Speyer AT A GLANCE

SPEYER AT A GLANCE

On the west bank of the Rhine River lies a quiet city that is believed to be one of Germany’s oldest cities, dating from ancient Roman times. Nowadays, Speyer is home to over 50,000 citizens as well as to one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, namely the Speyer Cathedral, the world’s largest surviving Romanesque church, whose construction began in the 11th century. The mighty building is not the only historical landmark in the city, as there are other awe-inspiring medieval churches and sites that are reflecting the ancient architecture. In addition to the rich historical heritage, Speyer also offers its citizens and visitors high-class gardens and parks with green areas – perfect for relaxation. All of this, combined with the outstanding quality of life and renowned university, is what attracts so many students from all over the world each year. Located in the Upper Rhine plain, Speyer is one of the warmest regions in Germany. Summer months include many sunny days with temperatures above 25 °C and are quite dry due to the low precipitation in this area. During wintertime weather is relatively mild with temperatures dropping below 0 °C but it does not feel freezing cold. Snow cover may last for about 20 to 30 days but rarely more than this period. The city’s infrastructure in terms of transportation and road traffic is quite well organized, making it easy to travel to and from Speyer. Traveling to cities like Heidelberg and Mannheim takes no more than half an hour by train or by car. The local public transport is serviced by city buses operating within Speyer and the surrounding areas.

Academic Year

Summer Semester: May – July / Winter Semester: November – January

Official Language

German

Higher Education Institutions

Population

50378

Living Costs

800 EUR

STUDYING IN SPEYER

In Speyer there is only one higher education institute. Founded in 1947 as an academy for administrative sciences, it was later on granted the status of a university and became the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer. Nowadays the university offers study programs in the field of Public Administration at Master’s level. In addition, it is also authorized to award doctoral degree in three fields: Administrative Sciences, Laws, as well as Politics and Economy. The university has approximately 400 students enrolled, which allows more personal approach on the part of the tutors. What also makes German University of Administrative Sciences unique is its study concept of combining administrative practice and interdisciplinary scientific approach. International students are also welcome to the university and can receive further assistance from the International Office located on campus. Finding the ideal accommodation can be sometimes challenging, especially for foreign students. However, the university takes this aspect into account by providing rooms and flats to its students. Although there are only few residence halls, the university offers a private accommodation referral services, which allows students to rent directly from landlords around the city. Due to this service, the number of apartments and rooms on offer has significantly increased in recent years, since landlords have had so many positive experiences with students.

SPEYER LIFESTYLE

As most of the cities in Germany, Speyer offers its inhabitants and visitors a high-quality life and a rich variety of cultural events and leisure activities. There are many fantastic events taking place throughout the year like popular festivals, street markets, open-air concerts and more. Students who would like to get a taste of the local lifestyle and discover more about the traditions in Speyer should definitely attend at least one of those events. One of the biggest festivals in the Upper Rhine region is the Speyer Brezelfest, celebrated for six days on end and attracting about 300,000 visitors from all parts of Germany and abroad. After visiting all of the historical landmarks in the inner city, students should also explore the surrounding region as it offers perfect hiking and cycling paths among the woods, especially in the Palatinate region. Another typical trait of this area are the many vineyards producing delicious grapes used for the local wine. Wine culture is highly appreciated here and celebrated through festivals and wine-tasting events. Right next to Speyer, students can visit Binshof, a recreational area with Spa facilities, beaches and lakes with excellent water quality where scuba diving is often practiced.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN SPEYER

The German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer aims at providing equal chances for every student when it comes to establishing a successful career. Therefore, the university encourages students to attend career events and participate in various training workshops throughout their studies. Such experiences turn out to be very beneficial for young adults who have not encountered experienced professionals before. In addition, the university has developed many internship and exchange programs allowing students to get a better understanding of the real-life working environment or discover new opportunities abroad by spending a semester or two in a foreign country. Speyer is a high-performance center within the Rhine-Neckar area, which is the reason why the city has been attractive for so many companies and investors over the past few years. Furthermore, people here are encouraged by the municipality to develop their start-up business ideas, which can be easily fulfilled also with the financial aid of the local banks. Such vibrant environment is an ideal place for young adults who would like to gain work experiences in the early stages of their career development. Also, universitaet.com offers students the opportunity to browse through current job offers in Speyer or other cities in Germany and get a better understanding of what to expect after their graduation.

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