Cities don’t get much trendier than Berlin, which easily competes with the likes of London and New York in terms of the cool factor
Cities don’t get much trendier than Berlin, which easily competes with the likes of London and New York in terms of the cool factor. It goes without saying that this tolerant, multicultural and creative city is known for being a great place for students – and it helps that it’s also a relatively inexpensive place to live. Top universities in Berlin include three ranked within the world’s top 150 in the QS World University Rankings® 2019; these are Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (ranked 121st), Freie Universität Berlin (130th) and Technische Universität Berlin (147th). Berlin itself is currently ranked within the top 10 in the world in the QS Best Student Cities index.
Thanks to its world-famous Oktoberfest (a huge annual beer festival), Munich will forever be associated with Germany’s beer-brewing tradition. But there’s more to this southern German city, which is often voted one of the world’s most livable cities. For one thing, Munich is home to the two highest-ranked universities in Germany: Technische Universität München – ranked 61st in the world, and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, ranked 62nd in the world. A sleek modern financial hub, Munich can be a little on the pricey side but it won’t cost you anything to enjoy the beautiful Bavarian countryside which surrounds it. There’s plenty of history to enjoy too, and no visit would be complete without a visit to King Ludwig’s palaces and grottos.
Despite being part of one of Germany’s most densely populated areas, Heidelberg manages to retain a certain quaint rustic charm. It’s popular with tourists, who come to see its ancient castle and red-roofed town center. Top universities in Heidelberg include the famous Ruprecht-Karls- Universität Heidelberg, which is Germany’s oldest and third-highest ranked university (ranked 64th in the world). It boasts connections with more than 50 Nobel Prize winners, of whom 10 were (or are) professors at the university.
Cologne is known for its dramatic cathedral, Kölner Dom, its pleasant riverside, and its liberal and tolerant nature. It has a vibrant student community, is peppered with museums and art galleries, and does a good line in beer halls and independent stores, particularly in the Agnesviertel district. Direct trains run to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, and Luxembourg isn’t too far away either, so Cologne could be a good choice for those keen to explore Western Europe. Universities in Cologne include the flagship Universität Köln (University of Cologne), ranked joint 306th in the world, which is one of Germany’s largest universities.
The beating heart of Germany’s financial and business sectors, Frankfurt is also the home of the European Central Bank. Accordingly, its city center is a mass of gleaming skyscrapers, and its airport is the busiest in continental Europe. However, it’s not all work and no play. Frankfurt is known for offering some of the best nightlife in Germany and hosts a number of colorful festivals throughout the year. As for universities in Frankfurt, the most prestigious is Universität Frankfurt am Main, ranked joint 279th in the world, which is particularly strong in social science subjects.
The capital and largest city of the southwestern state of Baden- Württemberg, Stuttgart (pronounced Schtutt-gart) is known as the ‘cradle of the automobile’, while the wider area is one of the country’s strongest industrial regions, making it an attractive choice for engineering and technology students who may wish to stay in Germany and work after their studies. However, Stuttgart is far more than just an industrial city, and, as its tourist slogan says, ‘offers more’. It has a rich cultural heritage, with concert halls, sports arenas and Broadway-style musical theaters. It also hosts the world-famous annual Cannstatter Volksfest, a beer festival and travelingfunfair, second only in size to Munich’s Oktoberfest.Stuttgart was a new entry in the QS Best Student Cities 2018 at 58th, with its highest-ranked university, Universität Stuttgart, currently standing at joint 260th in the world rankings.