Information for International Researchers
A Warm Welcome to FH Aachen!
We are delighted that you are interested in working at FH Aachen or have already accepted a position.
This page provides an overview of the most important steps to take before and after starting your employment. It provides information on the recruitment process, the documents required, administrative formalities and the onboarding process.
If you have any questions, the Human Resources Department and the Department of International Affairs will be happy to support you.
Application
Current vacancies are published on the FH Aachen careers website.
Positions are advertised by the responsible organisational unit, such as a faculty, an Institute, a central service unit or administrative departement. Please submit your application in accordance with the instructions provided in the job advertisement.
Recognition of Foreign Academic Qualifications
If you obtained your university degree outside Germany, it may be necessary to verify whether your qualification is equivalent to a German university degree before you can be employed.
The Human Resources Department will inform you which documents are required.
If your documents are not issued in German or English, certified translations may be required. The Human Resources Department will inform you which documents need to be translated.
For official documents, translations are often required to be prepared by authorised or sworn translaters.
You can surch for qualified translators using the German Federal Register of Authorised Interpreters and Translaters. Alternatively, you may use the directory of the Federal Association of Interpreters and Translaters (BDÜ).
Documents Required for Employment
To prepare your employment contract, the Human Resources Department requires several documents.
These generally include:
- a valid passport or identity card
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate (if applicable)
- birth certificates of your children (if applicable)
- university degree certificates
- proof of health insurance
- certificate of good conduct
- residence permit (if applicable)
Please submit all the requested documents completely and within the specified deadlines. Original documents may be requested for verification.
Tip: The free brochure ‘Welcome to Germany – Arrive safely, feel secure’ published by Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) provides useful information for international employees living and working in Germany.
Administrative Formalities
Before or shortly after your arrival in Germany, you may need to complete several administrative formalities.
These may include:
- registering your place of residence with the local Residents’ Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt/Bürgeramt)
- optaining a German Tax Identification Number (Tax ID)
- arranging health insurance valid in Germany
- opening a German or European bank account
- applying for a residence permit, where required
The Department of International Affairs of FH Aachen will be happy to support you with questions regarding arrival and settling in Germany.
Additional Internal Compliance Checks
Depending on the nature of your future responsible, additional internal compliance checks may be required before your employment can commence.
In particular, FH Aachen is legally required to conduct assessments in accordance with German and European foreign trade and export control regulations. These assessments are carried out by the responsible administrative department and are only required exclusively for specific research areas or activities.
Where such an assessment is necessary, it may extent the processing time of your appointment. These reviews are based exclusively on the nature of the intended work and the applicable legal requirements. It is not carried out on the basis of an applicant’s nationality.
Your Employment at FH Aachen
Once all the requirements have been fulfilled and the necessary documentation has been received, your employment can begin.
In addition to your employment contract, you will receive:
- a Written Statement of Employment Conditions (Niederschrift) outlining the essential terms and conditions of your employment, including your place of work and the applicable working time framework;
- a Job Description, specifying the duties and responsibilities associated with your position.
You will be asked to sign these documents as part of the employment process.
Salary payments are administered by the State Office for Salaries and Pensions of North Rhine-Westphalia (Landesamt für Besoldung und Versorgung NRW – LBV NRW). Any changes affecting your salary will be communicated to you through the University's regular administrative procedures.
After You Start at FH Aachen
Once your employment has begun, several onboarding activities will take place.
Depending on your position, these may include:
- an introduction to your workplace by your supervisor
- mandatory inductions and briefings
- activation of your FH Aachen user account and access to the University's IT services through the DVZ Welcome Process
- issuance of your FH Aachen staff ID card (where applicable)
- introduction to local procedures and facilities within your faculty or organisational unit
Your supervisor and the relevant central service units will support you throughout your onboarding process.
Advisory Service ‘Faire Integration’
If you are a third-country national (i.e. a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland), you are entitled to free, confidential and multilingual advice through the nationwide ‘Faire Integration’ counselling service. German employers are legally required to inform third-country nationals about this advisory service when employment begins.
The service provides advice on topics including:
- employment contracts
- salary and minimum wage
- working hours, annual leave and sick leave
- dismissal and termination of employment
- social security
- rights and obligations of employees and employers.
As part of your onboarding, you will receive the contact details of the nearest Faire Integration counselling centre. An overview of all counselling centres is also available on the Faire Integration website.
Contact
If you have any questions before or after your arrival, please contact:
- Human Resources Department – for questions regarding your employment and employment contract
- Department of International Affairs – for questions regarding arrival, residence, living in Germany and settling in at FH Aachen
We look forward to welcoming you to FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences and wish you every success in your new position.