Video: virtual tour through the authorities in Freiburg
You’ve been admitted to one of Freiburg’s universities! But what now?! Here we have a check list for you with the first steps after the arrival in Freiburg.
Important for all students with passports from countries other than EU member countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland: You are required to obtain a residence permit for Germany.
If your visa or residence permission cannot cover the period of your study in Germany, please contact the local foreigners authority to make an appointment for the application for a residence permit. Generally, the application process will take around 4-6 weeks.
Train connections to and from Freiburg can be found at www.bahn.de
If you are arriving at Euroairport, you can take the Freiburger Airportbus to get to Freiburg.
Students participating in exchange programs can usually get a room through the universities at one of the dormitories.
All those who are not in an exchange program or coming to Freiburg as a free-mover, have to find an accommodation by themselves.
In contrast to many other countries, students in Germany are not provided a room automatically upon admission to a university.
Even if you’re not coming to Freiburg as an exchange student, you can apply for a room in one of the SWFR dormitories.
Living in a dormitory provides a lot of opportunities and can be beneficial in finding new friends. However, living in a dormitory also has unique characteristics and one has to follow certain rules. Usually the apartments or floors are shared by male and female students who also share a kitchen and sanitary fittings. They have individual rooms though. The residents are collectively responsible for the cleanliness of the shared areas. This means that all students, regardless of their gender, are required to clean. Of course, residents are also required to clean their own rooms by themselves.
The Studierendenwerk has initiated an international dormitory tutor program. The tutors are tasked with aiding the international students in particular and will help them with questions regarding the everyday life. Furthermore, they’re offering a cultural and leisure time program for all residents in the dormitory.
There are several options for searching for private accommodation in Freiburg. These options include for example small apartments, as well as shared apartments or rooms within the landlord’s apartment with shared bathroom and kitchen spaces. The shared apartments (WGs) are often mixed, meaning that men and women live in one apartment and the works in the household have to be done mutually.
The SWFR provide a free housing market with different kinds of accommodations.
German Registration Law requires all people living in Germany, temporarily or permanently, to register their accommodation at the Citizen Registration Office (Bürgeramt).
You have to make an appointment online for the accommodation registration ("register apartment").
The following documents are required for the registration:
Please keep the registration confirmation ("Anmeldebestätigung") with all your other important documents, as you may need it for many other issues.
Find more information about the registration in the city here on the website [only available in German]: https://www.freiburg.de/pb/-/205332/vbid3818
If you’re planning on staying longer than a couple of weeks in Germany, you should open a bank account here. They are usually free of charge for students. With a German bank account, you can for example:
If you take a part-time job in Germany, you will need a current account to receive your pay.
To open an account, you are normally asked to present the following documents:
Find more information about bank account in Germany here: https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/plan-your-stay/money-and-costs/money-and-bank-accounts_27017.php
All students in Germany are required to take out health insurance. We recommend statutory health insurance which grants students a discounted rate until they reach 30 years of age.
The statutory health insurance covers visits to general practitioners and physicians as well as prescribed medication. Some services or medications may require a small additional contribution. Please note: This insurance does not cover the costs of cosmetic dentistry.
For the matriculation o the university, students have to acquire a health insurance or a confirmation of exemption from compulsory insurance (e.g. for students with EHIC - "European Health Insurance Card").
Find more information about the health insurance and the exemption >here<.
Students with passports from countries other than EU member countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are required to apply for a residence permit for Germany.
Probably you already have a student visa for Germany. Or you may not even need a visa to enter Germany. But as long as your visa or residence permission cannot cover the period of your study in Germany, you are obligated to apply for a recidence permit ("Aufenthaltstitel"). You can make the application at the Foreigners Authority which is responsible for your place of residence.
Generally, the application process will take around 4-6 weeks.
You have to make an appointment before visiting the Foreigners Authority to submit the application.
The following documents will have to be presented:
Students who are sponsored by a German foundation are exempt from paying these fees.
The process of enrollment takes place at the office of student affairs of the respective university.
The following documents are usually required:
Please note: Since the winter term 2017/18, students from non-EU member countries have to pay €1500 tuition fees to the university in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. The universities will be glad to answer any questions regarding the tuition fees.
