DISCOVER BONN

FIND YOUR STUDY PROGRAM IN BONN

BONN AT A GLANCE

The former capital of the Federal Republic has transformed nowadays in a modern big city with the charm of a small town. Located on the banks of the Rhine River, Bonn offers to its inhabitants and visitors amazing scenery with notable buildings and monuments that have preserved hundreds of years of history. Because of the previous administrative and political activity run in the city many of the government ministries along with the President and the Chancellor of Germany still come frequently in the city. Bonn is also currently home of 19 United Nations institutions and over 8,000 federal officials. Apart from being known as a rather diplomatic center, Bonn possesses quite diverse cultural richness consisting of museums, theaters and even carnivals. The city is also famous for being the birthplace of one of Germany’s greatest composers, Ludwig van Beethoven. His home has now been converted into a museum where visitors can learn more about his life and explore an archive of his works. Because of its south location within the Rhine valley the climate in Bonn is rather warm and humid. The city does not experience extensive rainfall as in other cities around Germany, however it does happen from time to time with the wettest month being June. Transportation in Bonn is very well-organized offering an efficient and reliable services when getting around the town. Apart from the trams and buses operating on regular basis and some during late night, Bonn has also a subway. For those who wish to explore the rest of Germany and beyond they can do this by using rail services. The demographics in Bonn are somewhat diverse, mainly due to the high number of people coming there to study. The multicultural aspect here helps expats adapt more easily to the new environment as different international communities have established around the city. The official language here is German and it is recommendable that those coming from abroad have some basic knowledge of it, however many do speak English and other international languages, especially around universities.

Academic Year

Summer Semester: April – September / Winter Semester: October – March

Official Language

German

Higher Education Institutions

Population

325490

Living Costs

700 – 800 EUR

STUDYING IN BONN

Bonn is dubbed as a university town as it has over 40,000 students and one of the most important institutes in Europe – the University of Bonn, acknowledged for its research activity. All of the universities in this city are working in close partnership with many other universities across the world, which gives students the chance to participate in exchange programs or vice versa for foreign students to come and study in Bonn. Applicants can choose from a vast array of courses some of which combine practical training as well. Most of the courses are taught in German, however international students can look up lists of programs taught explicitly in English or mixed courses held in both languages on each university website. Some courses however might require proof of knowledge of the German language, therefore it is recommendable for foreign students to learn German before coming to Bonn. International students can also receive further help and support from the International Office of each university if they are struggling with their application, studies or life in the city in general. Student residences are available throughout the city, however as there is a high number of students coming to Bonn each year, rooms are booked quite quickly and often it might be a challenge to find one closer to the start of the semester. Therefore it is a good idea for applicants to start with their researches as early as possible in order to find accommodation on time. Every residence provides rooms in shared flats or single apartments depending on the preferences of the applicants. Other types of accommodation can be also searched online via housing search engines offering listings in the private market.

BONN LIFESTYLE

The city is packed with interesting events, entertaining activities and modern places for students to hang out in their leisure time. Bonn’s cultural life is quite attractive as the city has some of the most significant museums dedicated to art, history, natural history and even science and technology. The streets of the city can be defined as museums themselves because of the many impressive buildings some of which dating back to the 11th and 13th centuries. Although it is rather small in size there are many outdoor and indoor activities throughout the year for both the inhabitants and visitors of the city. Bonn’s nightlife is fun-filled offering wild parties in a dance club or a drink under the stars or in one of the many bars, pubs and breweries around the city. Some universities also organize parties from time to time such as welcome parties celebrating the arrival of students in Bonn. In summer many people and students meet up at the Rheinaue, a large park with green landscapes where people play sports, have a picnic or simply sit under the sun or the stars. Another famous activity in Bonn is the Rheinish carnival – a colorful and fun festival celebrating the revolt of women against the dominance of men and the exploitation of women back in 1824. Delicious food and snacks are all over the city forming a gastronomy scene that can suit every taste and preference as there is a decent selection of international cuisines.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN BONN

Throughout their studies, students are provided with the opportunity of participating in training courses or internships that undoubtedly holds significant advantages for when they enter the job market. There are also many career centers within universities helping with counselling and advise on what career paths one should pursue and how to prepare oneself for an interview. Students can also work during their studies if they need additional financial support. However, they should bare in mind that there are certain restrictions such as working hours per week or work permits. Student jobs are available on campus or outside of the university. For those who wish to work in Bonn the city also offers many working possibilities as the local economy is quite well developed as well. The headquarters of many large corporations such as Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom and Haribo are located in Bonn and have some very interesting offers for qualified professionals. Although there are job offers in English and more and more people who are speaking it, job hunting can turn out to be more significantly more successful for those who speak the official language. Job offers can be also viewed in the “Career” section on universitaet.com.