View of the rooftops of Dortmund, with the building Dortmund U in the foreground

Studying in Dortmund

Dortmund offers you 31 degree programmes in English at 7 higher education institutions.

Just like many cities in the Ruhr region, Dortmund is not the prettiest, but it is exciting! Where once mining and industry dominated, now art, culture and creative businesses have taken over. The Dortmund “U” and its neighbourhood are only one example of this transition. People from 160 nations contribute to the city’s colourfulness – except when the BVB, the local football team, is playing. Then everything glows black and yellow!

Welcome to the Ruhrpott – that's how the Ruhr region is often colloquially referred to. Once a city of coal mining and steel industry, Dortmund has undergone profound structural change. The industrial charm has remained, but by no means the grey colour – around half of the city area is now green. Numerous parks adorn the city and invite you to relax. One of the best known is the Westfalenpark, also known as Dortmund's green lung. For a few euros entrance fee, you can relax on the lakes, admire the zoo and the flower gardens or find refreshment in one of the cafés and restaurants on an area of almost 500,000 sqm. You're guaranteed to come back to your next course with fresh energy!

And the industrial culture? You can experience it at places like the Hansa coking plant in the harbour district, the Hympendahl Viaduct in Westfalenpark or on the former steelworks’ grounds of the Phoenix. The Phoenix site in particular is a prime example of change in Dortmund: the Phoenix Lake, for example, has developed into a local recreation area. Here you can walk around the lake, watch the sailing boats bobbing on the waves at the harbour or stop off at cafés and restaurants along the boulevard. And for those who like to party, the Phoenix Hall offers numerous events and concerts.

Life in Dortmund

593,000 residents

High-speed train connections
In close vicinity
International airport
In close vicinity
Coast
North Sea in 230 km distance
Mountain range
Sauerland in 30 km distance
Other countries
The Netherlands in 100 km distance
Attractions within 100 km
- Ship lifts in Waltrop in 15 km distance
- Ruin of Hohensyburg Castle in 11 km distance
- Dortmund–Ems Canal at Dortmund-Lindenhorst in close vicinity

Study in Dortmund

7 higher education institutions in Dortmund

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Subject groups of degree programmes in Dortmund

There is a wide range of degree programmes in Dortmund. Here you can see the main subject groups. Currently, degree programmes in Dortmund are mainly offered in the subject group Teaching Degrees, followed by Economic Sciences, Law and Humanities and Social Sciences. Find out more information here about the subject groups and degree programmes offered in Germany.

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Agricultural and Forest Sciences
72
Humanities and Social Sciences
54
Mathematics, Natural Sciences
43
Art, Music, Design
36
Language and Cultural Studies
22
Medicine, Health Sciences
109
Economic Sciences, Law
68
Engineering Sciences
169
Teaching Degrees

Sail boat on the Phoenix Lake in the sunshine, in the background are houses.

Green Ruhr region: You can't swim in the Phoenix Lake, but you can go boating.

Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund is the largest football stadium in Germany.

In Dortmund, around 55,000 students mingle with the approximately 600,000 inhabitants. This is not surprising, because Dortmund offers a lot to students: Several higher education institutions cover a wide spectrum of subjects and degree programmes, some of which are practice-oriented and others more theory-based. In addition, you won’t have any trouble finding a flat – it’ll even be affordable compared to many student cities!

To get from A to B in Dortmund, the bicycle is not always your best choice: Dortmund is not necessarily the most bicycle-friendly city. However, a cycling plan has been drawn up by the local urban planning agency and things may change in the next few years. What's more, at most higher education institutions in Dortmund you’ll get a so-called NRW ticket and can explore the entire state by public transport for free!

But you don't necessarily have to leave the city for a variety of leisure activities, because there is a lot to experience right here in Dortmund. The city has several international festivals to offer: events such as the literature festival, the dance, theatre and jazz festivals or the culture days and light shows invite you to party with your friends. And you'll also find a wide range of nightlife options here.

Do you want to really immerse yourself in the local culture? Then make sure you go to a football match! In Dortmund, people get really excited about football and BVB's victories are celebrated properly – "true love", as football fans say about their club. And on the way to the next game, a traditional snack is certainly not amiss to recharge your batteries for cheering on the team: for this, people like to eat salt cake with "Stößchen". "Stößchen" refers to one of the many local beer specialities. It is served in a 0.1-litre glass, which is perfect for tasting. And if you don't want to embarrass yourself and need some background knowledge about football, the football museum will certainly get you up to speed.

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

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

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