Skip to content
Where Is My Uni?
All guides

Study in Gifhorn district

Gifhorn is a rural Lower Saxony district with small towns and heathland.

Find a course nearbyJump to key facts
Landscape in the Fahle Heide nature reserve near Gifhorn
Photo: Petzipatz (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

In short

Gifhorn is a rural district (Landkreis) in Lower Saxony with 175,943 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). There is no university in Gifhorn district itself; the nearest is Ostfalia Hochschule in Wolfsburg, about 21 km away. Summers average 17.8 °C and winters 2 °C, with about 670 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).

Gifhorn district in numbers

Population

175,943Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Area

1,567.57 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

People per km²

112Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Universities in the district

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

Nearest university

Ostfalia Hochschule, WolfsburgWhere Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)

About 21 km away in a straight line

Typical student rent

€7–12/m² coldSource (opens in a new tab)

Monthly net cold rent range for newly let existing flats of up to 40 m² in Gifhorn town, published in Grundstücksmarktdaten 2025, dated 13 February 2025. This is a historical range, excluding utilities, not a current WG-room average.

Average temperature

9.7 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Rain

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

Sunshine

1,625 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Frost days

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

About Gifhorn district

Gifhorn lies at the southern edge of the Lüneburg Heath. Heathland, wetlands and waterways shape the landscape, with signed cycling routes connecting countryside and towns. (Südheide Gifhorn (opens in a new tab))

Gifhorn town is known for its international mill museum, castle and the meeting of the Aller and Ise rivers. Wittingen offers another historic town centre, with a brewing tradition that continues today. (Gifhorn (opens in a new tab), Wittingen (opens in a new tab))

Main towns

Nearest universities

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

There is no university in Gifhorn district. The nearest study destinations include Ostfalia in Wolfsburg and TU Braunschweig and HBK Braunschweig. Living here therefore means planning a commute: the RB47 connects Gifhorn Stadt with Braunschweig, while the RE30 serves Wolfsburg from Gifhorn station. Check the journey from your actual address through to your campus before choosing accommodation. (erixx (opens in a new tab), enno (opens in a new tab)) Gifhorn is worth considering if you prefer countryside and a quieter home base. Local vocational routes also exist: BUTTING advertises apprenticeships and study opportunities at its Knesebeck headquarters. (BUTTING (opens in a new tab))

  • Ostfalia Hochschule

    Wolfsburg · 21 km away · 100 courses

  • Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences - Hochschule Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel

    Wolfsburg · 22 km away · 1 courses

  • Technische Universität Braunschweig

    Braunschweig · 34 km away · 119 courses

  • Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig

    Braunschweig · 37 km away · 15 courses

  • Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover

    Hannover · 57 km away · 4 courses

Find a course nearby

Housing

Do not assume that a rural address guarantees an easy housing search. The official 2025 property-market report describes continuing excess demand for affordable social housing in Gifhorn town, particularly larger flats; it does not establish availability for student rooms. (Official market report (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

  • Check Gifhorner Wohnungsbau-Genossenschaft's rental listings and submit its Wohnungssuche-Fragebogen if nothing suitable is advertised. (GWG (opens in a new tab))
  • If studying in Wolfsburg, compare Gifhorn rentals with the Studierendenwerk's accommodation in Wolfsburg before committing to a commute. Those residences are outside Gifhorn district. (Studierendenwerk OstNiedersachsen (opens in a new tab))
  • Test each prospective address in the VLG journey planner, including your evening return. Compare total housing and transport costs, rather than cold rent alone. (VLG (opens in a new tab))

Cost of living

Budget for utilities on top of the published cold-rent range. For transport, the standard Deutschlandticket costs €63 per month in 2026 and covers local buses and regional trains nationwide; check whether your university already provides a semester ticket before buying separately. (VRB (opens in a new tab)) An inexpensive local outing is the historical museum in Gifhorn Castle, which lists €2 admission for students with identification, checked November 2026. (Museum information (opens in a new tab)) A cheaper overall budget than a university city is not established: any rent saving needs to outweigh the cost of reaching campus.

Jobs & employers

Engineering, manufacturing and healthcare are useful sectors to investigate: IAV lists a development centre in Gifhorn, BUTTING manufactures stainless-steel pipes and components in Knesebeck, and Helios operates Gifhorn's hospital. These are potential employers to research, not promises of student vacancies. (IAV (opens in a new tab), BUTTING (opens in a new tab), Helios (opens in a new tab))

Typical student jobs

  • Retail checkout, customer service and replenishment work: toom advertises a Gifhorn minijob covering these duties. (toom (opens in a new tab))
  • Part-time sales and customer advice: Hunkemöller advertises a Gifhorn minijob explicitly suitable for students. (Hunkemöller (opens in a new tab))
  • Working-student and temporary assistant roles: BUTTING invites speculative applications for these alongside student internships; ask specifically about Knesebeck opportunities. (BUTTING (opens in a new tab))

Major employers

Getting around

VLG and its partner companies operate local public transport. (VLG (opens in a new tab)) Distinguish Gifhorn station from Gifhorn Stadt: the RB47 serves both, with scheduled journeys from Gifhorn Stadt to Braunschweig Hbf taking about 38 minutes. (RB47 timetable (opens in a new tab)) The RE30 runs through Gifhorn station toward Wolfsburg and Hannover; its regular timetable shows roughly 13 minutes from Gifhorn to Wolfsburg Hbf. (RE30 regular timetable (opens in a new tab)) These are station-to-station times. At the November 2026 check, works were affecting journeys toward Wolfsburg, with replacement buses on affected services through 12 December 2026, particularly at weekends. Check a dated journey before travelling. (enno disruption notice (opens in a new tab)) The Deutschlandticket covers these regional services and local buses. (VRB (opens in a new tab))

Main stations
Nearest airport

Hannover Airport (HAJ)

A practical airport for scheduled passenger flights. Plan your rail journey via Hannover Hbf, then take the S5 to the airport; the airport lists approximately 18 minutes for that final leg, arriving beneath Terminal C. (Hannover Airport (opens in a new tab))

Weather & seasons

Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Wittingen-Vorhop (8 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.

Winter

2 °C

55 mm rain a month

1.7 h sun a day

Spring

9.2 °C

46 mm rain a month

5.6 h sun a day

Summer

17.8 °C

68 mm rain a month

7 h sun a day

Autumn

9.7 °C

54 mm rain a month

3.4 h sun a day

Expect chilly, often damp winters with limited sunshine, and generally mild summers interrupted by warmer days and showers. Bring waterproof layers for commuting and allow extra time when frost makes cycling awkward. Spring and autumn suit walks and cycle trips; summer adds swimming at Tankumsee to the options between study days. (Tankumsee (opens in a new tab))

Culture, language & food

Local public life includes the traditional Schützenfest, with shooting clubs, processions and fairground attractions, alongside an annual international cultural festival where local groups present food and performances. (City events (opens in a new tab)) The Altstadtfest brings live music into Gifhorn's centre each August. For regular campus social life, plan to spend time in your university town rather than expecting a local student quarter. (Altstadtfest (opens in a new tab))

Do not plan on English alone for housing arrangements or local employment. Aim for conversational German before arrival and keep improving it: one verified Gifhorn retail minijob explicitly asks for at least B1 German. This is an employer-specific requirement, not a district-wide rule. (Hunkemöller (opens in a new tab)) Plattdeutsch, or Low German, is part of the area's cultural heritage, with local events and a district representative; focus your own learning on standard German. (Lüneburgischer Landschaftsverband (opens in a new tab))

Local food

Places & events

Places to see

Events

  • Gifhorn Castle

    Gifhorn Castle

  • The Glockenpalast building in Gifhorn

    The Glockenpalast building in Gifhorn

Student experiences

First-hand posts from students in Gifhorn district, read by our team before they appear.

Loading experiences…

Share your experience

Our team reads every post before it appears. Please don't include contact details.

At least 40 characters. 0/2000

Studying in Gifhorn district: FAQ

Is there a university in Gifhorn district?

No. Nearby options include Ostfalia in Wolfsburg, TU Braunschweig and HBK Braunschweig, so university students living in Gifhorn district need to commute.

Is Gifhorn a good place to live as a student?

Consider it if you prefer a rural home base and can make the commute work. The region offers cycling routes, heathland and waterways, but check your full journey to campus before signing a lease. (Südheide Gifhorn (opens in a new tab), VLG (opens in a new tab))

How do I get from Gifhorn to Braunschweig or Wolfsburg?

Take the RB47 from Gifhorn Stadt to Braunschweig Hbf, scheduled at about 38 minutes, or the RE30 from Gifhorn station toward Wolfsburg. (RB47 (opens in a new tab), RE30 (opens in a new tab)) Check current disruptions: replacement buses affect some Wolfsburg journeys through 12 December 2026. (enno (opens in a new tab))

Is Gifhorn expensive for students?

The official 2025 report gives €7–12/m² monthly cold rent for newly let existing flats up to 40 m² in Gifhorn town. That excludes utilities and is not a student-room average; compare the full rent and commute before deciding. (Official market report (opens in a new tab))

What student jobs can I find in Gifhorn?

Verified examples include retail minijobs at toom and Hunkemöller, while BUTTING accepts enquiries about working-student roles and internships. Availability and language requirements vary. (toom (opens in a new tab), Hunkemöller (opens in a new tab), BUTTING (opens in a new tab))

Can I live in Gifhorn without a car?

It can work if your address and campus connect conveniently to the RB47, RE30 or local buses. Check evening and weekend journeys from the exact address; the existence of a district-wide bus network does not guarantee a convenient connection for every village. (VLG (opens in a new tab), erixx (opens in a new tab), enno (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

Ready to find your course in Gifhorn district?

Open the map on Gifhorn district: every university, every course, filtered by degree, subject, language and cost — free.

Find a course nearby
Find a course nearby