Recognition and other formalities

If you have been accepted for a place at university abroad, you must clarify which achievements from abroad can be recognised before you start your semester abroad. For this purpose, you will be asked to list a concrete selection of selectable modules, taking into account the contents and the respective ECTS points. After review by the International Faculty Office, a contract, a so-called "Learning Agreement", will be prepared between the student, FH Aachen and the partner university listing modules that will be recognised. As different countries use different grading scales, there is a conversion table to the German grading system.

Visa

Please enquire in good time before your planned stay abroad whether you require a visa for the host country. You should contact the embassy or consulate of the host country to find out whether you need a visa or how to apply for one. Remember: as a student abroad, you are not travelling as a tourist, so the simplified tourist entry requirements do not apply to students.
You can find further information at consulates and embassies, at the Federal Foreign Office and at the DAAD.

Certificates

Certificates for your stay abroad can be issued by the International Office for

• Tax office and office for educational grants
• foundations
• Application for a visa
• partner universities or foreign authorities (e.g. application for housing subsidy in France)

We can issue further certificates on request.

You do not need the certificate required by the AStA for exemption from the semester ticket fee, as the IFO regularly sends the AStA the names of students who are going abroad.

Re-registration

Re-registration takes place in the normal way. Examinations can still be taken at the Faculty of Business Studies.

Insurance

You must ensure that you have sufficient insurance cover for the duration of your stay abroad. You should ensure continued insurance cover in the event of illness or accident and enquire about the conditions at the host university. Within Europe, every student is normally covered by German health insurance and must therefore always carry their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with them. Please find out before you stay abroad whether this also applies to your health insurance. If the rest of Europe is not covered by your insurance, every major health insurance company offers supplementary health insurance abroad.
Outside Europe, it is advisable to take out a degree in travel health insurance. This can be taken out directly with a German insurance company. Some universities (e.g. in the USA) also offer their own insurance policies; you will be informed about these if necessary.

Residents' Registration Office

According to the Landesmeldegesetz (State Registration Law), you are obliged to deregister with the Einwohnermeldeamt (Residents' Registration Office) if you stay abroad for more than three months. This also applies if the tenancy agreement in Aachen is maintained. Failure to comply with this deregistration requirement of the Residents' Registration Office may result in a warning fine.