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Study in Ostalbkreis district

Ostalbkreis combines university towns, industrial employers and Swabian countryside, with student life centred on Aalen and Schwäbisch Gmünd.

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Historic buildings and café terraces around Schwäbisch Gmünd’s market square
Photo: Kreuzschnabel (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

In short

Ostalbkreis is a rural district (Landkreis) in Baden-Württemberg with 317,427 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). It has 4 universities: University of Education Schwäbisch Gmünd (Schwäbisch Gmünd), Aalen University (Aalen), Graduate Campus Hochschule Aalen (Aalen, Württemberg). Summers average 17.6 °C and winters 0.6 °C, with about 895 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).

Ostalbkreis district in numbers

Population

317,427Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Area

1,511.39 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

People per km²

210Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Universities in the district

4Where Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)

University of Education Schwäbisch Gmünd, Aalen University, Graduate Campus Hochschule Aalen and 1 more

Typical student rent

€287 or €302 per monthSource (opens in a new tab)

Published monthly rent including all ancillary costs for a furnished room in Wohnhaus Neissestraße, Schwäbisch Gmünd; two rooms share a bathroom. Undated operator listing, checked November 2026. This is a residence price, not a private-market average.

Average temperature

8.9 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Rain

895 mm a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Sunshine

1,706 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Frost days

100 a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

About Ostalbkreis district

Ostalbkreis lies in eastern Baden-Württemberg, covering parts of the eastern Swabian Alb and neighbouring wooded hills. Aalen, Schwäbisch Gmünd and Ellwangen are its main centres, linked by the Kocher, Rems and Jagst valleys (district background (opens in a new tab)).

This is both an industrial district and a place for outdoor weekends. Engineering, photonics and surface technology are established local industries; Roman remains, monasteries and walking routes give the area a different character outside the workplace (local economy (opens in a new tab), culture and countryside (opens in a new tab)).

Main towns

Universities here

Universities in Ostalbkreis district, biggest first.

The district’s study locations are Aalen, with Aalen University and Graduate Campus Hochschule Aalen, and Schwäbisch Gmünd, with the University of Education and Hochschule für Gestaltung. Choose housing around your actual campus: direct regional trains connect the two towns, but station-to-campus travel adds to the journey (regional timetable (opens in a new tab)). The district is worth considering if you want a smaller-town study setting with access to industrial placements and countryside; ZEISS offers student employment and internships, while Palm offers paid practical experience (ZEISS (opens in a new tab), Palm (opens in a new tab)).

  • University of Education Schwäbisch Gmünd

    University · Schwäbisch Gmünd · 94 courses

    Website (opens in a new tab)

  • Aalen University

    University of applied sciences · Aalen · 79 courses

    Website (opens in a new tab)

  • Graduate Campus Hochschule Aalen

    Other institution · Aalen, Württemberg · 11 courses

  • Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd

    University of applied sciences · Schwäbisch Gmünd · 4 courses

    Website (opens in a new tab)
Find a course in Ostalbkreis

Housing

Schwäbisch Gmünd has some encouraging signs for room seekers: its University of Education describes student accommodation as relatively accessible, and Studierendenwerk Ulm listed available rooms sharing a bathroom when checked in November 2026. This is a snapshot, not a guarantee for the next intake (university housing advice (opens in a new tab), operator availability (opens in a new tab)).

The typical student rent we found, and what that figure covers, is in the key facts.

How to find a place

Student residences

Cost of living

Residence accommodation provides a concrete starting point for budgeting: Neissestraße rooms are listed at €287 or €302 monthly including ancillary costs (Studierendenwerk Ulm (opens in a new tab)). The standard Deutschlandticket costs €63 monthly in 2026; OstalbMobil announces €66.80 from January 2027 (OstalbMobil (opens in a new tab)). Aalen University lists a €180 semester contribution for winter 2026/27 (enrolment information (opens in a new tab)). Many non-EU/EEA degree students without a German university entrance qualification also owe €1,500 tuition per semester, with exemptions explained by the university (tuition FAQ (opens in a new tab)). A reliable like-for-like comparison with Stuttgart’s overall student living costs was not established.

Jobs & employers

Engineering, machinery, photonics, surface technology and paper production are important parts of the district’s economy (district economic profile (opens in a new tab)). For students, this makes technical company roles and university research assistance useful search directions. Aalen University maintains a careers page covering student assistant work and an external portal for internships, working-student roles and thesis projects (university careers service (opens in a new tab)).

Typical student jobs

Major employers

Getting around

OstalbMobil is the district’s transport association (OstalbMobil (opens in a new tab)). The Remsbahn connects Stuttgart, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Aalen and Ellwangen. Allow roughly an hour between Stuttgart and Aalen, around 40 minutes between Stuttgart and Schwäbisch Gmünd, and about 20 minutes between the two university towns, depending on the regional service; these are station-to-station estimates from the 2025/26 timetable (Arverio timetable (opens in a new tab)). The Deutschlandticket covers local buses and regional trains, including MEX and RE services, but generally excludes IC and ICE trains (ticket coverage (opens in a new tab)). Before choosing a village address, check the complete campus journey and evening return options.

Main stations
  • Aalen Hbf
  • Schwäbisch Gmünd
  • Ellwangen
Nearest airport

Stuttgart Airport (STR)

A practical airport for the university towns: travel via Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and continue on the S2 or S3. The airport gives about 25–30 minutes for that final rail leg and advises checking current disruptions (airport transport guide (opens in a new tab)).

Weather & seasons

Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Ellwangen-Rindelbach (13 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.

Winter

0.6 °C

73 mm rain a month

2.1 h sun a day

Spring

8.6 °C

70 mm rain a month

5.6 h sun a day

Summer

17.6 °C

88 mm rain a month

7.2 h sun a day

Autumn

8.7 °C

68 mm rain a month

3.7 h sun a day

Expect cold winters with regular frost, a gradual spring warm-up and generally mild summers with occasional hot days. Rain is relevant throughout the year, so waterproof layers are useful for campus journeys as well as weekends outside. Spring through autumn gives you opportunities to explore walking routes and the Kocher, Jagst and Rems valleys (district outdoor guide (opens in a new tab)).

Culture, language & food

Local identity draws on Swabian traditions and the history of the Staufer towns. Aalen’s Reichsstädter Tage brings local associations, music groups and food stalls into the centre, while Schwäbisch Gmünd’s European Church Music Festival uses historic churches as concert venues (Aalen city festival (opens in a new tab), music festival profile (opens in a new tab)).

For choosing where to live, think in terms of town events and campus communities rather than assuming a metropolitan nightlife scene. If frequent late nights in Stuttgart matter to you, check the journey home before committing to accommodation.

English is usable in English-taught study settings and some international company teams, but do not assume it will cover every housing or workplace interaction; ZEISS says language requirements vary by role (ZEISS careers guidance (opens in a new tab)). As a practical learning target, aim for B1–B2 German, separately from your programme’s admission requirements. Aalen University offers German courses from beginner to advanced levels, including support for students on English-language programmes (Language Center (opens in a new tab)). Swabian dialect is part of local cultural life, including performances in Ostalb dialect (Aalen cultural programme (opens in a new tab)).

Local food

Places & events

Places to see

Events

  • Panoramic view across Aalen from the Braunenberg

    Panoramic view across Aalen from the Braunenberg

  • The Ipf hill near Bopfingen

    The Ipf hill near Bopfingen

Student experiences

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Studying in Ostalbkreis district: FAQ

Is Ostalbkreis a good place to live as a student?

It is worth considering if you prefer a smaller-town setting with countryside and access to industrial employers. Match your accommodation to your campus, and use the district’s walking routes and cultural attractions when comparing the lifestyle with a larger city (regional visitor guide (opens in a new tab)).

Is there a university in Ostalbkreis?

Yes. Aalen has Aalen University and Graduate Campus Hochschule Aalen; Schwäbisch Gmünd has the University of Education and Hochschule für Gestaltung.

Can I commute between Aalen and Schwäbisch Gmünd?

Yes. Direct regional trains take about 20 minutes between the stations, depending on the service; allow additional time to reach your campus (regional timetable (opens in a new tab)).

How much does student accommodation cost in Ostalbkreis?

As checked in November 2026, Studierendenwerk Ulm lists furnished Neissestraße rooms in Schwäbisch Gmünd at €287 or €302 monthly including ancillary costs. These are residence prices, not a district-wide rental average (official residence listing (opens in a new tab)).

What jobs can students find in Ostalbkreis?

Verified routes include working-student roles at ZEISS, university research assistance and paid internships at Palm. Search by location and check the hours and language requirements for each position (ZEISS (opens in a new tab), Aalen University (opens in a new tab), Palm (opens in a new tab)).

Does the Deutschlandticket work in Ostalbkreis?

Yes. It covers local buses and regional trains, including RE and MEX services, throughout the district; IC and ICE services are generally excluded (OstalbMobil ticket rules (opens in a new tab)).

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Sources & photo credits

Last updated November 2026. Population and area: Destatis. Weather: Deutscher Wetterdienst. Universities and courses: our catalogue. Everything else was researched from the sources below and checked — how we research these guides.

Sources

Photo credits

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