Private Universität Witten/Herdecke GmbH (PUWG)

Why apply to your university?

Being a relatively small university, Witten/Herdecke University has a low lecturer-student ratio, resulting in small learning groups and interactive sessions and allowing us to quickly take care of your queries. Furthermore, only few universities offer the aforementioned interdisciplinary degree programmes in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Do you also want to engage in student life outside of the classroom? Then join one of our numerous student initiatives and make use of our free of charge sports’ offer, including football, tennis, body workout and dance classes. Moreover, the city of Witten has a lot to offer: lots of green spaces to enjoy, proximity to big cities such as Dortmund and Bochum, and of course the rich industrial history of the Ruhrgebiet.

How do you receive international students?

We closely accompany you throughout your abroad experience. After having been nominated by your home university, you will receive comprehensive information on our university, our course offer, the enrolment process, and life in Witten. During the first 2 weeks of your stay, you can participate in various events organized by the International Office, the Faculty, and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) to give you a warm welcome and to help you settle in. You can also sign up for our buddy programme with up to two buddies per incoming student to help you find your way around campus and the city and to maybe already make some new friends. Throughout the semester, the International Office and ESN organize various events, such as a Meet & Greet event with the university’s vice president, cooking evenings, trips to cities close-by, intercultural training and more.

Accommodation and cost of living

Accommodation: Witten/Herdecke University does not have dormitories, but we are happy to share tips and flat offers with you. Most students choose to live in a shared flat. The monthly rent varies depending on the type of flat and, of course, your personal preferences, but you should be able to find accommodation within the range of 300€ to 450€/month.

Going out in Witten (restaurants, bars, etc.): The cost of living in Witten is way below the average for Germany so most students have cash spare to spend on socialising. Witten has a small student quarter with bars and restaurants but is also well connected to the big cities like Dortmund and Bochum (just 15 mins by train) which have a plethora of bars, clubs and restaurants and a vibrant student scene. Witten is perfect for meeting for a coffee, co-working and quickly making friends due to its small, cosy nature. For the big parties and wild nightlife, the surrounding cities are the place to be.

Transportation: All UW/H and incoming students need to buy the so-called Semesterticket. It costs around 200€ and is valid for the entire semester of your stay. It allows you to use most of the public transport in the federal state of Nordrhein-Westfalen free of charge and around the clock. You can use all buses, underground trains, trams, suburban trains, and local trains of Deutsche Bahn AG at no additional cost. You can even go as far as the Netherlands without having to pay extra.

Facilitation at university 

The integration of students and staff with disabilities is a matter of high priority for Witten/Herdecke University. All buildings on campus are almost barrier-free and there is a great willingness to find individual solutions. If necessary, timetables and room schedules are individually adapted and rearranged so that all students can access their selected classes/events without any obstacles.

What are your strongest subject areas?

Within our cooperation with the USN we are happy to welcome you at our Faculty of Management, Economics and Society. Bachelor’s degree students can choose from a variety of English-taught courses from our programmes in Management and Philosophy, Politics and Economics, while our master’s degree students can select courses from our programme in Strategy and Organization.

Contact person

Eike Tauch - Erasmus+ Coordinator – international-incoming@uni-wh.de