The City of Göttingen, its students and its scientifc community

Göttingen is situated in the southern part of Lower Saxony in the geographical center of Germany. The city dates back to the Middle Ages and still boasts a historical quarter with excellently preserved half-timbered houses. The University of Göttingen with its over 31,000 students forms an integral part of the city and contributes considerably to the lively atmosphere of the town.

In addition to the University, the area also hosts five Max Planck Institutes and a number of other important scientific institutions, such as the German Primate Center. The university departments and buildings are dispersed at various campuses around the city and are within easy walking or cycling distance of each other.

Due to its central position in Germany, Göttingen has excellent traffic connections. It is close to the A7 motorway, the major North-South motorway, and there are ICE (high-speed train) connections from the main train station. Within 30 minutes, you can be in Kassel or Hanover, within two hours in Berlin, Hamburg or Frankfurt.

Göttingen offers a myriad of possibilities for recreational activities. The town avails of three theaters, a symphony orchestra and many cinemas, cafes and pubs, which provide numerous opportunities to meet people. Popular annual events include the International Händel Festival, the Jazz Festival, and the International Literature Festival. The university and its student union sponsor many cultural and recreational events.

The local economy includes many innovative technology-oriented enterprises in the sectors of measurement and control engineering, biotechnology, optics, medical technology and information technology. Several companies are spin-offs from university research projects.