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View of the Bayreuth city centre from above
©iStock.com/Christian Bay

Studying in Bayreuth

Bayreuth offers you 30 degree programmes in English at 2 higher education institutions.

Located in idyllic Upper Franconia, Bayreuth is world-famous for the composer Richard Wagner and the annual “Bayreuther Festspiele” taking place on the city’s Green Hill. The city itself is characterised by short walking distances, a charming city centre and a diverse pub and restaurant scene. Interesting not only for students: Upper Franconia is the region with the highest density of breweries in the world.

Bayreuth is one of Germany's youngest cities and is idyllically located on the banks of the Roter Main river in the heart of Upper Franconia. Around 75,000 inhabitants and almost 14,000 students, around 15 percent of whom come from abroad, make Bayreuth a thriving city with numerous opportunities.

The Franconian city is known worldwide for its rich cultural heritage and impressive sights - but much more interesting for students is certainly the lively student community with many initiatives and organisations. Bayreuth is home to two higher education institutions, both of which enjoy a good reputation: the University of Bayreuth with a wide range of courses and the specialised Bayreuth University of Protestant Church Music. Cutting-edge research is also located in the city with facilities of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, such as the Fraunhofer Project Group for Process Innovation, the Fraunhofer Branch Business & Information Systems Engineering and the Fraunhofer Center for High Temperature Materials and Design.

The picturesque streets and alleys of the city centre have an extraordinary charm and are lively meeting places. You're sure to meet up with your friends often in Sophienstraße and Von-Römer-Straße, and life pulsates in countless bars, cafés and shops in Maximilianstraße.

Life in Bayreuth

75,000 residents

  • High-speed train connections

    Bamberg train station in 49 km distance

  • International airport

    Nuremberg airport in 62 km distance

  • Coast

    Baltic Sea in 450 km distance

  • Mountain range

    Franconian Jura in 10 km distance

  • Other countries

    Czech Republic in 60 km distance

  • Attractions within 100 km

    • Ochsenkopf Mountain in 20 km distance

    • Lake Fichtelsee in 22 km distance

    • Nuremberg in 66 km distance

    • Bavarian Brewery Museum in 21 km distance

2 higher education institutions in Bayreuth

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Subject groups of degree programmes in Bayreuth

There is a wide range of degree programmes in Bayreuth. Here you can see the main subject groups. Currently, degree programmes in Bayreuth are mainly offered in the subject group Mathematics, Natural Sciences, followed by Teaching Degrees and Language and Cultural Studies. Find out more information here about the subject groups and degree programmes offered in Germany.
  • 0

    Agricultural and Forest Sciences

  • 13

    Humanities and Social Sciences

  • 52

    Mathematics, Natural Sciences

  • 12

    Art, Music, Design

  • 32

    Language and Cultural Studies

  • 7

    Medicine, Health Sciences

  • 27

    Economic Sciences, Law

  • 21

    Engineering Sciences

  • 52

    Teaching Degrees

Watercourse in the shade of green trees in the Hofgarten
©Val Thoermer – stock.adobe.com

Only for Wagner enthusiasts? Hardly, Bayreuth also delights with historic parks.

The Richard Wagner Festival has been filling the auditorium of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus since 1876.

Local delicacies are a big thing in Franconia. Whether it's beer, bratwurst or potato dumplings and cabbage, you'll find your new favourite dish here! There are trendy pubs right in the centre of Bayreuth, or you can join your friends at one of the beer gardens in the surrounding countryside. The beer culture here enjoys a unique reputation: Bayreuth is in the middle of Upper Franconia, and thus in the region with the highest density of breweries worldwide. The hefeweizen from the Bayreuth breweries is particularly popular throughout Germany.

Especially in summer, you can daydream and enjoy fresh air and nature in historic parks, such as the Hermitage with its rococo-style palaces. The Ökologisch-Botanischer Garten of the University of Bayreuth is also a wonderful place to relax after a strenuous day in class. If you like to distract yourself with culture, you will find a varied programme in the numerous museums and theatres. Or are you more the sporty type who likes to be active to let go of stress? Then you'll find two mountain ranges right on your doorstep: Franconian Switzerland and the Fichtel Mountains are criss-crossed by many hiking trails, or you can try out climbing routes, cycling and skiing.

If you want to party, don't miss the many festivals in the city. The carnival in February attracts many guests and may remind you of the Cologne carnival. The eleven-day Bayreuth Folk Festival in summer also offers numerous attractions for everyone.

Public transport in Bayreuth is well-developed, but you can easily reach every place in the city on foot anyways. What's also good is the below average rent. You will have to pay less for a flat or a room in a shared flat than the average in Germany, and the waiting time for a room in a student hall of residence is also much shorter. Still, it’s best to research information early on so that you can find a place that really suits you.

Bayreuth’s landmark is the tower of the castle church in the city centre. You can climb it on a guided tour and enjoy an impressive view of the city at sunset.

A young woman walks through the city
A young woman walks through the cityJan von Allwörden / DAAD

You can find more information at study-in-germany.de

For more information on living and studying in Bayreuth, visit the city portraits at study-in-germany.de