Gelsenkirchen

A coal mining center that's reinvented itself as a sustainable hub

Located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Gelsenkirchen has around 250,000 inhabitants and is part of the wider Ruhr conurbation (home to more than 5 million people). A major coal-mining center for over 100 years, the city is probably now most famous for being the home of Schalke 04, one of Germany's most successful soccer teams. It's also become known for its embrace of solar power - a sign of the vibrant sustainable tech sector in the surrounding region.

More about Gelsenkirchen

A bustling industrial center, Gelsenkirchen is home to 260,000 people, including 8,500 students at the small but influential Westfälische Hochschule (Gelsenkirchen University of Applied Sciences). The city's cultural scene includes a fine architecture museum, summer festivals, and the attraction of Schalke 04's vibrant game day atmosphere.

Studying and Working in Gelsenkirchen

Gelsenkirchen's economy specializes in environmental technology, sustainable energy, and transport engineering. This is reflected at Westphalian University of Applied Sciences (WH), where Bachelors and Masters level courses include subjects like Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Biomimetics, and Enterprise Logistics. These courses include plenty of networking opportunities with local companies, providing direct career paths into regional positions.

WH has a strong appeal to international students. It offers a specialized support package called International Talents, which helps with visas and finances and arranges exchanges. However, relatively few courses are taught in English. All applicants must achieve 16 TestDaf points, or DSH 2 before enrolling. Once these requirements are met, life in Gelsenkirchen provides excellent connections to the wider Ruhr region, complete with sports and cultural activities for all to enjoy.