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PADERBORN AT A GLANCE
Paderborn is one of the oldest towns in the North Rhine-Westphalia state, established over 1200 years ago by Charlemagne, the king of the Francs. Nowadays, the city carries a significant importance for the development of the IT industries in this region, with numerous headquarters of large IT companies established here. The reason behind all of this is Heinz Nixdorf, a famous German entrepreneur and pioneer in computer technologies who is also the inspiration for the creation of the Heinz Nixdorf museum – the biggest computer museum in the world. Apart from its IT fame, Paderborn surprises many newcomers with its modern appearance developed throughout recent years yet still retaining the beautiful medieval architecture across the old city center and the green landscapes around the shores of the Pader River that runs straight through Paderborn. The perfect balance between the urban and the rural as well as the quiet atmosphere make this charming city a great place for young adults wishing to pursue their higher education in one of the renowned universities that Paderborn has. Because of the city’s close proximity to the Teutoburg Forest, the climate here can sometimes experience continental influences. Winters here are rather mild, while summertime days are moderately warm with average temperature of 22 °C. Paderborn is considered to be one of the wettest cities in this region, so heavy or light rain might occur all year round. The local infrastructure in terms of transportation is well organized, allowing easy access to Paderborn by car, train or plane. Getting around requires also little effort with city buses as the sole means of public transportation, connecting all districts. Also, (night) buses operate during weekends and on some public holidays. Expats coming here should have some basic knowledge of the German language so they can integrate easily, however there is quite large English-speaking community in the city because of the British garrison located nearby.
Academic Year
Summer Semester: April – September / Winter Semester: October – February
Official Language
German
Higher Education Institutions
3
Population
149075
Living Costs
850 EUR
STUDYING IN PADERBORN
The number of students coming to Paderborn for their studies has increased significantly in the recent years. Out of the four higher education institutes located or established here only one is public, namely the University of Paderborn. The latter has over 20,000 students enrolled for the past year, of whom nearly 2,000 are with foreign backgrounds. This institute is a traditional campus university, offering 62 degree programs covering the fields of Humanities and Social Sciences, Technology, Economics and other. Special emphasis in terms of both teaching and research is computer science, which is also the strongest area in the city in general. The Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia, FHDW – University of Applied Sciences and the Faculty of Theology Paderborn are all private institutes with a narrower focus in the fields of Theology, Health Sciences, Social Services, Business Administration and Information Science for Business. New arrivals here might find it difficult to cope with the many steps they will have to take before their complete adaptation to the new environment is finally a fact. For example, one of the most important things for any future student is undoubtedly the place to live. Finding comfortable accommodation is key to the perfect balance between studying and leisure. The student organization Studierendenwerk Paderborn manages five student residence halls in the city. Most of the rooms are furnished and with bills included in the rental price that varies between 200 and 375 EUR per month, depending on the type of the accommodation. As this is a common preference among students the availability of rooms and flats might be limited especially towards the start of the semester. Other housing opportunities can be also found on the private market of Paderborn.
PADERBORN LIFESTYLE
Despite its compact size, Paderborn actually offers a very diverse cultural life with different activities some of organized by the universities themselves. Students have the chance to join a large variety of university societies and groups focused on things such as sports, arts, theatrical performances, musical performances, and many others. The usual forms of entertainments such as art exhibitions, movie nights, dance clubs and bars, festivals or fairs can be all found here and what is best some of them can be very inexpensive for students due to the many discounts and promotions offered by the venues in Paderborn. The inner city offers many shopping opportunities for those who prefer to cook at home, live a healthy vegetarian or vegan lifestyle or even keep up with the latest fashion trends. Nature here should not be overlooked at all since Paderborn has the shortest river in Germany that springs from the center of the city right next to the cathedral. What is interesting is that the river receives water from 200 springs and although short is actually quite wide. Down the river there is a beautiful park with vast green fields where locals often go to relax, play sports or gather with friends for a picnic on the weekends. Another highlight are the many funfairs and festivals taking place throughout the year such as the traditional Christmas markets, the Libori festival celebrated twice a year and attracting around two million visitors, as well as many open-air events with concerts, street food, culinary specialties and many fun activities.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN PADERBORN
Work is an inseparable part of everyone’s life and comes with a different purpose and meaning for each person. For some it is a mere source of financial support, for others it is a way to get away from boredom and achieve inner creative satisfaction. Often the purpose of work is defined by the different stages in one’s life. For example, not all students are fortunate to spend their years in university focused only on the studying part, some need to work and support themselves. However, this is no challenge for those coming to Germany and living in a smaller sized city such as Paderborn. Everything here is much cheaper compared to bigger cities in the country and there are plenty of working opportunities across the university campuses and within the city itself. Students must be aware that there are certain requirements in terms of work permits for international students and limitations on working hours of up to 10-15 per week. Working opportunities in Paderborn are not only limited to working at the university library or being a bartender, graduates can benefit from the well-developed IT industry here. As already established, Paderborn is an important center for the computer and information technologies not only in Germany but in Europe as well. As business location the city is very dynamic and diverse with an impressive list of around 280 companies making the city very employer-friendly. It is true that students graduating from a German university can pursue a career almost anywhere around the world, however establishing the foundations of a successful career in the country itself is a pretty realistic goal too that should be considered. Furthermore, students are generally able to receive further guidance and advice throughout their studies with the help of the Career Service office in the respective campus. In addition, universitaet.com also offers a “Career” section where users can find relevant job offers in Paderborn or in other cities in the German-speaking region.