Buddy- Guide for International Students

Transcription

1 Buddy- Guide for International Students

2 1 (RIA) Department of International Affairs (DIA) Studierendenrat der Otto- von- Guericke- Universität Magdeburg Postfach Magdeburg Building 26, 1st Floor Tel.: (0) international@stura- md.de Buddy- Programme: buddy@stura- md.de Web: md.de Facebook: The Buddy Programme is in close cooperation with the Mentoring Programme STARTE@OVGU of the University of Magdeburg. Edition is dated 25th of September 2013

3 Table of Content Introductory Words Step 1: Accommodation Step 2: Health Insurance Step 3: Citizen Office Step 4: Bank Account Step 5: Enrolment Step 6: Office of Foreign Affairs Step 7: Studies Further Information Important Advice Checklist Page

4 Introductory Words Dear International Students, 3 A warm welcome to all of you! We, the Department for International Affairs (, RIA) of the Otto- von- Guericke- University Magdeburg, compiled this guideline to help you manage all the things that must be done, and cope with all the obstacles you may face when arriving in Magdeburg and commencing your studies. Please do move along the given steps explained here, as these are arranged in order. Accomplishing one task of a step is often required to get to the next step, i.e. a document received in one step is needed for the following one. (The German terms for each matter are in brackets, so that you are aware of the meaning when stumbling over one of them.) Your buddy knows about these steps, is used to German bureaucracy, most documents and offices, and knows the important websites and computer systems as well as the town and university area, of course. If you have any questions, or if you are not sure where to go, how to get there, what to bring with you, and what else has to be done, do not hesitate to ask your buddy. We hope to help you as much as possible and resolve a few possible problems before you as an international student have to deal with them. Enjoy your time at OvGU! We are looking forward to meeting you, Your RIA- members and buddies

5 4 Step 1: Accomodation A permanent residence is required urgently for your registration to stay here. You need a tenancy agreement, a contract for renting a flat or room. Please be aware that most of the students in Germany usually share a flat with each other but have their own private room in the flat. Living on your own is more costly. Also note that you have to terminate your tenancy agreement some time in advance (usually one up to three months). Check your contract carefully before signing it. The following websites are useful to find accommodation: magdeburg.de à application forms can be filled in online contacts: Hr. Bock und Fr. Koitsch (insist on making an appointment and office hours) o Isolde Koitsch: isolde.koitsch@studentenwerk- magdeburg.de o Siegfried Bock: siegfried.bock@studentenwerk- magdeburg.de If you choose to live in the university halls of residence (called Studentenwerk ), note that the first rent has to be paid to a bank account that is different from the one to which you have to transfer the room deposit (that is, the bank accounts for your rent and for the room deposit differ). wohnen.net gesucht.de LorenzQuartier: Assistance is also offered through two students of the International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt): wohnung.akaa@googl .com, Leander: 0174 / , Markus: 0179 / Step 2: Health Insurance (Krankenversicherung) Only for students who are NON- EU citizens. No enrolment without health insurance!

6 5 The benefits of the various insurance companies are pretty much equal. The obligatory health insurance in Germany costs about 80 EUR per month. Attention: Changing the insurance company during your studies is not possible! For your health insurance, the following documents are needed: - Passport - Letter of Confirmation from Otto- von- Guericke- University of Magdeburg - Bank account details (can be handed in later) More information about the legal health insurance for students can be found here: krankenversicherung.net/gesetzliche- krankenversicherung/gesetzliche- krankenversicherung- fuer- studenten.html è EU citizens and citizens of the EWR- countries only need their European health insurance card or the health insurance voucher E 111 or E 128. You should apply for these in your home country. We recommend choosing the health insurance company AOK or Techniker Krankenkasse. The monthly contributions differ only slightly. International students older than 30 years cannot have a legal health insurance, but must register at a private health insurance company (e.g. careconzept ). Here you find information about the German Health System and its conditions in several languages: Step 3: Citizen Office (Bürgerbüro ) There are the citizen offices East, Middle, West (depending on the part of the city) and the mobile citizen office. Non- EU citizens should go to the citizen office Bürgerbüro Mitte, located in Breiter Weg. For your application (receiving your registration form) in the citizen office, you need the following documents, which you have to show the Citizen Office during your first week in Germany: - Tenancy agreement - Passport/ Identity Card - a biometric (passport) photo - Certificate of Enrolment + Student ID - proof of your financing (e.g. blocked account, commitment on official form)

7 In case you have not been enrolled yet: 6 - Letter of Confirmation from Otto- von- Guericke- University of Magdeburg and written proof of your health insurance à EU citizen have to apply for the so- called Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung in addition. This will be sent to you by post. Opening hours (citizen offices): Monday: 8 am 3 pm Tuesday: 9 am 6 pm Wednesday: noon (12) 3 pm Every first Wednesday of the month the citizen offices are closed! Thursday: 9 am 6 pm Friday: 8 am noon (12) Saturday: 8 am noon (12) only citizen office Bürgerbüro Mitte Important: To avoid unnecessary waiting time, you should make appointments in advance online under At the beginning of the semester, the mobile citizen office will be available for about 2 weeks at the Campus Service Center (the black building opposite the tram stop Universität / University, next to Campus Tower). Step 4: Bank Account (Konto) To transfer your rent and to cover other payments and expenses, you need a German bank account. The following documents are necessary: - Letter of Confirmation from Otto- von- Guericke- University of Magdeburg - Registration form from the citizen office - Passport Big banks like Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Sparkasse or Postbank offer bank accounts free of charge for students! Step 5: Enrolment (Immatrikulation) All long- term students (those who study for a degree here/ will do their entire studies here) have to register at Frau Lapp (Office hours: Tue/Thu 10 am - noon (12) and 1 pm - 4 pm; [email protected]) building 6, room 08. All the other international students, who won t get a degree at the Otto- von- Guericke- University of Magdeburg (Erasmus, students in programs of partner universities) will be enrolled by Frau Behnert, building 18, room 149 (anne- [email protected]). You need: - Identity Card/ Passport

8 7 - Letter of Confirmation from Otto- von- Guericke- University of Magdeburg - written proof of your health insurance or a copy of your EU health insurance card - proof of payment of the semester contribution. This can be done at: Fr. Brandes, Barkasse (Cash): building 6, room 22 Office hours: Mon- Thu 10-11:30 am & 1-2 pm; Fr 10-11:30 am - a passport photo - originals of your certificates and references (of your high school diploma, BA, MA, list of your marks à only if you strive for a degree at University of Magdeburg) - Confirmation of Exmatrikulation from German universities è The enrolment for the course human medicine takes place in the study office (Studiendekanat) at the faculty of medicine. After your enrolment, you will receive your student card. Your buddy will be happy to explain and show to you how to validate/ activate your card for usage. Step 6: Office of Foreign Affairs (Ausländerbehörde) Every non- EU citizen (exclusive citizen of the EWR and Switzerland) has to show the following documents to get a residence permit, the permission to be here. - Passport with valid visa - Application for permission to work - a biometric passport photo - Certificate of enrolment - proof of your health insurance (original and copy) - proof that you have opened a blocked account before covering EUR; for DAAD scholarship students the proof of the scholarship is sufficient and at best proof of your capability to pay for your living (at least about 670 EUR/ month at the moment) as well as for your health insurance (normally the proof of the blocked account or DAAD scholarship is sufficient) - Registration form from the citizen office - Tenancy agreement (original and copy) - Cash (at least 110 ) - only for doctoral candidates: work contract as a scientific assistant at the university or a scientific research institute. Important: To avoid unnecessary waiting time, appointments should be made in advance online under Terminkalender Ausländerbehörde Ausländerrecht.

9 8 è The Office of foreign affairs in Magdeburg is located in Breiter Weg and can be reached via the tram lines 2, 5, 9 and 10. Get off at the station Domplatz. Bürgerservice, Ausländerbehörde Opening hours: Breiter Weg 222 Monday: 8 am noon (12) Magdeburg Tuesday: 9 am noon (12), 2 pm 5.30 pm Telefon: +49 (391) (Information) Wednesday: closed Fax: +49 (391) Thursday: 9 am noon (12) [email protected] Friday: 8 am noon (12) Step 7: Studies 1. Registration at the examination office (Prüfungsamt) During the first week of the semester, you must register at the examination office (faculties FEIT, FVST und FWW). You should check HisQis our study portal regularly so that you would not miss any registration to exams. 2. Registration in Rechenzentrum (URZ) Every student automatically receives a computer account and an e- mail address with their enrolment. This account has to be activated by entering your password and accepting the rules or terms of use at an IT service terminal in Fehler! Hyperlink- Referenz ungültig., building This OvGU account also serves for registration for the study portal HISQIS, for courses in the language center Sprachenzentrum (SPRZ) and sports center (SPOZ). HISQIS: magdeburg.de/qisserver/rds?state=user&type=0 SPRZ: SPOZ: 3. Timetable (LSF portal) see Click on Veranstaltungen, then Studiengangpläne on the left side. Scroll to your study course (listed alphabetically) and pick the semester you are in for an overview of courses and modules; and find where these take place, lecturers and a course description (how to enroll, etc), too. Further Information Pay attention to deadlines/limited time to register for language courses and sports courses! Although the courses are crowded frequently, it makes sense to go there anyway and see if there are any free places available. The registration via Moodle (our portal to register for courses) is urgently necessary. Taking part in a course is not possible without this registration. Your buddy will be happy to help you register and get along with the system. Links to registration: (Sprachenzentrum language courses) (Sportzentrum sports courses)

10 9 In case you get ill during your stay in Magdeburg, the following link might help you to find doctors who speak other languages than German. Unfortunately, this web page only exists in German. Please click on Fremdsprache in order to select another language. From 1st to 18th of October the Integrative Begrüssungswoche (Integrative Welcome Week) will take part at University of Magdeburg. Several welcoming acts about your student life and about your course of study should facilitate your start here in Magdeburg. For further details: magdeburg.de/unimagdeburg_media/international/infomaterial/willkommenswoche+progr amm/willkommenswoche+2013_14.pdf?rewrite_engine=id%3fvisitenkarte_id%3d Important advice Expenses after your arrival in Germany When arriving in Germany some expenses are pending several costs must be paid within the first weeks (listed in the table). You should consider that you cannot access your blocked account directly at the beginning, but must open a regular German bank account first. This may take a few days; and you should be well prepared for this time! We therefore insistently advise you to have sufficient money (=cash!) with you. Expenses Journey to and arrival in Magdeburg Hotel/Hostel during the first days your room or flat in Magdeburg Enrolment Local traffic (bus/ train/ tram) Office for Foreign Affairs Other expenditures Approximate costs about Euro (depending on the place of departure) Euro Deposit: about Euro First rent: about Euro about 70 Euro about 15 Euro about 110 Euro Food, clothing, personal things, etc. TOTAL: about 995 Euro Clothing In addition, we would like to emphasize to take warm clothes to Germany. It gets quite cold in the winter.

11 Checklist Accomodation Health Insurance Citizen Office Bank Account Enrolment Office for Foreign Affairs Information to Studies 10 Notes