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View of a calm river, with Magdeburg Cathedral on the bank
©iStock.com/Neurobite

Studying in Magdeburg

Magdeburg offers you 28 degree programmes in English at 4 higher education institutions.

Magdeburg is historic, modern and constantly in flux: you will find historic monuments like the cathedral and modern architecture like the Green Citadel by Hundertwasser. Nowadays, industrial areas are transforming into trendy neighbourhoods, high-tech companies are settling here and the “Port of Science” is becoming a science hub. At the same time, the many students enjoy the city’s moderate living costs and open spaces.

With more than 240,000 inhabitants, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt has a compact size. At the same time, you can find everything you need. In the old town, the historic heart of Magdeburg, there are many shops or you can just stroll around the streets and window shop. And if you want to spend an evening in an easygoing bar with friends, you'll find something here too. Hasselbachplatz in particular is full of trendy cafés and pubs. But nightlife doesn't only happen in this part of town. In Magdeburg, you can also party on former industrial sites or, in summer, directly on the banks of the Elbe River.

There are several higher education institutions in Magdeburg. Together, the 20,000 students contribute a great deal to the lively atmosphere of the city. The Magdeburg Student Days are a very special event: two weeks packed with beach parties, theatre and film screenings and open-air events organised by students for students.

Two of the higher education institutions, the University of Magdeburg and Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, run a joint sports centre with many offers for students. Almost all courses are free, so if you want to try out a new sport or meet new people, this might be something for you.

Life in Magdeburg

240,000 residents

  • High-speed train connections

    In close vicinity

  • International airport

    Leipzig/Halle airport in 88 km distance

  • Coast

    Baltic Sea in 205 km distance

  • Mountain range

    Harz in 55 km distance

  • Other countries

    Poland in 200 km distance

  • Attractions within 100 km

    • Colbitz Letzling Heath in 35 km distance

    • Green Citadel in close vicinity

    • Elbauenpark in 4 km distance

4 higher education institutions in Magdeburg

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Subject groups of degree programmes in Magdeburg

There is a wide range of degree programmes in Magdeburg. Here you can see the main subject groups. Currently, degree programmes in Magdeburg are mainly offered in the subject group Engineering Sciences, followed by Economic Sciences, Law and Mathematics, Natural Sciences. 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

  • 35

    Mathematics, Natural Sciences

  • 7

    Art, Music, Design

  • 18

    Language and Cultural Studies

  • 14

    Medicine, Health Sciences

  • 39

    Economic Sciences, Law

  • 62

    Engineering Sciences

  • 32

    Teaching Degrees

A person on the otherwise empty lawn in front of the Millennium Tower
©Denis Sandmann – stock.adobe.com

The Jahrtausendturm tower in the Elbauenpark is just one of Magdeburg's many attractions.

If you want to cool off on hot days, you can take the S-Bahn or the tram to Barleber Lake.

The city has no fewer than four parks that lie directly on the banks of the Elbe River. Rotehornpark is even right in the middle of it – directly on Werder Island. And although it is very close to the city centre, you won't even notice the noise and hustle and bustle of the city there. Reach the park via bridges and then stroll to the lake that is located on the island and rent a boat there. Or, while you're there, you can climb the Albinmüller Tower. From up there, you have a great view of the river and the city.

Even though Magdeburg was badly destroyed in the Second World War, many historic buildings and a remarkable architectural diversity have been preserved. You can’t miss the Gothic cathedral, the city's landmark, which is considerably older than the Cologne Cathedral, though that one is certainly better known. Emperor Otto I, who ruled the Holy Roman Empire partly from Magdeburg around the year 970, was buried here. But Magdeburg's modernist buildings are also among the city's architectural highlights. If you are interested, a trip to the Reform district is certainly exciting, where a garden city colony developed in the early 20th century, promising light, air and sun to working-class families. Even today, the neighbourhood is a relaxed idyll with a very special colour palette for the building facades.

The Reform district is particularly conveniently located for medical students and rents are low. Here you’ll be a little further away from the city centre, but public transport connections are numerous. Other interesting neighbourhoods where you could look for accommodation, are Alte Neustadt (young, dynamic, close to the river and comparatively cheap), the Altstadt (beautiful flats in historic buildings right in the centre, but quite expensive), Stadtfeld-Ost (very popular with students, cheap shared flats, many parks, relaxed cafés and bars) or perhaps Buckau, a neighbourhood with many small quirky shops that is still up and coming. No matter where you end up, you can get around Magdeburg quickly by bus, train or bike.

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