Hochschule Der Medien

The Stuttgart Media University or Media University () is a state university of media studies in Stuttgart, Germany, offering nearly 30 accredited bachelor's and master's degree programs within three faculties.

History

The Stuttgart Media University was formed in 2001 by the union of the two former schools, the ''Hochschule für Druck und Medien'' (University for Print and Media) and the ''Hochschule für Bibliotheks-und Informationswesen'' (University for Library and Information System).
One of the former schools, ''Hochschule für Druck und Medien'' founded in 1903, was based on an earlier technical school for printing founded in 1853 as the ''Fachschule für Buchdruckgewerbe Stuttgart''. The other university, ''Hochschule für Bibliotheks-und Informationswesen'', was founded in 1942 as ''Büchereifachschule Stuttgart''. Both schools are now defunct after their union to ''Stuttgart Media University'' in 2001.

Facilities

Stuttgart Media University is located on the Vaihingen campus in Stuttgart. The university operates from several academic buildings, including facilities for its three primary faculties: Print and Media, Electronic Media, and Information and Communication. These are supplemented by shared service units and infrastructure used for teaching and research activities. The central address is Nobelstraße 10.

Library

The university library, housed in Nobelstraße 8, covers approximately 1,200 m² and provides access to around 54,000 printed media and over 81,000 electronic resources. The library includes approximately 180 workspaces, group study rooms, a multimedia learning area, and access to databases, journals, and other academic publications.

Media Production Studios

The university maintains specialized production facilities across its faculties:

* TV and video studios, equipped with green-screen capabilities and multi-camera setups
* Photo studios featuring professional lighting systems
* Radio and podcast studios for audio production
* Computer labs loaded with professional design, editing, and broadcast software.

These facilities support both coursework and extracurricular student media projects.

Research and Technology Centers

The university hosts various research units, such as the Institute for Applied Research, the Institute for Digital Ethics, and the Institute for Games. Technical laboratories are available for work in areas including printed electronics, digital mobility, and artificial intelligence.

Student Services

Additional campus infrastructure includes a language center, a career service, and advisory offices for academic orientation. A dedicated start-up support unit is available for students involved in media-related business planning.

Majors

The university offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in three faculties:
*Faculty of Printing and Media
*Faculty of Electronic Media
*Faculty of Information and Communication
It also offers a doctorate in collaboration with partner universities.

Institutes

The ''Institut für Angewandte Forschung'' (Institute for Applied Research) has bundled research activities since 2005, ranging from printed electronics to information design and operates the university publisher, Verlag Stuttgart.

The Institute for Games serves as a platform for students, developers, and publishers, and hosts an annual Games Day, with presentations around the topic of games.

Since 2011, the university's Start-Up Center supports students who want to start and manage a business.

Further institutes include:
* Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence
* Institute for Cyber Security
* Institute for Mobility and Digital Innovation

Research

Stuttgart Media University conducts applied and interdisciplinary research through its Institute for Applied Research (IAR) and multiple specialized institutes. Its research is organized into two broad areas:

* Media Technologies, encompassing fields such as printed and digital electronics, artificial intelligence, and interactive media systems
* Media Ethics and Social Sciences, which focuses on the social, legal, economic, and ethical aspects of media and digital transformation.

Notable research facilities and institutes include:

* Technology Center for Print-Media Technology (PMT): A center performing research on printed electronics, industrial printing, packaging, 3D printing, and future technologies, supported by industry-grade equipment.
* Information Experience & Design (IXD) Research Group: Studies user-centred design and human-centred AI, collaborating with regional SMEs to enhance wellbeing and usability.
* Institute for Games: Conducts applied, empirical, and educational game research in conjunction with schools, public institutions, and industry partners.

Research projects currently underway include:

* Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Fokus Mensch, studying user experience and digital transformation for SMEs.
* VR-based rehabilitation for stroke patients, and historical-cultural VR projects such as ''Hölderlin’s Echo VR''.

Since 2005, the Institute for Applied Research (IAR) has coordinated more than 200 externally funded projects throughout Media Technologies and social media fields, integrating research with teaching.

HdM houses research infrastructure including labs for printed electronics, AI, mobility innovation, digital media and usability—primarily located in its Vaihingen campus buildings.

Alumni

Among the notable alumni of the ''Stuttgart Media University'' or its predecessors are Arek Gielnik, the producer of Neukölln Unlimited, and Jörn Grosshans, who won a 2013 Hollywood Post Alliance Award for the outstanding visual effects in Game of Thrones (season 3).

References

External links

English Language website

German language website

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Universities and colleges in Baden-Württemberg
Information schools
Education in Stuttgart
Educational institutions established in 2001
2001 establishments in Germany