University of Leipzig

Services & Facilities

Leipzig – a city with unmistakeable charm

Leipzig is one of the liveliest and most dynamic cities in Germany. Whether as a musical city, trade fair mecca or city of books – Leipzig has been an important European centre for hundreds of years.

Famous poets such as Lessing, Klopstock, Gottsched or Goethe moved here. Philosophers such as Leibniz, Nietzsche and Bloch influence thinking in the city to this day. And Leipzig is especially well known across the world for its musicality, with a long tradition stretching back to the works of Bach and Mendelssohn Bartholdy in particular.

Art, science and culture are still main features of the city, which was founded in 1165, with several thousand academics carrying out research in almost 20 non-university research institutions, at the University and in six other colleges in the city. The “Leipzig School” and the “Baumwollspinnerei” are leaders in the world of art. The St Thomas Boys’ Choir, the Gewandhaus Orchestra, the many museums and a lively theatre scene all characterise the cultural life of the city.

After the Peaceful Revolution Leipzig developed into a booming region of East Germany, and is now experiencing a renaissance as the logistics and high-tech centre in the heart of Europe. Present-day Leipzig stands out due to its economic dynamism, its high level of culture, its many green areas within the city and, last but not least, the outstanding quality of life for families, for children and also for the growing number of older people in our society. Taking a walk through the city is very worthwhile.

Something for everyone

In addition to optimal research and teaching conditions, the university city of Leipzig has a lot to offer culturally. Whether you are interested in the theatre, concerts, cabaret, museums, cinema or sport, Leipzig has a vast and varied programme for each.Leipzig’s reputation as a world-class city of culture is based on a long tradition: Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Wagner, Goethe, Schiller and Nietzsche all lived and worked in Leipzig. The Gewandhaus Concert Hall and its orchestra has embodied the musical side of the city for over 250 years and has made it world famous. Every year thousands of music fans come to Leipzig to attend the international festivals, such as the Bach Festival, the Leipzig Jazz Days or the Wave Gothic Festival. And no other city stages so many cabarets and fringe theatre productions. The Leipzig Lachmesse, Germany’s biggest international cabaret and fringe theatre festival, takes place every year in the trade fair mecca. The art scene is equally lively: many museums, galleries and art exhibitions in the “Leipzig School” city are open to art lovers.

Leipzig and the surrounding area also provides many opportunities to relax and enjoy nature: the Leipziger Neuseenland (Leipzig New Lake District) is a giant nature reserve and greenbelt recreation area just outside the city gates. It also contains the biggest amusement park in East Germany, BELANTIS. But the city itself also has many green areas: there are numerous parks to relax in, such as the Rosenthal or the Clara-Zetkin Park, the riverside forest – the biggest continuous inner-city area of woodland in Europe – or a canoe trip on Leipzig’s canals.

Leipzig- an ideal place to live

In addition to its eight universities and colleges, wide range of leisure activities and exciting nightlife, the university city of Leipzig also has optimal living conditions, which are affordable for students.

The city has plenty of accommodation available at reasonable prices, much of which is a real treat to live in. There are many 19th century houses scattered all over the city that were extensively, and often expensively, renovated in recent years.
A particularly successful example of this is the Waldstraße district, between the city centre and the Rosental, which is one of the few completely preserved 19th century residential areas in Germany today. And the majority of the large housing developments in areas such as Grünau or Paunsdorf were also renovated after reunification. Most of the housing there is provided by one of the many Leipzig housing cooperatives, including attractive apartments for students. However most students live in the neighbouring districts of Südvorstadt and Connewitz, where the pre-Second World War buildings are equally wonderfully preserved, as these areas of the city also have an ample supply of enticing bars and an alternative culture scene.

Despite the many restorations, there are still many unrenovated buildings standing empty in Leipzig, making alternative living concepts possible. The "HausHalten Association" has adopted this approach by placing new occupants in empty buildings which they then bring to life again, thus preventing further decay. The occupants become the “keepers” of the house. They furnish the apartments to their own taste, take on the running costs and improve the houses with DIY.

Ideal conditions for families

A modern university stands out not just through its optimal teaching and research conditions, but also by creating the best possible general environment, and family-friendliness is a major factor . Universität Leipzig wants to help both employees and students to balance their career or studies with their family duties. Both the return to work after parental leave and course organisation for students with children will be made as easy as possible.

Advisory service

Students with children can take longer to complete their course. Parents can extend the standard study period by up to two semesters, and can also take six semesters off to look after their child until he/she is six years old. During their leave of absence they can apply to sit exams. Advice on questions concerning part-time study, withdrawing from an exam because your child is ill or on individual leaves of absence for the exams is available at the university.

The Leipzig Student Services (Studentenwerk) also provides advice for students with children. The social counsellor informs and supports parents with regard to applications or looking for suitable child care, for instance. In addition the Student Union social counselling service can also refer you to non-university places offering advice and support – for example church or local authority foundations.

Childcare

In the Studentenwerk Leipzig childcare centre (Kinderladen) children from the age of eight weeks to six years are looked after for one semester. The Kinderladen is situated in the Nürnberger Straße 42 hall of residence.

As sponsors of free youth welfare, the Studentenwerk Leipzig runs the “Villa Unifraz” child day care centre in the Bornaische Straße 138 hall of residence, which accommodates mainly students with children. A total of 27 children from eight weeks to six years old can be looked after and provided with meals here. In 1996 the day care centre was chosen by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth campaign “German is becoming family-friendly” as a “good example” of child-friendliness in universities.