DISCOVER VECHTA
FIND YOUR STUDY PROGRAM IN VECHTA
VECHTA AT A GLANCE
Vechta is a city located in western Lower Saxony that has more than 30,000 citizens. The city is also home to two higher education institutes that together currently have around 6,000 students enrolled. What makes this lovely place so charming and appealing to students and expats is its unique atmosphere that combines the tranquility and serenity of a rural town while striving to grow and adopt the lifestyle typical for a metropolis. Vechta is also quite popular with its large horse-loving community. Among the many horse riding schools and clubs, the Oldenburg’s Horse Breeding Society is the largest one in the whole country. Horse breeding and equestrian sports are one of the long-established traditions here in Vechta followed by locals in present days. The climate in Vechta is rather moderate and somewhat influenced by wet northwest winds coming from the North Sea. Summers here are warm with average temperatures of about 19 °C, whereas winters are cold and dry with temperatures reaching as far as -1 °C during January, which is the coldest month. Vechta has a direct road connection with Bremen and Osnabrück, which makes traveling to and from the city quite easy and fast with the use of a car or an intercity bus. In addition, further regions in Germany can be also explored by using the railway service. The public transport within the city is serviced by buses operating throughout all of Vechta’s districts.
Academic Year
Summer Semester: April – September / Winter Semester: October – March
Official Language
German
Higher Education Institutions
2
Population
32433
Living Costs
675 – 700 Euro
STUDYING IN VECHTA
Vechta is a young and vibrant city and therefore education plays a key role here. In addition to the kindergartens, elementary schools and high-schools, the city also has two higher learning institutes. The University of Vechta and the Private University of Economics and Technology have been around for years providing attractive study and research programs along with an outstanding quality of teaching. The University of Vechta is a traditional, state-owned research university. It offers twelve degree courses concentrated on the fields of Teacher Training, Social Sciences, Social Work, Philosophy and Gerontology, and taught across three faculties. More than 5,000 students have enrolled over the past years, of which some 200 are international students. The university has a modern campus equipped with latest technologies ensuring excellent conditions for studying and a relaxing environment in between lectures. The Private University of Economics and Technology, on the other hand, has nearly 1,000 students and as suggested by its name, is under private ownership. The range of the degree courses offered here covers the areas of Business Administration, Mechanical, Electrical and Industrial Engineering, and Mechatronics. Similar to any other city in Germany, internationalization is one of the key priorities for both universities in order to expand the multicultural society established in Vechta. Furthermore, both institutes offer each student the possibility to participate in an exchange program and discover foreign cultures by spending a semester or two abroad. The International Offices established in both campuses are in charge of taking care of foreign students and assisting them with their stay. Finding a place to live is a common concern especially among newcomer, however it should not be a challenge when it comes to living in Vechta. Inexpensive and attractive housing is offered in the student residence halls, where furnished rooms and shared flats can be found. The price range for a room in a dormitory with all bills included varies between 170 and 350 EUR per month. Alternatively, housing options can also be found on the private housing market.
VECHTA LIFESTYLE
The lifestyle in Vechta is everything a young adult can wish for. There is a wide variety of opportunities, from cultural events, through all sorts of student initiatives, to leisure and entertainment activities. All year round the city also hosts all types of social events like festivals and fairs, open-air concerts and, perhaps the more popular among students, the University ball. In addition, the university allows creatively inclined individuals to express themselves through acting, dancing, singing or playing musical instruments by simply joining one of the artistic or musical groups on campus. A wide range of sports activities and courses are available throughout Vechta in the many sporting facilities providing outdoor and indoor swimming pools, tennis courts, soccer fields and more. The surrounding areas of the city are also perfect for exercising and keeping a good body shape with hiking, climbing or cycling while exploring the beautiful nature. Within the inner parts of the city, students will find a great diversity of venues offering all sorts of entertainment. Vechta’s agenda is filled with cultural events allowing young adults to explore in depth the local traditions. From the Electro festival to the Medieval Market, one can try delicious street food and local brews while having fun with friends and family. There is also a cinema with six halls showing the latest movies, most of which are in their original language so that expats can enjoy as well.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN VECHTA
While other small cities might be shrinking, Vechta makes an exception with its fast-growing community and booming economy. Currently many local companies are vigorously looking for engineers, lawyers, doctors, multilingual sales managers, copywriters and all sorts of skilled workers in various fields. Furthermore, the city offers a lot more professional prospects for everyone who is motivated and driven to contribute not only to his personal career development but also to the growth of Vechta’s economy. Both universities are also contributing to the local industries by sharing key findings and results from various research projects conducted by scientists, professors and students. Although degrees obtained from both universities are indeed recognized worldwide, graduates can still establish the foundations of their future careers right here in Vechta. Throughout the course of their studies, students are encouraged to attend career events and take part in an internship program in order to explore a real working environment and gain first-hand experience. Exchange programs are also available where everyone who would like to participate can travel abroad and study for one or two semesters in a foreign university. Students interested in the labor market can search under the “Career” section on universitaet.com where they will find detailed information about current job offers in Vechta and other German cities.