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Karlsruhe Palace with park and visitors
© KTG Karlsruhe Tourismus GmbH Fabian von Poser

Studying in Karlsruhe

Karlsruhe offers you 28 degree programmes in English at 11 higher education institutions.

Law and democracy, that’s what many people associate with Karlsruhe, as the home of the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Supreme Court. But Karlsruhe can be fun, too! There is the open-air festival DAS FEST which attracts national and international artists – plus, tickets are affordable. The unique fan-shaped layout, the many parks and gardens and the Mediterranean climate contribute to the relaxed atmosphere.

In Karlsruhe, you will find many different exciting and innovative degree programmes. The city's higher education institutions are particularly renowned for their excellent know-how in the engineering sciences. In the visionary field of artificial intelligence, the Competence Centre for AI Engineering was established with funding from the state of Baden-Württemberg. There, Karlsruhe's higher education institutions and research institutes are working together to combine their strength and make scientific breakthroughs available to industry.

But no matter which degree programme or higher education institution you choose, if you want to take a breather after class, you can enjoy the city's relaxed and cosy atmosphere. Despite a really good selection of pubs, restaurants and clubs, you shouldn't expect the nightlife to be as lively as in other large German cities. The advantage of a smaller city? Your rent should be noticeably lower than in cities like Munich or Hamburg.

And yet the city has a lot to offer: DAS FEST is one of the biggest open-air events in Germany and takes place practically every summer. Although international acts perform alongside German artists, ticket prices remain affordable.

Life in Karlsruhe

309,000 residents

  • High-speed train connections

    In close vicinity

  • International airport

    Stuttgart airport in 69 km distance

  • Coast

    North Sea in 450 km distance

  • Mountain range

    Black Forest in 20 km distance

  • Other countries

    France in 20 km distance

  • Attractions within 100 km

    • Turmberg Hill in 7 km distance

    • Karlsruhe Palace in close vicinity

    • Open air DAS FEST in close vicinity

11 higher education institutions in Karlsruhe

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Subject groups of degree programmes in Karlsruhe

There is a wide range of degree programmes in Karlsruhe. Here you can see the main subject groups. Currently, degree programmes in Karlsruhe are mainly offered in the subject group Teaching Degrees, followed by Engineering Sciences and Economic Sciences, Law. Find out more information here about the subject groups and degree programmes offered in Germany.
  • 0

    Agricultural and Forest Sciences

  • 32

    Humanities and Social Sciences

  • 64

    Mathematics, Natural Sciences

  • 46

    Art, Music, Design

  • 15

    Language and Cultural Studies

  • 11

    Medicine, Health Sciences

  • 67

    Economic Sciences, Law

  • 88

    Engineering Sciences

  • 123

    Teaching Degrees

Karlsruhe pyramid on the market square
©karlo54 – stock.adobe.com

On Saturdays, there is a market with food, drink and handicrafts in the city centre.

Karlsruhe has lots to offer leisure-wise being close to the Black Forest, the French Alsace and the picturesque Southern Palatinate.

Karlsruhe has a very unique architectural layout and is quite rightly called the "fan city". Seen from above, the city’s streets resemble a fan. The city originally grew around Karlsruhe Castle and is divided into two parts, with dense development in the city centre south of the castle and a "green city" with parks and forests in the north. Karlsruhe has some impressive architectural highlights: The most famous is Karlsruhe Castle, an 18th-century Baroque palace, and the market square in the city centre is dominated by a pyramid.

Around this pyramid and in the nearby streets, the “Fest der Sinne” (Festival of the Senses) always takes place in spring. You should check it out if you are interested in local arts and crafts or want to try out Baden cuisine. At the street festival, you'll find a wide variety of stalls that welcome you to buy and try things out.

The local Baden cuisine is known for traditional dishes and delicacies such as Spätzle, a type of egg noodles, Käsespätzle, i.e. Spätzle with cheese, or Flammkuchen, a thin, crispy flatbread often with onions and bacon. And the sunny and warm climate in Karlsruhe not only guarantees a good mood but also offers ideal conditions for wine growing. You can therefore taste your way through the delicious regional wines.

If you enjoy outdoor activities, you've come to the right place: Karlsruhe is a great city for hiking and spending time outdoors. If you want to go kayaking, the nature reserve Altrhein Maxau is recommended. After the Rhine was regulated and straightened, parts of the natural riverbed were preserved and this area is not only worth protecting because of its ecosystem, but also beautiful.

Alternatively, you can take a day trip to Heidelberg, which is only a short train ride away. Heidelberg is famous for its breathtaking views of the river and its historic old town. Other interesting destinations are Strasbourg, Freiburg and the small villages of the Murgtal.

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 Karlsruhe, visit the city portraits at study-in-germany.de