Study in Potsdam

Facts

180,334 Inhabitants ¹

30,214 Students ²

9 Higher education institutions ²

WELCOME TO POTSDAM

Potsdam is a historical town. Once a royal seat and garrison town, it has retained much of its former splendour, as revealed by its expansive parks, stately buildings and magnificent palaces. „Each to his own“ is an old town motto dating back to the 18th century. And this still appears to hold true even today.

You’ll soon notice that the pace of life slows down in Potsdam. Residents and visitors have a relaxed air about them and are drawn in by the town’s unique charm. You can explore most of the sights by bike. The capital of the federal state of Brandenburg is clean, compact and peaceful. In the town centre, you get the impression the locals all know each other.

Imposing monuments such as Cecilienhof Palace and Sanssouci Palace still bear witness to the town’s past. The Russian quarter Alexandrowka, the Dutch houses in the town centre, the Volkspark Babelsberg and Pfingstberg are also well worth a visit.

The buildings of the higher education institutions are spread all over the town.

Tip

I love the fact that Potsdam is so incredibly green. Trips on the river Havel and lakes are a special way of exploring more of Potsdam’s cultural landscape. I once hired a raft there with friends in the summer. We had a barbecue on it and floated down the river. It was great fun!

Every year, the town attracts visitors with a theme year, hosting over a hundred interesting events and activities. In the year dedicated to the subject of “Film“, for example, open-air film screenings were organised at original film locations. The town’s idyllic setting is undoubtedly one of the reasons why German celebrities such as fashion designer Wolfgang Joop and TV presenter Günther Jauch live here.

Interview

JAEYOON FROM SOUTH KOREA

INTERVIEW WITH JAEYOON FROM SOUTH KOREA

Jaeyoon Jung comes from South Korea, is 28 years old and is studying for a Master’s degree in IT Systems Engineering with a focus on Human Computer Interaction in Potsdam.

Why did you decide to study in Potsdam?

I came here about a year ago. Actually, it’s all to do with a professor at the Hasso Plattner Institute. I was doing an internship in Singapore at the time and I had to do a lot of research for it. While I was doing this, I read some very interesting articles by one particular author. I did some more research and eventually found out where he was teaching. I got in touch with him and he eventually advised me to apply to do my Master’s. I didn’t actually know much about Germany at the time.

How did you prepare?

I could speak a little German before I came here. And, of course, I wrote to my professor a lot. I also applied to the Studentenwerk for student accommodation six months beforehand and also for a scholarship with the DAAD.

I got both. Living in student accommodation helps a lot. I’d advise everyone to apply. Germany offers lots of benefits. I think that’s really great. The Semesterticket is also really useful. It allows me to travel by bus and train for free.

What did you find difficult in the beginning?

The language and culture. It was all very alien to me. And the food too. It took several months for me to get used to it. It’s totally different to Asian food. Registering with the authorities was very difficult for me. I had to arrange everything on my own and back then my German wasn’t very good.

How did you meet people?

I met lots of people through a DAAD meeting. They then introduced me to their friends. That was relatively easy. The university also offers a . I joined this, and there was also a student from our institute who was there to help me. Sports courses are also a good way of meeting people.

How would you describe life in Potsdam?

Very laid back. It’s completely different to life in Berlin or other cities. My favourite place in Potsdam is the Park Sanssouci. It’s incredibly beautiful there, especially in the summer.

LIVING IN POTSDAM

Life in Potsdam is relaxed and enjoyable. The clocks here tick a little slower than they do elsewhere. Many students commute from every day because they prefer to live in a more vibrant city. Depending on exact location and connections, the journey takes between 20 and 60 minutes. Even if recreational activities do not compare with those of Potsdam’s bigger neighbour, the town has a lot to offer students. The countryside in and around Potsdam is exceptional: numerous lakes, woodland areas and the river Havel are ideal places for sporting activities.

The town also offers an impressive cultural programme: the Filmmuseum Potsdam, which hosts film evenings and special exhibitions, the Filmpark in Babelsberg and the tropical world of Biosphere Potsdam, to name just a few. Indeed, Potsdam is a centre of film with an annual student film festival and open-air screenings in the summer.

Links

In Potsdam, nothing is far away. There are lots of student parties and clubs. Special events are regularly organised, such as games evenings, karaoke or readings. You’ll find most bars and cafés in the town centre around Brandenburger Strasse, Potsdam’s main shopping street. The higher education institutions also organise start-of-semester parties. Of course, lots of students also like to organise private parties in the various student residences.

How to find a room in Potsdam

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 Potsdam.