Augsburg: A renaissance city

Past eras come alive in Germany's second oldest city. Walking around the historic center, you can follow the trails of the Romans or of the powerful Fugger family. The university represents a more recent chapter: it's one of the youngest campus universities in Germany.

Augsburg at a glance

The 'Augsburger Puppenkiste', Photo: Stadt Augsburg

The overwhelming beauty of Augsburg's majestic architecture is enough to capture the minds of millions of tourists every year. But it wasn't enough to impress Bertold Brecht, one of the city's most prominent sons. The best thing about Augsburg is the train to Munich, said the author about his hometown. Generations of tourists have marveled about this sentence, and most of them can only find one grain of truth in it: Augsburg does have a brilliant transportation system.
But what are four train stations or an Autobahn compared to a world-famous and well-preserved cityscape? Most visitors are enchanted by the pleasant and easy-going atmosphere. Green spaces can be found everywhere and three rivers give the city a distinct, almost Mediterranean atmosphere. Augsburg has been called Italy's northernmost city, and even Venice can be jealous of its 500 bridge-constructions.
The geographical location is just as stunning. Looking for a breath of fresh air? The Alps are just around the corner.

Universities - Overview

The University of Augsburg

Uni Augsburg, Photo: Siegfried Kerpf

Founded in 1970, the University of Augsburg is one of the youngest and most modern universities in Germany. It's organized in seven faculties and attended by approximately 15,000 students. Foreign students make up 14% of the student body, which is higher than the average in Germany and reflects the high percentage of foreigners in Augsburg's overall population.
Foreign students find it especially easy to get connected in Augsburg. They can consult a special office that deals with the different aspects of life in Germany. In 2003, the university's model project 'Willkommen in Augsburg', which was tailored to foreign students, was even awarded a prize by Germany's foreign office.

Augsburg University of Applied Sciences

The 'Hochschule Augsburg' is one of the oldest universities of applied sciences in Germany. Officially founded in 1971, it has a history of predecessors, among them a private arts academy established in the beginning of the 18th century. At present, there are 4500 students enrolled in numerous courses of study in the fields of technology, design and economics.

Recreation in Augsburg

Town Hall by night, Photo: Stadt Augsburg

Don't forget to check out the city's many festivals. Among many others, there's the Mozartfest, the Summer of Jazz, the Festival of Cultures and the Media Arts festival lab 30. If you like hearty German food, Augsburg is the right place for you. The city not only offers typical Bavarian dishes, but the local cuisine has also been influenced by Swabia. The result? 'Kässpätzle' (noodles with cheese) and 'Mauldascha' (stuffed pasta pockets), to name a few. If you're more into dancing the night away than tasting German specialities, there are some places you should visit: The Corso, a little cafe, at night turns into a club. Popular among students are the Liquidclub and the Mo Club. In the last you can enjoy a student party with low priced drinks, that takes place every tuesday. If you're a fan of Rock take a look at the Rockfabrik, where lots of different bands perform.
A city like Augsburg has to be experienced from above. Climb the 250 steps up the old city tower right next to the Town Hall and enjoy the panoramic view of the city. When the sky is clear, the view stretches as far as the Alps. As Augsburg ranks among the greenest cities in Germany, you can always go for a walk, for example in the 'Stadtwald'. If you're more up to culture, you definitely shouldn't miss the Augsburger Puppenkiste (Augsburg Puppet Theater), the city's most popular, contemporary cultural 'export'. The marionette theater has enchanted generations of Germans, children in particular, and its productions have also been filmed and broadcast on television.

Interview with Tinatin from Georgia

Tinatin Patchkoria from Georgia studies law and economics (BA) at the University of Augsburg. She shared her experiences with study-in.

Tinatin, Photo: private

What made you decide to study in Augsburg?
I wanted to study a combination of law and economics by all means. When I was searching the internet I found out that the University of Augsburg offers exactly such a degree course and so I quickly decided to study here.

Have your expectations been met with regard to your degree programme?
Yes, to one hundred percent. I'm really satisfied with my degree course, because it exactly meets my plans and interests. Actually studies here are even better than I had imagined: The profs are really competent and all my courses are interesting. But I have to admit that my degree course is quite challenging. I spend a lot of time with lerning. Nevertheless I'm convinced I made the right choice.

Have you already made plans for what you’ll do after graduation?
First I want to finish my BA successfully. Afterwards I would like to specialize on either law or economics during a master course. In the future I would like to share the knowledge acquired in Germany with the people in my homeland Georgia.

Did you find it difficult to get settled in Augsburg?
Before coming to Augsburg I was living in Munich for one year, where I was studying in a Studienkolleg. After having lived in a big city it was a bit difficult for me to get settled in Augsburg at first. But now I think a small and beautiful town like Augsburg is just the right place to study. Unfortunately I haven't seen a lot from the city, because I was preparing for the exams during the whole first semester.