Living in Bremen
The programmes and events organised by the kompass team bring international and German students together. True to the motto: friendly, welcoming and open to all! The student communities and project groups supported by kompass are a living expression of the cultural diversity at the University of Bremen. They offer international students a piece of home on campus.
Further information can be found one the kompass webpage.
There are several university campus dining halls (Mensa) and cafeterias on campus where students can choose from a wide range of food.
With the Mensa card you always receive the reduced prices for students. The Mensa card facilitates cashless payment in all university campus Mensas and cafeterias of the University of Bremen as well as other universities in Bremen and the University Library (e.g. printing, copying). The Mensa card is available at the information point in the university campus Mensa during the current opening hours between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. A deposit of 5 euros must be paid and proof of enrolment must be presented.
The State and University Library Bremen 'Staats- und Universitätbibliothek (SuUB)' is the largest and oldest academic library in Bremen. As the central library, it is responsible for the state-wide supply of literature to the state universities in Bremen and Bremerhaven and is also the library of the Federal States of Bremen.
To borrow books or use the computers in the university library, a library card is required, which can be applied for online or at the library. A confirmation of registration (city office / BSU), proof of enrolment and an identity card or passport must be presented.
University sports at the University of Bremen offers students a wide range of inexpensive sports courses in the sports facilities on campus or in sports centres in the city.
Further information can be found at Verein für Hochschulsport e.V.
Learn or improve a language alongside your studies: You can choose from 600 courses at the Language Center 'Sprachenzrentum (SZHB)'.
The University of Bremen is a family-friendly university. If you have children, you can find all the important information about life on campus with children and family here.
General and additional information on the lists below can be found at Welcome to Bremen.
Get to know Bremen
- For a first overview, we recommend taking a look at this page.
- Imagine your first 48 hours in Bremen. What could you do? This site gives you some tips.
- Do you want to meet people from all over the world? Enjoy Bremen on instragram regularly organises events to get in touch with other internationals.
- Bremen has a lot to offer, but what can you do today? Today in Bremen on instagram gives you three tips for things to do in Bremen every day.
- Do you want to get to know new restaurants in Bremen? Then take a look at bisschenbremen on instagram.
Language cafés
Language cafés offer the opportunity for active exchange with different people. Speaking in a relaxed environment is particularly helpful when learning a new language. In Bremen, there are various language cafés with a wide range of different areas of focus. You can find an overview of the different cafés here.
Venues
- ÖVB-Arena Bremen: Concerts, shows, sports and special events. The Bremen Arena offers space for 14,000 visitors.
- Die Glocke – Bremen Concert Hall: For over 75 years, the Glocke has been the centre of Bremen's musical life and is famous for its excellent acoustics.
- Schlachthof cultural centre: A cultural centre with a national reputation: concerts, comedy, readings, children's and youth theatre.
- St. Petri Cathedral: highlights of the cathedral music are the festive concerts for choir and orchestra with passions, oratorios, symphonic and chamber music works.
- Weser Stadium: the Weser Stadium in Bremen is the football stadium of the German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen. It is located directly on the Weser, on the right bank of the Weser. The home games of SV Werder Bremen take place there, and they are always very well attended.
Gastronomy
The gastronomy in Bremen is like the city itself – a mixture of tradition and cosmopolitanism. There are traditional fish restaurants and Hanseatic pubs in the city centre, but also modern bars, restaurants and cafés on the Schlachte, in the Überseestadt or in the districts. For a better overview, we refer you to this page.
As a sign of satisfaction with the service in restaurants, cafés, but also for hairdressers, taxi rides or other services, a tip of around 10% of the amount payable is usually given in Germany.
Business/opening hours
- Supermarkets: Monday to Saturday 7:00/8:00 a.m. to 8:00/10:00 p.m.
- Shopping centres: Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00/8:00 p.m.
- Pedestrian zones: Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00/7:00 p.m.
Important: All shops and supermarkets in Germany are closed on Sundays and public holidays - only petrol stations, kiosks and bakeries (but usually only in the mornings) are open for shopping.
Shopping in Bremen
The Weserpark in the east and the Waterfront in the west are the largest and most well-known shopping centres in Bremen. By contrast, the city centre of Bremen, with its large department stores, small shops and many passages, offers long shopping nights, open Sundays and multi-storey car parks that are open throughout, as well as a historical ambience in the city centre.
The largest and most prominent flea markets in Bremen are undoubtedly the Bürgerweide/Hanse Carré flea market and the antique and flea market on the banks of the Weser.
You can find a more detailed overview of shopping centres, sustainable shopping, shopping suggestions for special finds and more shopping tips in Bremen here.
Local transport
You paid a semester fee upon enrollment at the University of Bremen. This fee included the semester ticket. With this semester ticket, you can travel for free or at a reduced price on buses, trams and regional trains (not IC/EC) in the area around Bremen (e.g. to Hamburg, Hannover, Osnabrück, Bremerhaven). Please be sure to note the area of validity. Further information about travelling by bus and train in Bremen can be found here or here.
Bicycle
People in Bremen cycle a lot. On this page, you will find many routes, rental stations, and bicycle parking garages. It is important to strictly follow the traffic rules. You can find the most important traffic rules for cyclists here.
Car
Rules for road traffic can be found on this page. If you need a car from time to time, you can rent one from cambio Bremen.
Further options
Doctors
In Germany, there are general practitioners (Hausartz) and specialists (e.g. paediatricians, ophthalmologists, dermatologists). In the case of illness, it is common practice to first visit your Hausarzt and make an appointment in advance. If necessary, the doctor will refer you to a specialist. Patients are free to choose their doctors. For the doctor search you can use this page provided by Stiftung Gesundheit.
When visiting a doctor or hospital, you should bring proof of insurance (e.g. EHIC card), proof of enrolment and your ID card or passport.
If you need to see a doctor urgently at night, at the weekend or on a public holiday, you can contact the medical emergency or on-call service or go directly to a hospital.
Medication & pharmacies
In Germany, you can only get medication from a pharmacy. You can find a pharmacy near you here.
There are two types of medication: over-the-counter medication and prescription medication, which requires a prescription from a doctor.
The Medicines Act in Germany is very strict – many medications require a prescription (e.g. antibiotics) and pharmacies are not allowed to dispense them without a doctor's prescription. So you first have to consult a doctor, who will make a diagnosis and write a prescription for a suitable medication. You then get the medication at the pharmacy by presenting the prescription. The costs for the medication are usually covered by the health insurance. However, for most medications there is a co-payment requirement, which means that a small amount has to be paid (approx. 5-10 euros).
The pharmacy emergency service can be consulted at night or at the weekend.
Telephone numbers for emergencies
- Police: 110
- Fire brigade: 112
- Ambulance: 112
Emergency services (at night and at the weekend):
- Medical emergency service: +49 421 / 19292
- Doctor on call: +49 421 / 116117
- Paediatric emergency service: +49 421 / 3404444
- Poison Control Centre North: +49 551 / 19240
In Germany, every household has to pay the so-called licence fee (GEZ). A monthly amount of 18,36€ has to be paid per apartment. In shared flats, this amount can be shared among all residents. You can choose to pay the contribution quarterly, semi-annually or annually. The contribution can be paid by bank transfer or by SEPA direct debit. If you choose to transfer the fee, you will receive a payment request in letter form when the payment is due. You will not receive this with the SEPA direct debit procedure. Those who do not pay the licence fee will receive a reminder and, in the worst case, a court-ordered enforcement. If you re-enter Germany, you may experience problems with your visa/residence permit.
In Germany, there are a number of public holidays that are regulated by law and that are generally observed by all employees. These holidays correspond to the business/opening hours on a Sunday. In addition to these nationwide holidays, there are further holidays in individual Federal States.
All public holidays can be found here.
Environmental protection is a high priority in Germany. All cities have a waste separation system with different coloured bins for residual and organic waste, paper, packaging and plastic.
Information on waste separation can be found on this page. You can find everything you need to know about waste collection in Bremen here.
You can use the refuse collection calendar to check when the various bins in your street will be emptied.
For most carbonated drinks in the supermarket, kiosk, etc., you have to pay a deposit of up to 25 cents per bottle/can. If you return the bottle or can to a special machine marked ‘Pfandrückgabe’ or ‘Leergutannahme’, you will receive a voucher that you can either use for your purchase in the same shop or to get the cash back directly at the cash office.
An explanatory video with further information can be found here.
Sometimes life doesn't go the way you want it to - personal, social and financial issues and worries get in the way! If you need counselling and support, you can find an overview of all services on the HIST Bremen website.
Below you will find a short list of possible important contact points at the University of Bremen, categorised according to the responsible offices.
- For financial emergencies, the International Office has a financial aid fund where you can receive one-off financial support. For further information and the form, please contact Mrs Jutta Paal.
- The support organisation XENOS e.V. also helps international students at Bremen's universities in financial emergencies. You can also obtain the application forms from Mrs Jutta Paal.
- The social counselling service of the Studierendenwerk supports all students, prospective students and graduates seeking advice who need support and information on personal, social and financial matters closely related to student status and student life. Counselling is free of charge. Counselling sessions are conducted confidentially and in compliance with the duty of confidentiality.
- As a student, you can take advantage of counselling at the Psychological Counselling Centre free of charge. It goes without saying that all staff members are bound to confidentiality.
- The ADE (Administrative Unit - Equal Opportunities | Antidiscrimination) is there for students who need support in dealing with conflicts, feel discriminated against or have experienced danger. This also includes experience with bullying, sexual violence and stalking. Counselling is free of charge and confidential.
- The AStA helps with questions about financing, rent, exams, social security and jobs in Germany.