Vienna
Vienna, Austria's capital, blends imperial history with modern culture.
Excellent education system and impressive healthcare system. Flourishing economy: Vienna is the economic center of Austria, the 14th-richest country in the world. Austria has one of the highest GDP per capita, indicating a high standard of living for citizens. Incredibly secure: Vienna has some of the lowest crime rates in Europe, making it very safe to walk home late at night. Amazing cultural scene: Vienna has a strong heritage in producing exceptional classical music, fine arts, and theater. It has incredible museums and amazing music venues.
Once you come to the Austrian capital, you will never want to leave!
Vienna has been named the best city in the world for quality of living, according to several surveys, including the annual Mercer Quality of Living survey, which has crowned it first for more than 10 years in a row.
Vienna scores almost perfectly in a number of categories:
- Very well-functioning public transport and infrastructure: Public transport in the city is cheap, clean, safe, and reliable. The subway runs 24-hour at weekends.
- Clean and green: In Vienna you can enjoy mountain spring water for free, straight from the tap. Parks and green areas make up 50% of the city.
- Excellent education system and impressive healthcare system.
- Flourishing economy: Vienna is the economic center of Austria, the 14th-richest country in the world. Austria has one of the highest GDP per capita, indicating a high standard of living for citizens.
- Incredibly secure: Vienna has some of the lowest crime rates in Europe, making it very safe to walk home late at night.
- Amazing cultural scene: Vienna has a strong heritage in producing exceptional classical music, fine arts, and theater. It has incredible museums and amazing music venues.
An Affordable City. One of the best things about Vienna is that it is not an expensive city to live in.
- Housing: Viennese apartments generally offer high standards at affordable rents. Prices still remain relatively low in comparison to other major cities in the world. On average, tenants in Vienna spend 27% of their income on rent.
- Public transport: You can travel through Vienna by subway, bus, and tram for just €1 a day.
- Culture: Standing tickets for the State Opera start at €3. Similar prices for standing tickets at most theatres and concert halls.
An international City. If you are from abroad, you will never feel lonely in Vienna.
Vienna is one of Europe’s most international cities. Half of the population of Vienna has an international background and it is very easy to get around with English.
Vienna is home to a large number of international organizations, including the United Nations.There are 14 international schools, and you will find restaurants with cuisines from all over the world. The connection from the city to the airport is excellent (19 minutes train ride from the Vienna BioCenter, and €4.20). From the airport you can reach all major European cities within 3 hours. There are also direct flights to many other international destinations.
Barcelona
Barcelonais a vibrant, cosmopolitan city renowned for its rich culture, Mediterranean lifestyle, excellent cuisine, and mild climate—all of which contribute to an exceptional quality of life. Beyond its appeal as a cultural destination, Barcelona stands out as a leading scientific hub in Southern Europe.
The city hosts a dynamic research ecosystem with numerous world-class institutions at the forefront of biomedical science and cutting-edge research across disciplines. Strong collaboration between academia, hospitals, and industry fosters a highly innovative environment, making Barcelona an ideal destination for interdisciplinary research and attracting top international talent.
Berlin
Frequent and radical changes through Berlin's turbulent history have transformed the city many times over. Despite this, Berlin has emerged as a thriving metropolis with a population of 3.7 million people. As Germany's largest student city, it hosts almost 200,000 students across four universities and numerous privately-run academies.
Berlin's rich cultural landscape, featuring three opera houses, 175 museums, and 2,500 public parks and gardens, provides ample opportunities for recreation and inspiration. This extraordinary wealth of cultural opportunities attracts increasing numbers of visitors, making Berlin one of the most popular destinations in Europe. The city boasts a lively scene with numerous pubs, clubs, restaurants, and cafés. Densely urban areas coexist with large green spaces, nature reserves, lakes, and rivers, offering a truly metropolitan lifestyle.
Notably, Berlin is recognized as one of the three most interesting cities in the world in the "Best Cities in the World 2024" ranking by TimeOut magazine, alongside New York and Cape Town. This dynamic environment fosters innovation and offers a high quality of life, making Berlin an attractive destination for scientists and visitors alike.
Brno
Brno is widely recognised as the Czech capital of science and technology, with a long-standing tradition of research excellence dating back over 150 years to the groundbreaking work of Gregor Johann Mendel, the father of genetics, who conducted his famous pea plant experiments here.
Today, Brno is a dynamic university city, home to six public universities and over 90,000 students, making it one of the most vibrant student hubs in Central Europe. The city hosts a dense network of research institutes, science parks, and centres of excellence such as CEITEC, ICRC, and FNUSA, attracting top scientists and international collaborations. With its unique combination of high-quality education, strong research infrastructure, affordable living, and a welcoming international atmosphere, Brno continues to grow as a leading centre for life sciences, technology, and innovation in Europe.
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with a rich history that dates back to the Middle Ages. It was an important centre for coal and steel industries during the Industrial Revolution, which played a significant role in shaping the city's growth and development. Today, Dortmund has transformed into a modern and vibrant city, known for its universities, research institutions, and technology companies.
Dortmund is an integral part of the Ruhrgebiet, also known as the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, which is one of the largest and most populous urban areas in Europe. As part of the Ruhrgebiet, Dortmund benefits from its excellent transport connections, with easy access to major cities in Germany and beyond.
Furthermore, Dortmund is a diverse and multicultural city, with a large population of immigrants and expatriates. This diversity is reflected in the city's food, music, art, and cultural scene, making it an exciting and dynamic place to live and visit. The city's universities and research institutions also attract students and scholars from all over the world, contributing to its international and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
In recent years, Dortmund has gained international recognition as a soccer powerhouse, thanks to its successful football club, Borussia Dortmund and it is now currently hosting several of the matches of the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship.
Some useful links:
Living in Dortmund: https://www.mpi-dortmund.mpg.de/students-postdocs/living-in-dortmund
General information of the city Dortmund: https://www.dortmund.de/
Public transport: https://www.bus-und-bahn.de/
Dresden
Dresden, Germany, stands out as a vibrant scientific research hub, particularly in multidisciplinary biology, thanks to its renowned institutions and their uniquely collaborative spirit. These centers foster cutting-edge research and collaboration across various disciplines, integrating biology, physics, and engineering. The city attracts top international talent and provides state-of-the-art facilities, driving significant advancements in life sciences.
Dresden's strong emphasis on innovation and interdisciplinary approaches cements its reputation as a leading scientific research environment. Dresden is also known for its vibrant atmosphere and relatively low cost of living, making it an attractive destination for researchers and students alike. The city's affordability, combined with abundant green spaces, results in a high quality of life for its ambitious residents.
Heidelberg
Heidelberg is a picturesque city located on the Neckar River in southwestern Germany. The city combines rich history and culture with modern cutting-edge research and infrastructure. Home to the oldest university in Germany, Heidelberg and the Rhine-Neckar region host several research institutions and industry companies, forming a strong scientific network ideal for education and research. The iconic Heidelberg Castle and the Old Town with its baroque architecture add charm to the city, while the surrounding nature offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities. The international student community contributes to a vibrant cultural scene.
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London
There's nowhere in the world quite like London.
This isn't just another capital city, it's a thriving metropolis with a unique personality formed by its iconic landmarks, centuries of history, world-class shopping and achingly cool fashion, arts and food scenes.
The Francis Crick Institute is perfectly located for travel, research, culture, shopping and living in London. We have created this guide to help you get to know your surroundings and to find somewhere to live while you work or study at the Crick.
Student life in London offers an incredible blend of academic excellence and cultural diversity. As home to world-renowned universities like UCL, LSE, and King’s College London, students gain access to cutting-edge research, global networking opportunities, and top-tier faculty. The city is also a hub for nearly every industry—finance, media, tech, fashion, and the arts—making it ideal for internships, part-time jobs, and future career prospects. The rich history and intellectual energy of the city are reflected in its countless museums, libraries, and academic societies, many of which offer free or discounted access for students.
Beyond academics, London delivers an unforgettable social experience. With its eclectic neighborhoods, music scenes, street food markets, and events catering to every interest, students are never short of things to explore. The city's public transport network makes it easy to get around, and student discounts help make iconic attractions and experiences more affordable. Whether you're relaxing in a royal park, catching a West End show, or joining a late-night study session in a cozy café, student life in London is vibrant, inspiring, and full of possibilities.
Mainz
Mainz, a historic city on the Rhine river, is the capital of the region of Rhineland Palatinate in Germany, and the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg whose revolutionary printing press transformed the world. For history and architecture lovers, it is home to a magnificent cathedral, remains of the Roman Empire, timber-framed houses, and the only German church with stain glass windows designed by Marc Chagall (St. Stephen’s). Each February, the city bursts with colour during the lively Fastnacht (carnival) and draws huge crowds from all over, all dressed in costumes. You can enjoy scenic tours along the riverbank and a vibrant wine culture at many festivities throughout the year, making Mainz a beautiful place to both live in and visit.
The research landscape of Mainz, too, is very lively and diverse, with the Johannes Gutenberg University and its University Medical Center Mainz, two universities of applied sciences, a Fraunhofer Institute, a Helmholtz Institute, two Max-Planck Institutes, the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) and many biotech companies in close proximity, such as BioNTech, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Abbvie etc.
Some useful links:
Living in Mainz: https://www.imb.de/students-postdocs/working-living-in-mainz
City of Mainz: https://www.mainz.de/en/index.php
5 Reasons to love Mainz: https://www.mainz.de/en/worth-seeing/reasons-to-love-mainz.php
Milan
Choosing Milan for your PhD means immersing yourself in a city that blends academic excellence with an outstanding quality of life.
The city hosts 14 universities, including five ranked in the 2024 QS World University Rankings. Additionally, Milan is home to several top healthcare companies and startups, providing a robust ecosystem for research and industry collaboration. This dynamic environment fosters innovation and offers PhD candidates access to a vast network of academic and industry leaders, enhancing both research quality and career prospects.
Beyond academia, the city provides a vibrant cultural scene, world-class museums, opera, fashion, and a dynamic international community. Enjoy Italy’s renowned cuisine, stunning landscapes-from the historic architecture to the nearby Alps and lakes-, and efficient transport connections across Europe. All these ingredients create an inspiring environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and personal growth.
With endless networking opportunities and a perfect balance of work and lifestyle, Milan is the ideal place to grow both professionally and personally while pursuing groundbreaking research.
Zurich
Discover Zurich, Switzerland's vibrant hub that perfectly blends urban sophistication with stunning natural beauty. Known for its pristine lake, snow-capped Alpine backdrop, and a buzzing arts scene, Zurich is a paradise for young, well-educated globetrotters.
Explore world-class museums, chic boutiques, and trendy cafes in the historic old town. Don’t miss the legendary nightlife in Zurich West, a hot spot for innovative cuisine and eclectic bars. With its efficient public transport and cosmopolitan vibe, Zurich offers an irresistible mix of culture, adventure, and style. Come experience the city where tradition meets innovation!