Living in Frankfurt

With around 750,000 inhabitants, Frankfurt is the fifth-largest city in Germany. Numerous international banks and corporations gather in one of the most important financial centers in Europe. The skyscrapers of the banks form a characteristic and for German cities' unusual skyline, which gave Frankfurt the nickname "Mainhattan". Frankfurt is located in the middle of the Rhine-Main area, a vibrant metropolitan area. Due to its central location in the heart of Germany, the city is well-connected to the whole country.

Because of its size, Frankfurt is not a classic student city - however with almost 100,000 students at Goethe University and Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences as well as numerous other higher education institutions, life in the city is strongly student-influenced. Frankfurt and the surrounding cities offer a variety of cultural activities. With the following information, we want to make it easier for you to find your way around Frankfurt and provide an initial orientation.

Our Global Office created a series of how-to-videos that introduce you to important topics regarding your studies at Goethe University. Find answers to your questions about many topics the quick and easy way.

Together with Munich, Hamburg and Cologne, Frankfurt am Main is one of the more expensive cities in Germany. Whether cappuccino, rent or admission to a museum - the prices in the banking metropolis are often significantly higher than in other cities. This has an impact on the cost of living for students in Frankfurt. On average, you should expect the following costs in the various areas:

Rent (monthly)

• In dormitories: 300 - 350 euros
• Private rooms: 500 - 800 euros

Study costs (per semester)

The semester fee is newly calculated every semester and is around 370 euros (including local public transport). Further information on the composition of the contribution can be found here. In addition to the semester fee, there are costs of around 50 euros per semester for further expenses.

Other expenses (monthly)

• Cost of living: 300 - 500 euros
• Health insurance: approx. 75 euros

Frankfurt and the surrounding area offer a wide range of cultural and leisure activities. As a student at Goethe University, you receive free or discounted admission to numerous museums and cultural institutions. Neighboring cities in the Rhine-Main area such as Mainz, Darmstadt, Wiesbaden or Offenbach also offer many opportunities for leisure activities and can all be reached free of charge with your semester ticket. You will find several interesting links on the most important topics here:

Activities and initiatives at the university:

• Sport courses at the university
• Cornelia Goethe Colloqiums
• Autonomous seminars
• Café KOZ
• Student initiatives

Museums:

• Overview of museums in Frankfurt
• Frankfurt Museumsufer

Theaters:

• Municipal theatre
• English Theatre Frankfurt
• Die Komödie Frankfurt
• Mousonturm Frankfurt

Sport clubs:

• Eintracht Frankfurt
• FFC Frankfurt
• Löwen Frankfurt
• Skyliners Frankfurt
• Further sport clubs

Going out and restaurants:

• About Frankfurt
• Journal Frankfurt

City information

• Living in Frankfurt
• Public transportation

Regular events:

• Frankfurt book fair
• Museumsuferfest

Finding an apartment in Frankfurt can be a challenge. However, with a little patience and persistence, you will succeed in the local housing market. You will find very detailed information on the website of the Global Office on university, church and private dormitories, as well as numerous other links, tips and tricks for finding accommodation.The ASTA student union also provides information on this subject.

International students can get a part-time job if they either need to finance their studies or want to gather experiences in different occupational fields. You will find important information for international students on job hunting on the website of the Global Office.

You can find casual jobs in the classifieds of the student union ASTA. Longer-term positions can be found via the student union's job market. In addition, students are always being sought for temporary work on the "notice board" on both sides of the foyer of the PEG building - just take a look at the notices there!