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Study in Solingen

Solingen is a blade-making city in the Bergisches Land.

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Aerial view of Müngsten railway bridge above the wooded Wupper valley in autumn.
Photo: Superbass (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

In short

Solingen is a district-free city in North Rhine-Westphalia with 165,626 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). There is no university in Solingen itself; the nearest is Bergische Universität Wuppertal in Wuppertal, about 11 km away. Summers average 17.8 °C and winters 3.1 °C, with about 1,046 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).

Solingen in numbers

Population

165,626Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Area

89.54 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

People per km²

1,850Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Universities in the district

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

Nearest university

Bergische Universität Wuppertal, WuppertalWhere Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)

About 11 km away in a straight line

Typical student rent

€5.71–6.47/m² monthly base cold rentSource (opens in a new tab)

A specific comparison-rent bracket in the Solingen Mietspiegel 2025: flats up to 50 m², built in 1955–1970, in the middle location category, before applicable additions and deductions. Excludes operating and heating costs. This is neither a citywide average nor a current advertised student-room price; the publication states that its values are unchanged from 2024.

Average temperature

10.3 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Rain

1,046 mm a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Sunshine

1,572 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Frost days

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

About Solingen

Solingen is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia’s Bergisches Land, neighbouring Wuppertal and Remscheid. Its identity is closely tied to knives, scissors and metalworking—the reason for its name Klingenstadt, or ‘City of Blades’. (City background (opens in a new tab))

Neighbourhood choice matters here: Ohligs contains the main railway station, while Gräfrath has a preserved historic centre around its market square. The Wupper valley offers a different side of the city, including the park beneath Müngsten’s railway bridge. (Ohligs (opens in a new tab), Gräfrath (opens in a new tab), Brückenpark Müngsten (opens in a new tab))

Neighbourhoods

  • Ohligs

    Home to Solingen Hauptbahnhof and the Düsseldorfer Straße shopping area; a useful starting point when comparing commuter accommodation. (Ohligs (opens in a new tab))

  • Solingen-Mitte

    The central district includes the Graf-Wilhelm-Platz bus interchange and Südpark, where former railway premises accommodate studios, homes and gastronomy. (City background (opens in a new tab))

  • Gräfrath

    A northern neighbourhood bordering Wuppertal, with a historic market square and the Deutsches Klingenmuseum. (Gräfrath (opens in a new tab))

Nearest universities

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

Where Is My Uni? currently lists no university within Solingen. Nearby options include Bergische Universität Wuppertal and the universities in Düsseldorf, including Heinrich Heine University and Hochschule Düsseldorf. Treat Solingen as a commuting base: direct trains connect its main station with Wuppertal, but reaching Campus Grifflenberg requires an onward journey from Wuppertal Hauptbahnhof. (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab), University campus directions (opens in a new tab)) Employer-linked study is another possibility: Stadtwerke Solingen advertises dual study and internships. (Stadtwerke careers (opens in a new tab)) Solingen may suit you if you value access to the Wupper valley and are comfortable organising your social life around a commute.

  • Bergische Universität Wuppertal

    Wuppertal · 11 km away · 276 courses

  • IST-Hochschule für Management

    Düsseldorf · 19 km away · 39 courses

  • Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf · 19 km away · 91 courses

  • Hochschule Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf · 21 km away · 43 courses

  • Kunstakademie Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf · 22 km away · 5 courses

Find a course nearby

Housing

Plan a search across private rooms, ordinary flats and cooperative housing. Solingen has a dedicated shared-room search page on meinestadt.de, and the local Spar- und Bauverein accepts housing enquiries even when its advertised properties do not match your needs. These sources do not establish whether the student housing market is currently tight or relaxed. (Solingen room search (opens in a new tab), Spar- und Bauverein (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

  • Search the Solingen WG-room page on meinestadt.de, checking the actual address because search results can include surrounding places. (Room search (opens in a new tab))
  • Check Spar- und Bauverein Solingen and submit a general housing enquiry if no suitable flat is advertised. (Housing enquiries (opens in a new tab))
  • Test each address against your campus journey before arranging a viewing. Use Stadtwerke Solingen’s network maps and linked VRR journey planner to check the connection to your railway station. (Local transport planning (opens in a new tab))
  • Use the local Mietspiegel to understand how age, size, location and fittings affect comparison rents; ask separately for the complete monthly payment including heating and operating costs. (Mietspiegel 2025 (opens in a new tab))

Cost of living

The standard Deutschlandticket costs €63 per calendar month in 2026 and covers ordinary local and regional public transport; long-distance trains are excluded. Check whether your university already provides a semester ticket before buying another subscription. (mobil.nrw (opens in a new tab)) For inexpensive leisure, Brückenpark Müngsten is freely accessible. (Regional tourism board (opens in a new tab)) Compare complete housing costs and the time spent commuting before assuming that living in Solingen will save money over a university city.

Jobs & employers

Manufacturing remains part of Solingen’s identity, with ZWILLING’s headquarters in the city; utilities and healthcare provide other employment routes. (ZWILLING (opens in a new tab), Stadtwerke Solingen (opens in a new tab), Klinikum Solingen (opens in a new tab)) For work alongside a degree, look for student assistant positions and retail shifts. For a structured work-and-study route, ZWILLING’s Solingen careers listing includes dual study, while Stadtwerke offers dual study and internships. Availability and entry requirements depend on the programme. (ZWILLING opportunities (opens in a new tab), Stadtwerke study and training (opens in a new tab))

Typical student jobs

Major employers

Getting around

Stadtwerke runs the city’s buses, including its distinctive trolleybuses. (Operator profile (opens in a new tab)) Solingen Hauptbahnhof is in Ohligs. (Station location (opens in a new tab)) Under the normal timetable, allow roughly 11–16 minutes from Solingen Hbf to Wuppertal Hbf on direct regional services and about 22 minutes to Düsseldorf Hbf on the S1; these are station-to-station times, excluding your local journey and campus transfer. (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab), VRR S1 timetable (opens in a new tab)) For Wuppertal’s Grifflenberg campus, university directions identify buses including the 615 and 645 from the main station. (Campus directions (opens in a new tab)) The Deutschlandticket covers ordinary buses, S-Bahn and regional trains in second class, but not ICE or IC services. Check the live planner for engineering works and late-evening connections. (Ticket validity (opens in a new tab), Local journey planning (opens in a new tab))

Main stations
Nearest airport

Düsseldorf Airport (DUS)

The normal S1 route connects Solingen Hbf with Düsseldorf Flughafen station; from there, the SkyTrain links the railway station and terminals. Check airport notices for maintenance and replacement buses. (VRR S1 timetable (opens in a new tab), Airport transport information (opens in a new tab))

Weather & seasons

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

Winter

3.1 °C

95 mm rain a month

1.8 h sun a day

Spring

10 °C

71 mm rain a month

5.4 h sun a day

Summer

17.8 °C

91 mm rain a month

6.6 h sun a day

Autumn

10.3 °C

91 mm rain a month

3.4 h sun a day

Expect a damp climate with rain throughout the year, cool winters and generally moderate summers, interrupted by occasional hot days. A waterproof outer layer and shoes suitable for wet paths will be useful for both commuting and weekends outdoors. Spring and summer offer longer evenings for exploring the Wupper valley; autumn and winter call for more flexibility around daylight and weather.

Culture, language & food

Blade-making is part of everyday local identity: the Deutsches Klingenmuseum presents cutlery, knives and edged weapons, while the name Zöppkesmarkt comes from the local dialect word for a small peeling knife. (Gräfrath and its museums (opens in a new tab), Zöppkesmarkt background (opens in a new tab))

The Dürpelfest brings live music and community performances into Ohligs, with rock, pop, soul and dance represented in its programme. (Organiser’s programme (opens in a new tab)) For student life, plan around specific events and your university’s societies; if frequent spontaneous campus evenings matter to you, weigh that against the journey home.

Do not plan on English being available in every housing enquiry, workplace or administrative appointment. As a practical learning goal, aim for B1–B2 German to become more independent; this is advice, not a universal admission or employment requirement. The traditional local dialect is Solinger Platt, but learning standard German should be your priority. (Dialect background (opens in a new tab))

Local food

  • Burger Brezel

    A lightly sweetened, dry, intricately twisted pretzel from Solingen-Burg, traditionally dipped into coffee. (Naturpark Bergisches Land (opens in a new tab))

  • Bergische Kaffeetafel

    A regional spread combining coffee, breads, sweet toppings and savoury accompaniments, traditionally served with coffee from a Dröppelmina pot. Check reservation requirements before going. (Das Bergische (opens in a new tab))

  • Bergische Waffeln

    Regional waffles commonly served with hot cherries and cream, or rice pudding with cinnamon and sugar. (Das Bergische (opens in a new tab))

Places & events

Places to see

Events

  • Historic buildings and the Protestant church around Gräfrather Markt.

    Historic buildings and the Protestant church around Gräfrather Markt.

  • View towards Schloss Burg from a viewpoint on the Röntgenweg.

    View towards Schloss Burg from a viewpoint on the Röntgenweg.

Student experiences

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Studying in Solingen: FAQ

Is Solingen a good place to live as a student?

Solingen can suit students who are comfortable commuting and value access to the Wupper valley. Compare accommodation near Solingen Hbf in Ohligs with the complete journey to your campus before choosing it. (Ohligs (opens in a new tab), Brückenpark Müngsten (opens in a new tab))

Is there a university in Solingen?

Where Is My Uni?’s current directory lists no university within Solingen. Nearby study options include Bergische Universität Wuppertal and universities in Düsseldorf. Employer-linked dual study is available through local organisations such as Stadtwerke Solingen. (Stadtwerke dual-study and training overview (opens in a new tab))

How do I get from Solingen to the University of Wuppertal?

Direct regional trains connect Solingen Hbf with Wuppertal Hbf in approximately 11–16 minutes on the published connections. For Campus Grifflenberg, continue by a suitable university-bound bus, such as the 615 or 645; allow additional time for transfers and walking. (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab), University directions (opens in a new tab))

Is Solingen expensive for students?

A reliable current average for student-room rents was not established. The local Mietspiegel provides comparison rents by property type, but these exclude heating and operating costs and should not be treated as advertised WG-room prices. (Mietspiegel 2025 (opens in a new tab))

What jobs can students find in Solingen?

Locally advertised options include retail sales, checkout work, shelf filling and stockroom support. Stadtwerke Solingen also has a recruitment page explicitly covering student assistants; check current openings and requirements directly. (Local part-time jobs (opens in a new tab), Stadtwerke careers (opens in a new tab))

Can I commute from Solingen to Düsseldorf with the Deutschlandticket?

Yes: the S1 connects Solingen Hbf with Düsseldorf Hbf, and ordinary S-Bahn travel in second class is covered by the Deutschlandticket. The normal published journey takes about 22 minutes, but engineering works can change the service. (VRR timetable (opens in a new tab), Ticket validity (opens in a new tab))

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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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