Braunschweig: City of Science

If you ask Braunschweig's inhabitants about their city, they will stress its cultural and economic richness, its beautiful historic center and the quality of life. But they will stress it in a peculiar way - as though you must have expected the opposite. Braunschweig has an image problem - unjustly as you can discover by yourself.

Braunschweig at a glance

Brunswick Lion, Photo: DAAD/Hagenguth

''We're from Braunschweig, we're the hub of the world'', Duke Henry shouted in a recent musical in the city's state theater. The quote hints at the power and influence of Braunschweig in medieval times, when it was a major crossroad of international trade routes. Today, the Lion Monument, the city's landmark, still symbolizes the prowess of Braunschweig during those times, and the historic city with its magnificent buildings and monuments has been preserved through the present day.
Germany's reunification revitalized Braunschweig's role as an important European hub. The city is located at the country's most important east-west arteries of transportation, including railroad, Autobahn, and the Hanover airport, and has comfortable connections to national and international destinations. Its infrastructure is excellent, providing the basics for companies like Volkswagen Financial Services, Siemens and Intel.
Braunschweig is one of Germany's most important industrial areas and offers a perfect environment for international companies. According to statistics, it is Europe's most active research and development region: Over 27,000 people are employed in research and development here and 7.1 percent of the gross domestic product is invested in research - putting Braunschweig ahead of Silicon Valley.

Universities - Overview

Braunschweig University of Technology

Old building of TU Braunschweig, Photo: WikiCommons/Brunswyk

Founded in 1745, the 'Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig' is Germany's oldest technical university. As official rankings show, it's also one of the country's leading universities - and a member of the TU9, the association of the nine leading technical universities in Germany.
The TU's reputation in international research is outstanding, and about 12,500 students in six faculties and 110 research institutes benefit from close contact with partners in research, business and industry. During internships students can work on real projects, gaining valuable experience for their future careers and establishing contacts with potential employers.
Many departments of engineering science and natural sciences are closely interlinked with research institutions, such as the Luftfahrtbundesamt (federal authority responsible for supervision of the aviation industry) and the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture. At Braunschweig, students and staff are developing digital television, designing the European satellite navigation system Galileo and let robot-manned vehicles drive themselves.

Braunschweig University of Art
Some 1,200 students are currently registered at the Braunschweig University of Art. In 22 arts classes with an average class size of 15, students become familiar with a wide range of artistic media and styles. Art films, performance art and the new media are well represented in addition to the classic genres of painting, sculpture and print graphics. The University of Art is involved in a sustained dialogue with the TU and other research institutions; with the art and design institutes between Wolfsburg and Hanover; and with companies in the region. The courses range from study in fine arts and art science to media sciences and communications design to programs in art, creative art, and theater art leading to teaching degrees.

University of Applied Sciences Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel
The University of Applied Sciences at Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel (FH) is smaller than the TU and spread out over four campuses in Braunschweig, Wolfenbüttel, Wolfsburg and Salzgitter-Calbecht. About 6,000 students are currently enrolled at the university; 400 of them come from abroad. The FH offers 50 degree programs, many of them with integrated professional training.

Recreation in Braunschweig

At Oker River, Photo: Braunschweig Stadtmarketing GmbH

Don't forget to visit one of the pubs in the 'Gewandhaus', in order to try Braunschweig's traditional beer: Mumme. It's a thick, dark beverage dating to medieval times. While it used to be very popular, outside of Braunschweig, it's now only available in pharmacies.
It's the city of the lion, so don't miss the copy of the 'Burglöwe' on the central square, a romanesque statue of a lion, cast in bronze in 1166. If you want to see the original statue, visit the museum of the Castle Dankwarderode.
For extensive shopping tours, the city mall 'Schloss-Arkaden' is the place to go. Located in the recently rebuilt residential palace of the Guelphs, it offers culture and consumption under one roof. If you like to do a walk you definitely shouldn't miss the banks of the Oker, a little river flowing through the city centre of Braunschweig. Those addicted to sports can rent canoes or rowing boats and thus explore the city from the river. Around the Oker there are lots of cafes and pubs waiting for you to take a little rest. Anyway you should visit the Okerterrassen, the oldest cafe in Braunschweig. Of course those interested in art won't get bored in Braunschweig either: The Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum is the oldest German museum opened to the public and shows masterpieces by Rubens, Vermeer and Rembrandt. The 300 years old Staatstheater is worth a visit, too. If you like music you can look forward to the festival BraunschweigClassix that presents lots of different concerts three times a year. Those who aren't tired yet and want to dance the night away, are right at the Meier or the Brainklub. Here you can not only enjoy parties but also concerts of renowned bands.

Interview with Rachid from Tunisia

Rachid Hachaichi studies engineering at the Braunschweig University of Technology and has specialized on aerospace technology. He shared his experiences with study-in.

Rachid, Photo: private

What made you decide to study in Braunschweig?
There were a lot of different reasons for my decision. First of all I had been knowing the region quite well because my uncle lives in Wolfsburg and I used to visit him as a child in the holidays. Besides I had informed myself and had gotten to know that the University of Braunschweig is one of the most renowned universities in Germany regarding aerospace technology.

Have your expectations regarding your degree course been met?
Yes, I'm really satisfied with my decision. Lots of my previous fellow students know work succesfully. Thanks to the dubble degree programmes and the many cooperations of the university with universities abroad students have lots of different opportunities. Thus the chances on the job market are quite good. So I think that I don' t have to worry a lot regarding my professional future.

What do you like especially about Braunschweig?
I would't want to change Braunschweig against any different city: Braunschweis is a small but very nice town. Here you can get everything you need and you can get anyway you want to quite quickly. I would't want to live in cities like Berlin or Frankfurt - they are a lot too big for me.

Do you have some favourite spots in Braunschweig?
As I am quite a shopping freak I like to stroll through the Schlossarkaden, a big shopping centre. After work I often go with my friends to the Café Fischer near the central station. In the evenings I like to go to the club , where you can meet lots of foreign students. The association Gauß, too, is a nice place to get together for foreign students. In cooperation with the International Office of the university it organizes excursions, parties and other events.