Your way to Ostfalia

International students require a visa as authorisation to enter Germany. It is usually valid for 3 months. After the visa expires, you can apply for a residence permit (residence permit in accordance with § 16b of the Residence Act - AufenthG) at the relevant immigration authority at your place of residence in Germany. The purpose of residence for studying also includes preparatory study measures (preparatory language courses, attendance at a Studienkolleg or comparable institution), as well as doctoral studies (PhD).

You can also apply for a visa to look for a training place or to apply for a degree programme. Information on the requirements can be obtained from the German embassy in your country of origin.

Under no circumstances should you enter Germany with a Schengen visa, as this cannot be converted into a national visa/student visa and it can not be extended! After the Schengen visa expires, you must leave Germany!

Citizens of certain countries can initially enter Germany visa-free for short stays (less than 3 months) as long as no gainful employment is intended.

• Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand and USA
• Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino
   

Citizens of EU and EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland do not require a residence permit (visa or residence authorisation) to study in Germany.

Current entry requirements and application forms can be found on the homepage of the Federal Foreign Office (external link, opens in a new window).

Financial requirements

According to German law, non-EU citizens must provide proof of financial resources in the amount of the currently applicable BAföG maximum rate (external link, opens in a new window) for the number of months they plan to spend in Germany.
Please enquire at the German embassy in your home country about the form in which you can provide this proof. The proof must also be presented during your studies each time your residence permit is extended.

Ostfalia University does not maintain any accommodation itself and can therefore not allocate rooms to international students.

However, there are student halls of residence at the Ostfalia campuses in Wolfenbüttel, Wolfsburg and Suderburg, which are managed by the Studierendenwerk Ostniedersachsen.

Information on the respective halls of residence, their facilities and costs can be found on the website of the Studierendenwerk Ostniedersachsen (external link, opens in a new window). First select your place of study (Wolfenbüttel, Wolfsburg or Suderburg).

You can apply for a room in a hall of residence using the application form (external link, opens in a new window).

Please note:

1) You can only edit the application form after you have confirmed that you have read the instructions (tick the box and click on "Send").

2) You can enter a maximum monthly rent in the application. However, if you choose an unrealistically low amount here, you will not be offered a room.

3) You can choose different room options in the application. From single apartment to shared flat. Do not choose just one option, otherwise you may not receive an offer if this option is not available.

4) If your application matches one of the available rooms, StwON will send you a room offer. You then only have 2 days to accept it and return the signed documents. After that, the offer expires for you. So please check your emails regularly after sending your application.

 

The Centre of Modern Languages at Ostfalia offers foreign students a wide range of qualifying German language courses.

You can also take a DSH preparation course with the DSH exam.
Information on the German language programme can be found here (external link, opens in a new window).

In the  language tandem (external link, opens in a new window), you can not only practise your language skills, but also get to know your fellow students in an informal environment and make new friends.

In addition to German as a foreign language, our Centre of Modern Languages offers a wide range of other languages in its courses. You can find an overview here (external link, opens in a new window).

As an international student at Ostfalia, you are often initially overwhelmed by the new study and living situation.

The staff at Ostfalia are there to help and advise you. But sometimes it takes more.
Finding friends among your fellow students can help you cope with the first few exciting and stressful weeks and get you to have a good start.

In addition to the student councils (external link, opens in a new window) of the individual faculties, the student representatives of the AStA (external link, opens in a new window) can be a first point of contact.

The integration project FYI - For your Integration (external link, opens in a new window) also offers great opportunities to get in touch with other international and German students with a buddy programme, lecture series and workshops.

The cost of living is the monthly sum of neccessary expenses meeting basic needs such as housing, food and living. Even with a frugal lifestyle, there are items that are equally important for everyone. In certain areas, of course, there is a kind of "special rate" for students - for example, the German Studierendenwerke are very active when it comes to housing and food. A room in a student hall of residence and lunch in the canteen are a good tip for anyone who needs to save money.

Here are the monthly costs for your studies in Germany:

• 420 EUR: Rent (with utilities)
  There are various rooms of different sizes and numbers of flatmates in the student residences of the Studierendenwerk Ostniedersachsen. Some cheaper, some more expensive. Of course, you can also look for a room in a shared flat independently.
• 73.84 EUR: Semester fee 443€/6 (this already includes the public transport with the Germany semester ticket)
• 120 EUR: Health insurance
• 198 EUR: Food
  Students spend 198 euros a month on food. That's about 46 euros a week and 6-7 euros a day.
• 10 EUR: Learning materials (specialised literature and stationery)
  Despite digitalisation, you still need books, paper and pens. However, the amount of these expenses varies from study subject to study subject.
• 31 EUR: Telephone, internet, radio and television licence fees
  Even if the computer room is available at the university, it is almost impossible to save on these costs. Telephone, internet and radio and television licence fees currently amount to just under EUR 19 per month.
• 46 EUR: Clothing
  A new pair of jeans, T-shirts and underwear. German students spend around 46 euros a month on clothing.

• 65 EUR: Leisure/culture/sport
  The sports programme offered by Ostfalia University Sports offers you a very good opportunity to save money.

  You will therefore need at least €964.00 per month for your studies

This does not include extras such as holidays, electrical appliances and consumables.

Whether for a compulsory internship as part of your degree programme or for self-financing during your studies, finding an internship or part-time position can present you with major challenges.

Our Career Service (external link, opens in a new window) will be happy to help you and advise you from the job search (external link, opens in a new window) to putting together your application documentsand onward to the interview.

Residence, labour and tax law basics 
for your internship or part-time job

International students who do not come from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland may work 140 full or 280 half days per year or 20 hours per week (! unless an explicit employment ban is stated in their residence permit). They do not need the approval of the immigration authority for this. If you want to work more than 140 full or 280 half days or 20 hours per week per year, you need the approval of the Foreigners' Registration Office.

Employment at the university as a student assistant or research assistant does not fall under this regulation and can be carried out for longer or even alongside other employment outside the university. The prerequisite for this is that the student's academic success is not jeopardised as a result.

The Studierendenwerk has produced a very informative flyer (external link, opens in a new window) on this subject.

Mini job
In a mini-job with an earnings limit (556 euro limit), students do not pay any contributions to health and unemployment insurance and therefore also no contributions to long-term care insurance.

As a student, you are subject to pension insurance contributions if you have a mini-job with an earnings limit. The compulsory pension insurance contributions for mini-jobs with an earnings limit are 18.6 per cent of your gross salary.

However, you can apply to your employer to be exempted from compulsory pension insurance and will then not have to pay your own contribution. But be careful: If you do not pay your own contribution, you will not be fully entitled to statutory pension insurance benefits.

Jobs above the earnings limit of €556
If you exceed this limit, your job will be taxable and you may have to pay social security contributions. In addition, you can then no longer be covered by family insurance.

 

 

 

 

It can always happen during your studies that you get stuck and need help.
There are numerous offers of help for different aspects and phases of your student life.

Offers of help for difficult personal situations
Psychosocial counselling centre (external link, opens in a new window) of the Studierendenwerk Ostniedersachsen.

 

Offers of help with challenges in learning and study organisation
Ostfalia learning coaches (external link, opens in a new window)

 

Offers of help with residence law issues
FYI team (external link, opens in a new window) and the Ostfalia International Student Office (external link, opens in a new window)

 

Offers of help with regard to financing your studies
Ostfalia scholarships (external link, opens in a new window)