Witten AT A GLANCE

WITTEN AT A GLANCE

In the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, southeast of the Ruhr, lies Witten, a university town with more than 90,000 citizens. Once famous for its coal mining industry, the city is nowadays quite popular, especially among young adults with its private university Witten-Herdecke. In addition to the exceptional education students can receive here, Witten also offers an ideal living environment with the beautiful nature within and around the city, as well as its hospitality and vibrant cultural life. From the ruins of medieval castles to abandoned shaft mines, one can explore over 1,000 years of history by visiting the local landmarks. Today Witten has changed into a much greener city with beautiful green landscapes and forests spreading over the surrounding areas. The climate in Witten is rather temperate, with an average annual temperature of 10 °C. Summers here are warm, with temperatures ranging between 14 °C and 25 °C, and significant amounts of rainfall might occur during the months between June and August. Winters are relatively mild, with temperatures often staying above 0 °C even in the coldest month, which is January. Witten is within a very close proximity to bigger cities like Dortmund and Bochum, which means traveling to and from the city is quite easy. The most common means of transportation is the railway service that allows students to explore the rest of the country using their semester tickets.

Academic Year

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

Official Language

German

Higher Education Institutions

Population

96563

Living Costs

750 – 850 EUR

STUDYING IN WITTEN

The Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H) has been established in 1983 as the first private university in Germany with only 27 medical students. Nowadays, the university has more than 2,500 students, which shows the steady growth of the institute throughout the years. One of the main goals of Witten/Herdecke University is to provide a rather personal atmosphere and ensure optimal support throughout the entire course of studies. The university is composed of three faculties: Faculty of Health, Faculty of Management and Economics, and Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The Faculty of Health is the largest one and divided into four schools: the School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, School of Psychology, and School of Medicine. Many international students place their trust in the university, which is why UW/H came up with several bilingual degree programs at Bachelor’s level and three courses taught exclusively in English at Master’s level. It is true that the university does not have a hall of residence, however finding accommodation in the city is quite easy and will hardly pose any challenges among students coming to Witten for the first time. Not everything is academic in nature that students might need help with once they are accepted at the university. This is why the International Office on campus offers guidance to everyone who is struggling with their stay in Witten. Furthermore, international students can integrate easily into the university life due to the rich diversity of students. In addition, the university also offers weekly German language courses on three competence levels so that foreigners can improve their skills faster

WITTEN LIFESTYLE

Witten offers a good lifestyle where young adults can enjoy a variety of outdoor and indoor activities as well as cultural events of all sorts all year round. Most of the events take place at Saalbau Witten or at Haus Witten – both large buildings where locals often go to enjoy theatrical plays, musical performances played by renowned orchestras, dance shows, and cabaret performances. Students also like to hang out at the WerkStadt where a diverse program focused mostly on comedy offers the perfect opportunity for students to unwind from the busy study schedule. Over the past few years, a large scene of bars, pubs and clubs has been developed around the city center where bands of all kinds perform live all genres of music. A must see in Witten is the annual Onion Festival, held in the first weekend of September. During that time the downtown is transformed into boisterous place with onion-decorated carriages, a craft market and fun competitions. Leisure time here can be also spent practicing various outdoor and indoor activities. The beautiful nature on the outskirts of the Ruhr offers great opportunities for hiking and camping in the woods and mountains. There are around 150 kilometers of marked hiking routes that enthusiasts can choose from if they decide to spend their weekends among nature. Within the inner parts of the city, there are several green parks where locals often spend their free time having a picnic, a long walk or playing sports. In addition, Witten also has many cafés, restaurants and great shopping opportunities – a true magnet for those who would like to indulge in exceptional gastronomical experiences or keep up with the latest fashion trends.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN WITTEN

Coal mining was once a significant economic sector in Witten setting the pulse of the city along with iron and steel industries. Nowadays, other more contemporary sectors have surfaced, defining Witten’s economy. Many medium-sized companies and large enterprises occupying leading positions in the global market have established their businesses in the past years. Some of the most developed sectors here are in the fields of Metal production, Steel and Mechanical engineering, Electrical engineering and Chemistry positioning Witten as a scientific and technological location. Around 60% of the all employers are working in the Service Sector creating more career opportunities in number and diversity. Students who wish to gain some practical experience and observe in depth the labor market can do so by engaging with an internship program while studying. The Career Service office at the Witten/Herdecke University serves as the interface between students and companies allowing young adults to explore the professional world by establishing new connections with different companies through the career events organized by the Career Service office. In addition, student can also turn to the experts working at the office for any advice and guidance related to their future careers. Universitaet.com is also offering a list with the current job offers in Witten and other cities across Germany that can be found under the Career Section on the website.

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