An Experience in Bochum, Germany, by Hariprasath

What is it like to live in Bochum? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I have been living in Bochum for nearly three years since I came for my master studies. Now I thank God, that I found a job here in the same city. I would say basically Bochum is a student-friendly city with more international counts. The city is clean, cool and green. If you happen to start your first stay here, then I would say it's hard to convince yourself with any other city in Germany as you will have developed strongly impacted by Bochum by that time. Generally, the city has modern transport networks, a top class university, night life, better accommodation, and good connectivity to neighbouring big cities.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Bochum?

It's well organized, affordable, focused and fun. Students usually have more benefits because of the state of NRW in which Bochum is located. You can find some special discounts for students at restaurants, retail shops, museums, sports centers and more. Students can support their living by finding a part time job in and around Bochum with considerable effort. If you have some basic German skills, your chances are probably higher.

How much does it cost to live in Bochum?

Bochum is one of the few cities, where living cost is comparatively cheaper than any other cities from South Germany or other parts. The foreigner's office prescribed that the margin for student living should be 659 Euros (approximately). Nonetheless, I would suggest 500-700 Euros as an optimum spectrum. If you find a sharing apartment, you can cut down your monthly expense considerably. Most of the student apartments in Bochum are equipped with unlimited high-speed free internet from University. Here you could save 20-30 Euros which would be spent on a private internet connection. I conclude that the cost of living is reasonable and affordable.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Bochum? Is there any piece of advice you can give?

Yes, to an extent, as the number of students coming to Bochum is getting higher every year. However, you could make online applications well in advance and they are reachable over phone in most cases. I would recommend some of the following links:

• Gesucht
• Akafoe
• Asta Bochum

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

You could get all kind of cuisines like Indian, Chinese, Italian, Turkish, Thai, Mexican and German obviously. I became obesessed with new dishes like döner, croissants and schnitzel after coming to Bochum. You could find all popular flagship restaurants like McDonald's, KFC, Mr.Chicken and Starbucks.

What places would you recommend visiting in Bochum?

There is a popular lake called Kemnader See, the right destination for nature lovers and adventure sports. The Planetarium is second must-see place in Bochum. Traditionally, Bochum happened to be a industrial city with many coal mines. However, all were shut down long back and a museum, the Bergbau Museum, was built as a memorandum. Also, there is a museum called Eisenbahn Museum, where you will find antique steam locomotives used during world war period and you could make a trip in them, as well. It would be a classical experience. Above all, the down town and Ruhrpark are pretty popular for shopping.

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Is it good to eat out in Bochum? Can you tell us your favorite spots?

Yes surely... If you can track your expense:

1. Mc Donalds.
2. Alibaba Grill/Kebab.
3. Tajmahal Indisches Restaurant.
4. Pizzeria Pizza.

Is the nightlife good in Bochum? Where is good to go?

Social security is so good in Germany. Night life in Bochum is safe and secure. You can hang out anywhere in Bochum either in a group or single. However, the Bermudadreieck (in English "Bermuda Triangle") has many bars and pubs!

What piece of advice would you give future students heading to Bochum?

Do some decent ground work before coming to Bochum. Try to know about some facts. You need to be open and communicative, if you need a proper reception. Every second guy you will see on the road will be a fellow student, so try to be self-informed on most occasions. There are many dedicated pages for Bochum by the student community on Facebook and other social sites. So, try to catch hold of them for better guidance. At the end of the day, you come here for studies... so study well and have fun at the same time!

See you in Bochum.