Halle – The Quiet Oasis outside the Big City

It doesn’t always have to be Munich, Hamburg or Berlin. Sometimes it’s worth taking a look at a smaller, lesser known city, such as Halle an der Saale. What does Halle have to offer? A stylish downtown, nature galore and narrow streets where one can find architectural gems spanning several centuries. There’s also the Saale River which meanders through the city and provides residents with plenty of quiet places to relax!

by Julia Glathe

Halle at a glance

 

With only 230,000 inhabitants, Halle is a smaller-sized city. But that certainly doesn’t mean that it’s a boring, rural town. When you take a stroll through Halle, you get the impression you’re on a gigantic university campus. University institutes and libraries are located throughout the entire city. Although the residential areas are quiet, the city exudes a vibrant atmosphere. In addition to a wide variety of artistic and cultural projects, Halle is known for its long tradition of festivities honouring its famous son George Frederic Handel. The city’s history is still alive at the Frankesche Stiftungen, which was established in 1695 as a social and educational institution, and today serves as a centre for cultural and scientific organisations. Several university institutes are also located there, along with museums and schools of music. The preserved ramparts of the medieval castles also give Halle its historic ambience. The nightlife in Halle is especially affordable – most places charge an entrance fee of less than five euros and some clubs have no cover fee at all. The rental prices are also lower than the German average. You can find a room in the centre of town starting at only 170 euros a month. That would leave you enough money to spend at the many cafés and bars to relax after busy days at the university.

Universities - Overview

 

The Martin Luther University

Approximately 17,500 students study at the Martin Luther University (MLU), whose familiar atmosphere allows new students to establish contact quickly with fellow students and lecturers. With ten faculties offering 259 different degree programmes, students have a diverse range of courses to choose from. Most of the research conducted at the university focuses on biological sciences, nanosciences, Asian and African Studies and the Enlightenment. There are also specialised humanities programmes available to students, such as ‘’Professionally-Oriented Linguistics in an Intercultural Context’’ and ‘’Intercultural European and American Studies’’.
Halle may not be Hamburg, but if you are interested in media, the MLU offers a very good study course. The bachelor’s degree programme in ‘’Media and Communication Sciences’’ is practice-oriented and can be supplemented by employment opportunities in Halle where one can gain practical experience in the media sector. For example, those, who are interested in radio, can join a workshop at the independent radio station Radio Corax, where they create and then broadcast their own programme. At the Media Competence Centre, students can take seminars in video, image and sound editing. Professional equipment is also available to let.
Since many of the degree programmes have no admission requirements, you have very good chances of getting accepted to the university. And if a certain course is not offered in Halle, you can attend courses at the MLU’s partner universities in Jena and Leipzig.

University of Art and Design
The Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design is one of the most renowned of its kind in Germany. Those, who wish to study there, must pass an aptitude test in order to apply. What makes this university special is that some of its studios and workshops are located directly inside Burg Giebichenstein. Only twenty walking minutes away from the centre of town, it’s the oldest of all the castles and fortresses built in Halle during the Middle Ages. On warm days, the future artists work outside on their projects and chip away at their sculptures to the sounds of gypsy punk and experimental music emanating from within the high castle walls.

Recreation in Halle

The concrete pre-fab buildings in the northern part of the city are the legacy of the city’s socialistic past. Students rarely venture into that quarter. Most young people prefer hanging out instead at the many cafés and bars downtown, such as the café ‘’Roter Horizont’’ which offers a wide selection of hot beverages. If you go there, try out their chilli or coconut-cinnamon flavoured hot cocoas. If you like live music, you should definitely spend an evening at the Kaffeeschuppen which regularly hosts jazz concerts and jam sessions in an Irish-pub atmosphere. Although downtown is pristinely renovated, you’ll find that the adjoining city quarters are especially charming. In the ‘’Paulusviertel’’ (St. Paul’s Quarter), you will discover numerous old villas and manors – the kind that no longer exist in other cities which had them demolished long ago. Among the rows of houses, there are many cosy bars with a living-room flair where you can sit and talk with friends. You will feel right at home relaxing on the plush sofas or comfy armchairs at ‘’Colonne Morris’’, where Internet access is free if you bring along your laptop.
During the summer months, life takes place outdoors. Peißnitz Island is only a few minutes away from the university plaza. This park stretches across several square kilometres and is one of the most popular meeting places among students. Every single evening, young people hang out, play sports and barbecue on the large field before club-hopping later at night.
The weekends are perfect for getting acquainted with the region around Halle. You can take your bike and tour the various castles and man-made reservoirs. There are also a few nice places in Halle where you can find relaxation, for example, at the Hufeisensee (Horse Shoe Lake) where you feel as if you’re out in the country. From the Marktplatz, you can reach the lake within 15 minutes via public transportation.
University towns are known for their exciting club culture, and Halle is no exception. Most clubs in Halle charge entrance fees of no more than five euros for an evening of pop, rock, R&B and electronic dance music. The student club ‘’Turm’’ is especially popular among first-year university students. Situated on the historic foundation of the Moritzburg in the city centre, the ‘’Turm’’ is only a few minutes away from the Uniplatz. In the summertime, the Burggraben is transformed into a beer garden and is occasionally used as a concert venue. And if you have a knack for poetry, you can participate at a poetry slam which takes place there every Sunday. Otherwise you can simply sit on a floor cushion, listen to the slam poets and vote for your favourite.
If you’re a fan of electronic music, we recommend going to ‘’Charles Bronson’’ and the ‘’Chaise Lounge’’. Open-air parties are frequently held in Halle, as well. They usually begin in the afternoon and end sometime the following morning. One of the big highlights of the year is the End-of-Semester Party thrown by the art and design students. They convert Burg Giebichenstein and the entire design campus into a gigantic party venue where students can dance under the starry sky until the early morning hours.

Interview with Unen from Mongolia

 

Unen, 24 years old, is from Mongolia and studies Media and Communication Sciences and Romance Studies at the MLU Halle.

Unen, you come from Mongolia. Why did you choose Halle?
My brother gave me the idea of studying in Germany. He also lives and studies here. I wanted to get a good education. Actually I had originally planned on going to Great Britain, but it was too expensive. Compared to other countries, living and studying in Germany is quite affordable. I studied in Freiburg for two years and then transferred to Halle because they offer a Media Science programme here. I’ve been in Halle now for two years.

How do you like it?
I like Halle a lot. I made friends fast and had no problems integrating. The reason I feel so comfortable in Halle is because it feels like being home. The pre-fab complexes at Riebeckplatz and in Neustadt remind me of similar ones in my home country. And because Halle is relatively small, it’s a perfect university town. I live right downtown and can be anywhere in minutes by bike. The Studentenwerk in Halle is also super – their social services are amazing. For example, when I first came to Halle, they gave me a lunch voucher so that I could get free lunches at the student dining hall. Generally, you can get good financial aid packages here.

What is student life in Halle like?
I enjoy student life to the fullest. If you know the right people, you can go to parties every day of the week.  At the weekend, I usually like going to the ‘’Chaise’’ or ‘’Charles Bronson’’. There are also a lot of impromptu parties and private get-togethers. Halle is full of students, so you can organise parties easily on your own. During the week I like to play sports or do things that are offered at the university. Right now I’m playing basketball once a week. After work, I like hanging out at a pub, like the ‘’Cafe Noir’’ or the ‘’Potemkin’’.

You’re almost finished with your studies. What can you stay about your experience at the university in Halle?
Although I’m in two different degree programmes in two separate faculties, there was never any overlap. I guess I was lucky. But I always carefully chose the courses that seemed interesting, and in fact, they were a lot of fun. Whenever I had questions or didn’t understand something, the lecturers were always willing to help me.

Useful links

 

Information about the city and university of Halle, opportunity to chat online with students
Studentenwerk at the Uni Halle 
Language Centre at the Uni Halle
Learning German with a language partner 
City guide
MLU student magazine
Association of ‘’Citizens for International Students’’
Student presentations of Halle