View of the castle and the city of Heidelberg from the Scheffel Terrace

Studying in Heidelberg

Heidelberg offers you 33 degree programmes in English at 6 higher education institutions.

With the picturesque ruins of Schloss Heidelberg sitting on a hill above the old town’s cobblestone streets and squares, Heidelberg is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. As the country’s oldest university town, the city’s pubs and restaurants cater to students. To relax, spend a sunny day at the Neckarwiese park along the river, or take a trip to the surrounding Pfalz wine region.

Heidelberg is internationally well-known for its educational institutions: among the six local higher education institutions is Germany's oldest university, the Ruprecht Karls University of Heidelberg, which was founded as early as 1386. In addition, there are numerous research institutes, including in particular the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), several Max Planck Institutes and the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS). Together, they ensure that the scientific community in Heidelberg has an excellent international network and is one of the strongest research locations in Europe. In addition to informal cooperation, there are also many institutionalised alliances and inter-institutional cooperation projects that underline Heidelberg's leading role and excellent reputation in the scientific landscape. The many students and researchers, including international ones, characterise the lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city.

The centre of Heidelberg is the historic old town – not very big, but all the more picturesque for it. It invites you to stroll through the cosy pedestrian zone with your friends, do a bit of shopping or take a break in one of the many cafés. Due to the large number of students, Heidelberg has several student cafeterias that offer inexpensive and varied snacks and meals. Especially at lunchtime, they can also be quite crowded; then you will find many pubs and eateries in the centre and surrounding districts that have something to offer for every taste and budget.

Life in Heidelberg

162,000 residents

High-speed train connections
In close vicinity
International airport
Frankfurt airport in 71 km distance
Coast
North Sea in 420 km distance
Mountain range
Odenwald in 5 km distance
Other countries
France in 60 km distance
Attractions within 100 km
- Neckarwiese park in close vicinity
- Heidelberg Castle in close vicinity

Study in Heidelberg

6 higher education institutions in Heidelberg

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Subject groups of degree programmes in Heidelberg

There is a wide range of degree programmes in Heidelberg. Here you can see the main subject groups. Currently, degree programmes in Heidelberg are mainly offered in the subject group Teaching Degrees, followed by Language and Cultural Studies 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
48
Humanities and Social Sciences
43
Mathematics, Natural Sciences
14
Art, Music, Design
118
Language and Cultural Studies
23
Medicine, Health Sciences
32
Economic Sciences, Law
17
Engineering Sciences
155
Teaching Degrees

People sit outside of the Zeughaus Cafeteria in Marstall.

Students can enjoy their breaks in a historic setting.

Heidelberg is one of the top locations in science and research. Around 17 percent of jobs in Heidelberg are provided by the university and other research institutions.

When the sun comes out, the locals are drawn outside. The beer gardens and sunny terraces give the city an almost Mediterranean feel. Or you can go to the Neckarwiese park by the river, where you can sunbathe or rent a boat, kayak or canoe with your friends.

Your free time in Heidelberg will fill up quickly: if the weather is good, you should definitely take a hike along the Philosophenweg. The two-kilometre-long path is very steep in parts, but you will be rewarded for your efforts with truly picture-postcard views. Again and again, there are viewing platforms that offer you a magnificent view of the old town, the Neckar, the historic Old Bridge, the castle on the opposite bank and the Königstuhl, the highest mountain in the Odenwald. Perhaps the best time of year for this is autumn with its golden light and the colourful foliage of the trees and vineyards. Of course, you should also visit the castle – and if you don't want to climb up there, you can also take the Bergbahn rail.

Also worth a visit is the Heidelberg Thing site on the Heiligenberg, which was built in 1934/1935 on the model of ancient Greek theatres and was once intended to be used for National Socialist propaganda events. Today it is a freely accessible cultural monument. Heidelberg also has a lively and varied cultural scene with several theatres, many cinemas, various museums and galleries, the zoo and the botanical garden.

Heidelberg is not only about science and research, the city is also economically strong. Various global companies, especially in the life sciences, maintain research facilities in the city. For the transfer of knowledge and exchange between research and practice, the city established the Technology Park as early as 1984, where renowned state research institutions and companies have settled. Modern solutions in the field of artificial intelligence are jointly developed here, and innovative products are created in the fields of biotechnology, medical technology as well as information and communication technology.

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