DIY Bicycle Workshop

Students with a defective bike can get help in repairing their bicycle free of charge. The DIY bicycle workshop offers tools, small parts (normal store prices) and used parts. The bicycle self-help workshop is mainly run by students who are interested in bicycles.

Bicycle self-help workshop

Some important traffic rules: 

• cycle on the right
• use your ligths when it gets dark
• don’t cross a zebra-crossing with a bike
• don’t carry people on the back of your bike
• no cycling in the pedestrian area
• always lock your bike
• don’t use your phone on your bike (50,- Euro penalty)

A deposit of up to 25 Cents per bottle/can is charged for most carbonated beverages at supermarkets and convenience stores. When you return the bottles or cans at reverse vending machines, labelled Pfandrückgabe or Leergutannahme, you get your deposit back in the form of a coupon which you can either use to pay for your groceries at the respective supermarket or simply exchange for cash at the till.

Explanation video: deposit system in Germany (in English with German subtitles)

The national electric power transmission network (grid) in Germany uses the standard electrical voltage of 230 volt AC, 50 Hz. European standard plugs, or europlugs, usually fit all sockets. However, depending on your home country, a plug adapter or transformer (voltage converter) may be needed to connect your electronic devices to German sockets.

• Police: 110
• Fire service: 112
• Ambulance: 112
• Poisoning (poisoning information centre in Göttingen): 0551 / 19 240
• Urgent medical care services (Ärztlicher Notdienst): 116 117

In Germany, you need a prescription from a doctor for many medications. Some non-prescription medications are also available in drugstores. Outside of regular opening hours, there is always one pharmacy on „Apothekennotdienst” (pharmacy emergency service) that is open around the clock: 

Pharmacy emergency service (Apothekennotdienst, in German)

In Germany, shops and stores are usually open from 9:30 to 20:00 Mondays to Saturdays, while shopping malls may close at 21:00 or 22:00. Supermarkets open at 7:00 or 8:00 and close between 20:00 and 24:00. Small shops may close earlier, around 18:00 or 19:00, and on Saturday afternoons. Please note that on Sundays shops and supermarkets are closed. Petrol stations, corner shops/convenience stores (Kioske) and bakeries open on Sundays and on public holidays, although bakeries generally close before noon.

According to Germany's non-smokers protection law (Nichtraucherschutzgesetz), smoking is banned in all public places, including shops, public transport stations (where it may be allowed in designated smoking areas), airports and sports and leisure facilities. As the federal states each have their own smoking laws, smoking may be permitted in cafés, bars and restaurants. In Lower Saxony, however, smoking is usually only permitted in clearly designated separate rooms.

Our University Sports Centre is offering a programme full of courses and other activities that you can get involved in to keep fit and healthy: aerobics, yoga, football, dance, capoeira, belly dance, table tennis, and gymnastics to name just a few of the approximately 100 courses, some of which are free of charge. Registration is required for some courses. You can do this either online or in person at the University Sports Centre.

University sports centre

Further sports facilities in Oldenburg

In addition to the sports facilities on both campuses there are numerous fitness centres, dancing schools, and sports clubs in Oldenburg that offer team sports, courses and activities.

The OLantis Huntebad is a great place for swimming, sauna, wellness, and aqua fitness. It has an indoor and outdoor area with an open-air swimming pool that is open in the summer. 

The Dobbenwiesen, located between the city centre and the University, is a great spot for playing football and cricket.

Get involved, make decisions, shape your university – there are several student councils for you to join!

Overview of student groups

Tipping in Germany is slightly different to some other countries, where tipping may be higher or not common at all. Germans usually tip 10 percent, which may be rounded up to an even number. We generally give tips at restaurants, cafés, bars and hairdressers and for taxi rides or (food) deliveries. It is also very common to pay cash rather than by credit card, even at restaurants, and also to pay separately. Waiters will ask you "Zusammen oder getrennt?", which means "together or separately?", and if the answer is "separately" ("getrennt"), they will figure out the sum for each customer separately. Again, this is very common, so there is no need to feel uncomfortable about causing any inconvenience. Please note that waiters and waitresses often stay at your table while you pay.

Checklist: Organising your departure from Oldenburg for international students

Our tutors provide all international students with support in practical and organisational issues concerning studying and daily life in Oldenburg.

Our buddy programme pairs you with local students, who help and support you especially in the early phase after arrival.

Apply for the buddy programme

Oldenburg has a temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters. The climate is humid, temperatures reach up to 25 degrees Celsius in summer, sometimes even higher. Winters can be cold, it rarely snows. Rain falls all year round, in February and in autumn there can be heavy storms.