Skip to content
Where Is My Uni?
All guides

Study in Oberhausen

Oberhausen is a Ruhr city shaped by industry.

Find a course nearbyJump to key facts
Landscape view of the Gasometer in Oberhausen
Photo: Arne Müseler (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

In short

Oberhausen is a district-free city in North Rhine-Westphalia with 213,646 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). There is no university in Oberhausen itself; the nearest is Hochschule Ruhr West in Bottrop, about 6 km away. Summers average 18.9 °C and winters 4.1 °C, with about 866 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).

Oberhausen in numbers

Population

213,646Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Area

77.09 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

People per km²

2,771Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Universities in the district

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

Nearest university

Hochschule Ruhr West, BottropWhere Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)

About 6 km away in a straight line

Typical student rent

€8.97/m² per monthSource (opens in a new tab)

Average advertised net cold rent for existing apartments in Oberhausen in the first half of 2026, reported by Engel & Völkers Commercial using VALUE market data. Excludes operating costs and heating; this is not a student-room or furnished-apartment average.

Average temperature

11.4 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Rain

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

Sunshine

1,589 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Frost days

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

About Oberhausen

Oberhausen is an urban part of the Ruhr region whose industrial past remains visible in its buildings and neighbourhoods. Its main centres are Alt-Oberhausen, Sterkrade and Osterfeld; the Neue Mitte adds a separate shopping and leisure area around Centro. (City portrait (opens in a new tab))

The Gasometer captures that change particularly well: a former gas holder now used for exhibitions, with a rooftop viewing platform. For a different perspective, walk through Eisenheim, a preserved workers’ housing settlement whose residents fought to save it from demolition. (Gasometer (opens in a new tab), Eisenheim (opens in a new tab))

Neighbourhoods

Nearest universities

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

Oberhausen has no university, so living here means building your student routine around a commute. Nearby options include Hochschule Ruhr West in Bottrop, Universität Duisburg-Essen, FOM and Folkwang in Essen, and Westfälische Hochschule in Gelsenkirchen. Direct trains connect Oberhausen Hbf with Essen Hbf, but allow additional time to reach your actual teaching building; HRW’s Bottrop campus has its own bus stop, Bottrop Hochschule. (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab), HRW campus map (opens in a new tab)) This is worth considering if you are comfortable separating home and campus life. Technical apprenticeships are another local route: Everllence explicitly offers training at its Oberhausen site. (Everllence (opens in a new tab))

  • Hochschule Ruhr West

    Bottrop · 6 km away · 34 courses

  • Universität Duisburg-Essen

    Essen · 13 km away · 359 courses

  • FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management

    Essen, Ruhr · 13 km away · 63 courses

  • Folkwang University of the Arts

    Essen · 13 km away · 42 courses

  • Westfälische Hochschule

    Gelsenkirchen · 17 km away · 112 courses

Find a course nearby

Housing

Compare ordinary apartments and shared flats rather than relying on a local student-residence market. The latest verified market report shows rising asking rents and meaningful neighbourhood differences: existing apartments in Osterfeld were advertised for less per square metre on average than those in Sterkrade-Nord. That supports comparing areas, but does not establish that student rooms are easy to secure. (Housing 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 the Sterkrader Wohnungsgenossenschaft’s listings and online application route for cooperative apartments; ask about membership requirements before budgeting. (Sterkrader Wohnungsgenossenschaft (opens in a new tab))
  • Search ImmoScout24’s Oberhausen section for shared rooms and small apartments. Check that the location is Oberhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia. (ImmoScout24 (opens in a new tab))
  • Use Oberhausen’s official Mietspiegel to assess a particular apartment by building age, size and condition. Its reference rents are net cold rents, so request a separate breakdown of additional costs. (City Mietspiegel (opens in a new tab))
  • Test the journey from each prospective address to your actual campus in the STOAG planner, including your return after evening classes. (STOAG (opens in a new tab))
  • If you attend a university served by Studierendenwerk Essen-Duisburg, compare its residence options in neighbouring university towns before committing to a private lease in Oberhausen. (Studierendenwerk housing directory (opens in a new tab))

Cost of living

Budget separately for rent, heating, electricity and internet: the published apartment benchmark is a cold-rent figure. (Housing market report (opens in a new tab)) The standard Deutschlandticket costs €63 per month in 2026; check your university’s semester-ticket arrangements before buying a separate subscription. (STOAG (opens in a new tab)) For occasional journeys, STOAG lists a price-level A adult single ticket at €3.80 in its 2026 tariff. (Fare table (opens in a new tab)) Free leisure options include the Kaisergarten and its animal enclosure. (Oberhausen tourism (opens in a new tab))

Jobs & employers

Local employment includes industrial engineering, chemicals and applied research: Everllence manufactures turbomachinery and develops industrial heat pumps, OXEA produces organic chemicals in Holten, and Fraunhofer UMSICHT offers student research opportunities. (Everllence (opens in a new tab), OXEA (opens in a new tab), Fraunhofer (opens in a new tab)) For work alongside lectures, Centro’s employer directory also lists retail, café and stockroom roles. Treat these as search routes, since vacancies and required availability change. (Centro jobs (opens in a new tab))

Typical student jobs

Major employers

Getting around

Use STOAG’s journey planner for local public transport and connections to regional trains. (STOAG (opens in a new tab)) DB currently lists direct Oberhausen Hbf–Essen Hbf journeys from about 16 minutes; that is station-to-station, not a campus commute. (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab)) The regional network also connects Oberhausen with Duisburg, Bottrop and Gelsenkirchen. For HRW Bottrop, plan through to Bottrop Hochschule rather than stopping your search at Bottrop Hbf. (VRR network (opens in a new tab), HRW campus map (opens in a new tab)) The Deutschlandticket covers local and regional public transport nationwide; check the selected service and current disruption notices before travelling. (STOAG ticket information (opens in a new tab))

Main stations
Nearest airport

Düsseldorf Airport (DUS)

The practical nearby airport for scheduled international flights. Regional trains connect Oberhausen with Düsseldorf Flughafen station; normally the SkyTrain provides the onward terminal connection. Check airport notices for replacement transport during maintenance. (DB timetable (opens in a new tab), Airport access (opens in a new tab))

Weather & seasons

Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Duisburg-Laar (10 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.

Winter

4.1 °C

76 mm rain a month

1.9 h sun a day

Spring

10.9 °C

58 mm rain a month

5.5 h sun a day

Summer

18.9 °C

82 mm rain a month

6.6 h sun a day

Autumn

11.5 °C

73 mm rain a month

3.4 h sun a day

Expect cool, often damp winters and generally mild-to-warm summers, with rain possible throughout the year. Waterproof shoes and a light rain jacket are useful for the daily commute. Spring brings the short-film festival, while warmer days suit walking or running in the Kaisergarten. (Festival (opens in a new tab), Kaisergarten (opens in a new tab))

Culture, language & food

Workers’ history is part of the local landscape, especially at Eisenheim, where residents successfully opposed the demolition of their settlement. The separate centres of Sterkrade and Osterfeld also give Oberhausen a neighbourhood-based character. (Eisenheim (opens in a new tab), City portrait (opens in a new tab))

There are substantial evening options: concerts at the Turbinenhalle, performances at the Ebertbad and Theater Oberhausen, events at Zentrum Altenberg, and restaurants along the Centro promenade. For a commuting student, these provide places to spend evenings locally, although campus societies and university social life will require travel. (Oberhausen entertainment guide (opens in a new tab))

For planning purposes, do not rely on an English-only job search: several Centro retail employers explicitly ask for strong German. (Centro jobs (opens in a new tab)) Aim for conversational German for viewings and everyday tasks; B1–B2 is a useful personal learning target, not a universal admission or employment requirement. Check the language requirements of each course and job separately.

Local food

Places & events

Places to see

  • Gasometer Oberhausen

    Industrial heritage

    A former gas holder converted into an exhibition venue, with views across the Ruhr region from its roof. (Visitor information (opens in a new tab))

  • Kaisergarten

    Nature

    A park beside Schloss Oberhausen for walking, running or a low-cost afternoon out; entry to the park and animal enclosure is free. (Visitor information (opens in a new tab))

  • LUDWIGGALERIE Schloss Oberhausen

    Museum

    An exhibition destination in Schloss Oberhausen, conveniently combined with a walk in the adjoining Kaisergarten. (Visitor information (opens in a new tab))

  • Siedlung Eisenheim

    Historic neighbourhood

    A preserved workers’ settlement illustrating the domestic side of Ruhr industrial history. Visit respectfully: the historic houses form a residential neighbourhood. (Visitor information (opens in a new tab))

Events

  • Schloss Oberhausen illuminated at dusk

    Schloss Oberhausen illuminated at dusk

  • Slinky Springs bridge over the Rhine–Herne Canal beside the Kaisergarten

    Slinky Springs bridge over the Rhine–Herne Canal beside the Kaisergarten

Student experiences

First-hand posts from students in Oberhausen, 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 Oberhausen: FAQ

Is Oberhausen a good place to live as a student?

It can suit students who are comfortable commuting and want to compare housing across the Ruhr region. Direct trains reach Essen Hbf in about 16 minutes on the fastest currently listed services, but your full campus journey will take longer. (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab))

Is there a university in Oberhausen?

Oberhausen has no university. Nearby study options include Hochschule Ruhr West in Bottrop, Universität Duisburg-Essen, FOM and Folkwang in Essen, and Westfälische Hochschule in Gelsenkirchen.

How do I commute from Oberhausen to Hochschule Ruhr West in Bottrop?

Plan your journey to the stop Bottrop Hochschule, which serves HRW’s Bottrop campus, rather than just to Bottrop Hbf. Compare connections from your prospective home using STOAG’s planner. (HRW campus map (opens in a new tab), STOAG (opens in a new tab))

How much does renting in Oberhausen cost?

Engel & Völkers Commercial reports an average advertised cold rent of €8.97 per square metre for existing apartments in the first half of 2026. This excludes additional costs and is not a shared-room price. (Market report (opens in a new tab))

What student jobs are available in Oberhausen?

Useful search areas include retail, café service and stockroom work at Centro, plus scientific assistant roles and internships at Fraunhofer UMSICHT. Availability and language requirements depend on the employer. (Centro jobs (opens in a new tab), Fraunhofer (opens in a new tab))

Can I commute from Oberhausen with a Deutschlandticket?

Yes, the Deutschlandticket covers local and regional public transport nationwide. The standard subscription costs €63 per month in 2026; check whether your university provides a semester-ticket arrangement before buying it separately. (STOAG (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 Oberhausen?

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

Find a course nearby
Find a course nearby