Technische Hochschule Köln
One of Germany's largest universities of applied sciences, with over 21,000 students across campuses in Cologne, Gummersbach, and Leverkusen.
since 1971
Technische Hochschule Köln (TH Köln) is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Germany, with more than 21,000 students and 440 professors. It offers around 100 bachelor's and master's programs in full-time, part-time, and dual-study formats.
At a Glance
- Type
- University of applied sciences (renamed Technische Hochschule as of winter semester 2015/16)
- Founded
- 1 August 1971 as Fachhochschule Köln
- Students
- over 21,000
- Professors
- 440
- Programs
- around 100 bachelor's and master's degrees
- Main site
- Campus Südstadt at Römerpark
- Other locations
- Deutz, Gummersbach, Leverkusen
Age comparison
Age compared with other places in Cologne.
History
The university was established in 1971 as Fachhochschule Köln, part of the first wave of universities of applied sciences founded in Germany and among the earliest in North Rhine-Westphalia. Its founding rector was Johann Atrops. As was typical at the time, it brought together existing training institutions, including state engineering schools for mechanical and civil engineering, the Kölner Werkschulen, and a school for interpreters and translators. Some predecessor institutions trace back to the "Königliche Provinzial-Gewerbeschule," founded in 1833. The renaming to TH Köln was decided in 2014 and has been officially used since winter semester 2015/16, though the institution retains its status as a university of applied sciences.
Campus Südstadt
The main campus is located at Römerpark in Cologne's Südstadt district. The main building was constructed in 1907 for the former Handelshochschule Köln, which merged into the University of Cologne in 1919. It later housed the NSDAP district leadership for Cologne-Aachen and, until 1969, served as Lufthansa's German headquarters. The building has been a listed monument since 1985. At the entrance on Claudiusstraße, the 2001 memorial "Namen der Autoren" commemorates the book burnings of May 1933 by embedding the names of persecuted authors into basalt lava blocks—an idea by art critic Walter Vitt.
Campus Deutz Under Renovation
Campus Deutz is undergoing extensive redevelopment. In late 2016, the university announced plans to demolish and rebuild about 80 percent of its buildings by 2030, while preserving the campus library and the building for architecture and civil engineering, including its hydraulics lab. The project is divided into three construction phases, with demolition beginning in 2022. An architectural competition selected Wulf Architekten ("Building A") and Staab Architekten (lecture hall center) as designers, with new structures planned at four to six stories.
Other Locations
Campus Gummersbach, originally founded in 1963 as an engineering school for mechanical engineering, joined the university in June 1983 and moved into a new building on the former Steinmüller site in 2007. Campus Leverkusen introduced study places in technical and pharmaceutical chemistry starting winter semester 2009/2010, with regular operations at its new site beginning in winter semester 2022/23.
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Map
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Address
Claudiusstraße 1
50678 Köln
Hours
Mo: 06:30–22:00
Di: 06:30–22:00
Mi: 06:30–22:00
Do: 06:30–22:00
Fr: 06:30–22:00
Sa: 07:00–19:00
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-30
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