Important facts about the health insurance

• In Germany, every person must have health insurance - and so do you
• If you are under 30 years of age, you will profit from a reduced student rate of about 120-130 euros per month, which is offered by statutory health insurance providers (for example TK)
• You may be able to keep your home country’s health insurance if Germany has a social insuance agreement with your home country
• Get in contact with the insurance provider (best even before travelling to Germany) and they will help you arrange health insurance for your university enrolment

Creating your home away from home - Unlike in many other countries you won’t automatically be given an accommodation when you register at universities in Germany. The same applies to Heilbronn University which means you actively need to search on your own.

Some (hopefully) useful tipps

• Start looking early (ideally before you arrive in Germany
• It is possible to apply for a room in the dormitories of the Studierendenwerk in Heilbronn without a letter of admission
• Look for options a little outside the center
• Be flexible in your choice (type of accommodation, size, location)
• Look for so-called blackboards/notice boards at the university (once you arrived)
• Use social networks
• Place your own ad on the internet

Please apply for your visa in good time in advance, as this may take several months to issue

Do I need a visa?
Whether you need a visa for entering Germany depends on where you come from. Exceptions apply for EU countries and some other countries.You can check it our using the Visa-Navigator

Which visa do I need?
You need to apply for a German national visa for the purpose of studying (Type D)

Where do I get the visa?
The visa is issued by the German embassy responsible for you in your country of origin or the country of your so-called habitual residence: You can find your respective German diplomatic mission abroad (embassy, consulate) here. You will get all necessary information about the required documents and the whole application process from your German mission abroad

What are the steps?
At a Glance: Visa for Studying

Can the process of visa and relocation be simple? Yes!
Send us an email to receive your access code and create your personal account at VisaFlow

Semester Fees

• Every student has to pay a semester fee (administration, student services and student’s union) of currently EUR 188 € per semester. The fee has to be paid at the beginning of each semester
• Including those students doing a semesters abroad, an internship or a leave of absence
• If a student renounces their study place or exmatriculates within one month of the start of the lecture period, the administrative fee and the Student Office Contribution Fee Heidelberg can be refunded on application. Please send the request document by mail to Yvonne Rietzschel

Tuition Fees

• Newly enrolled International students who are not citizens of an EU/EEA member state and do not have a German university entrance qualification will have to pay tuition fees if they enroll in or transfer to a Bachelor's or Master's degree program
• Exemption from tuition fees is possible upon request, for example in the case of leave of absence ("Urlaubssemester") > The application must be sent to Melanie Dominke (ideally by the beginning of the lecture period of the respective semester)
• Tuition fees, which have already been paid, may be reimbursed or credited to the next semester, in particular if you removal from enrolment within one month of lecture period beginning or in case of a leave of absence. The application must be sent to Melanie Dominke

Scholarships

• There are various scholarships that provide financial support during your studies
• Support is provided by gifted scholarships and private foundations
• The awarding of scholarships is based on the criteria of the church, political party, trade union or state institutions

International Career Service

• Support for international students who want to apply for jobs in Germany
• Guidance on navigating the German job market and assist throughout all the stages of the application process
• Application support for internships, student jobs or positions after graduation

BAföG Consuötation / Studierendenwerk Heidelberg

• The abbreviation stands for "Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz" which is the German Federal Training Assistance Act for students
• The act regulates how the government funds students' training and studies in Germany
• Under certain conditions, students are entitled to BAföG from the month in which lectures begin

As an international student, you are warmly invited to join the Orientation Days at Heilbronn University. The Orientation Days usually include a (digital) campus tour, movie nights and boardgames. Moreover, you'll have the chance to experience equal opportunities and diversity at HHN, gain useful tips for a successful start to your studies from the Central Student Advisory Service or learn how to finance your studies. Last but not least, you’ll meet new students who are at the same stage in life as you. So, let's connect!

Furthermore, during the first days of the lecture week, some study programmes will organise an information and orientation event where you can learn more about your courses (e.g. which courses to take, course/exam registration, etc.). You will receive details about this event from your programme coordinator. Another good option for your individual questions as an international student would be to make an individual appointment with your programme coordinator. The relevant contact details can be found on the website of your study programme or here.

Explore Heilbronn University's four locations virtually in a 360°- tour before you arrive.

The most important bureaucratic step after entering the country is to register with the Residents' Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt). Usually within 2 weeks. You need this in order to open a bank account, for example. This is sometimes also called the Bürgerbüro or Bürgeramt. After registering, you will receive a written registration confirmation. Be sure to keep this document because you will need it to obtain a residence permit from the foreigners’ registration office.

The following documents are usually required

• Passport with visa
• Confirmation from your landlord stating when and where you moved in (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). You can usually find the form and the address of the relevant registration office on the website of your respective city
• If necessary: Marriage/divorce certificate and/or birth certificates of children as originals and an officially verified translation
• Usually, appointments are made online. Each district has its own residents' registration office.  You can contact us and ask for help.

For students registering in Heilbronn

• Students who move to Heilbronn to study and register their first place of residence here get a beautiful welcome package. This will include a voucher from Heilbronn Marketing GmbH as well as ten free tickets for the indoor or outdoor swimming pool. There is also the opportunity to win one of 25 bicycles in Heilbronn's city colors in a prize draw. A participation card is enclosed with the welcome package. The package can be applied for when registering your place of residence at any citizens' office.

• For all international and non-EU students who are staying in Germany for more than a few weeks, it is advisable to open a so-called current-account (Girokonto), because you can
  • transfer your semester contribution to the university electronically after enrolment
  • pay your monthly rent
  • receive your salary from a part-time job
  • withdraw money from cash machines free of charge
    
    
• When choosing a German bank, make sure that it is a national or direct bank (more flexibility)
  
  
• To open an account, you are usually asked to present the following documents
  • Passport
  • Student ID or certificate of enrolment or notification of admission from your university
  • Confirmation of registration from the Resident Registration Office
  • Sometimes Tax Identification Number is required
    
    

• Take the documents with you to a bank branch of your choice (you can ask us if you're unsure) and ask to open a current account

D-Ticket YouthBW

• 45€ per month
• Among others: Students up to the age of 27 who live, attend school or university in Baden-Württemberg
• From age 21 onwards, proof of education is required
• Valid in local public transport throughout Germany (2nd class)
• As a subscription, minimum term of 12 months, thereafter can be cancelled monthly up to the 15th of the preceding month
• Digital as a chip card
• For you personally (non-transferable)

Germany Ticket (D-Ticket)

• 63€ per month
• Among other: Students with and above the age of 27
• Valid in local public transport throughout Germany (2nd class) for 1 calendar month with automatic renewal
• Can be cancelled monthly up to the 10th of the preceding month
• Digitally as a mobile ticket or chip card
• For you personally (non-transferable)

If you have any questions about the university's IT services, please contact the IT department ("Rechenzentrum") via ticket@hs-heilbronn.de.

Student ID at the TechCampus, Campus Schwäbisch Hall and Campus Künzelsau

• New students receive their student ID from the Regsitration Office via post
• Students from Campus Schwäbisch Hall and Künzelsau can also print theirs on-site
• Anyone who needs a new Student ID card must contact the Registration Office
  > The card will be printed there, and you will be notified when it is ready for pickup

Campus Card at the Bildungscampus

• All students enrolled at HHN can apply for the CampusCard
• To apply for a CampusCard, you have to ...
  1. ... give us your consent in the student portal "ispro" to transfer your data to Schwarz Campus Services GmbH & Co. KG (short SCS) as the issuer of the CampusCard > To hhn.hispro.de
  2. ... register on the ‘bildungscampus.life’ portal > To the portal bildungscampus.life

• Once you have registered, you will receive your CampusCard by post from the Registration Office in about a week

• The card must be validated before it can be used for the first time. You can find the location of the validation machines on the map of the Bildungscampus under Services

• Contact person for the CampusCard: Claudia Schmidt
  
  

The language courses are offered as part of the "Studium Generale" programme. The Studium Generale is a general education programme offered by Heilbronn University for students and colleagues.

• For Late-Arrivals: There will be online courses for each level in the beginning that you can/should join
• International students who wish to take part in a German course and already have some knowledge of German must take the placement test
• According to the test results, students will be assigned to one of the six level groups. The students will be informed promptly
• Information for complete beginners of German: Students who have no knowledge of German at all do not have to take the placement test.  Please contact Stefan Weitzenegger, the coordination of the language department. You will be placed directly in the A1.1 German courses and will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to join your German class
• Attendance in all German courses is compulsory
• If you are unable to attend the test, please contact Stefan Weitzenegger

If you want to stay longer than your visa is valid, you have to apply for a resident permit at
the Immigration Office > do so in good time (3-4 months) before your visa expires.
The following documents are generally necessary for your application for the residence
permit or every extension of it:

• Application for a residence permit or application for the issuance/extension of a
  residence permit (Antrag auf Erteilung einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis oder Antrag auf
  Erteilung / Verlängerung eines Aufenthaltstitels)
• Valid passport (Pass)
• Digital photograph (digitales Passbild)
• Health insurance certificate (Krankenversicherungsnachweis)
• Proof of finance (Finanzierungsnachweis)
• Printed certificate of study preparation (Bescheinigung für Studienvorbereitung) or
  certificate of enrollment (Immatrikulationsbescheiniung)
• Fee (Gebühr)

Further documents might be required depending on your individual situation. You will find all the information
on the homepage of the respective Immigration Office.

We also offer monthly Online Video Consultation (for your individual concerns) with the Immigration Office Heilbronn / Ausländerbehörde Heilbronn for personal questions as well as a semesterly Online Information Session (for general informattion) with the Immigration Office Heilbronn / Ausländerbehörde Heilbronn.

If you move out of a flat and do not move into a new flat in Germany, you must deregister with the responsible authority.
Deregistration is also necessary if you move to another flat within Germany and is possible one week before moving out at the earliest.