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Student Kreid in front of the Porta Nigra: "Sometimes I forget how historic Trier is"
Photo: private
Augusta Treverorum, once an important Roman city on the Moselle, has become today's Trier. The traces of antiquity still shape the city centre today – but Trier has more to offer than just historic buildings, says Vanessa Kreid. The 26-year-old has lived there all her life. Why move away when you have everything? Even after completing her master's degree in industrial engineering, she wants to stay true to her home country – and still work abroad. Here, she tells us how it works.
Campus life: location, cafeteria and café
"I'm studying at Trier University of Applied Sciences, which has several locations. Trier itself is home to the main campus and the Design Campus. The latter also has a branch in Idar-Oberstein, about 60 kilometres away, where you can study ›gemstones and jewellery‹. In addition, there is the Environmental Campus in the small town of Birkenfeld, where courses of study with a focus on sustainability are located.
I study at the main campus, which is located on an elevation on the Moselsteig hiking trail. Some of the buildings have a wonderful view of the river. However, it is not a campus as you might know it from other universities. You can't live here or go to the café, the grounds are rather functional: teaching building, canteen, machine tool park, sports field. The sports hall has been converted into an exam hall since the pandemic.
I'm currently writing my master's thesis, so I don't have any more lectures. But events always lure me back to campus: In winter, the various faculties organize Christmas parties to which all students are invited. For example, I like the LAN parties of the Department of Computer Science. The participants set up their computers in the auditorium and played games together for three days. But I'm particularly looking forward to the summer festival: pools are set up on the sports field to cool off, and DJs play music into the night."
Housing: Prices for shared flats and districts
"During my bachelor's degree, I lived with my parents in a district away from the city centre, and now I live in a shared flat in Trier-Süd, a beautiful old building district. Finally, I am no longer dependent on the last bus, I can be on the road longer in the evening and enjoy student life. I have two roommates, for my 30-square-meter room I pay about 400 euros including all costs. Our apartment is only a few meters from the banks of the Moselle, where I like to go for walks. It takes me about ten minutes to walk to the city centre.
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Ancient Roman buildings in Trier: the Basilica of Constantine
Photo: private
The college and the university are located on opposite sides of the city, separated by the Moselle. Both locations are best reached by bus, from the city center it takes about 20 minutes in each direction. The student dormitories are also located on the university campus in the east of the city. In general, it doesn't really matter which neighbourhood you live in – Trier is quite small and compact.«
Leisure: Culture, pub and club
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Learning in the countryside: The palace garden with baroque horticulture
Photo: private
"In summer, I prefer to study in the fresh air. Unfortunately, I don't have my own garden, but luckily the expansive palace garden is within walking distance of my apartment. A large meadow stretches between flower beds and baroque horticulture. Not far from there are the Imperial Baths, which date back to Roman times. Sometimes I forget how historic Trier is. I grew up here and walk past the former Roman city gate Porta Nigra, the amphitheater and the Basilica of Constantine as a matter of course. Some of these buildings are more than 1800 years old.
In addition to antiquity, Trier also offers a lively nightlife culture. I prefer to go to Cubiculum, a basement restaurant known for its pizza salad. Various salads, such as Greek or Italian, are served on a pizza margherita. I also order Viez, traditional Trier cider. Viez can be drunk either neat or mixed with cola, lemonade or juice.
If I'm in the mood for something different, I go to happy hour at Bitburger Wirtshaus or Coyote Cafe. Almost every day from 17 p.m., cocktails cost only half price – perfect for the often low student budget. Two clubs in particular are popular for partying: the Toni and Club 11.
If you are in the mood for culture, you should take advantage of the offers of the so-called DiMiDo – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. On these days, students do not pay admission to the museum and receive free remaining tickets for the theatre.«
After graduation: What's next?
"After I graduate, I'm going to stay in Trier, so I'm going to stay in Trier. Because I want to work in Luxembourg. That's what many people do here, they commute to the neighboring EU state for their job and thus take advantage of the advantages of both countries: the cheaper cost of living in Germany and the higher salaries in Luxembourg. German is one of the official languages of Luxembourg, and I also speak German in passable French. My flat is close to the South train station, from which there are regular trains to Luxembourg. The border can be reached in about 20 minutes by car.
Trier offers me new opportunities in every phase of my life. Even after all these years, there is no reason for me to leave my homeland."