Living in Bonn
Bonn is a lively city of about 300.000 inhabitants situated at the river Rhine. The former capital of West Germany hosts a number of international organisations including the United Nations and more than 150 non-governmental organisations.
Ludwig van Beethoven, Bonn’s most famous citizen, was born here in 1770. An annual music festival is named after him: the International Beethoven Festival takes place every autumn. All in all, Bonn looks back on 2000 years of history. The cityscape still reflects many historical aspects: Roman traces as well as the marks of the era, when Bonn was the residence of the Princes Elector. The high-rise former office building of Parliament testifies to the period as capital. The University of Bonn was founded in 1818 by the German emperor Friedrich Wilhelm III. Today, it is a home to almost 28.000 students and thus one of the biggest universities in Germany.
The University's International Office has established a variety of programs that help international students to settle down more easily in Germany, including the International Club and the Study Buddies. Further information can be found on the website of the International Office.
Although Bonn is not the most expensive city, finding affordable accommodation might be difficult, especially at the beginning of a semester. For further information on housing in Bonn, please consult the following websites:
Many German students finance their studies by working. International students are also allowed to work in Germany. The International Office has listed all information concerning work permits for international students. To job seekers, the University offers an online job fair in English and the Studentenwerk Bonn another one in German.
Brochures to download with general information on the University of Bonn: