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Arriving

  • Arrival

    On arrival day, we will welcome you at the airport’s meeting point and take you to Marburg by train. Please schedule your arrival between 7 am and 11 am.

    If you arrive before the official arrival date, you can find accommodation at Frankfurt’s or Marburg’s hostels and hotels and find you way directly to Marburg main train station or our welcome office.

    If you come at a different time then mentioned above, or before the arrival day, please let us know before and refer to the information below.

    Should you need to contact us (when dialing from within Germany): 0151 - 70.42.10.02. (WhatsApp messages also possible.)

  • Arrival by plane and train

    Destination airport: Frankfurt am Main International Airport (FRA)

    If you arrive at Terminal 1:

    Pick up your checked baggage.

    Follow the signs to the Regional Train Station (“Regionalbahnhof”).

    Buy a train ticket to Marburg an der Lahn (max. EUR 20) in the Travel Center (“Deutsche Bahn Reisezentrum”).

    Take the “S-Bahn” to Frankfurt Main Train Station ("Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof") (approx. 10 - 15 min.).

    All trains departing from platform 1 (Gleis 1) of the Regionalbahnhof go to the Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof.

    Change trains to go to Marburg, following the itinerary given to you by the Deutsche Bahn Reisezentrum.

    If you arrive at Terminal 2:

    Pick up your checked luggage.

    Take the "Skyline" or the shuttle bus to Terminal 1 and proceed to the Regional Train Station (Regionalbahnhof). Then see above.

    Train to Marburg

    The train ride from Frankfurt's Main Train Station ("Hauptbahnhof") to the Marburg Hauptbahnhof takes one hour. In order to find the train suitable for you, please visit the website of the German railway company, "Die Bahn".

    Please pay attention that some trains are being divided on the way to Marburg (at the stop "Giessen"). Only one part will continue on to Marburg. So, make sure you are in the right part when you board the train in Frankfurt.

    Whatever you do, do not board the train without a valid ticket! You will be fined, no exceptions. Also, please do NOT exit the train at the Marburg South train station ("Marburg Süd"), but continue on to the next stop, which is the Marburg Lahn Main Train Station ("Hauptbahnhof").

    Should you need to contact us (when dialing from within Germany): 0151 - 70.42.10.02. (WhatsApp messages also possible.)

  • Welcome and Orientation

    On your first days in Marburg, many of the key places in Marburg will be shown in a short sight-seeing tour, so you will know where to go for grocery stores, department stores, post office, banks, University buildings, and other important locations.

  • What to do if your luggage gets lost

    Checked luggage sometimes gets lost. Usually it will be delivered 1 or 2 days later. You should pack important documents, things you need (e.g. medicine) and some clothes for changing in your carry-on bag to be on the safe side.

    If you arrive in Frankfurt, but your luggage does not, go directly to the Lost & Found office (Terminal 1, Concourse A, Level 0). Please give them the following office address and phone number for delivering your luggage:

    Philipps-Universität Marburg, International Office

    Deutschhausstr. 11+13

    35037 Marburg

    Tel.: 0151 - 70.42.10.02

    Please also let us know asap so we can secure a safe delivery place and time.

Living

  • Accommodation

    You will have a single room in one of the university dormitories (mixed dorms). Since Marburg has a historical center with mostly small, traditional houses, there is little space to accommodate the large number of students in the center of town. That is why our dorms are situated outside the city center and can easily be reached by local bus lines or also by foot.

     For further information on the dormitories visit the Studentenwerk Marburg website (A link can be found on the previous page).

    Equipment

    There are common bathrooms, showers and kitchens on all floors of the dormitory buildings. Please be prepared to bring with you or purchase upon arrival a set of plates, silverware, cup, bowl, kitchen towel, sponge for your own use. The dormitory kitchens are actually supposed to be equipped with these items. Sometimes, however, fellow students take them to their rooms, and the utensils remain there longer than they should.

    You will also find laundry rooms in every dormitory building. Bed sheets will be provided, but you will need to bring your own towels.

     

    Internet

    Not all of the dormitory rooms are equipped with Internet access and/or telephone. You can always use free Wi-Fi in university buildings or use the computer labs in the libraries during opening hours.

    If you want to phone and text locally, and be able to be contacted by phone by your family and friends back home, we recommend the purchase of a pre-paid cell phone after your arrival in Marburg.

     

    Assignment

    You will receive your room assignment on arrival day. The assignments are made by the Studentenwerk Marburg. The program team has no influence on where participants are being placed. This is subject to availability.

    Accommodations are covered by the program fee. Private accommodations cannot be organized through the program.

    Should you plan to come to Marburg prior to the official arrival date of the program, or should you want to stay beyond the official end date of the program, we recommend Marburg's youth hostel or hotels.

  • Meals

    There are no meal plans at German universities. We have several cafeterias in university buildings. In town there are snack bars, bakeries and fast food facilities.

    We will help you to buy  a cafeteria debit card (which can also be used around campus to print, copy, lend books etc.).

    There are no cafeterias in the residence halls.

     

     

    There is a variety of options how to get food:

    Kitchen in your residence hall

    Dormitory buildings are equipped with kitchens for you to use. So you can prepare meals at home. The kitchen is also a good place to meet the other students on your floor and practice your German.

     

    Student cafeterias

    There are two main ones (called "Mensa"), smaller cafeterias and bistros at different locations throughout Marburg.

    The "Mensa" is a good place to get a full lunch for 2-3.50 €. In the same building there is also a cafeteria, open all day and offer breakfast, lunch, dinner and all kind of snacks and beverages. Check their website to get an overview.

     

    Going out

    In town you will find an abundance of snack bars, bakeries and fast food facilities. Of course, if you want to go out for a nice meal, Marburg offers also a large variety of restaurants. You will find out.

  • Doctors & Pharmacies

    You can find practical information here. In emergency cases, please follow the described instructions. 
    Otherwise you can contact us if you need recommendations or support (e.g. finding a doctor).