Study in Gießen

Facts

89,802 Inhabitants ¹

46,728 Students ²

3 Higher education institutions ²

WELCOME TO GIESSEN

You’ll like it in this friendly student town in the middle of Germany. Students here have at least one bike, and it won’t be long before you get to know fellow students. There are plenty of places where you’ll regularly run into each other during your free time.

The history of the town of Giessen is heavily influenced by science. This is where chemist Justus von Liebig invented a meat extract, a kind of seasoning used in soups. Justus von Liebig lent his name to the town’s university, one of the oldest, most venerable universities in Germany, and a museum in Giessen is dedicated to him, the . The town also boasts the world’s first ever mathematics museum, the .

Bruchstrasse is famous for its fine architecture. The „Altes Schloss“ and Zeughaus on Brandplatz are prime examples of past eras. The „Leib’sche Haus“ is one of the oldest and biggest half-timbered houses in the state of Hesse. The from the year 1609 is the oldest university garden in Germany.

The townscape is also influenced by the shopping streets Seltersweg and „Elefantenklo“. „Elefantenklo“ is a footbridge over a crossroads that has three holes. The entire construction is disproportionately large in relation to the rest of the town. The „Drei Schwätzer“ is another eye-catcher. Created in 1983, these bronze sculptures on Plockstrasse answer to the names of Mariechen, Waldemar and Justus. Like the three figures, the people of Giessen often stop to chat with each other at the weekly market.

Tip

On a nice day, hire a canoe with a few friends. You can go as far as Wetzlar on the Lahn and have a picnic on the way. You can get back to Giessen on your Semesterticket and then spend the evening here.

The surrounding area boasts some impressive castles and palaces. If you fancy a trip back to the Middle Ages, visit , „Kloster Schiffenberg“ or the medieval market in Staufenberg. Traditional festivals are regularly celebrated in the villages near Giessen. These events give you some idea of what life was like a hundred years ago, and you can also go to concerts there with local bands.

Interview

LEI FROM CHINA

INTERVIEW WITH LEI FROM CHINA

Lei from China is 31 years old and is doing a PhD on Communication between the Chinese and Germans at Justus Liebig University, Giessen.

Why did you decide to do a PhD in Giessen?

After spending two years in where I did a collaborative Master’s degree in Vocational Education, I decided I wanted to stay in Germany. I was then accepted by the International Graduate Centre (GCSC) in Giessen and offered a scholarship for the first year.

What should future students organise before they come to Germany?

You need certified copies of all Chinese documents in English or German! For everyday life, I think it’s really important that you can cook. If you eat doner kebabs everyday, it soon gets expensive. For Chinese students, it’s also useful to have a mobile phone from home because of the keys.

Did you have a part-time job?

I worked for a year as a student research assistant at the GCSC. I now sometimes work as an interpreter at trade fairs in .

Why is Giessen a good place to study?

The town is very friendly! I feel very safe here. I think supervision at the university is really good, and it’s not chaotic. Giessen is definitely a student town, I think that’s great!

What’s the best way of getting to know other students?

There are very many international students in Giessen and around 300 from China. We all celebrate Chinese festivals together! You can get to know other students on trips organised by the GSCS or International Office. The International pub is a good meeting place. Tandem partners are also a very helpful way of discovering the town!

LIVING IN GIESSEN

Students have a significant impact on the cultural landscape in Giessen: they make use of empty buildings to organise and host exhibitions and festivals.

When the weather’s good, you can forget about everyday stress under the blossoming trees.

The town on the river Lahn is famous for its many students but shortage of clubs. This is why private student house parties take place almost on a daily basis. And there’s one thing students agree on: these parties are better than any dance bar! Ludwigstrasse with its bars and beer gardens is a reliable address for parties. But you can also get to the city of Frankfurt in around 50 minutes by train.

Links

There are several popular eateries and excellent ice cream parlours on Plockstrasse. On Bahnhofstrasse, you will also find good places.

Regional cuisine such as „Handkäs mit Musik“ (sour milk cheese coated in onion and caraway seeds) is available at certain places, too. And summer wouldn’t be summer without a beer garden.

When the sun’s shining, you can lie in the sun on the Lahnwiesen. Slacklines are strung up and beer bottles are placed in the river to cool. For a brief break in the city centre, Zeughauswiese behind the Botanical Garden is a good place to go. You can water ski or wind surf at the Heuchelheimer Seen, and climb on Schiffenberg.

How to find a room in Giessen

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 Giessen.