check their careers portals for current openings and language requirements. (Voith (opens in a new tab), HARTMANN (opens in a new tab))

Can I study in Heidenheim in English?

DHBW offers English-taught classes for its international exchange programme. Its regular degree admission guidance requires German proficiency, so do not treat the exchange offering as evidence of a fully English-taught degree. (Exchange programme (opens in a new tab), Admission guidance (opens in a new tab))

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Sources & photo credits

Last updated November 2026. Population and area: Destatis. Weather: Deutscher Wetterdienst. Universities and courses: our catalogue. Everything else was researched from the sources below and checked — how we research these guides.

Sources

Photo credits

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