WANT to know why people study in Munich? Holly is a Languages student from the University of Manchester who spent a semester in Germany. We've asked her what is (and isn't) so great about living in Munich.
STUDENT WORLD ONLINE: What do you love about Munich?
HOLLY: Munich is one of the most impressive and underrated cities in Germany; it’s romantic and shrouded in history and culture. From its awe-inspiring architecture to year round traditions, it’s the perfect place to study in Germany, and what’s more, it’s situated right in the middle of the Alps!
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SWO: Did you feel differently when you first arrived?
H: When I first found out that I would be spending a semester in Munich, I didn’t know what to expect and I arrived completely blind, armed only with the knowledge that I was in Bavaria and that here, people speak German with a funny accent. By the time I left, however, I realised how lucky I was to live in this thriving city. It stole my heart and truly is the Paris of Germany.
SWO: Is there anything you don’t like about Munich?
H: It’s the most expensive place to live in Germany and the price of rent really does reflect that. Although it is possible to live on a student budget! Winter can also seem to last a century, with snow that doesn’t shift for weeks and bone chilling temperatures. But the city has adapted, and you can always find a cosy cafe to escape the Alpine weather. What’s more – you can take a 30 minute train ride and find yourself skiing on world-famous slopes. While winter can be a struggle, the spring and summer will almost certainly make up for it with temperatures regularly hitting over 30 Celsius.
SWO: Is it easy to get around Munich?
H: Absolutely! As Munich is a large city you have the choice of various forms of transport. One of the most extensive networks, which links the suburbs with the centre, is the U-Bahn (underground metro) and it runs frequently, stopping only between about 2am and 5am. In the northern parts of the city, the tram is a fast way of getting around and also, if you want to get a little further outside the centre you can take the over-ground train (S-Bahn).
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SWO: What is there to see and do in Munich?
H: There is something different to see every month, and for Munich students there is always something going on! In the spring and summer you can sit and BBQ on the banks of the beautiful Isar river that runs through the city. Or take a picnic to the Englisher Garten, one of the largest urban parks in the world, where you can even watch people surfing in the river! When autumn rolls around, Munich becomes a vulture nest of people in Lederhosen and Dirndls at the largest beer festival in the world, Oktoberfest. This is definitely not a festival to be missed (not to mention, it’s a student’s dream!). And finally, Christmas markets are a huge tradition throughout Germany, and Munich’s ‘Christkindlmarkt’ is one not to be missed, take a stroll through the medieval streets with a cup of mulled wine and a steaming bratwurst for a proper German feel!
SWO: Good shops?
H: Marienplatz is the city centre where you can not only find the famous ‘Rathaus’ but a wide pedestrianised road with almost every High Street shop. If you want a good shopping centre, try Olympiapark in the north or Neuperlach in the south.
SWO: Good places to eat?
H: You can find every type of cuisine in Munich, it’s impossible to go hungry! In the summer try a typical German dish of Currywurst with a stein of the local brew in the beer gardens, and in the winter head to a typical Bavarian tavern for hearty Alpine food. I’d also recommend the numerous restaurants and bars in the University district where you can find main meals at great prices. As a personal favourite – I’d recommend Hans Im GlĪ?ck. It’s a chain of burger restaurants throughout the city and is the only place I’ve seen with its interior decorated with trees!
SWO: Good places to drink?
H: The Hofbräuhaus is a must! In typical Bavarian style you find yourself sat at a long table next to strangers with a Stein in your hand chanting and singing along with the oomph band that plays on the stage. Also check out Das Labor for an unusual, science themed cocktail and shot bar.
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SWO: Good places to relax and hang out?
H: The Englischer Garten is always buzzing with activity all year round. Take a stroll through the enchanting wooded area or sunbathe next to the river that runs through it (although watch out for the nudist area, if that’s not your scene!). Lake Starnberg is just 20 minutes from the city centre by train and is the second largest lake in Bavaria, surrounded by mountains – it’s a great place to get away from the city and get tanned in the summer!
SWO: What’s the area like?
H: Munich is the capital of Bavaria, a mountainous and very traditional part of Germany and is extremely close to Austria (Salzburg can be reached in just 2 hours by train!). The universities, both TUM and LMU, are located in the museum district of the city centre, which is perfect for getting almost anywhere. The whole neighbourhood is stunningly pretty, surrounded with bars, clubs, cinemas and restaurants, as well as being the cultural centre too!
SWO: What’s the university like?
H: There are two main universities in Munich, TUM (Technische Universität München) and LMU (Ludwig Maximilians Universität), both being very prestigious and residing in the top 3 universities in Germany.
SWO: Do you live on campus?
H: One important factor to remember about Munich is that it is extremely hard to find a place a live! Although saying that, it’s not impossible. I actually lived in a WG (shared flat) in the outskirts of the city (due to the price) but it is possible to live close to the universities in a WG for a good price or in one of the halls of residences.
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SWO: How much is monthly rent?
H: If you plan to live in a WG while studying in Munich, get ready to make WG-gesucht your homepage! With a bit of time spent researching, it’s possible to find a room near the universities for as little as 300euros. Although, this is rather rare and it’s most common to pay anywhere between 400 and 600euros a month for a decent sized room.
SWO: How much is a cinema ticket, a two-mile cab ride, and a 1 kg bag of rice?
H: There’s a really nice little cinema in Münchner Freiheit where you can get a ticket for about 6euros, although if you’re looking to watch a film in the original English, without it being dubbed over, then you have to unfortunately shell out a little more. Taxis can be rather expensive, but with public transport running pretty regularly (even through the night), it’s very rare that you’ll need to use one. Concerning food, Germany is the home of Aldi, meaning that you will be able to buy rice extremely cheaply – great for studying in Munich!
