In short
Schleswig-Flensburg is a rural district (Landkreis) in Schleswig-Holstein with 205,472 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). There is no university in Schleswig-Flensburg district itself; the nearest is Europa-Universität Flensburg in Flensburg, about 17 km away. Summers average 16.6 °C and winters 2.3 °C, with about 882 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).
Schleswig-Flensburg district in numbers
- Population
- Area
2,071.28 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)
- People per km²
- Universities in the district
- Nearest university
Europa-Universität Flensburg, FlensburgWhere Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)
About 17 km away in a straight line
- Average temperature
9.2 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Rain
882 mm a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Sunshine
1,651 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Frost days
63 a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
About Schleswig-Flensburg district
Schleswig-Flensburg lies in northern Schleswig-Holstein, beside Denmark and the Baltic Sea. Schleswig is its administrative centre; despite the district’s name, Flensburg is a separate city outside its boundaries. The landscape includes Angeln between the Flensburg Fjord and the Schlei, and the wetlands of Stapelholm farther southwest (district background (opens in a new tab)).
Schleswig, Kappeln and Glücksburg offer different starting points: an administrative town, a harbour town on the Schlei and a town known for its moated castle. Viking history is another defining feature: Haithabu and the Danevirke form a UNESCO World Heritage Site (state district profile (opens in a new tab), Wikinger Museum Haithabu (opens in a new tab)).
Main towns
Schleswig
The district’s administrative centre and a useful rail base for commuting towards Flensburg (district background (opens in a new tab), NAH.SH timetable (opens in a new tab)).
Kappeln
A town on the Schlei with a waterfront promenade, museum harbour and fishing heritage (Kappeln harbour guide (opens in a new tab)).
Glücksburg
A town on the Flensburg Fjord whose best-known landmark is Schloss Glücksburg (castle website (opens in a new tab)).
Tarp
A settlement on the RE7 railway between Schleswig and Flensburg, worth considering when comparing commuting locations (NAH.SH timetable (opens in a new tab)).
Süderbrarup
A local shopping and service centre on the Flensburg–Kiel rail corridor, also home to the Brarup-Markt fair (municipality (opens in a new tab)).
Nearest universities
No university in Schleswig-Flensburg district itself — these are the nearest (straight-line distance).
There is no university in Schleswig-Flensburg district. The nearest universities are Europa-Universität Flensburg and Hochschule Flensburg in the separate city of Flensburg; Kiel provides further options. Living here therefore means planning around a commute: Schleswig–Flensburg takes roughly 25 minutes by regional train, before travel between home, station and campus (NAH.SH timetable (opens in a new tab)). The district is worth considering if you prefer a rural home base and outdoor time, but check your actual timetable before choosing a village. Local dual-study opportunities also exist through the district administration (district career portal (opens in a new tab)).
Europa-Universität Flensburg
Flensburg · 17 km away · 137 courses
Hochschule Flensburg
Flensburg · 17 km away · 24 courses
Kiel University
Kiel · 51 km away · 237 courses
Muthesius Kunsthochschule
Kiel · 53 km away · 11 courses
Kiel University of Applied Sciences
Kiel · 54 km away · 4 courses
Housing
Plan your search around private rentals and housing cooperatives. GEWOBA Nord has a Schleswig customer centre and handles rental applications through Immomio (GEWOBA Nord (opens in a new tab)). The nearby Studentenwerk residences listed for Flensburg are outside this district (Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein (opens in a new tab)). Available evidence does not establish whether the district’s student rental market is tight or relaxed, or support a reliable district-wide rent figure.
How to find a place
- Create a complete Immomio search profile through GEWOBA Nord and specify Schleswig and any other acceptable locations (GEWOBA Nord (opens in a new tab)).
- Search WG-Gesucht by individual town rather than relying only on the district name; Europa-Universität Flensburg recommends it for private accommodation searches (EUF housing guidance (opens in a new tab)).
- If you can also live in Flensburg city, compare its Studentenwerk residences with district rentals; keep their location outside the district clear when comparing commuting costs (residence directory (opens in a new tab)).
- Check the complete journey from each prospective address, including evening returns. Use the district’s transport information to identify buses and any applicable bookable shuttle service (district transport guide (opens in a new tab)).
Cost of living
For Europa-Universität Flensburg students, the published autumn-semester 2026 contribution is €403.80, including the semester transport contribution (EUF AStA (opens in a new tab)). The standard Deutschlandticket costs €63 per calendar month in 2026; check your university ticket entitlement before buying a separate subscription (NAH.SH (opens in a new tab)). No verified comparison establishes how much cheaper district living is than a large German city. Compare actual warm rents, electricity and internet charges, and whether your address would require a car.
Jobs & employers
Verified local employment spans food manufacturing, healthcare, public administration and hospitality: examples include Böklunder, Helios Klinikum Schleswig, the district administration and Alter Meierhof in Glücksburg (Böklunder (opens in a new tab), Helios (opens in a new tab), district career portal (opens in a new tab), Alter Meierhof (opens in a new tab)). For work alongside classes, retail, restaurant service and cleaning are concrete search categories supported by local listings. Ask employers about shift times before committing to a commute.
Typical student jobs
- Supermarket work, including tills and shelf replenishment: Lidl has advertised a part-time minijob in Böklund (Federal Employment Agency (opens in a new tab)).
- Cleaning shifts: Schleswig listings include part-time building cleaning and a shop-cleaning minijob (MeineJobs Flensburg (opens in a new tab)).
Major employers
Böklunder Fleisch- und Wurstwaren (opens in a new tab)
Food manufacturing
A sausage and meat-products company based in Böklund; its official website links to the group’s careers portal (company profile (opens in a new tab), registered address (opens in a new tab)).
Helios Klinikum Schleswig (opens in a new tab)
Healthcare
The Schleswig hospital accepts internship enquiries, including applicants specifying a preferred department and placement period (Helios careers (opens in a new tab)).
Kreis Schleswig-Flensburg (opens in a new tab)
Public administration
The district administration offers dual-study routes in public administration, social work, civil engineering and business informatics. Its public-administration route specifically requires German or EU citizenship and strong written and spoken German (study routes (opens in a new tab), entry requirements (opens in a new tab)).
Alter Meierhof (opens in a new tab)
Hospitality
Getting around
The RE7 connects Schleswig, Jübek and Tarp with Flensburg and Hamburg; Schleswig–Flensburg is approximately 25 minutes station to station (NAH.SH RE7 timetable (opens in a new tab)). On the eastern corridor, the published timetable gives roughly 70 minutes from Süderbrarup to Kiel, including a change and pedestrian crossing at the closed Lindaunis railway bridge; check current arrangements before travelling (RE72 timetable (opens in a new tab)). District buses and designated on-demand shuttles use the Schleswig-Holstein tariff, and the district confirms Deutschlandticket acceptance on its shuttles (district transport information (opens in a new tab)). The Deutschlandticket covers participating local buses and second-class regional trains; it is not a general long-distance rail ticket (NAH.SH conditions (opens in a new tab)).
- Main stations
- Schleswig — RE7 towards Flensburg and Hamburg (timetable (opens in a new tab)).
- Jübek and Tarp — regional stops on the Flensburg–Schleswig corridor (timetable (opens in a new tab)).
- Süderbrarup — RE72 corridor towards Flensburg and Kiel, with the Lindaunis interruption shown in the published timetable (timetable (opens in a new tab)).
- Nearest airport
Sønderborg Airport, Denmark
A nearby scheduled-flight option across the Danish border, with Alsie Express flights to Copenhagen. Compare the onward ground journey from your particular town before booking (airport website (opens in a new tab)).
Weather & seasons
Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Eggebek (9 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.
Winter
2.3 °C
76 mm rain a month
1.6 h sun a day
Spring
8 °C
52 mm rain a month
5.9 h sun a day
Summer
16.6 °C
84 mm rain a month
7.2 h sun a day
Autumn
9.8 °C
82 mm rain a month
3.4 h sun a day
Expect cool, wet winters, a brighter spring and generally mild summers rather than dependable heat. Waterproof layers are useful throughout the year, especially when walking or cycling between home and transport stops. Summer offers the easiest conditions for outdoor trips; in winter, check attraction opening days before leaving home—for example, Glücksburg Castle switches to weekend opening during the colder months (castle opening information (opens in a new tab)).
Culture, language & food
This is a German–Danish border region with a living Danish minority; Standard German, Danish and Low German are part of its linguistic identity (district statement (opens in a new tab)). Local social life includes traditional fairs such as Süderbrarup’s Brarup-Markt, with rides, food and dancing (organiser (opens in a new tab)). For student nightlife, treat a district address as a commuting choice and check the journey home after campus events.
Do not assume that an English-taught degree will make every housing enquiry or workplace interaction possible in English. Aim for practical German for everyday administration and job applications; this is a recommendation rather than a district-wide language requirement. Danish and Low German also belong to the area’s linguistic life (district statement (opens in a new tab)). Some visitor institutions, including Haithabu, provide English-language information (museum website (opens in a new tab)).
Local food
Schnüsch
A regional vegetable dish cooked in milk, with ingredients such as potatoes, peas and beans; the Schlei tourism board names it among local specialities (regional food guide (opens in a new tab), NDR recipe (opens in a new tab)).
Fischbrötchen and smoked fish
Fish rolls and smoked fish are established harbour foods in Kappeln, where the fish market sells both (Kappeln harbour guide (opens in a new tab)).
Places & events
Places to see
Haithabu
UNESCO
Explore the Viking trading settlement through its archaeological museum and reconstructed houses. Haithabu and the Danevirke together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Wikinger Museum Haithabu (opens in a new tab)).
Schloss Glücksburg
Castle
Visit the moated castle in Glücksburg. The official site lists reduced admission for students and seasonal opening hours (Schloss Glücksburg (opens in a new tab)).
Geltinger Birk
Nature
A Baltic coastal nature reserve with wet meadows, salt marshes and walking routes, suitable for a day outdoors and birdwatching (regional tourism board (opens in a new tab)).
Holm, Schleswig
Historic quarter
Schleswig’s historic fishing settlement surrounds a small chapel and cemetery (Commons documentation (opens in a new tab)).
Kappeln harbour
Waterfront
Walk beside the Schlei, explore the museum harbour and look towards the town’s distinctive herring fence (harbour guide (opens in a new tab)).
Events
Brarup-Markt (opens in a new tab)
July; the confirmed 2026 edition ran 24–28 July.
Süderbrarup’s traditional fair brings rides, food stalls and dancing. The organiser confirms the 2026 edition and preparations for another in 2027 (Brarup-Markt (opens in a new tab)).
Gottorfer Landmarkt (opens in a new tab)
May; the 2026 edition was advertised for 17 May.
A recurring market on Schleswig’s Gottorf castle island featuring regional producers, sustainable products and crafts (Feinheimisch event listing (opens in a new tab)).
The chapel and cemetery in Schleswig’s historic Holm fishing quarter
A tree in the Geltinger Birk nature reserve
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Schleswig-Flensburg district, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Schleswig-Flensburg district: FAQ
Is Schleswig-Flensburg a good place to live as a student?
It can suit students who want a rural home base and are comfortable commuting. Start by comparing homes near the railway: Schleswig has a regional journey of roughly 25 minutes to Flensburg, before the onward campus trip (NAH.SH timetable (opens in a new tab)).
Is there a university in Schleswig-Flensburg district?
There is no university in the district. The nearest options are Europa-Universität Flensburg and Hochschule Flensburg in Flensburg, which is administratively separate from Schleswig-Flensburg (district background (opens in a new tab)).
How do I commute from Schleswig to Flensburg?
Take the RE7 regional train; the published timetable gives approximately 25 minutes between the stations. Allow additional time between your home, the station and campus (NAH.SH timetable (opens in a new tab)).
Is Schleswig-Flensburg expensive for students?
A reliable district-wide student rent benchmark was not verified, so compare actual rental offers rather than assuming rural housing is cheaper. For EUF students, the published autumn-semester 2026 contribution is €403.80, including the semester transport contribution (EUF AStA (opens in a new tab)).
Are there student residences in Schleswig-Flensburg?
No eligible residence within the district was verified for this guide. The nearby Studentenwerk residences are listed in Flensburg city, outside the district (Studentenwerk directory (opens in a new tab)).
What part-time jobs can students find in Schleswig-Flensburg?
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
- District geography and administrative boundaries (opens in a new tab)
- Schleswig-Holstein district profile (opens in a new tab)
- NAH.SH RE7/RE70 timetable 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab)
- NAH.SH RE72/RB73 timetable 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab)
- District buses, shuttles and travel information (opens in a new tab)
- NAH.SH Deutschlandticket conditions (opens in a new tab)
- Süderbrarup municipal profile (opens in a new tab)
- GEWOBA Nord rental applications (opens in a new tab)
- EUF international-student accommodation guidance (opens in a new tab)
- Studentenwerk residences in Flensburg city (opens in a new tab)
- EUF AStA semester contribution (opens in a new tab)
- Böklunder company profile (opens in a new tab)
- Böklunder registered address (opens in a new tab)
- Helios Schleswig careers and internships (opens in a new tab)
- District dual-study programmes (opens in a new tab)
- Public-administration dual-study requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Alter Meierhof careers (opens in a new tab)
- Böklund supermarket minijob (opens in a new tab)
- Schleswig cleaning-job listings (opens in a new tab)
- Sønderborg Airport (opens in a new tab)
- District statement on minority languages (opens in a new tab)
- Regional food around the Schlei (opens in a new tab)
- NDR Schnüsch recipe (opens in a new tab)
- Kappeln harbour and fish market (opens in a new tab)
- Brarup-Markt organiser (opens in a new tab)
- Gottorfer Landmarkt 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Heringstage organiser and 2026 cancellation (opens in a new tab)
- Wikinger Museum Haithabu (opens in a new tab)
- Schloss Glücksburg visitor information (opens in a new tab)
- Geltinger Birk tourism information (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Glücksburg Castle photo (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Schleswig Holm photo (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Geltinger Birk photo (opens in a new tab)
Photo credits
- Glücksburg Castle surrounded by water — User:Matthias Süßen (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0
- The chapel and cemetery in Schleswig’s historic Holm fishing quarter — Clemensfranz (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0
- A tree in the Geltinger Birk nature reserve — Clemensfranz (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0
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