Study PhD Programmes in Saarbrücken, Germany

Saarbrücken at a glance

Saarbrücken, Germany was once the industrial heartland of Central Europe and the disputed city between French and German troops for centuries. It has since transformed into a regional research hub and a competitive education centre for European and international students.

190K

Population
730 - 1100 EUR/month

Living Costs
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Universities

Studying

Studying in Saarbrücken

Saarbrücken’s universities and higher education institutes have over 24,000 students, many of which are cross-border and international arrivals. The various Bachelor’s and Master’s study programmes available focus mainly on subjects such as engineering, mathematics, biochemistry, computer sciences, physics and IT. There are, however, options for obtaining an MBA, as well as a Master’s of Science in Business Administration, a Master’s in Management or a corresponding degree in economics and finance. Nevertheless, Saarbrücken’s institutions also offer an arts and humanities perspective on higher education, with the possibility of enrolling for a Bachelor’s in Musicology or a Bachelor’s in Music Management, as well as several Master’s degrees in area studies, history, philosophy or linguistics.

The teaching style in Saarbrücken is highly research-oriented, aiming to produce skilled experts in their field, with a wide career setting. You can also find the possibility of adapting your study programme to a bilingual curriculum in French or German, alongside many English-taught courses. This internationality of studies is more visible at the PhD level, where the local institutions cooperate with partners in surrounding countries to offer a PhD in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience or a Joint European Doctoral Programme in Materials Science and Engineering.

Career

Career opportunities in Saarbrücken

There are over 15,000 businesses in Saarbrücken, employing largely skilled workers from around the region. The largest employers are in the car-making industry, insurance, healthcare and pharmacy and retail. Examples of local companies are CosmosDirekt Insurance, heavy manufacturers like Halberg-Guss and Saint-Gobain Gussrohr, but also software producer IDS Scheer. Universities in Saarbrücken offer the possibility of undertaking a part-time job during the study programmes, which they usually mediate for students.

Equally, you can find many research institutes which hire higher education graduates in areas such as biomedicine, computer sciences, engineering and IT.

Life

Saarbrücken city life

Saarbrücken has many tourist attractions and landmarks which are worth seeing:

Saarbrücken Castle ruins
The stone bridge over the Saar
St. Johann Basilica and Market

Saarbrücken Zoo
Gondwana Prehistoric Museum
Europa Commercial Galleries
Saarbrücken Historical Museum

Among the entertaining activities to be undertaken in Saarbrücken, you can find several “escape rooms” with different themes. Saarbrücken’s numerous concert ballrooms, music halls, clubs and pubs offer a fascinating mix of classical and modern alternative music genres.

The city has a very active sports life, with numerous football (soccer) teams, including women and junior groups, as well as a few American football teams. Another favourite sports event is the Grand Prix in badminton, periodically held in Saarbrücken.

International atmosphere in Saarbrücken

Saarbrücken is a widely international city, being situated near the neighbouring French, Luxembourgish and Belgian cities with which it forms a continual metropolis. Saarbrücken has also been an attractive destination for immigrants, gathering sizeable communities of Italian, French, Turkish, Romanian and Polish descent. Additionally, the presence of international students makes Saarbrücken a cosmopolitan place, where most residents speak at least two of the major languages like German, English and French. Moreover, the locals’ receptiveness to foreigners has made the city an example of tolerance and inclusion.

Weather Saarbrücken

The weather in Saarbrücken is mild and stable, with 86 cm of precipitation annually and temperatures ranging between -2 °C (28 °F) and 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) in January and 12.5 °C (54.5°F) and 25.0 °C (77°F) in July.

Costs

Accommodation costs in Saarbrücken

Housing options in Saarbrücken are some of the most accessible in the region:

Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is around 573 EUR/month, while three bedrooms cost 1,500 EUR/month
Rent for a one-bedroom apartment outside the city centre costs 345 EUR/month and three bedrooms charge 787 EUR/month
On-campus housing is between 270 and 300 EUR/month for single rooms, 450 EUR/month for two-bedroom apartments, 225 EUR/month for double rooms and 694 EUR/month for family flats.

Living costs in Saarbrücken

Saarbrücken is one of the most affordable cities in Germany, with monthly living costs ranging between 350 to 800 EUR, excluding accommodation.

Utilities cost, on average, 227.5 EUR/month.

Food prices are reasonable, reaching about 242 EUR/month.

Local transport is accessible, with a monthly pass costing 62.2 EUR and a one-way trip ticket costing 2.55 EUR. Taxis charge 1.7 EUR/km after the 3 EUR starting price.

Universities in Saarbrücken

Saarland University

Transcending boundaries is a hallmark of Saarland University – no matter whether these are geographical borders, cultural boundaries, barriers between academic disciplines, or outmoded divisions between academia and economic and cultural life.

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