Advice Column
Hello everyone,
My name is Ali. I’m currently in the third semester of my master’s studies in computer science at Heidelberg University. In this article I would like to list some tips and things I wish I had known earlier about studying at Heidelberg.
The first and perhaps the most important tip is to start looking for accommodation as early as possible.
Heidelberg is a relatively small city with a large student population; therefore, it is normal for landlords to receive upwards of a hundred applications for their rooms or apartments. To increase your chances of getting an apartment viewing, try to call them as soon as they put up their adverts. Messaging them is usually less recommended, as the sheer number of messages they receive makes it very unlikely for them to reply to you. Also, if you are going to apply to the student dorms offered by the university, make sure to apply at least 3-4 months before the beginning of your studies.
Whether you are into sports or are looking to socialize and stay healthy, then I definitely recommend getting the university sports “hochschulsport” semester ticket. With this ticket you can take part in any of the sports offered by the university, such as volleyball, football, badminton, tennis, and many others.
Since most students are usually on a tight budget, it can be beneficial to do your grocery shopping at discounter supermarket chains such as Penny, Aldi, or Lidl. These supermarket chains usually have their own store brand for different products, which, while being much cheaper, are usually comparable in quality to more well-known brands for those same products.
German cities have very well-designed public transportation systems, and that includes Heidelberg. If you are less than 28 years of age, I would recommend getting the “D-Ticket JugendBW” which currently costs 39€ per month and would allow you to use all public transportation in all German cities (except on long-distance trains (e.g. ICE, EC, IC, Flixtrain, TGV, ...) or long-distance buses). Also, if you want to have the most accurate information regarding the bus and tram schedules, I would recommend the “DB Navigator” app over Google Maps. Additionally, you can download the “nextbike” app and register using your university email and use any of the nextbikes all over the city for free for the first 30 minutes (just make sure to park the bike at an official nextbike station after using it, as there is a 20€ fine if you forget to do so).
Finally, remember that the mensa in Marstallhof 3 is open from 11am to 9pm and offers many different types of foods with very good prices for students. It can be especially great for days when one might be too tired or busy to cook.
I hope you find these tips useful and that they allow you to make the most of your time in Heidelberg.
