Prepare for Darmstadt. Foto: Anja Behrens

Transcription

1 Prepare for Darmstadt Foto: Anja Behrens

2 Foto: Gertrud Tcherkastin Thanks for choosing us! h_da our abbreviation for Hochschule Darmstadt is waiting for you Getting ready for your time in Germany and thinking about everything that needs to be taken care of before you leave can be tricky. We hope this guide will provide all the necessary information to prepare you for your stay making sure that your arrival in Darmstadt will be no more than a step to take! We listed our information after only one criteria what is good to know before leaving. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions related to your stay. Your Incoming Welcome Team Annabelle Bijelic & Student Tutors 1

3 What do I need to know for preparing my stay in Darmtadt? 1. Do I need a VISA?... You re not sure if you need a visa? Do not wait to clear that very important and time consuming question! Read chapter 1 and tick the box once you are sure about the requirements. 2. Do I really need health insurance for studying at h_da?... YES it s a pre-requisite to your final enrolment at our institution. Please read the information given in chapter 2 carefully and tick the box only once you re sure that you re going to be covered! 3. How much money do I need?... The German immigration office says 720 Euros a month. But this might not be enough check out the cost of living in chapter 3 and make sure you know what to expect and how to finance your stay. 4. Where am I going to live?... We want you to feel at home in Darmstadt but finding a place to live is tricky in our rather urban area. Have a look at our housing service in chapter 4 and see what you can expect. 5. What am I supposed to study?... Oh yes you are here to study! In chapter 5 you ll find a short overview with some general information about classes, credits, learning agreement 6. Do I need to learn German?... You don t necessarily need to know German before you come to Darmstadt, but you should be willing to learn the language once you re here. We offer a course before the semester starts chapter When am I supposed to travel to Darmstadt?... Easy question, easy answer: We expect you to be here for our orientation days starting on March 1 st. More information about schedules/semester times in chapter Will I walk alone?... Of course not we are here for you. During our orientation days we will not only get you through very necessary administrative procedures but also give you a short introduction to Darmstadt and the h_da, see chapter 8. 2

4 Table of contents 1. Your Visa: The Key to Germany Your Health Insurance: A Must Have... 5 European students... 5 Non-European students Your Money: Costs For Your Semester Your Housing Options: Living in Darmstadt Your Studies... 9 Darmstadt... 9 Hochschule Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences... 9 Lectures... 9 Our academic calendar Your German Classes Your Start in Darmstadt Our Orientation Days...11 What Else?

5 1. Your Visa: The Key to Germany As an international student you may need an entry visa to study in Germany depending on where you re from. For more detailed and updated information about whether or not you need a visa, check out the website from the DAAD German Academic Exchange Service or the website from the Federal Foreign Office. Additionally carefully read our Visa Guide in order to know what to consider during the whole process. What are your next steps? EU-nationals... No visa required continue to chapter 2 Non EU nationals from visa waiver states (see list below)... Apply for residence permit check out our visa guide Non EU nationals already studying in a Schengen state... Apply for visa check out our visa guide Non EU nationals... What is what? Visa: A visa is your permission to ENTER Germany. You need to apply for it at the responsible embassy / consulate in your country of origin. It s normally valid for 90 days. For detailed information about visa requirements, contact the German embassy or nearest consulate in your home country. Visa Waiver: Having a visa waiver means that you do not require a visa to enter Germany. Citizens of Australia Japan Brasil New Zeeland visa free Canada Republic of Korea Israel USA However, you could apply for a visa covering the whole period of you stay. This may mean more work before leaving but less trouble during your stay as you wouldn t have to apply for a residence permit upon arrival. 4

6 Our advice? Try to get a visa before leaving your home country, it will spare you a lot of trouble. However, be aware that the German Embassy may refuse to issue a visa at the very least, you could ask for a Proof of Sufficient Funds (Verpflichtungserklärung), which you would need later. Schengen Visa: 28 European countries are members of the Schengen agrement, e.g. France, Portugal or Spain. The Schengen Visa is actually meant for tourists wishing to travel for a period less than 90 days in these countries. This is not the kind of visa you should apply to as you are going to stay longer and for other purposes. Residence Permit: (Aufenthaltsgenehmigung) If you do not require a visa for Germany, you will be allowed to enter and to stay in Germany up to three months. Your stay is of course longer that s why you will have to apply for a residence permit. We will help you with the process once you are in Germany! 2) Your Health Insurance: A Must Have We are of course concerned about your health and well being during your studies here. We are also obliged by law to check your insurance status, which is why we asked you about it during your application. Your enrolment at h_da is a two-step procedure: 1. Pre-enrolment with your Acceptance Letter 2. Final Enrolment in person after clearance of your insurance status European students You should already have European-wide coverage make sure to have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for your whole stay and to bring it with you! Note that you will be required to pay a certain amount of the treatment costs upfront, but you can ask for reimbursement in your home country. Please contact us if you do not have an EHIC. 5

7 Non-European students You will have to prove that you have health insurance that is equivalent to the Public German Health Insurance for students. Two options: 1 You have a private Health Insurance that would cover your stay in Germany 2 You would like to apply to the German Public Student Health Insurance (Monthly costs around 90 )... Private Insurance- Check whether the coverage is sufficient Please contact us in this regard If accepted If refused Apply for TK Insurance before arrival... Validation of the insurance for enrolment and stay Finalise TK Insurance upon arrival Our advice? Apply for a German public insurance this can easily be done during our orientation days. 1. You ll have the best European-wide coverage 2. easy access to medical services in Germany (as you will be able to show your European Health Insurance Card). 3. good travel insurance to cover the time before the semester starts. 6

8 3) Your Money: Costs for your semester You need to look closely on how to finance your stay, as it is a key factor to really enjoy it to the full extent. You should not underestimate the cost of living in Germany. Please find below details about the estimated costs you will have in Darmstadt. Monthly Expenses Rent (average) 450,00 German health insurance approx. (if required) 90,00 Materials for your studies 50,00 Food, clothing, etc. 300,00 Broadcasting Fee (compulsory) 10,00 Leisure activities 100,00 Total: 1.000,00 One Time Costs Semester administrative fees 217,00 Rental deposit 1 month s rent (average) 450,00 Residence permit for Non-European students 50,00 Room set up (bedding, kitchen equipment) 50,00 Total: 767,00 What about your bank account? You need to check out how you can organise your financial transactions, especially if you are coming from outside Europe. Good questions to ask before leaving: How do I access my account? Can I withdraw money from any ATM and at which costs? Will I be able to make a money transfer to Europe even when I am not physically in my home country? The answer might lead to the conclusion that you should open a bank account in Germany. If you are required to obtain a residence permit in Germany (see our Visa Guide) will be asked to transfer money to a blocked account (720 Euro / month). Our Housing partners also request a German Bank Account for rent payments. Please make sure to bring some cash for your first days in Germany but NO 500 Euro notes! 7

9 4) Your Housing Options: Living in Darmstadt Housing in Darmstadt Darmstadt, like most college towns, offers several opportunities for student housing, including public dorms as well as private rooms or apartments. Unfortunately, the German law does not allow the h_da to own any students dorms. Looking for an accommodation for only one semester while you are abroad can be very difficult, so we are here to help. Our Housing Service In order to help you, we work with private and public companies to reserve rooms in shared apartments or single apartments for our students. If you have applied to our Housing Service you next steps will be: 1. Fill the Housing form you will receive after the application process 2. Send it back signed to and remember: first come, first served 3. Confirm or decline the housing option within a week 4. Pay the first month s rent and the housing deposit prior to arrival to finalise your reservation Please bear in mind! Limited influence The h_da is not the owner or manager of the rooms you are offered. One option for one semester If you stay for a year you will have to find another housing option for your second semester No allocation guaranteed We work on a first come, first served basis. Expectation Do not expect the same level of quality in the facilities and/or service for less money. Please have a look at the following webpages in order to get more information on our housing providers: Studierendenwerk: HEAG: 8

10 Private Housing You want to search on your own? Why not! There are several private students residence in Darmstadt and Dieburg: Darmstadt Residence s Name Location Conditions Website Dünen Apartment Heidelberger Landstrasse Darmstadt Rent: 470 to 550 Euro Deposit: Euro Smartments Stephanstraße Darmstadt Rent: 470 to 650 Euro Deposit: 950 Euro darmstadt-ste/ Stolze Haus Darmstadt Neckarstraße Darmstadt Rent: Deposit: from 590 Euro not stated The Fizz Schöfferstraße Darmstadt Uninest Havelstraße Darmstadt Rent: Deposit: Rent: Deposit: from 593 to 880 Euro 3 month s rent from 479 to 709 Euro 3 month s rent darmstadt/elementum Dieburg Residence s Name Location Conditions Website Camp 5 Dieburg Am Campus Dieburg Rent: 440 Euro Deposit: not stated darmstadt-ste/ Quartier 56 Dieburg Altheimer Straße Dieburg Rent: 290 Euro Deposit: 300 Euro Please take the time to read this general Housing Guide to better understand how and where to look! Dokumente/an_ die_h_da/incomings_dj/15576_housing_booklet_en.pdf 9

11 5) Your Studies Darmstadt Darmstadt is called the city of science. Why so? Here you ll find three universities (h_da, technical university, Protestant University), a number of well-known research institutes, many (international) students, lots of IT-companies or research intensive companies as well as the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) that controls all ESA satellites. Find out more about Darmstadt. Hochschule Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da) around students - 18 % international students 12 departments h_da is located in two cities Darmstadt & Dieburg, having a main campus and several other locations The Dieburg Campus is home to our Media and Business Departments great sport offers at no or low costs Lectures You want to know more about the classes we offer? Specific information for the upcoming semester will be available shortly before the semester starts.. In the meantime, you can get an idea of courses offered by looking at our past semesters (summer or winter). If necessary, you can use the past semesters for your learning agreement. Have a look at our online course catalogue: or our english taught classes This catalogue is based on our database QIS an important platform you will use once officially a h_da student to sign up for classes and exams. Please note that the majority of our classes is held in German. We do offer an increasing amount of classes in English as well as degrees entirely taught in English. Make sure that you find suitable courses for your time here. Our academic calendar Recommended Arrival days Start of the Orientation Days Start Intensive German classes Start of lecture Period Easter break End of the lecture period Start of the exam period End of the exam period February 28 th or sooner March 1 st March 6 th April 1 st April 19 th - April 22 th July 5 th July 8 th July 31 st 10

12 6) Your German Classes One key factor to a successful stay abroad in Darmstadt is learning German! Like in any other country in the world, your intercultural experience will be enhanced if you are able to speak the local language. So do not hesitate to start right away! You would like to check out your current level? Try this one: Deutsch lernen! Intensive German Class 5 ECTS No doubt that this is the perfect preparation for your study abroad stay. Most of our lectures are taught in German. It goes without saying that we expect you to participate. 7) Your Start in Darmstadt Please note that our Orientation Days are starting on March 1 st. Don t be late travel to Germany a day or two in advance so that you can fully enjoy our orientation days! You can find further information about how to find us on our website. However, note that your accommodation won t be available before that date but the youth hostel or an Airbnb are good alternatives! 11

13 8) Our Orientation Days You will never walk alone! Our orientation days are here to help you make a smooth transition into life in Darmstadt. The only condition: You have to show up. Have a look here at our last semester s activities join us! an_die_h_da/incomings_dj/15567_find_your_way.pdf Our Orientation Days Get to know your place of study Get connected h_da and its facilities student life the city of Darmstadt welcome dinner social activities stay connected programme German class... Get help moving into accomodation finalising your enrolment getting your student ID formalities in Germany What Else? Your study abroad time is your chance to discover a new country and culture. Make sure to have the time and the means to enjoy life outside your studies, make sure to connect with German students. Integrated in your student ID is a transportation ticket called Semester Ticket. This ticket allows you to use all public transport in Darmstadt and the surrounding area - a cheap way to enjoy our region! 12

14 Need some further links to start with? study We look forward to welcoming you at our institution! Fotos: Gertrud Tcherkastin Disclaimer: All information is carefully monitored, nevertheless, we cannot be liable for the content, as the content cannot cover every individual case. The given information is not necessarily complete, comprehensive or up-to-date. It does not represent legal advice nor is it legally binding. The given information can also not replace information from experts. h_da International Office Incoming As of November