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Study in Cuxhaven district

Cuxhaven is a coastal district of seaside towns, working harbours and rural landscapes. Cuxland

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The Kugelbake in Cuxhaven-Döse in the late evening
Photo: Eweht (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

In short

Cuxhaven is a rural district (Landkreis) in Lower Saxony with 198,842 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). There is no university in Cuxhaven district itself; the nearest is Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences in Bremerhaven, about 17 km away. Summers average 16.9 °C and winters 2.5 °C, with about 931 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).

Cuxhaven district in numbers

Population

198,842Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Area

2,058.96 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

People per km²

97Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Universities in the district

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

Nearest university

Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, BremerhavenWhere Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)

About 17 km away in a straight line

Average temperature

9.5 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Rain

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

Sunshine

1,622 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Frost days

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

About Cuxhaven district

Cuxhaven district stretches between the North Sea, Elbe and Weser. Its coastal character comes from tidal flats, fishing harbours and seaside settlements, while inland destinations include lakes, woodland and moorland. Cuxland Tourism (opens in a new tab)

Cuxhaven town combines beaches with a working waterfront; Otterndorf offers a historic town centre, and Geestland includes the spa settlement of Bad Bederkesa. Offshore wind manufacturing is another important part of the local picture: Siemens Gamesa assembles turbine nacelles in Cuxhaven. Cuxland Tourism (opens in a new tab) Siemens Gamesa (opens in a new tab)

Main towns

Nearest universities

No university in Cuxhaven district itself — these are the nearest (straight-line distance).

There is no university in Cuxhaven district. The nearest university options include Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, with further choices in Bremen and at Jade University's campuses. For regular attendance in Bremerhaven, assess the exact address carefully: DB currently shows direct Cuxhaven–Bremerhaven Hbf journeys of about 44 minutes, before travel to campus. Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab) Local vocational alternatives include public-administration dual study with the city and port-logistics apprenticeships at CuxPort; these are separate application routes, not casual student jobs. City of Cuxhaven (opens in a new tab) CuxPort recruitment (opens in a new tab) Consider living here if access to the coast matters enough to justify commuting, and compare actual housing offers before assuming a saving.

  • Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences

    Bremerhaven · 17 km away · 26 courses

  • Jade University of Applied Sciences Wilhelmshaven/Oldenburg/Elsfleth

    Wilhelmshaven · 47 km away · 63 courses

  • Constructor University

    Bremen · 51 km away · 59 courses

  • University of Bremen

    Bremen · 57 km away · 170 courses

  • APOLLON Hochschule der Gesundheitswirtschaft

    Bremen · 57 km away · 18 courses

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Housing

Treat this as a search for ordinary rental housing rather than a campus accommodation market. Siedlungsgesellschaft Cuxhaven welcomes suitable shared-flat arrangements and rents unfurnished apartments on indefinite contracts, generally without fitted kitchens. Siedlung Cuxhaven FAQ (opens in a new tab) Its published offer for Ditmar-Koel-Straße 8 quotes €7.80/m² basic rent, but requires a Wohnberechtigungsschein, or housing eligibility certificate; this restricted offer is not a district-wide rent benchmark. Available apartments (opens in a new tab) The evidence does not establish whether the student housing market is generally tight or relaxed.

How to find a place

  • Register your requirements through Siedlungsgesellschaft Cuxhaven's housing enquiry form, including your preferred location and apartment size. Available apartments (opens in a new tab)
  • If forming a WG, ask Siedlungsgesellschaft about a suitable apartment and prepare proof of income and identification; its FAQ also explains the credit check. Rental requirements (opens in a new tab)
  • For the advertised subsidised apartments, ask the landlord about the required Wohnberechtigungsschein before relying on the quoted rent. Available apartments (opens in a new tab)
  • Check the journey from each prospective address to campus, including the evening return. VBN publishes regional bus routes connecting Bad Bederkesa, Langen and other district settlements with Bremerhaven. VBN timetables (opens in a new tab)
  • If you are also considering living near your university, compare Studierendenwerk Bremen's Bremerhaven accommodation. Those residences are outside Cuxhaven district. Studierendenwerk housing (opens in a new tab)

Cost of living

Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences lists a semester contribution of €438 from winter semester 2026/27. University admissions (opens in a new tab) A separately purchased Deutschlandticket costs €63 per month through December 2026; DB lists €66.80 from January 2027. Check your university's semester-ticket arrangements before buying another subscription. Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab) Allow for moving-in costs: Siedlungsgesellschaft Cuxhaven requires a deposit of three basic monthly rents and generally supplies neither furniture nor a fitted kitchen. Landlord FAQ (opens in a new tab) A reliable overall saving against a large city could not be established; compare the full housing bill and commuting needs.

Jobs & employers

The verified employment picture includes offshore wind manufacturing, port logistics, healthcare and hospitality. Siemens Gamesa operates its nacelle factory, CuxPort recruits for port-logistics training, and Helios offers both clinical and support roles. Siemens Gamesa (opens in a new tab) CuxPort (opens in a new tab) Helios (opens in a new tab) For work alongside lectures, hotel housekeeping, reception and service roles are more directly evidenced than specialist student engineering vacancies. Hotel Deichvoigt (opens in a new tab)

Typical student jobs

Major employers

Getting around

The RB33 connects Cuxhaven, Nordholz, Dorum and Wremen with Bremerhaven. evb (opens in a new tab) DB's published November 2026 examples take about 44 minutes from Cuxhaven to Bremerhaven Hbf and 1 hour 24 minutes to Bremen Hbf with one change; these are station-to-station times, not campus journeys. Bremerhaven connections (opens in a new tab) Bremen connections (opens in a new tab) Elsewhere, buses and demand-responsive services make the exact address important. VNN district transport (opens in a new tab) The Deutschlandticket covers ordinary local and regional public transport. DB ticket rules (opens in a new tab) Cuxhaven city's RufMobil also accepts it and requires advance booking at least 30 minutes before departure. Check separate arrangements for rural AST services. City RufMobil (opens in a new tab)

Main stations
Nearest airport

Bremen Airport (BRE)

A practical scheduled-flight airport for the district; Cuxhaven tourism identifies Bremen and Hamburg as the nearby commercial airports. Arrival information (opens in a new tab) For Bremen Airport, travel by train to Bremen Hbf and continue on tram 6. Bremen transport information (opens in a new tab)

Weather & seasons

Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Bederkesa (2 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.

Winter

2.5 °C

78 mm rain a month

1.7 h sun a day

Spring

8.7 °C

55 mm rain a month

5.8 h sun a day

Summer

16.9 °C

91 mm rain a month

6.9 h sun a day

Autumn

10 °C

86 mm rain a month

3.4 h sun a day

Expect cool summers, damp weather throughout the year and winters with limited daylight rather than dependable snow. Waterproof layers are useful for the daily commute as well as days outside. Spring and summer give you more daylight for exploring; the coast's guided mudflat walks depend on tides rather than a fixed daily schedule. Cuxland mudflat guidance (opens in a new tab) In autumn and winter, build your routine around the actual bus or booked RufMobil connection home. City RufMobil (opens in a new tab)

Culture, language & food

Maritime traditions remain visible in fishing harbours and landmarks such as the Kugelbake and Alte Liebe. The Duhner Wattrennen brings horse racing onto the exposed seabed, while DEICHBRAND brings a major music festival to Cuxhaven/Nordholz. Maritime landmarks (opens in a new tab) Wattrennen (opens in a new tab) DEICHBRAND (opens in a new tab)

Low German, or Plattdeutsch, is part of the area's cultural life, with language courses specifically listed for Cuxhaven district. University of Münster's Low German centre (opens in a new tab) For student life, treat festivals as occasional highlights rather than evidence of a year-round campus nightlife scene; try an ordinary weekday evening before choosing where to live.

Do not assume that English will cover every rental enquiry, appointment or workplace conversation. As practical preparation, aim for conversational German around B1 and keep building towards B2 for work and paperwork; these are recommendations, not verified local entry requirements. Plattdeutsch is part of the regional culture, and Cuxhaven district has dedicated courses, but standard German should be your priority. University of Münster's Low German centre (opens in a new tab)

Local food

Places & events

Places to see

Events

  • Bederkesa Castle and the Roland statue in Bad Bederkesa

    Bederkesa Castle and the Roland statue in Bad Bederkesa

  • The historic town hall of Otterndorf

    The historic town hall of Otterndorf

Student experiences

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Studying in Cuxhaven district: FAQ

Is Cuxhaven district a good place to live as a student?

It can suit someone who values the coast and accepts a commute. From Cuxhaven station, direct trains to Bremerhaven Hbf take about 44 minutes in DB's published examples, before the onward trip to campus. Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab)

Is there a university in Cuxhaven district?

There is no university in the district. Nearby options include Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, Jade University and universities in Bremen; local public-administration dual study is a separate route offered by the city. City training opportunities (opens in a new tab)

How do I get from Cuxhaven to Bremerhaven for university?

Take the RB33, which serves Cuxhaven, Nordholz, Dorum and Wremen before Bremerhaven. Check the complete journey to your campus and the evening return before choosing housing. evb railway (opens in a new tab)

Is Cuxhaven expensive for students?

There is no verified representative student rent figure in this guide. One local landlord advertises €7.80/m² basic rent for a specific subsidised new-build offer, but it requires a housing eligibility certificate and should not be treated as the market average. Siedlung Cuxhaven (opens in a new tab)

What part-time jobs can students find in Cuxhaven?

Verified examples include hotel housekeeping and reception, plus hospital service, cleaning and catering work. Availability and hours need checking with the employer. Hotel Deichvoigt (opens in a new tab) Helios (opens in a new tab)

Can I live in Cuxhaven district without a car?

Start your search near a useful rail station or bus route and check your actual timetable. Buses and demand-responsive services cover different parts of the district; Cuxhaven city's RufMobil requires advance booking and accepts the Deutschlandticket. VNN (opens in a new tab) City RufMobil (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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