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Study in Brandenburg an der Havel

Brandenburg an der Havel is an independent city in Brandenburg with a university of applied sciences.

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Wide panorama of Brandenburg an der Havel from the Friedenswarte
Photo: Mathias Krumbholz (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

In short

Brandenburg an der Havel is a district-free city in Brandenburg with 74,113 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). It has one university: Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences (Brandenburg an der Havel). Summers average 18.6 °C and winters 1.8 °C, with about 572 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).

Brandenburg an der Havel in numbers

Population

74,113Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Area

229.73 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

People per km²

323Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Universities in the district

1Where Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)

Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences

Typical student rent

€310–320 per monthSource (opens in a new tab)

Monthly rent for a furnished single room in a shared flat at Zanderstraße 10 A–G, as listed in the undated DAAD residence directory, checked November 2026. This is a residence price, not a citywide market average.

Average temperature

9.9 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Rain

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

Sunshine

1,720 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Frost days

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

About Brandenburg an der Havel

Brandenburg an der Havel is a city shaped by waterways and historic neighbourhoods. Its centre has three distinct historic cores: Altstadt, Neustadt and Dominsel, with churches and medieval streets linking them together (Berlin.de (opens in a new tab)).

Water is part of everyday recreation here: cycling, paddling and trips around the Havel lakes complement the city's museums and architecture (German National Tourist Board (opens in a new tab)). There is also a working industrial side, including ZF's transmission factory and the Brandenburger Elektrostahlwerke steelworks (VME (opens in a new tab), Riva (opens in a new tab)).

Neighbourhoods

Universities here

Universities in Brandenburg an der Havel, biggest first.

Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences, usually called THB, is the local university in the supplied catalogue. Its campus residence and IQ student club offer practical starting points for meeting other students (DAAD residence guide (opens in a new tab), THB culture guide (opens in a new tab)). Potsdam is a realistic commuting direction: published regional-train examples take about 25 minutes between the main stations, before your onward campus journey (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab)). Consider living here if you value a local campus community and access to outdoor activities; test your full commute before choosing it as a base for another university.

  • Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences

    University of applied sciences · Brandenburg an der Havel · 24 courses

    Website (opens in a new tab)
Find a course in Brandenburg an der Havel

Housing

Do not assume a smaller city means an easy housing search. Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg explicitly reports a shortage of student accommodation here (Housing FAQ (opens in a new tab)). THB also warns that furnished private flats are uncommon and that some rentals have no fitted kitchen, which can add significantly to your arrival costs (THB arrival guidance (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

THB's regular semester contribution is €372.80 for winter semester 2026/27, including a €226.80 semester-ticket component; some programmes have different charges (THB contributions (opens in a new tab)). The Studierendenwerk requires a €400 housing deposit. Its flat-rate rent includes heating, operating costs, electricity and furniture, while internet and the broadcasting contribution are excluded (Housing FAQ (opens in a new tab)). Budget separately for food, insurance and any furniture or kitchen needed in a private rental; no verified current comparison with big-city living costs is available here.

Jobs & employers

Manufacturing and healthcare provide useful places to investigate for employment: ZF makes transmissions, Riva operates the local steelworks, and the university hospital employs clinical, technical and service staff (VME (opens in a new tab), Riva careers (opens in a new tab), Hospital careers (opens in a new tab)). ZF also advertises local apprenticeships and dual-study routes, which are separate commitments from ordinary part-time student work (ZF Brandenburg (opens in a new tab)).

Typical student jobs

Major employers

Getting around

VBBr runs the city's trams, buses and night buses (Local timetables (opens in a new tab)). The RE1 corridor links Brandenburg with Potsdam, Berlin and Magdeburg; VBB flags substantial engineering work during 2026, so check the actual travel date (VBB RE1 (opens in a new tab)). Published regional services to Potsdam Hbf take approximately 24–25 minutes (DB Potsdam connections (opens in a new tab)). Berlin journeys can be considerably longer during disruption: DB's November examples include a regional itinerary of roughly 90 minutes with changes (DB Berlin connections (opens in a new tab)). The Deutschlandticket covers ordinary local buses, trams and regional trains, including RE services, but generally excludes ICE, IC and EC trains (DB ticket rules (opens in a new tab)).

Main stations
  • Brandenburg Hauptbahnhof — the principal RE1 station for journeys towards Potsdam, Berlin and Magdeburg (VBB (opens in a new tab)).
  • Kirchmöser — another city station served by the Magdeburg–Brandenburg RE1 service (VBB (opens in a new tab)).
Nearest airport

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)

A regional-rail route is RE1 to Potsdam, then RB22 towards Flughafen BER. Check the connection for your flight date and allow transfer time (VBB RE1 (opens in a new tab), DB regional timetables (opens in a new tab)).

Weather & seasons

Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Brandenburg-Görden (3 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.

Winter

1.8 °C

42 mm rain a month

1.9 h sun a day

Spring

9.6 °C

41 mm rain a month

5.9 h sun a day

Summer

18.6 °C

63 mm rain a month

7.4 h sun a day

Autumn

9.9 °C

45 mm rain a month

3.7 h sun a day

Expect cold, often grey winters and a gradual return to outdoor routines in spring. Summer is generally warm, with occasional hot days and rain, so keep a waterproof layer handy. The Havel and surrounding lakes offer options for paddling and cycling when the weather suits (German National Tourist Board (opens in a new tab)). Autumn brings cooler conditions and shorter days; winter is a good time to make regular indoor activities part of your week.

Culture, language & food

Fishing and river life are visible parts of local identity. The Altstädtischer Fischerkietz recalls the city's fishing history, while Plaue's Fischerjakobi festival continues the tradition with a procession and activities on the Havel (Local tourism (opens in a new tab), City festival information (opens in a new tab)).

For student evenings, THB points to the IQ student club for parties and quizzes, plus a central cinema and Klubhaus Philipp for dancing. Think in terms of specific venues and their programmes when planning a night out (THB culture guide (opens in a new tab)).

English can support your studies on an English-taught programme, but do not plan on using it for every rental, appointment or job application. As practical preparation, aim for conversational German and work towards B1–B2 for everyday independence; this is advice, not a local admission rule. THB's German-taught programmes require accepted C1-level evidence, while its listed English-taught Mechanical Engineering and Interactive Media programmes require B2 English (THB application requirements (opens in a new tab)).

Local food

  • Zander

    Pike-perch belongs to the region's freshwater-fish tradition and is highlighted by the local tourism board among Brandenburg's principal catches (Local fish guide (opens in a new tab)).

  • Hecht

    Pike is another regional freshwater fish to look for on menus; the city's culinary connection is to the Havel and its lakes rather than seafood (Local fish guide (opens in a new tab)).

Places & events

Places to see

Events

  • Front of the Gothic old town hall in Brandenburg an der Havel

    Front of the Gothic old town hall in Brandenburg an der Havel

  • St Peter and Paul's Cathedral in Brandenburg an der Havel

    St Peter and Paul's Cathedral in Brandenburg an der Havel

Student experiences

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Studying in Brandenburg an der Havel: FAQ

Is Brandenburg an der Havel a good place to live as a student?

It is worth considering if you want a local campus community with access to water and outdoor activities. THB has an on-campus residence and an IQ student club, although accommodation requires a separate application (DAAD residence guide (opens in a new tab), THB culture (opens in a new tab)).

Is there a university in Brandenburg an der Havel?

Yes. Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences, known locally as Technische Hochschule Brandenburg or THB, is based here and provides guidance for international applicants (THB international admissions (opens in a new tab)).

Can I commute from Brandenburg an der Havel to Potsdam?

Yes. Published regional-train examples take about 24–25 minutes from Brandenburg Hbf to Potsdam Hbf; add the journey from home to the station and from Potsdam Hbf to your campus (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab)).

How much does student accommodation cost in Brandenburg an der Havel?

The DAAD residence directory lists furnished single rooms in shared flats at Zanderstraße for €310–320 per month, checked November 2026. This is a residence price and does not represent the private rental market (DAAD (opens in a new tab)).

What jobs can students find in Brandenburg an der Havel?

Verified examples include medical-practice assistance and campus promotion, while the hospital also advertises part-time kitchen work and nursing side jobs requiring professional qualifications. Check current availability and shift requirements (Studierendenwerk job board (opens in a new tab), Hospital careers (opens in a new tab)).

Does the Deutschlandticket cover travel from Brandenburg an der Havel to Berlin?

It covers regional trains such as RE1 and ordinary local public transport. It generally does not cover ICE, IC or EC services, so check the train category as well as the route (VBB RE1 (opens in a new tab), DB ticket rules (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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