— under construction —
Housing
The housing situation in Heidelberg is currently very difficult, as the housing market is unfortunately completely saturated. Below, we have compiled some important addresses and a few tips for finding accommodation. If you still haven’t found anything 2-3 weeks after the start of the semester, please feel free to contact us and we will try to find a solution together.
- The Studierendenwerk dormitories
- One of the first contact points, even though it is difficult to be admitted:
- In addition, the Studierendenwerk offers an online private agency for individual rooms and apartments
- Check out WG-Gesucht, Flat4Friendz, Immoscout, and other online portals
- Collegium Academicum
- There are also some dormitories offered by private providers (e.g. in Bahnstadt). Unfortunately, these are very expensive.
Also, we recommend not limiting your apartment search to Heidelberg alone. Properties in the surrounding areas are often cheaper plus the university is still easily accessible via public transport. Good options include the towns along tram line no. 5 (Dossenheim, Schriesheim, Weinheim, Käfertal, Viernheim, etc.), Eppelheim and Leimen, which can be reached via their own tram lines as well as towns further down the Neckar Valley (like e.g. (Neckargmünd, Bammental, Kleingemünd, Neckarsteinach etc.) that are connected to Heidelberg via bus and/or S-Bahn.
Student ID Card
All students at Heidelberg University receive a student ID card. This card serves as a payment card on campus and is valid for one semester.
- At the beginning of each semester (or as soon as tuition fees have been paid), the ID card can be validated at the Central Student Administration Office in the Carolinum (Seminarstraße 2, 69117 Heidelberg) or at the Zentralmensa (Central Canteen – Im Neuenheimer Feld 304, 69120 Heidelberg).
- Your Student ID card serves as a payment method in the canteen and must therefore be topped up regularly. This can be done directly at the top-up terminals in the canteens or online via PayPal. More information can be found here: https://www.stw.uni-heidelberg.de/de/campuscard
- You can also use your ID card as a library card. You can use it to rent items and pay for the printers and copiers in the University Libraries and most Institute Libraries.
Mobility
Deutschlandticket
How can I get the Deutschlandticket?
D-Ticket JugendBW (until November 30, 2023: Landesweites JugendticketBW)
Validity: all public transport in Germany
Price: € 39.42 per month for an annual subscription (effective January 2025, previously €30.42 per month).
Model: Subscription for 1 year, can be canceled monthly after the first year. According to the tariff regulations, students no longer have the option to cancel after 6 months (https://www.vrn.de/tickets/tarifsystem/tarifbestimmungen/artikel/024932/index.html). However, there is some information about this in the FAQ, but you should not rely on it if in doubt.
Eligible persons: All students up to the age of 27*. Note that you need to carry your validated student ID with you.
Purchase: There are several ways to purchase the ticket:
- Via the DB App/Website: bahn.de
- Via the rnv Subscription Service: The contract can be started on the first of each month if the order is placed by the 20th of the previous month. Online and plastic card available as ticket options. [Link to the website]
- Via the local rnv/VRN sales outlets.
- The D-Ticket JugendBW is not available as a ticket with limited validity in the VRN Ticket App (unlike the previous JugendticketBW).
Important to know: This is not the “bundesweite Semesterticket” (= nationwide semester ticket). There are no plans to introduce said ticket at this time.
*) All students over the age of 27 are only eligible for the regular Deutschlandticket (currently €58/month). They are no longer eligible for the D-Ticket JugendBW.
Nextbike
How does it work?
First, register at www.vrnnextbike.de or in the Nextbike app with your student email address (@stud.uni-heidelberg.de) and check under “Benefits and Rates” if “CampusRad – University of Heidelberg” is enabled. You can then use the nextbike app to rent a VRNnextbike. In order to do this, simply scan the QR code on the bike and confirm the rental. The bike lock will then open. You can now ride the VRNnextbike and return it at any VRNnextbike station nearby.
Once you have registered with your university email address, you can use a nextbike free of charge for 30 minutes per ride. You can do so as often as you like per day; you only have to wait 15 minutes before your next rental. If you exceed the aforementioned 30 minutes, you’ll have to pay €0.50 for each additional half hour. You can use the rental bikes not only in Heidelberg, Mannheim, and other cities in the VRN area, but also free of charge almost anywhere in Germany where nextbikes are currently available (except for Usedom, Bremen, Kiel, Munich, and Nuremberg). You can find a detailed overview of the locations here.
The NextBike app also provides an overview of all parking stations in the Heidelberg area.
Bahncard
Deutsche Bahn is currently offering the My Bahncard 50 (for everyone under 27) for €49.99 instead of €79.90.
With the Bahncard, you get a discount (50% or 25%, depending on which option you choose; we recommend the 50%) on all long-distance Deutsche Bahn journeys.
You can find more information at the following link:
URRmEL
The self-help bicycle repair shop for the Uni and PH (University of Education)
Bicycle broken? Don’t panic!
At URRmEL, you can repair it yourself. With the right tools and, if necessary, expert help. And all this thanks to the university, and the StuRa – on a donation basis.
Our yellow container is located on Klausenpfad near the dormitories (INF 704). Directions and further information:
http://urrmel.de – or via: urrmel@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
Opening hours
Tuesday and Thursday, 4–8 p.m.
(During lecture-free periods, Thursday, 2–8 p.m.)
Short-term changes are posted on our website.
German Courses
The ISZ (Internationales Studienzentrum) of Heidelberg University offers a wide range of German courses for international students, including intensive courses for prospective students, study-related courses for enrolled students as well as specialized courses for entering the job market – at levels ranging from A1 to C2. The courses promote general language proficiency, intercultural competence and in some cases already prepare participants for academic studies or professional life. They are intended for international students who are enrolled at Heidelberg University either as part of an exchange program (e.g. Erasmus) or to pursue their master’s degree.
Cultural Flatrates
Kurpfaelzisches Museum
Students of Heidelberg University enjoy free admission to the Kurpfaelzisches Museum in Heidelberg, an important institution for art and cultural history in the region.
Current Exhibitions
Admission and Proof of Eligibility
Admission is free upon presentation of a valid student ID card or current certificate of enrollment. No prior registration is required.
Address: Hauptstrasse 97, 69117 Heidelberg.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
Tip: Regular special exhibitions offer exciting insights into changing topics. Guided tours for students can be organized on request – also as part of the Meet&Cultivate series of events organized by the StuRa’s Cultural Office.
Heidelberg Museum of Ethnology (Voelkerkundemuseum Heidelberg)
The Heidelberg Museum of Ethnology offers all university students free admission, providing them with access to a unique window into the cultures of the world.
Current Exhibitions
Admission and Proof of Eligibility
Admission is free upon presentation of a valid student ID card or current certificate of enrollment. No prior registration is required.
Address: Hauptstrasse 235, 69117 Heidelberg
Opening Hours:
Wednesday to Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
City Theatre
Your semester fee includes a €2.50 contribution to the Heidelberg Theatre and Orchestra which entitles you to one free ticket for any performance at no additional cost.
Free tickets are available five days before the respective performance and can be obtained free of charge
◦ at the box office (Theaterstrasse 10, Mon-Sat from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.),
◦ at the evening box office (Theaterstrasse 10, from one hour before the start of the performance),
◦ by telephone (06221/5820-000),
◦ by email (tickets@theater.heidelberg.de) and
◦ in the online shop (theaterheidelberg.eventim-inhouse.de/webshop, promotional code “FlatrateUni”).
The following applies:
◦ Free tickets can only be purchased for personal use.
◦ In addition to the ticket, a student ID or certificate of enrollment must be presented at the entrance.
◦ If tickets are sold out five days before the performance, no tickets will be available.
◦ If the tickets are sold out five days before the performance, there will be no tickets available.
◦ If there are no tickets available in the online shop, it might be worth asking at the theater box office for any remaining tickets. Even in supposedly sold-out performances, there may still be a seat available for you—especially in the Zwinger.
Taeter-Theater
The conditions are basically the same as at the Stadttheater, just a little more accomodating for students: five tickets will always be reserved for students for each performance. You can find the program [here]. The volunteer-run theater with 99 seats is located very close to the “Betriebshof” tram/bus stop.
