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.”
Student comments:
“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. Good university with great philosophical offerings and a decent selection of DAF courses.”
“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.
Student comments:
“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 has got to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Both the locals and the weather were warm and the university was top-notch."
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.
Student comments:
“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.”
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.
Student comments:
“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.”
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.
Student comments:
“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!”
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.
Student comments:
“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.
Student comments:
“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 industry; 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.
Student comments:
“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 & bars, etc are unlimited. The architecture is cutting edge and Stuttgart is a hub of internationally tasteful technology.”
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.
Student comments:
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
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.
|
