Essen
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Industrial past is one of the highlights of this city
Located in the Ruhr region, the third-largest conurbation in Europe, Essen mixes its industrial past with modern architecture and green areas. Coal mining was the center of the economic activities in the city at the end of the 19th century. One of the best examples where this past can be experienced is the Zollverein Complex, a coal mine site listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage due to its industrial relevance and Bauhaus architecture. Essen was also important for the steel manufacturing, having as one of the main actors the ThyssenKrupp company.
More about Essen
Founded in circa 800, Essen is home to just over 580,000 people. The city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia presents four universities where students can enjoy opportunities in several fields. Essen is also a great leisure and shopping location, with museums, theaters and restaurants. Apart from the famous coal mining complex, another site reveals the city's industrial past in a different way: Villa Hügel, owned by the Krupp family and transformed into a touristic attraction, is an impressive Neoclassical construction with 269 rooms.
Studying and Working in Essen
Following the international trend of transition from an industrial to a knowledge-based society, Essen and the entire Ruhr region are shifting its economic focus to adjust to new challenges. Education offers reflect this agenda by providing theoretical and practice-oriented courses in higher education institutions. Study programs options range from arts, economics, management and several other topics.
As Essen is located in one of the largest metropole areas in Europe, business opportunities vary in the city. Essen is the center of the Ruhr region regarding job market as nine of the 100 German top companies are headquartered in the city, such as ThyssenKrupp and RWE. Other highlights in the job market there are the energy and health industry.
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