Study in Tübingen

Facts

91.506 Inhabitants ¹

27.040 Students ²

2 Higher education institutions ²

WELCOME TO TÜBINGEN

A picturesque old town with colourful half-timbered houses and narrow streets define the welcoming character of the compact and cosy town of Tübingen. Perched high above the town is Schloss Hohentübingen, while the river Neckar meanders through the valley.

Tübingen is a young town. The city’s approx. 28,000 students ensure that the town has a very youthful, vibrant feel. The faculties are spread all over Tübingen. Numerous clinic institutions are situated on Schnarrenberg and in the valley. There are more than 4,000 students at the medical faculties.

Tip

One Swabian speciality is „Maultaschen“. These square pasta cases are traditionally filled with minced meat, spinach, onions and soft white bread. There are vegetarian alternatives and many families have their own special recipes.

People from over 140 nations live in Tübingen. For the people of Tübingen, tolerance is a matter of great importance. The town also has an environment-friendly image and most people here are nature lovers. You’ll notice this as soon as you arrive at the station: there are bicycles everywhere. The town wants to avoid too much traffic and polluted air.

Interview

HARINI FROM INDIA

INTERVIEW WITH HARINI FROM INDIA

Harini Subbaraman is 24, comes from India and is studying for her Master’s degree in molecular medicine in Tübingen.

Why did you come to Tübingen to study?

I decided to come to Germany to study because the country is known for its good education system. Also, it doesn’t cost as much to study here as it does, say, in the US. I chose Tübingen because of the well-structured study programme. I’m doing a one-year Master’s degree in molecular medicine, which is very compactly structured. I am focussing on immunology and microbiology. Tübingen is a great town.

How did you prepare for your stay in Tübingen?

I did a few language courses at the Goethe-Institute in New Delhi. It wasn’t difficult finding somewhere to live, I just applied to the Studierendenwerk and was offered a room. In my experience, this is the best way to find accommodation quickly if you’re coming from somewhere else and can’t actually look at the room beforehand.

Was it difficult for you deciding to leave your home country?

Not at all. Nowadays, a lot of people want to travel and discover new things while they’re still young. Studying abroad is one way of doing this.

What helped you get used to everyday life in Tübingen?

The orientation programme helped me understand how the library works, for example, or how to get my student ID.

But there’s also a funny story: In the beginning, I didn’t know you had to press a button when you want to get off a bus in Germany. At home, buses always stop at every bus stop. So when there weren’t many people around one night, the bus just drove past my bus-stop and I didn’t know how to tell the driver that I’d missed my stop. When I finally made myself understood, the driver took me to the last stop and said he’d drop me off on the way back. But he forgot, so I drove too far yet again and had to find my home in the dark!

What is there to do here for students outside the higher education institution?

Tübingen has lots of nice hiking trails, it’s a good place for walking. In the summer, a lot of students like to hang out near the Stiftskirche, next to the town hall. You can buy a few beers and sit on the steps. The Neckar island is also very beautiful. It’s a nice setting and you can enjoy a drink in a bar with friends.

Describe Tübingen in three words

beautiful
international
vibrant

LIVING IN TÜBINGEN

Tübingen is located not far from the low mountain range known as the Schwäbische Alb, or Swabian Jura. The river Neckar and nearby mountains make the area the perfect place for trips and excursions. Hiking, boat trips or bike tours are popular activities. At the weekends, you can go punting on the Neckar in a Stocherkahn, a type of flat-bottomed boat. The fairytale castle Burg Hohenzollern near Tübingen fascinates visitors from all over the world.

Tübingen’s Christmas market is also rather special. In the winter, there’s an open-air cinema where local residents and students traditionally watch the cult German film „Feuerzangenbowle“ together. It’s also traditional to drink a mug of „Feuerzangenbowle“, rum punch, which the film is named after. Winter wouldn’t be winter in Germany without a „Feuerzangenbowle“!

Cafés, restaurants, shops and student bars abound in Tübingen.

You can party at lots of bars in Tübingen, especially on a Saturday night. A pub crawl, or „Kneipentour“, is a typical way of spending an evening at the weekend. You can go from bar to bar and enjoy a beer or long drink. A pub crawl usually ends in one of the bars or small dance clubs.

Links

Tübingen is famous for its „Apfelmost“. This is a lightly sparkling, slightly sour wine. The juice is obtained from apples from the region. On Sundays, students like to gather in a bar to watch the cult German TV series „Tatort“.

How to find a room in Tübingen

Many university and college towns have dormitories or student halls, and a room there is often the most affordable accommodation. To obtain a room in a dormitory or student hall, you have to apply to your college or university’s student union (). Our ‘Find Student Hall’ function can be of practical help. You only need to make a few mouse clicks to get to the online application form. Find a room and more information about dormitories and student halls in Tübingen.

Sources
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WELCOME TO TÜBINGEN

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HARINI FROM INDIA

LIVING IN TÜBINGEN

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How to find a room in Tübingen

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WELCOME TO TÜBINGEN

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HARINI FROM INDIA

LIVING IN TÜBINGEN

Links

How to find a room in Tübingen

Cities similar to Tübingen

UlmA CITY FULL OF HISTORY AND INNOVATION

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