In short
Gütersloh is a rural district (Landkreis) in North Rhine-Westphalia with 363,982 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). It has one university: Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI) (Gütersloh). Summers average 18 °C and winters 3 °C, with about 748 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).
Gütersloh district in numbers
- Population
- Area
969.21 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)
- People per km²
- Universities in the district
1Where Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)
Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI)
- Typical student rent
€7.82/m² monthly cold rentSource (opens in a new tab)
A specific comparison benchmark, not a citywide average: the mean for 25–50 m² flats built in 1978–1994 in an average residential location in Gütersloh city. Published in the official Mietspiegel effective 1 July 2026, excluding operating and heating costs; not an advertised WG-room price.
- Average temperature
10.4 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Rain
748 mm a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Sunshine
1,571 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Frost days
60 a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
About Gütersloh district
Gütersloh district lies in East Westphalia, around the city of Gütersloh and neighbouring towns including Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Harsewinkel and Rietberg. Its landscape reaches into the Teutoburg Forest and the Senne, with cycling and walking routes across the district (district background (opens in a new tab), local recreation (opens in a new tab)).
Industry and historic town centres sit alongside one another here. Miele has its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Gütersloh, while CLAAS makes harvesting machinery in Harsewinkel. Rheda-Wiedenbrück offers half-timbered streets and parkland connecting its two historic centres (Miele (opens in a new tab), CLAAS (opens in a new tab), Rheda-Wiedenbrück (opens in a new tab)).
Main towns
Gütersloh
The district’s university location, with HSBI’s campus offering programmes that combine academic study and company experience (HSBI (opens in a new tab)).
Rheda-Wiedenbrück
A twin town whose historic centres are connected by the Flora-Westfalica-Park (regional tourism (opens in a new tab)).
Harsewinkel
Home to CLAAS headquarters functions and its combine-harvester and forage-harvester factory (CLAAS locations (opens in a new tab)).
Verl
Home to Beckhoff Automation’s headquarters and company-linked study opportunities (Beckhoff (opens in a new tab)).
Rietberg
Known for its historic centre of restored half-timbered buildings and distinctive town hall (City of Rietberg (opens in a new tab)).
Universities here
Universities in Gütersloh district, biggest first.
HSBI has a campus in Gütersloh, with company-integrated programmes including English-taught Industrial Engineering and Mechatronics and Automation (HSBI (opens in a new tab)). Bielefeld is the nearby alternative for a wider university environment. Regional trains from Gütersloh Hbf to Bielefeld Hbf take approximately 9–16 minutes in DB’s published examples; reaching Bielefeld University then requires Stadtbahn line 4 and walking time (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab), university directions (opens in a new tab)). Consider Gütersloh especially if your programme or placement is here; compare the full door-to-door journey before choosing another town in the district.
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI)
University · Gütersloh · 3 courses
Housing
Start looking early rather than assuming a smaller city means easy housing. Gütersloh’s housing office explicitly says inexpensive private-market accommodation can be difficult to find, particularly for low-income households (city housing advice (opens in a new tab)). The official rent table provides useful comparison rents, but excludes accommodation with shared kitchens or bathrooms, furnished accommodation and flats smaller than 25 m²; it is therefore not a WG-room price guide (2026 Mietspiegel (opens in a new tab)).
The typical student rent we found, and what that figure covers, is in the key facts.
How to find a place
- Search WG-Gesucht for shared flats and ImmobilienScout24 or Kleinanzeigen for apartments, setting the location to your intended town. These portals are included in HSBI’s accommodation guidance (HSBI guide (opens in a new tab)).
- Use Gütersloh city’s landlord directory to contact local housing companies and cooperatives directly (city housing advice (opens in a new tab)).
- Check property advertisements in Die Glocke, Neue Westfälische and Westfalen-Blatt, all recommended by the city’s housing office (local newspaper options (opens in a new tab)).
- Compare each address with your actual campus and placement location. HSBI’s Gütersloh teaching buildings are in the centre and beside the railway station (HSBI University A–Z (opens in a new tab)).
Cost of living
For winter semester 2026/27, HSBI lists a €248.80 semester contribution for Industrial Engineering and the English-taught Mechatronics and Automation programme in Gütersloh, including a €226.80 Deutschlandsemesterticket component. Other programmes can have additional charges, so check your exact course (HSBI fees (opens in a new tab)). For housing, compare the total rent including utilities rather than just the cold rent. Sharing a flat can reduce costs, and HSBI notes that long-term apartments are often unfurnished, making initial furnishing another budget item (HSBI housing guidance (opens in a new tab)).
Jobs & employers
The district offers routes into manufacturing, automation, IT and business services: Miele operates in Gütersloh, CLAAS in Harsewinkel and Beckhoff in Verl (Miele (opens in a new tab), CLAAS (opens in a new tab), Beckhoff (opens in a new tab)). For students, distinguish a part-time Werkstudent contract from a substantial internship or a placement built into your degree; CLAAS explicitly offers both internships and flexible student employment (CLAAS student careers (opens in a new tab)).
Typical student jobs
- Technical working-student roles in IT, digitalisation, smart-home technology or engineering; search Miele’s student portal and filter by location (Miele student careers (opens in a new tab)).
- Business-related student roles in controlling or marketing, among the fields covered by Miele’s student recruitment (Miele student careers (opens in a new tab)).
- Paid project support alongside a full-time degree through the flexible CLAAS Inside programme (CLAAS student careers (opens in a new tab)).
- Software, hardware and automation placements at Beckhoff; these are internships or practical semesters rather than necessarily part-time jobs (Beckhoff student opportunities (opens in a new tab)).
Major employers
Miele (opens in a new tab)
Domestic appliances and electronics
Its Gütersloh headquarters location includes appliance manufacturing, electronic development and production, and smart-home work (Miele site profile (opens in a new tab)).
Bertelsmann (opens in a new tab)
Media, services and education
Gütersloh remains a major company location, with local activities including Arvato Systems and logistics services (Bertelsmann location update (opens in a new tab)).
CLAAS (opens in a new tab)
Agricultural machinery
Harsewinkel combines harvesting-machine production with group management and international sales functions (CLAAS locations (opens in a new tab)).
Beckhoff Automation (opens in a new tab)
Industrial automation
Based in Verl, with internships, thesis projects and company-integrated study in cooperation with HSBI’s Gütersloh campus (Beckhoff students (opens in a new tab)).
Getting around
Gütersloh’s buses connect with the central bus station beside the main railway station (HSBI transport guide (opens in a new tab)). Direct regional trains to Bielefeld Hbf take approximately 9–16 minutes in DB’s published examples; add transfer time for Stadtbahn line 4 to Bielefeld University (DB connections (opens in a new tab), university directions (opens in a new tab)). The Deutschlandticket covers participating local buses and regional trains, but generally excludes ICE, IC, EC and FlixTrain services (DB ticket rules (opens in a new tab)). Check evening and weekend connections for the exact address before committing to a commute.
- Main stations
- Gütersloh Hbf (DB station information (opens in a new tab))
- Rheda-Wiedenbrück (DB station information (opens in a new tab))
- Nearest airport
Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport
A regional airport option for the district. Public transport access is via Paderborn Hbf and the S60 bus to the terminal; the airport lists approximately 20 minutes for that bus leg. Compare the complete journey from your town (airport access (opens in a new tab)).
Weather & seasons
Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Rheda-Wiedenbrück-Lintel (6 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.
Winter
3 °C
65 mm rain a month
1.7 h sun a day
Spring
10 °C
49 mm rain a month
5.4 h sun a day
Summer
18 °C
68 mm rain a month
6.7 h sun a day
Autumn
10.4 °C
66 mm rain a month
3.3 h sun a day
Expect cool, often grey winters, a brighter spring and generally mild summers with occasional hot days. Rain is possible throughout the year, so waterproof layers are useful for walking or cycling to classes. Summer brings outdoor cultural programmes such as Gütersloher Sommer, while December offers Advent markets (summer programme (opens in a new tab), Borgholzhausen annual events (opens in a new tab)).
Culture, language & food
Local culture includes community-run activities and seasonal outdoor performances. Gütersloh’s Weberei has a support association promoting it as a social and cultural meeting place, while Borgholzhausen maintains a tradition of summer theatre in Low German (Weberei association (opens in a new tab), Borgholzhausen traditions (opens in a new tab)). For evenings out, check actual programmes and return transport rather than assuming there will be a student event every night.
English can be your teaching language on selected HSBI programmes in Gütersloh, including Industrial Engineering and Mechatronics and Automation (HSBI (opens in a new tab)). For housing searches, everyday administration and a wider choice of jobs, aim to build practical German; B1–B2 is a useful personal goal, not a blanket admission requirement. Low German remains part of local cultural life, including Borgholzhausen’s summer theatre (local traditions (opens in a new tab)).
Local food
Kastenpickert
A regional version of potato-based Pickert associated with the Bielefeld–Gütersloh area: baked in a loaf tin, cooled, sliced and then fried (Pickert background (opens in a new tab)).
Borgholzhausen Lebkuchen
Honey and spiced cakes are a longstanding Borgholzhausen speciality; the town traces its tradition through generations of local bakers (town history (opens in a new tab)).
Places & events
Places to see
Botanischer Garten Gütersloh
Garden
A place for a study break among themed planting areas, including a Mediterranean garden and a rock garden (City of Gütersloh (opens in a new tab)).
Flora-Westfalica-Park
Park
Former state garden-show grounds linking the historic centres of Rheda and Wiedenbrück; combine a walk through the park with exploring their half-timbered streets (regional tourism (opens in a new tab)).
Rietberg historic centre
Old town
Explore restored half-timbered buildings around the historic town hall, with the former Franciscan monastery and other landmarks on the city’s walking route (City of Rietberg (opens in a new tab)).
Teutoburg Forest
Nature
The district’s forest walking routes offer an alternative to town-centre weekends; the district tourism service also highlights routes through the Senne landscape (district recreation guide (opens in a new tab)).
Events
Gütersloher Sommer (opens in a new tab)
Summer; the 2026 programme began in July
An annual cultural programme centred on outdoor performances, with events at Mohns Park and other locations around Gütersloh (organiser (opens in a new tab)).
Piumer Kartoffelmarkt (opens in a new tab)
Third weekend in September
Borgholzhausen’s potato-themed town-centre market combines food, crafts and music (annual events (opens in a new tab)).
Borgholzhausen Adventszauber (opens in a new tab)
Second Advent weekend in December
A Christmas market with local associations, food stalls and the town’s characteristic Lebkuchen (annual events (opens in a new tab)).
Lavender garden and Palmenhaus café in Gütersloh’s botanical garden
Historic half-timbered town hall in Rietberg
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Gütersloh district, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Gütersloh district: FAQ
Is Gütersloh district a good place to live as a student?
It is particularly worth considering if you attend HSBI’s Gütersloh campus or have a placement with a local company. The campus specialises in connecting study with company experience; choose your address around both teaching and work locations (HSBI (opens in a new tab)).
Is there a university in Gütersloh?
Yes. Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts has a Gütersloh campus, including English-taught Industrial Engineering and Mechatronics and Automation programmes (HSBI campus (opens in a new tab)).
How do I get from Gütersloh to Bielefeld University?
Take a regional train from Gütersloh Hbf to Bielefeld Hbf, then Stadtbahn line 4 towards Lohmannshof to Universität. DB examples put the train leg at approximately 9–16 minutes; transfers and walking add to the total (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab), university directions (opens in a new tab)).
Is housing in Gütersloh cheap?
Do not assume that inexpensive accommodation is easy to secure: the city warns that finding it can be difficult. Use the official Mietspiegel to assess a suitable apartment, but it does not establish a typical student-room rent (city housing advice (opens in a new tab), 2026 Mietspiegel (opens in a new tab)).
What jobs can students find in Gütersloh district?
Look for technical or business working-student positions at Miele and flexible CLAAS Inside roles. Beckhoff also offers internships and practical semesters; check the location, hours and language requirements of each opportunity (Miele (opens in a new tab), CLAAS (opens in a new tab), Beckhoff (opens in a new tab)).
Can I study in Gütersloh in English?
Yes: HSBI’s Gütersloh campus lists English-taught Industrial Engineering and Mechatronics and Automation. Check the individual programme’s entry conditions and company-placement arrangements before applying (HSBI (opens in a new tab)).
More guides
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
- District geography and background (opens in a new tab)
- District recreation and tourism (opens in a new tab)
- HSBI Gütersloh campus (opens in a new tab)
- HSBI semester contributions (opens in a new tab)
- HSBI University A–Z (opens in a new tab)
- HSBI international scholars guide (opens in a new tab)
- Gütersloh housing advice (opens in a new tab)
- Gütersloh official Mietspiegel 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Miele Gütersloh site (opens in a new tab)
- Miele student careers (opens in a new tab)
- Bertelsmann Gütersloh location update (opens in a new tab)
- CLAAS locations (opens in a new tab)
- CLAAS student careers (opens in a new tab)
- Beckhoff student opportunities (opens in a new tab)
- DB Gütersloh–Bielefeld connections (opens in a new tab)
- Bielefeld University directions (opens in a new tab)
- DB Deutschlandticket rules (opens in a new tab)
- Gütersloh Hbf station (opens in a new tab)
- Rheda-Wiedenbrück station (opens in a new tab)
- Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport access (opens in a new tab)
- Rheda-Wiedenbrück regional tourism (opens in a new tab)
- Rietberg historic centre (opens in a new tab)
- Gütersloh botanical garden (opens in a new tab)
- Weberei cultural association (opens in a new tab)
- Pickert regional food background (opens in a new tab)
- Borgholzhausen honey-cake tradition (opens in a new tab)
- Gütersloher Sommer organiser (opens in a new tab)
- Borgholzhausen annual events (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Schloss Rheda photograph (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Gütersloh lavender garden photograph (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Rietberg town hall photograph (opens in a new tab)
Photo credits
- Schloss Rheda in Rheda-Wiedenbrück — GeorgDerReisende (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lavender garden and Palmenhaus café in Gütersloh’s botanical garden — Hewa (opens in a new tab), CC BY 3.0
- Historic half-timbered town hall in Rietberg — Hagar66 (opens in a new tab), Public domain
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