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Study in Ulm

Ulm is a university city on the Danube in Baden-Württemberg.

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Ulm’s historic skyline, Münster and city walls across the Danube
Photo: Uoaei1 (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

In short

Ulm is a district-free city in Baden-Württemberg with 129,882 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). It has 2 universities: Ulm University (Ulm), Ulm University of Applied Sciences (Ulm). Summers average 17.6 °C and winters 0.1 °C, with about 713 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).

Ulm in numbers

Population

129,882Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Area

118.68 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

People per km²

1,094Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Universities in the district

2Where Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)

Ulm University and Ulm University of Applied Sciences

Typical student rent

€304 per monthSource (opens in a new tab)

Listed rent including all utilities for a furnished single room in Heidenheimer Straße, Haus 1, with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Undated operator listing checked November 2026; this is a residence example, not a citywide average.

Average temperature

8.8 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Rain

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

Sunshine

1,710 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Frost days

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

About Ulm

Ulm lies on the Danube at Baden-Württemberg’s border with Bavaria. Across the river, Neu-Ulm is a separate Bavarian city; it is not part of this district (Ulm (opens in a new tab)).

The historic centre has the Ulmer Münster, riverside walls and the Fischerviertel’s timber-framed houses. Student life also extends beyond the centre to the university area on the Eselsberg and THU’s separate campuses (Ulm (opens in a new tab), Studierendenwerk (opens in a new tab), THU campuses (opens in a new tab)).

Neighbourhoods

Universities here

Universities in Ulm, biggest first.

Ulm has both Ulm University and Ulm University of Applied Sciences, also called Technische Hochschule Ulm or THU. Check your teaching location before choosing accommodation: THU has campuses at Prittwitzstraße and Albert-Einstein-Allee, with different public-transport approaches (THU (opens in a new tab)). Ulm University’s campus is reached from the main station by tram 2 or bus 5; the university gives an approximate journey of 10–20 minutes depending on the campus stop (university directions (opens in a new tab)). Ulm is worth considering if you want local university life and are comfortable choosing your neighbourhood around a campus commute.

Find a course in Ulm

Housing

Start searching early. Ulm University warns that private accommodation becomes scarce shortly before semester starts, while the Studierendenwerk says autumn applicants may face waits of several months (university housing advice (opens in a new tab), residence applications (opens in a new tab)). Residence prices provide useful budget examples, but they are not private-market averages. Contracts shorter than 12 months can carry a monthly supplement of up to €60 (Studierendenwerk conditions (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

Ulm University currently suggests approximately €950–1,000 per month for living expenses and lists Mensa meals at €3.20–5.60; treat this as planning guidance rather than a guaranteed budget (living expenses (opens in a new tab)). Its listed compulsory contributions total €192 for winter semester 2026/27, separate from any tuition. Many students arriving from outside the EU/EEA must additionally pay €1,500 tuition per semester, with exceptions and exemptions (university fees (opens in a new tab)). In November 2026, the Deutschlandticket costs €63 monthly; eligible students under 27 can obtain the €45 D-Ticket JugendBW, initially an annual subscription. Published January 2027 prices are €66.80 and €48.80 respectively (Deutschlandticket (opens in a new tab), JugendBW (opens in a new tab)).

Jobs & employers

University employment, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and defence electronics are useful starting points for a local job search. Ulm University advertises student administrative work, Teva offers working-student and internship routes, and HENSOLDT maintains an Ulm site. These are sectors and employers to investigate, not guarantees of a vacancy or English-only work (university careers (opens in a new tab), Teva students (opens in a new tab), HENSOLDT locations (opens in a new tab), university hospital careers (opens in a new tab)).

Typical student jobs

Major employers

Getting around

Use DING for local bus, tram and regional-rail planning (DING (opens in a new tab)). Tram 2 and bus 5 connect the main station with Ulm University; check your precise campus stop and current disruptions (university directions (opens in a new tab)). Ulm Hauptbahnhof has long-distance connections, with the fastest direct ICE journeys to Stuttgart taking about 42 minutes in DB’s current route information (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab)). The Deutschlandticket covers participating local and regional services, including buses and trams, but not ordinary ICE or IC journeys (ticket coverage (opens in a new tab)).

Main stations
Nearest airport

Memmingen Airport

The nearest commercial airport is approximately 60 km south of Ulm (Ulm (opens in a new tab)). Travel involves a bus to Memmingen station followed by a regional train; university guidance estimates roughly 60–75 minutes overall, depending on connections (airport travel guidance (opens in a new tab)).

Weather & seasons

Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Ulm (1 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.

Winter

0.1 °C

44 mm rain a month

2.1 h sun a day

Spring

8.8 °C

56 mm rain a month

5.7 h sun a day

Summer

17.6 °C

84 mm rain a month

7.5 h sun a day

Autumn

8.6 °C

53 mm rain a month

3.4 h sun a day

Expect cold, often frosty winters and milder transitional seasons; summer is warmer but also wetter, so keep rain protection handy throughout the year. Spring brings daffodils to Friedrichsau, while July’s Schwörmontag gives the summer a distinctive local gathering point (Friedrichsau (opens in a new tab), Schwörmontag (opens in a new tab)).

Culture, language & food

Ulm’s civic identity is especially visible on Schwörmontag: the mayor reports on the previous year and renews an oath to the city constitution from the Schwörhaus balcony. The Nabada river parade follows in the afternoon (Schwörhaus (opens in a new tab), Nabada (opens in a new tab)).

For evenings out, ROXY is a useful place to start: its programme includes concerts, comedy, theatre, dance and poetry slams. Check the calendar for nights that suit you rather than assuming the same atmosphere every evening (ROXY programme (opens in a new tab)).

If you choose an English-taught programme, still plan to learn German for life beyond your classes. B1 is a useful personal target for everyday independence, with B2 a sensible next goal for work; these are practical suggestions, not universal admission requirements. Ulm University offers career-focused German teaching that covers everyday and professional communication (FIT4U German course (opens in a new tab)). Swabian also appears in local traditions: the name Nabada comes from a dialect expression meaning to swim downstream (Nabada (opens in a new tab)).

Local food

Places & events

Places to see

  • Ulmer Münster

    Landmark

    Ulm’s landmark church, with historic choir stalls and sculpture inside (Ulm (opens in a new tab)).

  • Fischerviertel

    Old town

    Walk beside the Blau through timber-framed houses, cobbled lanes and small footbridges (Ulm (opens in a new tab)).

  • Friedrichsau

    Nature

    A large city park for a break outdoors; its spring daffodil displays are highlighted by the local tourism board (Friedrichsau (opens in a new tab)).

  • Wiblingen Abbey

    Monastery

    A former Benedictine monastery in southern Ulm, particularly known for its elaborate Rococo library (Ulm (opens in a new tab)).

Events

  • Buildings and water in Ulm’s Fischerviertel

    Buildings and water in Ulm’s Fischerviertel

  • Decorated interior of the monastery library in Wiblingen

    Decorated interior of the monastery library in Wiblingen

Student experiences

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Studying in Ulm: FAQ

Is Ulm a good place to live as a student?

Ulm is worth considering if you want to study locally and travel to campus by public transport. Ulm University’s published station-to-campus journey is approximately 10–20 minutes, but accommodation can become scarce before semester starts (campus travel (opens in a new tab), housing advice (opens in a new tab)).

Which universities are in Ulm?

Ulm University and Ulm University of Applied Sciences, also known as Technische Hochschule Ulm or THU, are in Ulm. THU has campuses at Prittwitzstraße and Albert-Einstein-Allee (Ulm (opens in a new tab), THU campuses (opens in a new tab)).

How do I get from Ulm Hauptbahnhof to Ulm University?

Use tram 2 or bus 5 towards the university area. The university estimates about 10–20 minutes depending on your campus stop; check DING for current services and disruptions (university directions (opens in a new tab), DING (opens in a new tab)).

Is Ulm expensive for students?

Ulm University suggests approximately €950–1,000 monthly for living expenses, although your rent and circumstances can change this substantially. Budget separately for semester contributions and any applicable tuition fees (living expenses (opens in a new tab), tuition rules (opens in a new tab)).

What student jobs can I find in Ulm?

Verified routes include student administrative work at Ulm University, academic assistant roles and working-student opportunities through Teva. Availability, subject knowledge and language requirements depend on the position (university careers (opens in a new tab), academic assistants (opens in a new tab), Teva students (opens in a new tab)).

Can I use the Deutschlandticket from Ulm to Stuttgart?

You can use it on eligible local and regional trains, but not the ordinary ICE services. DB’s approximately 42-minute fastest connection is an ICE journey and therefore needs a separate ticket (DING coverage (opens in a new tab), Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab)).

More guides

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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