Living and Working at the ZiF

The Fellows live and work at the ZiF, using campus accomodation of various size, from flats for single occupants to apartments for small or larger families. The research groups self-organise the topics and methods of their work; seminar rooms, working spaces and conference rooms are at their disposal, as well as a fellow room as a space for informal gatherings and a kitchen. There is a swimming pool, a sauna, a gym on the precincts and a children's playground close by.

Like the university the ZiF is locate in the Western part of Bielefeld. The university's main building can be reached on foot, as well as a shopping centre, kindergardens and schools. A bus stop connecting to the city centre is close to the ZiF and there is also a tram stop at the university. Nearby recreation facilities and popular walks include the Teutoburg Forest with its hiking tracks, an animal park, a botanical garden and a farm house museum.

Bielefeld with over 330,000 inhabitants is Germany's 18th biggest city and the regional centre of East-Westphalia/Lippe. Apart from the university there are several institutions of higher education . The Bielefeld theatre, several orchestras, museums and event locations are home to a cultural life of great diversity.