Rostock: studying with a sea view

Studying in a place where other people spend their holidays – how tempting is that? Rostock makes this possible. And students are attracted not only by the Baltic Sea and its beautiful beaches but also by the facilities and courses offered by the city's two universities.

by Christoph Berger

Rostock at a glance

Neuer Markt in Rostock, Foto: DAAD/Berger

Rostock is the biggest city in the north-east German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It has a population of around 200,000. Like the other towns on the Baltic coast, it has a distinctly maritime character. As a major cargo and passenger hub, the seaport is important for the city's economy, as are shipbuilding and shipping. Also important for Rostock are tourism and the university.
Like the two other university towns on the Baltic coast, Wismar and Greifswald, Rostock boasts a number of old buildings built in Brick Gothic style. Examples include the Marienkirche and Nikolaikirche. The early gothic Kuhtor is thought to be the oldest preserved town gate in north Germany, and was first mentioned in a document in 1262.
The city has a well-developed public transport network and you can travel almost everywhere by tram and suburban railway – even to within 500 metres of a beach. The resort of Warnemünde, Rostock's northernmost district, is located directly on the coast.

Universities at a glance

The University of Rostock

Hauptgebäude der Uni, Foto: DAAD/Berger

The University of Rostock brings together the past, the present and the future. Founded way back in 1419, it is the oldest university in the Baltic region. Around 15,000 students are enrolled in the nine faculties. The university's interdisciplinary approach is reflected in its organisational structure: all kinds of faculties work together in the four departments: Life, Light and Matter, Maritime Systems, Ageing Science and Humanities and Science – Culture – Transformation. The university occupies four sites in Rostock, but these are random and not department-specific.
One of the advantages of the university is its small size. It offers first-rate research and teaching in an attractive coastal location.

Rostock University of Music and Drama
The Rostock University of Music and Drama (HMT) is international. The 600 prospective musicians, actors and teachers enrolled at the school hail from 40 countries. The university offers study programmes in music and drama and a master's degree in theatre education. The building in which students are taught also deserves a mention: the restored Katharinenstift, a former monastery, is situated just around the corner from the town harbour.
The HMT is not only a centre of training but also of research. In the field of research, students benefit from the university's involvement in the Association of Baltic Academies of Music, an amalgamation of 17 universities of music in the Baltic Sea region and from Israel.

Recreation in Rostock

Rostock Warnemünde, Foto: DAAD/Berger

The district of Kröpeliner-Tor-Vorstadt, or KTV for short, is a hot spot for students. A great selection of pubs and bars can be found both here and in the beautiful side-streets that are lined with magnificent old buildings. The diversity of the district starts at Doberaner Platz, a square that is surrounded by bars, restaurants, small shops and boutiques.
The old town is the home of the Studentenkeller, a popular meeting place on Universitätsplatz, directly behind the main university building. The best-known student club, however, is the ST-Club on Albert-Einstein-Straße (ST stands for ship technology). Clubs, restaurants and a theatre can also be found on the town harbour. Numerous old ships are anchored at the Museumshafen.

Strand bei Warnemünde, Foto: DAAD/Berger

The University of Rostock, of course, also has a wide range of sporting activities on offer. From A for acro-yoga to Z for Zumba, and including catamaran sailing, flamenco dancing, improvisation theatre, kite surfing and street dancing.
Most students live in flat shares, and there are plenty available in the city. Vacancies are posted on special internet portals such as www.wg-gesucht.de or www.studenten-wg.de. You can expect to pay between 200 and 300 euro for a 20-square-metre-large room in the popular KTV district.
Accommodation in student residences is a good alternative. The Student Union Rostock offers 2,200 rooms in residences. Rents vary from between 90 and 405 euro depending on facilities and type of accommodation.

Interview with Clara from Argentina

28-year-old Clara Inés Ruvituso comes from La Plata in Argentina. She's been working on her doctoral thesis in political science at the University of Rostock since 2010.

Clara, Foto: DAAD/Berger

Clara, you come from Argentina. What made you decide to come to Rostock?
I first heard about Rostock when I was a sociology student in La Plata. There's an exchange programme between the universities of Rostock and La Plata. I was offered a scholarship through this programme in 2005 and I spent two semesters at the Uni Rostock as a visiting student. Five years later – in 2010 – I came back as post-graduate on a DAAD grant because I wanted to do a PhD with my former professor of politics, the expert for Latin America Prof. Nikolaus Werz.

How do you like the university?
I really like Rostock University. It's small but supervision is great and facilities and services are really good. I do wish that social sciences and the humanities played a more important role though. The university was founded in 1419 so I hope the long tradition continues!

What do you think of Rostock?
The town of Rostock is expanding and it's becoming much more lively and vibrant. The proximity to the sea and the surrounding countryside make it even more attractive. I particularly like the fact that it's quiet here and you can go everywhere by bike.

What is your student life like?
I'm a member of the post-graduate programme for cultural contacts and scientific discourse organised by the University and HMT Rostock. This gives me the chance to work with other PhD students. We meet up and talk about the problems of writing a thesis. We also eat together, go for walks, and organise film evenings.

What are your plans for the future?
After finishing my PhD, I want to apply for a job at a university in Argentina. My aim is to become a professor.

Do you have a favourite spot in Rostock?
Rostock has lots of nice spots! My favourite is the old part of town with the beautiful Nikolaikirche, the imposing Petrikirche and the cosy cafés and bars, such as ‘Die feuchte Geige’.

How have you experienced the city?
Rostock is a quiet place. Compared to La Plata, one thing I definitely like is being close to the sea and being able to enjoy the countryside. It's really nice to go on cycle tours here too. The Hanseatic town goes back 800 years so there are lots of interesting things to discover her. Just seeing the mixture of medieval churches and monasteries and Renaissance architecture and East German art and prefabricated buildings is an experience for me. The naturist bathing culture on the Baltic coast is also quite an experience!