International Students

Funding and Scholarships

When you apply for a visa at a German diplomatic mission (Embassy, Consulate), you need to prove that your finances allow you to live in Germany. Normally it is at least 659 EUR per month or 7,908 EUR for one year.

There are two possibilities regarding the proof of finance:

• The Letter of Commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung): Here a person (e.g. parents or relatives) commits to sponsoring your stay in Germany for a certain period of time or for the entire period of study. This form is available at the German embassy or consulate.

• The Blocked Account (Sperrkonto): This is a bank account with a bank in Germany or in your homeland where you have deposited money amounting to at least one year's living costs here. From this account you are not allowed to draw more than 585 EUR per month.

With certain financial institutions (e.g. the Deutsche Bank) you can open a blocked account in Germany from your homeland. In this case, you do not need to transfer your money at a later time to Germany therefore saving on bank charges.

You can get information regarding a visa for Germany at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Auswärtiges Amt). Here you will be informed whether you need a visa and how you should go about applying for it.

Information in

• German
• English
• French

Attention! With a tourist visa you cannot study in Germany. You cannot convert a tourist visa into a student visa.

After your arrival in Germany you have to convert your visa into a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis).

Health Insurance

Students from EU member countries: Please ask your health insurance provider, if your travel to Germany and your stay here is going to be insured from day one. If it isn't, please read the next section.

Students from non-EU countries: Before commencing your travel, please get health insurance for your journey as well as for the first few weeks in Germany. After your arrival, you can take out a German health insurance. Most German diplomatic missions demand proof of health insurance when you apply for your visa.

Information in various languages on the topic can also be found on the website 1a-krankenversicherung.de

Luggage Insurance

If you bring along precious and expensive items from home (e.g. a notebook), you should get a special luggage insurance.

We've put together a few tips to get you started: Welcome to Aachen

Your place of residence determines which Foreigners' Office (Ausländerbehörde) is responsible for you. Most FH Aachen students live under the jurisdiction of one of the following Foreigners' Offices:

• Aachen: Ausländerbehörde (Ausländeramt) der StädteRegion Aachen
• Kreis Düren (including Jülich): Ausländerbehörde des Kreises Düren

All persons have to register at the local Residents' Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) within one week after arriving in Germany. Please contact the municipality of your place of residence.

For most of the students at the FH Aachen the following Residents' Registration Offices or City Municipalities (Stadtverwaltungen) are responsible:

• City of Aachen
• District of Düren 

Registration certificates can be issued in German, English and French. It contains:

• the current semester
• surname, first name, place of birth, date of birth
• student ID number
• degree programme
• date of student registration
• signature and seal of the FH Aachen.

You can get it at the Registrar's Office (Studierendensekretariat).

If you need a personalised registration certificate, which contains further or different information, please get in touch with the Department of International Affairs.

In Germany all students are obliged to have health insurance. Your health insurance provider at home can inform you, whether you will still be insured during your stay in Germany. Especially in European countries it is likely to be the case. Students from EU member states can prove with their blue European health insurance card that they are insured in their native country and that the insurance is valid in Germany. Please ask your insurance provider BEFORE(!) you travel to Germany, as that will simplify matters.

If your personal health insurance is not valid in Germany, you should get a travel health insurance which is valid for the first one or two weeks in Germany. This will give you enough time to get yourself enrolled and insured for the rest of your stay. You can either avail a public health insurance or a private health insurance. The insurance is however in force only from the first day of your enrollment here.

You can find more information about health insurances on the websites of the German Academic Exchange Service and Deutsches Studentenwerk.

With public health insurances you will pay the same charges everywhere. Even the spectrum of services offered by the insurance providers vary only slightly from one another.

With private health insurances you can choose between different tariffs. Even the spectrum of services offered will be different.

Information in various languages on the topic can also be found on the website 1a-krankenversicherung.de

Disclaimer:

The information here is a service from the Department of International Affairs and should be seen as providing only initial guidance. It does not lay any claim to any kind of completeness. Even though it has been compiled with utmost care and consideration, no liability will be assumed for the accuracy of the content matter.

Approximately four weeks before the expiry of your residence permit, you should apply for an extension at the Foreigners' Office. 

Foreigners' Office in charge:

• City of Aachen
• District Düren (applies for Jülich)

Since 2016 international students who live in the city of Aachen or the former district of Aachen (StädteRegion Aachen) must apply as well by email for an appointment at the Foreigners' Office Aachen before the residence permit expires: auslaenderamt(at)staedteregion-aachen.de. If you apply for an appointment after your residence permit has already expired youmay face severe legal disadvantages. 

Generally the following documents are required for the extension of your residence permit:   

• your valid passport
• a biometric photo
• your student ID card, proof of your enrolment at FH Aachen
• copy of your registration as a citizen of Aachen or Jülich
• proof of health insurance
• a proof of how you will finance your stay in Aachen
• the fee for the extension of your residence permit

Information for students in higher semesters:

In fortgeschritteneren Semestern (in der Regel bei Erreichen oder Überschreitung der Regelstudienzeit), oder wenn Sie die Hochschule oder den Studiengang wechseln möchten (und im vierten Semester oder in einem höheren Semester sind), müssen Sie für die Verlängerung Ihrer Aufenthaltserlaubnis oft auch einen Brief des Akademischen Auslandsamtes zu Ihrem Studienverlauf beifügen. Your contact person at the Foreigners' Office will inform you if you such a "Studienverlaufsbescheinigung" (study progress report) will be required when you apply for the extension of your residence permit.

If you have changed your study programme or university:

Within the first three semesters of your studies in Germany you may change your study programme or university once without the permission of the Foreigners' Office. However, please be aware that you always inform the Foreigners'Office immediately about such a change because your student residence permit will still have to be updated. The residence for your former study programme will not be valid anymore once you have changed to another programme or university.

If you want to change your study programme or university after the third semester you will always need a permission from the Foreigners' Office before you get enrolled in another programme. Your chances of getting this permission will be higher if you can prove that exams from your former study programme can be recognized for the new programme so that you can get enrolled in a higher semester so that you can complete your studies in Germany without a long delay. For this you might need a letter from the International Office or examination office of your new study programme or university with a confirmation of the recognized subjects.

Please always keep in mind: As soon as you have enrolled in a new study programme your student residence permit will have to be changed right away.

-Information currently available in german only! We are working on it!-

Vor dem Auslandsaufenthalt

Vor einem Auslandsaufenthalt sollten Sie unbedingt die Gültigkeit Ihrer Aufenthaltserlaubnis überprüfen. Läuft die Aufenthaltserlaubnis für Deutschland während Ihres Auslandsaufenthaltes ab, können Sie diese nicht bei einer Deutschen Botschaft im Ausland verlängern lassen, sondern müssen ein ganz neues Visum beantragen, was sehr lange dauern kann und erhebliche Verzögerungen in Ihrem Studium verursachen kann.

Praxissemester/Abschlussarbeit

Ihre Aufenthaltserlaubnis für Deutschland erlischt automatisch, wenn Sie länger als 6 Monate im Ausland sind. Sollte Ihr Vorhaben länger als 6 Monate dauern, sollten Sie vor Ihrer Ausreise bei der Ausländerbehörde unbedingt eine "Rückkehrberechtigung mit Wiedereinreisefrist" beantragen. Diese Wiedereinreisegenehmigung ist aber nur im Zusammenhang mit einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis gültig. Ohne diese Wiedereinreisegenehmigung oder wenn Ihre Aufenthaltserlaubnis für Deutschland bereits während Ihres auslandsaufenthaltes abläuft, müssen Sie ein ganz neues Visum zur Wiedereinreise nach Deutschland und Fortführung Ihres Studiums beantragen, was sehr lange dauern kann und erhebliche Verzögerungen in Ihrem Studium verursachen kann.

Funding and Scholarships

Students from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland

Nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland have special status when it comes to the alien laws. They are entitled to the same and equal access to the job market as German nationals and do not require a work permit. During lecture periods, weekly working hours have to be less than 19 hours. During the non-lecture period (semester break), the maximum weekly working hours may be more than 19 hours.

Students from other Countries

Foreigners who are not from EU countries, the EEA or Switzerland may only take up employment if they have a permit from the Employment Office and the Foreigners' Office. This work permit has to be obtained every time before starting a job.

The Employment Office may only issue a work permit, when the foreigner is in possession of a residence permit that in addition to his rights as a foreign resident also allows him to take up a job. These collateral clauses are listed in the passport.

The provisions under the Right of Residence and the Right to Work are closely related to each other. Upon issuance of a work permit the legal provisions under a Residence Permit must always be observed.

Under the following conditions foreign students can also work without requiring a work permit:

• Part time work for 120 full/240 half days

When you work on a temporary basis that amounts to in total three months in a year, i.e., 120 full days or 240 half days, then no Work Permit is required. A half day comprises at most of four hours of work. This engagement is allowed even outside of semester holidays.

It is often entered in the passport that 120 days are free of any Work Permit. In this case it is permitted to divide the 120 full days into 240 half days.

• Engagement as academic or student assistants

For a job as an academic or student assistant in a University, a Work Permit is not required when predominantly auxiliary activities are to be performed. Nevertheless the Employment Authorities must be privy to it, as they decide on a case-by-case basis whether or not this engagement is an academic assistantship as understood under the stated provisions.

The Foreigners' Registration Office must approve this engagement as an academic or a student assistantship. As a rule, they require a study course certification from the International Students' Office of the university and also a confirmation that this engagement will not lead to a delay in the course of remaining studies. As a rule, engagements of upto an extent of 16 hours per week can be approved.

• Internships and degree thesis

For an obligatory internship (Pflichtpraktika), that is an essential part of examination regulations, no Work Permit is required. Such an internship is free of any work permit requirements even when emoluments are drawn, as they are an integral part of the study course. The regular 120 permit free working days within the rules, can then be claimed in addition to and absolutely independent of this engagement.

Voluntary internship (freiwilliges Praktika), that is not a fixed/integral part of the study course count as gainful employment (genehmigungspflichtige Erwerbstätigkeit) requiring a mandatory Work Permit. The first three months of this voluntary internship can be masked under the 120 full- or 240 half- permit free working days, when these days have not already been utilised for another engagement. For the remaining period a Work Permit must be applied for. Also gratuitous and already fulfilled voluntary internships are subjected to mandatory Work Permit requirements.

Maximum work period

During the lecture periods it is obligatory to observe that the weekly work period lies below 19 hours. However, during the period free of lectures, the maximum work period per week may be above 19 hours.

Searching for Internships and Student Jobs

Bundesagentur für Arbeit

Job-portal of FH Aachen

Job-board for student workers at RWTH Aachen

Job-board of AStA RWTH Aachen

Discaimer:

The information here is a service from the Department of International Affairs and should be seen as providing only initial guidance. It does not lay any claim to any kind of completeness. Even though it has been compiled with utmost care and consideration, no liability will be assumed for the accuracy of the content matter.

[Translate to Englisch:] Arbeitserlaubnis

[Translate to Englisch:] Wenn Sie bereits ein Stellenangebot einer Firma haben (passend zu Ihrem akademischen Abschluss), können Sie unmittelbar nach Ihrem Studienende bei der zuständigen Ausländerbehörde eine Arbeitserlaubnis für diese Stelle beantragen. Bitte beachten Sie, dass es (für nicht EU-Bürger) keine generelle Arbeitserlaubnis gibt, sondern eine Arbeitserlaubnis immer nur für einen bestimmten Arbeitgeber ausgestellt wird.

Residence permit for job search

In order to search for a job in Germany, there is a possibility to apply for a residence permit after completion of studies. Such a residence permit for job seeking purposes is possible for a maximum period of 18 months. Please note that you cannot proceed further with your education, once you are in possession of a residence permit for purposes of job seeking. In case you plan to study further or do your doctoral degree, then you should apply for a student's residence permit and not a job seeker's residence permit. If within this time you are not yet in a doctorate program, then in all probability you will be given a temporary residence permit until everything is sorted out.

To be presented at the Foreigners' Office (Ausländerbehörde).

As a rule, you need a study progress certificate, if you:

• exceed the standard period of study
• want to transfer to another university or change your degree programme, and if you are in your fourth, or a higher, semester.

In order to issue a study progress certificate for the extension of your residence permit, we need:

1. Certificate of study (such as a student ID card)
2. A questionnaire filled in by your faculty confirming your status of studies
   (Questionnaire Study Progress Certificate / Fragebogen Studienverlaufsbescheinigung Aachen)
   (Questionnaire Study Progress Certificate / Fragebogen Studienverlaufsbescheinigung Jülich)
3. Authorisation for the release of data to the Foreigners' Office  (authorization as word-file / authorization as pdf-file)

How to proceed:

1. Get a transcript of records (Statusbogen or Notenspiegel) from the examination office (Prüfungsamt).
2. Download the questionnaire and the declaration from the internet or pick up copies from the Department of International Affairs.
3. Fill in your personal details in the questionnaire.
4. Take the completed questionnaire and a recent transcript of records to the dean (Dekan).
5. Fill in the declaration.
6. Finally, send the questionnaire signed by the dean, proof of your student status and the authorization to the Dept. of International Affairs or hand it in personally.
7. On the basis of the information that the Dept. of International Affairs receives from you and the department, the study progress certification will be issued and sent to the Foreigners' Office by the Dept. of International Affairs. You may also collect the letter at the Dept. of International Affairs.

• Download all steps as pdf-file

Contact Person:

For students who live in the city or district of Aachen:

• Mrs Sabine Brinker

For students who live in the city or district of Düren or in Jülich:

• Mrs Stone

Students living in other cities/districts please get in touch with the contact person of the Dept. of International Affairs in your campus.

In Germany all students are obliged to have health insurance. Your health insurance provider at home can inform you, whether you will still be insured during your stay in Germany. Especially in European countries it is likely to be the case. Students from EU member states can prove with their blue European health insurance card that they are insured in their native country and that the insurance is valid in Germany. Please ask your insurance provider BEFORE(!) you travel to Germany, as that will simplify matters.

If your personal health insurance is not valid in Germany, you should get a travel health insurance which is valid for the first one or two weeks in Germany. This will give you enough time to get yourself enrolled and insured for the rest of your stay. You can either avail a public health insurance or a private health insurance. The insurance is however in force only from the first day of your enrollment here.

You can find more information about health insurances on the websites of the German Academic Exchange Service and Deutsches Studentenwerk.

With public health insurances you will pay the same charges everywhere. Even the spectrum of services offered by the insurance providers vary only slightly from one another.

With private health insurances you can choose between different tariffs. Even the spectrum of services offered will be different.

Information in various languages on the topic can also be found on the website 1a-krankenversicherung.de

Disclaimer:

The information here is a service from the Department of International Affairs and should be seen as providing only initial guidance. It does not lay any claim to any kind of completeness. Even though it has been compiled with utmost care and consideration, no liability will be assumed for the accuracy of the content matter.

Luggage Insurance/ Content Insurance

If you are bringing precious and expensive items along with you (e.g. a notebook), you should consider getting special content insurance.

liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung)

When you damage property at someone's place, you are held liable for the damage caused. In many circumstances, damages may be so high, that you may not be able to pay for it without falling into a financial crisis. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to have an insurance for such cases. Almost all insurance companies offer a "Privathaftpflichtversicherung" costing around 60 EUR per year.

Hausratversicherung

A "Hausratversicherung" is of assistance when objects in your apartment are either stolen or damaged. Damages caused by water, fire or burglary are typical of cases covered by this type of insurance. Almost all insurance houses offer a "Hausratversicherung" with the costs depending on the size of your apartment.

• Registrar's Office (Studierendensekretariat)
  All information regarding FH Aachen student registration is centrally managed at the Registrar's Office.

• Department of International Affairs (Akademisches Auslandsamt)
  The Department of International Affairs offers advice and support concerning all international matters. For this purpose, there are offices in Aachen as well as at Campus Jülich.

• International Faculty Office (IFO)
  There is an additional service offered by the IFO, but for international Business students only.

• Freshman Institute
  In case of any questions regarding German university entrance qualifications via the Freshman Institute, please get in touch with the contacts listed on their page.

• Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss (AStA, Students' Union Executive Committee)
  As elected representatives from the student body at the FH Aachen, the AStA will help in all matters pertaining to student life.

• Psychosoziale Beratung (PSB, Psychosocial Counselling)
  The PSB offers discreet, professional help in case of stress, exam anxiety, and personal problems

• Career Service
  The Career Service is a counselling centre offering advice on questions regarding job-seeking and career management for students and graduates, as well as a contact point for employers, domestically and abroad.

• INCAS
  INCAS stands for INterkulturelles Centrum Aachener Studierender (Intercultural Centre of Aachen Students). The objective is to improve the contact and cultural exchange between students of different nations by way of integration and intercultural communication, and to make their stay in Aachen easier by offering counselling and assistance.

Flyer: First steps in Aachen

FAQ

The nearest airports are Cologne and Düsseldorf. Overseas flights normally land in Frankfurt. You should then take a train (over Cologne) up to Düren and from there take the train to Jülich. You will find the train timetable here.

In Jülich you can travel further either by taxi or by public bus.

Student Halls of Residence (Studentenwohnheime):

• Solar Campus, Heinrich-Mußmann-Straße
• Wohnheim Jan-van-Werth-Straße

Further Information:

• Info-Brochure in English
• Studierendenwerk

Private Flats:

• Classified advertisements (Tuesdays und Saturdays) in the local newspapers "Jülicher Nachrichten" and "Jülicher Zeitung".
• Classified advertisements (Wednesdays und Sundays) in free weekly newspapers "Super Mittwoch" and "Super Sonntag".

You can get these newspapers e.g. at the Zeitungs Service Centre in

Buchhandlung Fischer, Kölnstraße 9, Jülich

Postings at the FH Aachen

Please keep an eye on the postings on the notice boards in the FH buildings, especially in the dining halls (Mensa) and the student body of the faculties.

Internet Sources

• EasyWG
• Young Germany (click on Düren)

• WG-gesucht
  

Temporary Accommodation

• Hotels and Guest Houses
• Jugendherberge Aachen (Youth Hostel)

Disclaimer:

The information here is a service from the Department of International Affairs and should be seen as providing only initial guidance. It does not lay any claim to any kind of completeness. Even though it has been compiled with utmost care and consideration, no liability will be assumed for the accuracy of the content matter.

FAQ