Study in Bamberg

Facts

76,674 Inhabitants ¹

12,435 Students ²

1 Higher education institution ²

WELCOME TO BAMBERG

Bamberg is located in southern Germany in the state of Bavaria and is chock full of history. The Bamberg cathedral and numerous historic buildings exude olden-day charm. The historic centre of Bamberg is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

One of the things you’ll find a lot of here is churches. The largest and most impressive is the cathedral which towers over the entire historic downtown. In the vicinity you’ll also find a castle called the “Neue Residenz”. You can enjoy a beautiful view of the historic part of town from the castle’s rose garden.

The old city hall is situated on the Obere Brücke (Upper Bridge). The bridge crosses the river “Linker Regnitzarm“. This is where you’ll find “Little Venice” (Klein Venedig) with its many old romantic buildings along the riverside. Bamberg’s largest funfair, the „“ takes place here every August.

Tip

On a mild summer evening you definitely should enjoy the sunset at „Untere Brücke“ with your friends!

In the summer time, the paths along the “Rechter Regnitzarm” are ideal for taking relaxing walks and enjoying the enchanting charm of the town.

Interview

YARYNA FROM UKRAINE

INTERVIEW WITH YARYNA FROM UKRAINE

Yaryna Erstenyuk from Ukraine is 23 years old and is pursuing her master’s degree in Language Studies with a concentration in German as a Foreign Language (DaF) at the University of Bamberg.

Why did you decide to study in Bamberg?

At first, I was offered the chance to come to Bamberg and participate at the International Summer University. I enjoyed the programme and my time in Bamberg so much that I decided to study for one more semester in Bamberg as an Erasmus student. Two months later I realised I wanted to continue my studies in Germany.

Leaving home can be difficult. Do you have any advice for making it easier?

To be honest, the tears flow almost every time I say goodbye (especially to my parents)… Each time is like the first time, and unfortunately there’s nothing I can do about it. To make departing easier I always think of what my father once said: “You know you want to study in Germany, you know you need that and you are having fun studying there. So be strong and do what you set out to do.” I know that my parents are happy I’m studying in Germany. They also give me the feeling that my decision was right, and those are the main reasons I can leave my home country each time with a smile.

When you first arrived, what was the hardest thing about living in Germany? And how did you deal with it?

The hardest thing in the beginning was the language barrier. Even though I learned German in school and studied German Studies at university in Ukraine, I was still very afraid to talk to people here. I think it was more the fear of making mistakes. But as time passed, I realised that I just had to start speaking. It made no difference if a sentence was perfect or had lots of mistakes: I HAD TO talk.

New friends, new acquaintances helped me feel sure of myself. I had to speak German so we could all understand each other. And now I’ve got no problem speaking German. Sometimes when I’m talking with friends from Ukraine or my family, I can’t always come up with the right Ukrainian word and sometimes I throw in a few German words …

How did you find your accommodation? Do you have advice for finding a flat?

I live in a student residence hall. I found my room at the beginning of my degree programme. I’m very happy with my residence hall and so I’ll be staying there until I’m finished with my studies.

My advice is: If there’s any chance to live in a student residence hall, then the student should live there. In a residence hall, there are many international students with whom you can spend time and do exciting things together.

How do you finance your studies and life in Germany?

I found a job which also gives me time to study. I work as a cook at an Italian restaurant.

Could you imagine staying in Germany after graduation?

That’s actually my dream, and I hope this dream comes true.

Why is Bamberg a good place to study?

The professors at the university hold exciting and interesting lectures, they apply various teaching methods in their lessons, which naturally increases the students’ attention and also motivates them to learn. There’s also an impressive library which offers open access to useful literature. You actually enjoy writing term papers when there are so many reference works and books at your disposal. And this is a student town, so life here is never boring.

What’s the best way of coming in contact with other students?

Asking for directions – that’s always helped me!

Do you have any tips on how to get along with Germans?

Be understanding, open and friendly.

Complete the following sentence: “For me, life in Germany is …”

… an interesting adventure which has changed my life for the better.

Describe Germany in a few words.

Germany has given me the chance to see my life in a new light and to appreciate it. It has taught me to be self-efficient and independent. Germany has given me the feeling that I can believe in myself and I’m happy that Germany has become a part of my life!

LIVING IN BAMBERG

Bicycles are the most important means of transportation for students in Bamberg. It’s a rather quiet city, so taking your bike is a convenient and especially fast way to get where you’re going.

When you make plans to go out with friends, you should meet at the “Gabelmann” marketplace. From there you can walk downtown together, browse through the small shops or a grab a sandwich at a local bakery.

The residents of Bamberg truly enjoy spending hot summer days at the swimming pool. The “Hainbadestelle” is a really nice spot where you can take a dip in the Regnitz River. After cooling off, you can take a walk through the Hainpark, Bamberg’s largest park.

Links

If you want to go out for drinks at night, you can find a number of small bars and pubs on Sandstrasse. In some of them, you can also try out the famous Bamberg Smoke Beer. In addition to pub tours arranged by the university, many students organise their own private parties, so there’s always something going on.

How to find a room in Bamberg

Many university and college towns have dormitories or student halls, and a room there is often the most affordable accommodation. To obtain a room in a dormitory or student hall, you have to apply to your college or university’s student union (). Our ‘Find Student Hall’ function can be of practical help. You only need to make a few mouse clicks to get to the online application form. Find a room and more information about dormitories and student halls in Bamberg.