Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Living in Baden-Württemberg

LIVING IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG

Students can choose between thirteen universities located in Freiburg, Heidelberg, Hohenheim, Ludwigsburg, Karlsruhe, Konstanz, Mannheim, Stuttgart, Trossingen, Tübingen, and Ulm. You can choose between a large modern city or a charming historic university town. You may live at the edge of the Black Forest, on a lake near the Swiss border, or in the heart of the Neckar river valley.

Freiburg

Set in a beautiful valley at the edge of the Black Forest, Freiburg is known as the sunniest and warmest city in Germany. It has a population of about 214,000. The city profits from its location where three countries meet. From Freiburg, it is just a short hop to both Switzerland and France. Known for its solar industries and research, Freiburg has recently been renowned as an “eco-city.”

The University of Freiburg was founded in 1457. Today, about 19,000 students are enrolled there, including about 3,000 international students. The university offers a wide range of courses in the liberal arts and the sciences. It also offers degrees in Theology, Law, Business, Medicine, Pharmacy, Earth Sciences and Forestry.

Student Comments/Freiburg

“A beautiful city with plenty to do. In close proximity to general points of interest. A mid-sized city, not too crowded and not too small. Reportedly the sunniest large city in Germany. Good university with great philosophical offerings and a decent selection of DAF courses.”

“Freiburg is wonderful. There are a lot of international people and students here and the atmosphere is great for all.”

“There were a plethora of extra-curricular activities offered by both the university as well as independent organizations, and I was an active member in many of them. I rented out a practice space and played music, I took salsa dancing lessons, I played tennis, basketball, soccer, ping-pong, went swimming, attended guest lectures, participated in poetry-slams.”

Heidelberg

Heidelberg (pop. 140,000) is a picturesque town that attracts students and tourists from all over the world. It is situated about halfway between Stuttgart and Frankfurt. The layout of Heidelberg is easy to follow which makes study and life easier. Heidelberg lies amid magnificent scenery. From the Neckar Valley the town looks out onto the Rhine plain. The Philosophers walk, counted as one of the ten most beautiful walks in the world, offers a great view onto the old town and the famous Heidelberg castle.

Founded in 1386, the University of Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany. Heidelberg has a student population of about 25,000, nearly 20% of which are international students. Heidelberg has excellent offerings in the humanities, natural and social sciences. It offers a variety of German as a Second language classes as well as many other modern languages. In addition, Heidelberg also has Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Law, Oriental and Classical Studies, among others, and is known for research in the molecular biology, medical sciences, astronomy and nuclear physics.

Student Comments/Heidelberg

“It’s really a beautiful city, and the size is good: big enough to have plenty of restaurants, shopping, bars, and activities, but not so large that it’s overwhelming. It’s also relatively easy to travel to other locations in Germany and other countries from Heidelberg’s train station.”

“Heidelberg is fun. I lived in the Altstadt and have no real complaints. There are lots of departments and interesting lectures.”

“Heidelberg has got to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Both the locals and the weather were warm (for Germany) and the university was top-notch. The one drawback was the presence of English, both other students as well as locals/native students. Everyone wanted to speak it, so English became the language of choice for many groups. Very unfortunate.”

Hohenheim

Hohenheim is located on the outskirts of Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg. Between 1771 and 1793, Duke Karl Eugen built a country residence there. Hohenheim castle is now the home of the University of Hohenheim. Hohenheim started as an agricultural college; today it has an enrollment of 5,500 students and offers excellent programs not only in Agricultural Sciences, but also in general and applied Natural Sciences, Biology, and Economics and Social Sciences. Hohenheim may be of special interest to students in Food Sciences (including fermentation science and organic foods), Communications, Journalism and Economics. Students have the opportunity to take German as a Second Language (DaF) courses both at Hohenheim and at the University of Stuttgart.

Student Comments/Hohenheim

“It’s simply beautiful here. Hohenheim is a delightful little village 25 minutes away (by bus) from the Stuttgart downtown area. The university is accustomed to accommodating foreign students and there are many cultural events that take place on campus and also in Stuttgart.”

“The student operated organization called I.S.O. was helpful in introducing the University and the surrounding areas to new foreign students. They plan many weekend tours in Stuttgart and also weekend trips to other countries. I participated in the Hohenheim Castle tours and with the I.S.O. Buddy program which pairs up foreign students with a volunteer of I.S.O to help new students get accustomed to Hohenheim.”

“Hohenheim has beautiful parks to walk though, sit and read, or play Frisbee. A nice quiet place with lots of students, parties and only 25 minutes from the downtown Stuttgart with Bus and U-Bahn.”

“Hohenheim is a suburb about 20-30 minutes from Stuttgart. It’s is much quieter, though still quite busy when classes are going on.”

Karlsruhe

Located near the French border, the city of Karlsruhe (pop. 284,000) is crossed by the 49th parallel, which runs right through the Stadtgarten (city park). The Technologieregion Karlsruhe is a loose confederation of the region's cities in order to promote high tech industries; about 20% of the region's jobs are in Research and Development. Karlsruhe is also the seat of the German Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) and the highest Court of Appeals in civil and criminal cases, the Bundesgerichtshof.

The University of Karlsruhe is mainly technically focused and is a leading research university with a student population of about 14,000. Karlsruhe is particularly attractive to students in engineering, natural sciences, engineering, computer science, architecture and economics. Courses in the humanities and social sciences are also available.

Student Comments/Karlsruhe

“Karlsruhe is a really nice location. The city is relatively young and vibrant, with a lot going on; concerts, parties, festivals. There is also shopping and parks, and it’s very easy to get around. It makes a good base for traveling, even though the city itself isn’t that touristy, as the local transportation network extends quite a ways and it’s a hub for many ICEs and other trains.(…). Most [courses at the university] are technically based and intended for a specific major. Very few other Americans, which can be good.”

“Everything was much more self-paced and self-organized. My courses did mostly have homework, but it was your own problem if you didn’t do it or didn’t come to class. Students are left to work out their own schedules, and have a great deal more choice with what work they do and how they want to receive credit for the class.”

Konstanz

Located directly on the south bank of Lake Constance (Bodensee) not far from the Alps, Konstanz is an important cultural and economic center in Baden-Württemberg, and is also the gateway to neighboring Switzerland. With a population of about 82,000 and a mild lake climate, Konstanz has an almost Mediterranean flair you can experience when strolling through the old part of town with its many lively street cafés.

The University of Konstanz was founded in 1966 and has a modern campus with a student population of about 10,000. Courses in most liberal arts and natural sciences are offered, as well as programs in economics, law, and public policy and management.

Student Comments/Konstanz

“A beautiful city. A smaller German city, but full of things to do. Full of students and EXTREMELY student and bike friendly. Always something to do, not too pricey either. Easy travel opportunities to Switzerland and surrounding countries.”

“Awesome. It’s right on the water - beautiful! And there’s so much to do here. Especially at night there’s a very lively scene for a ‘small town,’ and the Uni always has activities going on. Konstanz rocks!”

“The town is very nice and the people are so friendly.”

“Konstanz is gorgeous and wonderful. What is there not to love about so gorgeous a city on the Swiss border with a giant lake? Really!”

Ludwigsburg

Ludwigsburg is a smaller city (pop. 85,000) located about 12 km north of the Stuttgart city center. Ludwigsburg is well known for its baroque royal palace.

The Pädagogische Hochschule Ludwigsburg is a teacher education university with a broad range of science and liberal arts courses well suited for undergraduate students. Students in the arts can also find courses in applied art and music here that are not available at regular German universities. With 4,500 students and a campus setting, Ludwigsburg is a comparatively small university more alike the regional OUS institutions in Oregon.

Student Comments/Ludwigsburg

“The city is pretty modern and really beautiful”

“It is a small quiet city. It’s not especially pretty and doesn’t offer much. It’s not a university city and most students disappear on the weekend. It was nicer in the summer when we could take advantage of the nice weather. The people however made Ludwigsburg what it was.”

“Lots of extra-curricular activities.”

“Ludwigsburg is a very small town. It is a good location to study. However there is not much diversity in people compared to the other cities. It is also quiet and clean.”

“A good city within proximity to a larger city (Stuttgart). This allows for a nice escape from either the larger city or smaller city, depending on which you wish to escape from.”

“Ludwigsburg is a nice town, mid-sized. There are 3 castles, a nice downtown area, and an outdoor market 3 times a week. Stuttgart is also nearby, 20 minutes with the S-Bahn, and there’s lots of stuff going on there."

Mannheim

With over 300,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second largest city in Baden-Württemberg after the capital Stuttgart. Mannheim is just a short light rail ride from Heidelberg, and many Heidelberg residents go there to shop.

Mannheim is unique among German cities in that its central area is laid out in a grid pattern (called Quadrate, squares), much like many North American cities. The main route through the squares leads to an enormous 18th century palace. This palace now houses the University of Mannheim.

The University of Mannheim is famous for its top ranked programs in business and economics. It also has a law school and offers studies in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics and computer science. Mannheim has an enrollment of approximately 11,500 students. It is the first university in Baden-Württemberg to adjust its academic calendar to correspond to the international academic year; with the fall semester running from September to December, and the spring semester from February to June.

Student Comments/Mannheim

“I received a scholarship from my university and lived in a flat near the university with two other male students. I had a TV and free Internet. It was a pretty good deal.”

Stuttgart

Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg and its largest city. It has close to 600,000 inhabitants within the city limits and 2.7 million in the larger Stuttgart region.

The Stuttgart area is known for its high-tech and automotive industries; some of its most prominent companies include DaimlerChrysler, Porsche, Bosch, Hewlett-Packard and IBM. The region currently has Germany's highest density of scientific, academic and research organizations, and tops the national league for patent applications. Stuttgart is also known for its vibrant cultural life and is famous for its ballet, opera, theaters and art museums. Although Stuttgart's city center was heavily damaged during World War II and its aftermath, many historic buildings have been reconstructed, and the city boasts of some fine pieces of modern post-war architecture.

The University of Stuttgart is primarily a technical university with excellent offerings in science, engineering, business and architecture and urban planning. It also has good, if limited, offerings in the liberal arts and offers a variety of DaF (Deutsch als Fremdsprache) courses. Stuttgart has an enrollment of about 10,500 students. Several graduate degree programs in the sciences and engineering are offered in English.

Student Comments/Stuttgart

“Stuttgart is a bigger city, somewhat comparable to Portland. It has a blend of modern and old. The University is modern and much of it lies in the middle of the city. The city and university are very diverse and have many inhabitants from a wide variety of countries. A very good international study site.”

“The ONLY city to live in B-W. International in every regard. There is excitement in the streets every night. The outrageous excess of Americans is limited to businessmen and tourists, so the businesses will not cater to you because you speak English. The parks, museums, central location, people, plazas, boutiques, clubs and bars, etc are unlimited. The architecture is cutting edge and Stuttgart is a hub of internationally tasteful technology.”

“Stuttgart is a fantastic city. Very easy to get around, lots to do and in my opinion very beautiful."

“Nothing. Place is terrible. Doesn’t even look German. (Actually, please keep Stuttgart a secret. This town’s got it all: major live attractions, the night life selection of a major city, a Bundesliga Pro-soccer team, medieval baths in the city - the second biggest source of spas in Europe. Museums of worth and a zoo, but there are no tourists or many Americans, so let’s keep it hush-hush).”

Tübingen

The town of Tübingen and its university are inextricably linked. With a population of roughly 85,000, about 24,000 are students (among them about 3,500 international students) and another 12,000 are employed by the university and the university clinic. This makes the university the biggest employer in the region.

Tübingen is best described as a mixture of an old and distinguished academic flair including liberal politics and German-style fraternities, with rural, agricultural and typical Swabian elements. The city contains many picturesque buildings from previous centuries, and lies on the river Neckar.

Founded in 1477, the University of Tübingen is among the oldest in Germany and has an international reputation for excellence in medicine, natural sciences and the humanities. In addition, Tübingen also has faculties of Law, Business, Pharmacy, Modern Languages, Geosciences and more. Tübingen also offers a wide selection of German language (DaF) courses for international students.

The Oregon Study Center (Office of the OUS Resident Director) is located in Tübingen. The September orientation for students on the exchange program takes place here. Tübingen is also the site for the Spring Intensive Program (SIP).

Student Comments/Tübingen

“This city is amazing… and perfect for an international program. The city’s population is over ¼ students. The atmosphere is perfect for learning a language if you are willing. The people are friendly and they understand the amount of foreigners.”

“AMAZING! So many different cultures combined, amazing facilities for international students. Great staff.”

“Good study site. The buses are really convenient and the people are nice. It’s also a pretty city. I was really satisfied living there.”

“Perfect. It’s not too big; therefore you get to know it really well and don’t feel overwhelmed by crowded streets and too many people. But it’s not too small either because you never feel trapped or lack anything to do. There are also so many students so nightlife is great and you meet a lot of people your age. Tübingen is also in a great area with a lot surrounding it. Plus, Silvia (the Resident Director) is here and that will always count for something.”

“One of the most international student centers that I’ve seen in Germany. Small, but charming; with a vibrant student population and party scene, if you’re into that kind of thing. I’m not most of the time.”

“Beautiful, friendly, fun, great, student nightlife, just a train ride away from Stuttgart. I met so many cool students from all over the world. I would recommend Tübingen to anyone wanting to study in Germany.”

“As far as international goes, it doesn’t get much better. I met people from Spain, Japan, Italy, Poland, England, and Germany of course.”

“A wonderful, perfect-sized city. Not a party town but the amount of students studying here really makes up for any lack of excitement.”

“I love it here. It’s great for international students, which is easy to see, there is a huge international student population here.”

“The town of Tübingen is in itself gorgeous, and it is the perfect setting for the many international students. There is a multitude of countries represented in Tübingen, which gives the city a very multi-cultural atmosphere.”

“Beautiful, lots of international students (especially Americans, which can be bad). Good for travels, small, mostly quiet, just the way I like it.”

“The university offers extra-curricular activities, free to students, and there are lots to choose from. They range from ping-pong to karate to yoga. I participated in karate for a while until class loads demanded more time.”

Ulm

Located on the river Danube, Ulm is in the eastern portion of Baden-Württemberg, bordering the state of Bavaria. Ulm has a population of about 120,000 and is probably best known for its gothic cathedral (the tallest church in the world) and of course for being the birthplace of Albert Einstein.

The University of Ulm was founded in 1967 and focuses on the sciences, medicine, engineering, and mathematics/ economics. With an enrollment of approximately 7200 students, it belongs to the smaller universities in Germany. There are some DaF (Deutsch als Fremdsprache) courses available, but the selection is more limited than at other universities.

Sources

The Universities in Baden-Württemberg. Published by Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts.

Fantastic Cities in Baden-Württemberg. Published by State Tourist Board of Baden-Württemberg.

Wikipedia, The Free Encyclpedia

Accommodations

Housing varies from university to university, but there are a few constants: all students will be housed in single rooms in university student housing (Wohnheim). The typical room has a bed, desk, chair, shelves, large closet, and a sink. Usually about 8-12 students share a kitchen, showers, and toilets. Your floor mates will be German and international students.

Dorms are co-ed but bathrooms and/or shower stalls can be locked. Shared laundry facilities exist in each building complex. Most student housing in Baden-Württemberg is gradually being equipped with in-room internet access, but not all dorms may be upgraded yet.

To get better idea about German Wohnheime, you can take a look at the website of the Tübingen Studentenwerk (Student Housing and Dining) for a sampling of different student dorms. Meals: The two cheapest ways to feed yourself are to prepare your own meals in the kitchen of your dormitory floor or to eat in one of the university student cafeterias (called Mensa). Meal prices in the student restaurants range from € 2-3. Groceries are usually a bit cheaper than in the U.S. Another popular cheap option are the many Turkish, Greek and Middle Eastern fast food joints that are found in every city, the so called Gyros- or Dönerbuden. In every German city, there are also many bakeries that sell sandwiches, pretzels and mini-pizzas that are delicious and always freshly baked.