Life in Magdeburg

Whoever comes to Magdeburg for the first time by train probably feels a little disappointed on arrival. The buildings around the main train station in the city center are a mixture of old concrete-slab blocks and modern shopping center architecture - not exactly what you'd call beautiful. However, no one should let this rather dull sight put them off, because this city of 230,000 inhabitants has many pretty spots. It's just a matter of finding these places and getting to know the city, say the students at Otto von Guericke University.

"There could be a bit more action."

If you ask around on campus, you don't hear a lot of negative things about Magdeburg's student life - except that sometimes the place could have a bit more action than it does. But most describe Magdeburg as a pleasant place to live, and many like the fact that you don't feel as anonymous here as you do in big cities like Hamburg, Cologne or Berlin. The local cultural life has seen positive developments in the last few years, partly thanks to the students. In the 2009-2010 winter semester, there were over 13,000 students enrolled here - not only from the local area, but from all corners of Germany and the world.

Industrial charm and affordable apartments

Studying in Magdeburg is affordable. There are many available apartments in eastern Germany as a whole, and rent costs are low. Most students live either in a student dormitory near the campus or in the alternative district of Stadtfeld. There are several theaters and independent cinemas in the city, as well as long-established clubs like Alte Sackfabrik in the industrial harbor. Here, between old railway tracks, overgrown ruins and rusty cranes, you can really feel what changes this former "City of Heavy Equipment Industry" has experienced in the last few decades.

Author: Ronny Arnold
Editor: Greg Wiser