University of Cologne for year abroad

[traceyinrosso70]

DD at Uni in Southampton doing a integrated masters in languages and having to start making decisions about her year abroad next year. She wants to go to Germany and her options are Cologne, Vienna and Pottsdam - she has to study at a partner Uni there. Cologne is her preferred option at this stage - has anyone had a DC do their year abroad there ? Any ideas on accomodation costs and if they have halls of residence ? Any help gratefully received. !

I have no direct experience of this university but had a look on the website for you. Some pages are in English.

There is a list of halls of residence here: www.kstw.de/index.php?option=com_wohnheim&view=liste&Itemid=243&lang=de

These are private ones: www.portal.uni-koeln.de/8786.html

Costs seem to be between 150 and 350 euros per month. If you click on an adress on the list and then on "Innenansichten" you can see a few pictures. They look lovely!

This is the online application page in English. Your DD can already apply, although it would help if she knew in which part of the city her department is going to be. www.tl1host.de/SWK/wohnheimaufnahmeantrag.html?lang_id=2

I love Cologne. No experience of living there just a couple of weeks. A wonderful university city. Excellent cathedral and Kolsch. There's a good jazz pub there or was in the 90s. My son's looking at Stuttgart at the moment for his year abroad (engineering), a less beautiful city.

No experience of Cologne but they do say there is a shortage of accommodation on the web site. My Dd studied in Switzerland and the best advice is to apply early. As soon as she possibly can. I think it said allow 880 to 1000 € a month for living costs including rent. The Erasmus grant was good enough for Switzerland and I am sure it will be fine in Germany. My Dd's university only offered 6 places in Switzerland for all faculties so it was definitely get in quick! All German universities will be well organised but just don't delay if places are scarce.

If you are doing Erasmus I think you get Euros 1200 in Germany and 1600 in Austria ... but Austria is probably more expensive ...

Thanks for the replies