GUIDE FOR WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN RESEARCHERS Words of Welcome by the Mayor 6 Words of Welcome by the President 7 EURAXESS – Researchers in Motion 8 Welcome Centre 9

CONTENTS 1 Welcome to the University of Göttingen 1.1 The University of Göttingen 11 1.2 A Place where Free Spirits can Flourish 12 1.3 The 20th Century and Today 12 1.4 Looking into the Future 13 WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY 1.5 The University of Göttingen – A Global Player 13 OF GÖTTINGEN 1.6 Göttingen Campus 15

2 Welcome to Göttingen 2.1 A Town in the Heart of Europe 21 2.2 A Vibrant University Town with International Flair 22 2.3 Göttingen – City of Culture 23 2.4 Living your Religion 26 WELCOME TO GÖTTINGEN 2.5 Surroundings 27

3 Facilities and Institutions at the University 3.1 Language Courses 29 3.2 Libraries 30 3.3 Refectories and Cafeterias 31 3.4 Computer and Network Access 34 FACILITIES AND INSTITUTIONS 3.5 University Sport: “Keep Moving” 34 AT THE UNIVERSITY 3.6 International Communities 35

4 A Road Map for Your Research Visit 4.1 Checklist 37 A ROAD MAP FOR YOUR RESEARCH VISIT 4.2 Important Documents 38 5 Entry and Residence in Germany 9.4 Tax Return 85 5.1 Visa and Entry 41 TAXATION IN GERMANY 9.5 Church Tax and Solidarity Surcharge 87 5.2 Registering at the Residents’ Registration Office 45 ENTRY AND RESIDENCE 5.3 Extending a Visa in Applying for a Residence Permit 46 10 Research Visit with a Family IN GERMANY 5.4 Employment Law Regulations 48 10.1 Entry Regulations for Family Members 89 6 Work and Research at the University 10.2 Childcare 89 10.3 Schools 92 6.1 Employment Contract or Appointment 51 10.4 Benefits for Families 94 6.2 Visiting Fellowships 54 RESEARCH VISIT WITH A FAMILY 10.5  Employment Opportunities for Partners 97 WORK AND RESEARCH 6.3 Intellectual Property 55 10.6 Dual Career Service 98 AT THE UNIVERSITY 6.4 Researchers with Special Needs 56 11 Living in Germany 7 Accommodation in Germany 11.1 Doctors and Health 101 7.1 The Housing Market in Göttingen 59 11.2 Emergency Telephone Numbers 106 7.2 Searching for Accommodation 59 ACCOMMODATION IN GERMANY 11.3 Banks and Sparkassen 108 8 Social Security in Germany 11.4 Public Library 111 11.5 Public Transport 112 8.1 A Brief Introduction 67 11.6 Your own Vehicle and Driving Licence 114 8.2 Health Insurance 68 11.7  Radio, Television, Telephone, and Internet 119 LIVING IN GERMANY 8.3 Pension Scheme 76 11.8 Religion 121 8.4 Unemployment Insurance 78 11.9 Public Holidays 123 SOCIAL SECURITY IN GERMANY 8.5 Accident Insurance 79 11.10 Good to Know – A to Z of Useful Information 124 8.6 Nursing Care Insurance 80 11.11  Small Language Guide for Germany 140 8.7 Other Branches of Insurance 81 12 Before leaving Germany 9 Taxation in Germany 12.1 Checklist 147 BEFORE LEAVING GERMANY 9.1 Research Visit Based on a Fellowship 83 TAXATION IN GERMANY 9.2 Research Visit Based on an Employment Contract 84 Index 149 9.3 Double Taxation Agreements 85 Photo Credits 154 Imprint 154 WELCOME TO GÖTTINGEN! WELCOME TO THE GÖTTINGEN CAMPUS

Dear international researchers, essential services. In Göttingen, not only It’s a great pleasure to welcome you at We hope that you will have a pleasant do you get access to world class education our University and invite you to discover stay in Göttingen both in terms of your On behalf of the entire city, it is my and research opportunities, you also get the unique academic environment of the academic and your personal life. We are pleasure to welcome you to Göttingen – to enjoy the lively cultural and social life Göttingen Campus and the city. confident that Göttingen will soon become the City of Science! that the city has to offer. Our day care From the very beginning, the University of your second home. Göttingen enjoys an excellent reputation and school facilities have an outstanding Göttingen was committed to the academic Enjoy the comfort and safety of a small as a city dedicated to science and research. reputation. So do our medical care and freedom and creativity in research and town which nonetheless has a lot to Thanks to its leading research facilities and sport infrastructure. teaching. Established in the age of offer. Get inspired walking down the unique academic environment, Göttingen As Mayor of the city, I hope you will soon Enlightment, the University of Göttingen streets, where over 40 Nobel laureates attracts some of the world’s leading feel at home here. I also hope you will was one of Europe’s first universities to lived, studied and pursued their research. academics and experts. take advantage of the opportunities abandon the supremacy of theology, Don’t miss the theatre plays, the music We are glad you chose to come to Göttingen offers and invite you to discover achieve equality of all faculties and concerts and all other performances that Göttingen to conduct your research at the the historically rich city of Göttingen and establish the freedom from censorship. The are regularly offered in Göttingen. Situated distinguished Georg-August-Universität the magnificent region of southern Lower inscription of the founding medal of the right at the heart of Germany and Europe, Göttingen, often also called Georgia Saxony, famous for its wonderfully diverse University says: In Publica Commoda - For Göttingen is the perfect starting point to Augusta. landscape and friendly, open-minded the Good of All. This is our mission until explore German and European culture. Founded in 1737, the University of people. today. This handbook has been prepared to Göttingen has shaped the town’s character I wish you all a very pleasant and successful The University´s modern profile remains answer the questions you might have. We ever since. The University, its students, stay in Göttingen! rooted in its rich tradition with a strong hope it helps you adjusting to your new scientists and staff are the heart of the city. emphasis on research-oriented teaching life. If you have any questions, we are more Kind regards We highly value the cosmopolitan flair and excellence. The University of Göttingen than happy to help you! international guests bring to the city. is one of the top research universities in Göttingen has never been more diverse Germany. than at the present time: people from We highly value your decision to come to more than 160 different countries live here. Göttingen. The academic world constantly Our city is just as diverse, when it comes Rolf-Georg Köhler needs new talents, new ideas and Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Ulrike Beisiegel to its various social amenities and other Mayor of Göttingen international intellectual exchange. President, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

6 7 EURAXESS – RESEARCHERS IN MOTION WELCOME CENTRE

What is EURAXESS Germany? outgoing, returning), dealing with entry, EURAXESS Germany The Welcome Centre is the central service • Information on language courses WELCOME CENTRE working, social security, taxation, and facility for internationally mobile researchers • Companion service to visit local authorities EURAXESS - Researchers in Motion is a • Initial information for researchers on the Von-Siebold-Straße 2, 37075 Göttingen practical issues, as well as frequently themes mentioned above and scholars at the University of Göttingen. • Assistance in finding child care facilities or Phone +49 (0)551/39-21352 unique pan-European initiative providing asked questions and answers We will gladly support you in getting schools for your children • Mediating contacts to individual E-Mail: [email protected] access to a complete range of information established and in preparing for your stay • Info meetings on different topics, e.g. on • One of the most comprehensive funding universities and research institutions in Internet: www.uni-goettingen.de/welcome and support services to researchers here in Göttingen. taxes and insurance databases for researchers in Germany Germany wishing to pursue their research careers in • Town, campus, and library tours, excursions • A free, Europe-wide job portal in We are there for you in order to assist you Europe or stay connected to it. • Mediating contacts to partners in the and events for international researchers Nadine Dreyer which researchers can post their CVs from the very beginning and make your 40 countries are involved. The EURAXESS EURAXESS network in other countries and their families Head of the Welcome Centre and institutions can advertise vacant landing to Göttingen as smooth as possible. Phone +49 (0)551/39-21331 network typically comprises a central • Networking and continuing education • Facilitating contact to other international positions No matter if you are here for only a month [email protected] organisation in each country that events for “researcher advisers” at or have been appointed to a permanent scholars coordinates the activities in that country • Check lists for getting started in universities and research institutions in position. We provide research, information, Heidemarie Hopf and maintains contact with the central Germany Germany (up to twice a year) and targeted assistance regarding all areas Please get in touch with us as early as Researcher advisor organizations in the other countries as • Networking between EURAXESS Service and topics of importance for your stay in possible. It will take you just a few minutes Phone +49 (0)551/39-21336 well as with the European Commission. Interplay between Welcome Centres Centres and the Europe-wide EURAXESS Göttingen. Additionally we offer Dual Career to complete and submit the questionnaire [email protected] In addition, numerous universities and and EURAXESS Germany: network Service for newly appointed professors. which is available at our website. Based on research institutions in all the countries The national EURAXESS coordinators You are welcome to contact us with your the given information we will be able to Kerstin Schütte cooperate at local level. In Germany the Accommodation service for researchers work together with partners and research EURAXESS Service Centre questions and avail yourself of our support. tailor our services to your needs. You can be role of “National Coordination Point for Phone +49 (0)551/39-21347 institutions in their respective countries. assured that all information will be treated EURAXESS Germany” has been adopted by • Dealing with individuals at the local Our services: [email protected] In Germany there are more than 40 completely confidential. the German Aerospace Center. institution • Online information platform in German universities and research institutions • Providing information on the specific and English When you reach Göttingen we will meet – including the Welcome Centre in What services are on offer to mobile institution/location • Individual support and guidance on all for a first personal talk and you will receive Göttingen – which are registered as researchers? non-academic issues concerning your stay our welcome package, which provides EURAXESS Service Centres in the EURAXESS • Mediating contacts to the responsible • Assistance in in finding accommodation important facts and information about the • Website www.euraxess.de/en network. For their part, the partners at local organisations/institutions • Support in visa and residence permit issues university and Göttingen. Together we will and a helpdesk universities and research institutions have • Checklists to help prepare your stay and work out an individual schedule for arranging agreed to support the researchers at their • Information, initial advice, and mediation to help you during the first few days after all formalities like registration at local institutions. In practice, work is roughly services for mobile researchers and arrival authorities, opening a bank account, finding distributed as follows: those responsible for them (incoming, • Support in registration for health childcare facilities and schools. insurance and other insurances

8 9 1 WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN 1 1.1 THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN

Since 1737, the University of Göttingen has The University has a sound international been a research university of international reputation and is among the top 100 renown, often even referred to as “the Universities worldwide according to heart of the scholarly world”. Its rich various rankings. academic heritage is evidenced by the More details about the University profile unparalleled number of 46 Nobel laureates can be found at : that are associated with the city. Today, a www.uni-goettingen.de/en/53162.html strong focus on research and research-led teaching makes Göttingen the perfect place for international scientists. The University is distinguished by the rich diversity of its subject spectrum, particularly in the humanities, its excellent facilities, and the outstanding quality of teaching and research.

10 11 1 THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN 1 1.2 A PLACE WHERE FREE SPIRITS 1.4 LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE CAN FLOURISH

In 1734, King George II of Great Britain and From the very beginning of its history the The University of Göttingen is strong in Göttingen University ensures that its the Elector of Hanover gave the order to University of Göttingen was in the top basic research, maintaining high standards researchers and lecturers have the time establish a university in Göttingen. His rank of German universities. In less than in research and teaching and a top-level and space required for creative work aim was to promote the ideas of academic one century it became an internationally international reputation. In order to by gearing its administration, advisory freedom and enlightenment: He wanted acknowledged modern university and maintain this status and to build on it support and services specifically to the to create a place for free spirits and an home to international students and for the long term, the university, together needs of academics, and ensuring that atmosphere of scientific exploration. scholars. with its partners at the Göttingen Campus, working and living conditions are family- Göttingen thus abandoned the supremacy places particular emphasis on innovation friendly. In addition, the Göttingen Campus of theology and set its faculties on an equal and enhancement of its profile. Therefore, makes available the necessary research footing. Göttingen fosters young-generation and information infrastructure to facilitate academics and constantly expands outstanding performance in science and research and information structures. scholarship over the long term. 1.3 THE 20TH CENTURY AND TODAY

As an academic location Göttingen its position among the world’s leading was long regarded as the hub of the universities. The following decades were 1.5 THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN – mathematical and scientific world, also marked by a steady expansion of study producing Nobel laureates like Max Born, and research capacities and an impressive A GLOBAL PLAYER Enrico Fermi, Robert Oppenheimer, Werner increase of the number of students. Heisenberg, or Niels Bohr. This position was In recent years, the University has initiated The University of Göttingen is well Ph.D. programmes provide proof of the lost, however, in 1933, when under Nazi rule far-reaching reforms, in order to further known for its emphasis on international University’s international status. more than 70 professors and lecturers were promote excellence in research and cooperation. Active agreements with 432 International students and researchers forced to leave the University. teaching. This also includes a greater institutions of higher education in 90 come to Göttingen through a network of After the end of World War II, Göttingen internationalisation of the University and countries, a wide variety of scholarship selected institutions worldwide. This is University was the first in Germany to further intensification of cooperation opportunities for international students achieved by on-site representation at these resume teaching in 1945. It soon regained with non-university research institutes on and scholars and an increasing number locations, as well as by intensive research Göttingen Campus. of English-taught Bachelor, Master and cooperation.

12 13 1 GÖTTINGEN CAMPUS 1 1.6 GÖTTINGEN CAMPUS

The University of Göttingen is embedded in By drawing on their joint strengths and the Göttingen Campus, a close and vibrant potential, campus partners have created a cooperation with top-level non-university unique and stimulating environment that research institutions. These on-site partners encourages diversity and an active exchange form a cooperative alliance in research, between professors, researchers and teaching, and training of young academics, doctoral students. while providing partners with access to an International networks and interdisciplinary impressive collection of resources through centers serve as platforms for new ideas its campus infrastructure. and innovative research concepts. They are embedded in a campus setting that This alliance encompasses: provides access to an impressive collection of resources, facilities, infrastructure, and • the University of Göttingen and support services. University Medical Center, For more information about the Campus • the MPI for Biophysical Chemistry, please visit: www.goettingen-campus.de • the MPI for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity, • the MPI for Dynamics and Self- Organisation, • the MPI for Experimental Medicine, • the MPI for Solar System Research, • the German Primate Center (DPZ), • the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities, • the German Aerospace Center, site Göttingen (DLR).

14 15 1 1

UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR DYNAMICS MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE OF BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY AND SELF-ORGANIZATION EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE The University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) is one of the largest university At the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical The Max Planck Institute for the Study The Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of hospitals in Germany. Faculty of Medicine Chemistry researchers investigate how of Religious and Ethnic Diversity is Self-Organization (MPIDS) is engaged in Experimental Medicine study the genetic, and University Hospital form a unity in cells, organelles and biomolecules fulfill one of the foremost centers for the research on dynamic aspects of structure molecular, and cellular processes that control which excellent research, teaching and their diverse tasks. To look deeper into multi-disciplinary study of diversity, in formation and self-organization. Many the formation, function, and integrity of patient care take place under one roof. The the nanocosmos of living cells, a wide its multiple forms, in today’s globalizing aspects of turbulent flows, neuronal the nervous system and their malfunction internationally recognised priority research range of methods is used and developed world. Pressing new challenges animate networks, granular matter and complex in brain diseases. The focus is on nerve cell areas Neuroscience, Cardiovascular Research at the institute including high-resolution rigorous scholarly investigation pursued by fluids reveal striking similarities, hinting at development and function, neuroplasticity, and Oncology have a strong foundation microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance researchers through a variety of disciplinary similar underlying principles. At the MPIDS and functional glia-neuron interactions in basic science and are oriented on the tomography, mass spectrometry or perspectives, including anthropology, these are under intensive investigation by – with equal emphasis on the biology of medical need of our patients. computer simulations. sociology, political science, and law. scientists with different background and these processes and their perturbation in from different disciplines. diseases such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, leukodystrophies, schizophrenia, or autism.

CONTACT: CONTACT: CONTACT: CONTACT: CONTACT: University Medical Center Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Max Planck Institute for the Study of Max Planck Institute for Dynamics Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Chemistry Religious and Ethnic Diversity and Self-Organization Medicine Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen Hermann-Föge-Weg 11, 37073 Göttingen Am Fassberg 17, 37077 Göttingen Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075 Göttingen Phone +49 0551 39-0 Phone +49 0551 201-0 Phone +49 0551 49560 Phone +49 0551 5176-0 Phone +49 0551 3899-0 www.med.uni-goettingen.de Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Email [email protected] www.mpibpc.mpg.de www.mmg.mpg.de www.ds.mpg.de www.em.mpg.de

16 17 1 1

MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR SOLAR DPZ GERMAN PRIMATE CENTER GÖTTINGEN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND GERMAN AEROSPACE CENTER ASSOCIATE PARTNERS SYSTEM RESEARCH HUMANITIES The German Primate Center (DPZ) – Leibniz The German Aerospace Center (DLR) To promote the Göttingen Campus in all The research focus of the Max Planck Institute for Primate Research conducts The Göttingen Academy of Sciences and in Göttingen is the cradle of modern aspects the members have joined together Institute for Solar System Research is on our biological and biomedical research on and Humanities is a learned society rich in tradi- aerodynamics. The first state run research with regional institutions from business, immediate astronomical surroundings – the with primates in the fields of infection tion and a non-university research institution. center for aviation was founded here in 1907. academia, politics and culture. planets and moons of our solar system, research, neuroscience and primate biology. It brings together outstanding academics Today 480 employees are working for the its comets and asteroids, as well as the In addition, it operates four field stations across national and disciplinary boundaries. next generation of airplanes, spacecraft and Associate partners of the Göttingen Campus: Sun – and also on the interior of distant in the tropics and is a reference and service As a research institution, it is in charge high-speed trains. Important foundations Georg Eckert Institute for International stars. Scientists model these bodies in their center for all aspects of primate research. of long-term projects of international of modern aviation were laid here. Ludwig Textbook Research (GEI) computer simulations, but they are also importance in the area of fundamental Prandtl developed his theory of flying, von involved in numerous satellite missions such research in the humanities. The Göttingen Ohain testet the forerunner of the first HAWK University of Applied Sciences and as Rosetta, Solar Orbiter, and PLATO. Academy organizes public events and offers jet engine and the swept wing which is Arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen in-depth insights into particular areas of essential part of any fast flying airplane was The Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel invented in Göttingen. knowledge. KWS SAAT SE Laser-Laboratorium Göttingen e. V. CONTACT: CONTACT: CONTACT: CONTACT: Northwest German Forest Research Station Max Planck Institute for Solar System German Primate Center – Göttingen Academy of Sciences German Aerospace Centre Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH Research Leibniz Institute for Primate Research and Humanities Bunsenstraße 10, 37073 Göttingen PFH Private University of Applied Sciences Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen Theaterstraße 7, 37073 Göttingen Göttingen Phone +49 0551 709-2117 Phone +49 551 384 979-0 Phone +49 551 3851-0 Phone +49 0551 39-5362 PHYWE Systeme GmbH & Co. KG Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Email [email protected] www.DLR.de Sartorius AG www.mps.mpg.de www.dpz.eu www.adw-goe.de Volkswagen

18 19 2.1 A TOWN IN THE HEART OF EUROPE 2 WELCOME TO GÖTTINGEN WELCOME TO GÖTTINGEN 2 Göttingen is situated in the southernmost It is close to the major North-South part of Lower Saxony in the geographical motorway, and there are high-speed train centre of Germany, between the Harz ICE (Inter-City Express) connections from the Mountains and the Weser River. main train stations. Within 30 minutes, you Due to its central position in Germany, can be in Kassel or Hannover; and in Berlin, Göttingen has excellent traffic connections. Hamburg or Frankfurt within two hours.

Hamburg 260 km

Hannover 121 km 2 h, 47 min Paderborn 325 km Lippstadt 137 km 1 h, 10 min 1 h, 55 min Berlin 1 h, 55 min 35 min 3 h, 30 min

1 h, 33 min 2 h, 22 min

Göttingen 2 h, 44 min 2 h, 57 min 3 h, 30 min 3 h, 20 min 2 h, 40 min 230 km Düsseldorf 1 h, 45 min 274 km 2 h, 19 min Leipzig 2 h, 26 min 3 h, 11 min Frankfurt 135 km 3 h, 50 min 225 km Erfurt

4 h, 15 min 5 h, 16 min

384 km 509 km Stuttgart München

20 21 2.2 A VIBRANT UNIVERSITY TOWN WITH INTERNATIONAL FLAIR 2.3 GÖTTINGEN – CITY OF CULTURE 2 WELCOME TO GÖTTINGEN 2 The city dates back to the late Middle Ages Göttingen offers myriad possibilities for or by bike, and enjoy the magnificent view Göttingen offers countless opportunities large musical acts, clubs like the APEX, and still boasts a historic city centre with recreational activities. The town has three over the town. Be sure to catch a glimpse of for social, cultural and sportive activities the Nörgelbuff and the EXIL offer concerts magnificent churches and excellently theatres, an award winning symphony Göttingen’s most prominent landmark, the that will make your stay here an in a more intimate setting. Once every preserved half-timbered houses, enclosed by orchestra and several movie theaters. Gänseliesel fountain. This little fountainis unforgettable experience. The rich month, the Blues & Boogie Kitchen attracts the remains of the medieval town wall. Popular annual events include the world overlooked by a bronze statue of a beautiful cultural heritage of the university town of performers and audiences for a night of Göttingen’s 130,000 inhabitants are known famous International Händel Festival, the girl carrying a goose in a woven basket. The Göttingen has been accrued over centuries hot and swinging sounds, while the Full to be open-minded and have truly diverse Jazz Festival, as well as several international Gänseliesel is the darling of all graduating in contributions by many personalities, Metal Mensa provides listeners with a backgrounds, which is reflected in the city’s film and literature festivals. doctoral students, who have to kiss her after scientists, scholars, more than 40 Nobel- good dose of heavy music each semester. cultural, historic and economic offerings. Explore the cosy back streets, the lively having passed their exams. This makes her prize winners and artists who have left Annual events include the always well The University of Göttingen, with its 30,000 pedestrian zone or stroll around the “the most-kissed girl in the world”. their visible marks on the town. received Göttingen Jazz Festival and the students, forms an integral part of the city sidewalk cafes, restaurants and pubs. Circle Clubfestival KlubKultura. In addition, many and contributes considerably to the lively the town along the old city wall, the earthen Music student pubs and bars regularly host live bands and open stages. atmosphere of the town. rampart that rings the inner city, by foot Göttingen offers much variety to those who appreciate classical and modern For those who want to sing or make music. Its internationally acclaimed music themselves symphony orchestra, founded in 1862, plays an award-winning programme If you want to join a choir or play an which guarantees first-class concerts. instrument, Göttingen has a large variety Every year at the end of May, the Händel of music options at various levels. Among Festival (Händel-Festspiele) takes place these, the University offers Unicante, in Göttingen and attracts artists and the Studentenwerk choir open to all audiences from all over the world. Apart singers (auditions at the beginning of from that, Göttingen is also home to the semester, concerts at the end). The several other orchestras, ensembles and University choir performs one main choirs, truly making it a city for lovers of concert each semester in conjunction classical music. with the University orchestra (auditions For friends of other musical genres, at the beginning of the semester for Göttingen also offers a broad variety of singers and instruments). The Academic musical life. While the Lokhalle stages Orchestral Association (Akademische

22 23 Orchestervereinigung) accepts new who like to write plays there is an annual shown in mainstream movie houses. Unlike Literarisches Zentrum (Literary Centre), a Sonntagsspaziergänge (Sunday strolls) musicians at the beginning of each contest. In addition, the English Drama commercial cinemas, Lumière shows most respected and very renowned institution in invite museum lovers to visit the major WELCOME TO GÖTTINGEN 2 semester. Choirs are active in churches and Workshop, a student theatre group from films in original versions and with subtitles. Germany. Other than that, most bookshops collections spread throughout the city. 2 cultural centres. the English Department, performs a play in The Lumière is also staging the annual like Thalia, Hugendubel,Calvör, Roter The Ethnographic Collection of the English every semester. Stummfilmtage (Silent Film Days) and Buchladen, and Eulenspiegel offer readings University includes one of the world’s most Theatre Other famous theatre groups in the city the European Film Festival. The latter one regularly. significant collections of material culture include the Göttinger Comedy Company, has an emphasis on Italian and Eastern from the South Seas of the 1700s (Cook/ The Deutsches Theater (German Theatre) is and Improsant, two improvisational groups European films, but also hosts a variety of Museums and exhibitions Forster collection, featuring the largest the oldest theatre in Göttingen. It focuses which perform regularly in improvisation European premieres. collection of objects from the journeys of on classics as well as on contemporary The Göttingen City Museum (Städtisches shows and competitions. The performances James Cook), as well as mostly 19th-century plays and guest plays from other theatres. Museum Göttingen) has permanent and are held mostly in German, but sometimes materials from the Arctic polar region (Baron Another venue, the Junges Theater (Young Literature temporary exhibitions of historical and English-speaking improvisational groups are von Asch collection). Theatre), was founded in the sixties and Highlight performances in the sphere of artistic materials. Apart from that, the invited as well. The Old City Hall (Altes Rathaus) offers presents mostly contemporary plays. literature are the readings at the annual University exhibits several important Additional activities, such as figure theatre, temporary art shows by local, regional, and There are also performances at the unique Göttinger Literaturherbst (Göttingen Literary collections ranging from arts, archaeology Kabarett (comedy acts, often political), international artists. ThOP (Theater im OP) – the theatre is located Autumn), the biggest and most popular over zoology to musical instruments puppet shows, variety shows and many in a historic operation theatre from the literature festival in Northern Germany. and ethnographic objects. All of these The Paulinerkirche in the Historical University amateur theatre groups perform in and 19th century. The plays are produced and Worth mentioning are also the events collections can be accessed by the Library Building has various temporary around Göttingen. performed mostly by students. For those of the Göttinger Literarische Gesellschaft general public every Sunday: The so called exhibitions, usually of a historic nature. (Göttingen Literary Society) and of the Cinema Göttingen, which in the 1950s and early 60s was home to a good part of the German film industry, offers a wide variety of options for film aficionados, be it at the DID YOU KNOW? new Multiplex CinemaxX, in the award- winning repertory cinema Lumière or in one In Germany all movies are dubbed of the student film clubs, called Clubkino, before being shown on TV or at Campusfilm and Unikino. a cinema. Some TV stations offer An alternative to commercial cinema, the Lumière has existed since 1986. Its aim is to a second channel, where you can show artistic and independently produced choose to watch the movie in films, as well as classics that are rarely the original language.

24 25 2.4 LIVING YOUR RELIGION 2.5 SURROUNDINGS 2 WELCOME TO GÖTTINGEN 2 A city with such an international clientele Jewish Community As mentioned above, Göttingen’s location • Hannoversch Münden is a small as Göttingen naturally also offers at the cross of two ICE train lines makes it charming town, situated at the opportunities for silence, prayer and faith. A few years ago, a Jewish community easy to reach most other major German confluence of the Fulda and Werra rivers, was refounded in Göttingen. Its activities cities. Apart from local recreation areas like and an important example of the so are supplemented by a Jewish house of lakes (Kiessee, Wendebachstausee, Rosdorfer called Weserrennaissance architecture. Churches learning. Its doors are open to all interested See), the huge city forest and several parks • Hameln is famous for the pied piper The largest proportion of Göttingen people. (Schillerwiesen, Cheltenham Park), there is legend and has weekly reenactments of parishes are Lutheran, fewer are Catholic. also a number of smaller towns that are the tale on summer Sundays. Some of these parishes offer church Buddhist Centre worth a visit. Most of them can be seen • Eisenach is the birthplace of baroque services in languages other than German on a day trip from Göttingen. These are a The buddhist centre offers a wide range of composer Johann Sebastian Bach, as well and provide room for groups who maintain few examples of the places which you can events and seminars. as the city where Martin Luther lived as a country-specific forms of worship. Please reach within 2 hours, using local trains or child. contact the Lutheran Superintendent’s car: or the Catholic Dean’s office for further The Room of Silence • Einbeck, a small town with a fine timber details. Other Protestant parishes such as, Göttingen University has set up a “Room • Goslar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, frame townscape, is famous for its 600 the baptists have rooms of worship and of Silence” for its students and employees famous for its magnificent gates and year old brewery and the PS.SPEICHER contact people in Göttingen. on the ground floor of the “Blue Tower”, ramparts, the medieval Imperial Palace, museum, where you can discover how located on central campus. This room Romanesque churches and half-timbered the ingenious inventors of the past The Islamic Community stands open to employees, associates and guild houses. advanced our personal mobility. The Islamic community offers a forum guests of the University of Göttingen who • The Harz Mountains make up an easy to for muslims. In Göttingen the Islamic are looking for a place to find tranquillity reach location for a hike in summer or communities are the Islamische and relaxation, to meditate, gather skiing in winter. Gemeinschaft Al-Iman e.V. and the DITIB themselves or hold silent prayer. • Among the countless castles and Moschee. On weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., the fortresses in the sourrounding area “Room of Silence” is freely accessible to of Göttingen are the Plesseburg (near authorised users seeking silence and quiet. Bovenden), the Burg Hanstein (near Bornhagen), the Marienburg (near Nordstemmen), and the Löwenburg, (located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Mountain Park of Kassel).

26 27 3.1 LANGUAGE COURSES

Learning German Learning other foreign languages FACILITIES AND 3 FACILITIES AND INSTITUTIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN The University provides courses free of The Central Office for Languages and Key INSTITUTIONS AT THE 3 charge in order to help you to learn or Qualifications (ZESS) offers instruction UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN improve your German. for Arabic, (Brazilian) Portuguese, Chinese, The Language Centre for German as a English, French, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Foreign Language (Lektorat Deutsch als Swedish, Spanish, Turkish and Norwegian. Fremdsprache) offers overs app. 70 different For more information please refer to the German courses for foreign students, webpage of the ZESS: www.zess.uni- PhD students, guest academics and staff goettingen.de/homepage/index.php of Göttingen University. The prerequisite for attending the courses is the German Language Placement Test, which can be taken at the start of the semester. Contact: [email protected] In addition, the Institute for Intercultural Communication e.V. offers a number of German courses, including summer and vacation courses as well as crash courses in preparation for examinations. For more information please refer to the website of the Institute www.iik-goettingen.de

28 29 3.2 LIBRARIES 3.3 REFECTORIES AND CAFETERIAS

The State and University Library of Max Planck Institutes libraries University canteen (Mensa) Here you can choose between 3 menus FACILITIES AND with a wide selection of side dishes, a stew Lower Saxony (SUB) INSTITUTIONS AT THE 3 The libraries of the Max Planck Institute The Studentenwerk Göttingen offers several on Mondays, and a daily vegan menu, a 3 The State and University Library of Lower (MPI) are primarily intended for employees student refectories and cafeterias which sell salad buffet, and sweet specialties. In UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN Saxony – named »Library of the Year of the MPI. However, guests can use the lunch meals and drinks at very reasonable addition, they offer a dessert buffet. 2002« - is one of the five largest libraries inventory of books during working hours prices. For lunch, typical Mensa opening in Germany. It is accessible on a free-of- and copy or view them on-site (the library hours are from 11:30 am to 02:00 pm or Nordmensa charge basis to all students and academics. does not offer material on loan). 02:15 pm. DID YOU KNOW? The library’s collection includes 5.7 million For more information about the library However, the Zentralmensa on the main Grisebachstraße 10 According to the study volumes, 318 000 maps, 11 000 current please refer to: campus is open until the evening Monday to Friday: 11:15 am – 2:00 pm “The Best German Canteen”, subscriptions, 14 000 manuscripts, more www.mpibpc.mpg.de/groups/ohb (06:00 pm). Here you have the choice of 3 dishes, a the Mensa am Turm is the than 3100 incunabula, 350 collections of salad or vegetarian dish. second-best in Germany for unpublished works, 150 CD-ROM databases City library Canteens’ Addresses and 1.6 million microforms. Mensa Italia atmosphere! The main building on the central campus The city’s public library, the Stadtbibliothek, Zentralmensa offers the citizens of Göttingen a wide Roedererstraße 15 a, 37073 Göttingen is open from 7 a.m. till 1 a.m. during the Platz der Göttinger Sieben 4 week and from 9 a.m. till 10 p.m. during the range of fiction works and many other Monday to Friday: 11:00 am – 02:00 pm materials. [Look into it, the library even has Monday to Friday: 11:30 am – 06:00 pm week-end, and has individual and group The Mensa Italia offers Italian specialties CDs on loan] It also has a small inventory Saturday: 11:45 am – 02:30 pm workstations. every day, and also a stew, a menu with side of books in English. A library pass costs €20 In addition to the Central State and This is the largest dining facility at the dishes, a vegetarian dish and a salad buffet. (€10 for students with a Heimvorteil stamp University, with 23 theme stations, front University Library, the University has 143 on their student identity card) per year. independent subject libraries throughout cooking, a wok station, vegetarian meals, Kantine MPI the University’s institutes and seminars. For more information about the library soups, stews, salad and dessert buffet. please refer to: Already at 7.30 a.m. you have your choice For more information about the library www.stadtbibliothek.goettingen.de Mensa am Turm of an extensive breakfast buffet. For lunch, please refer to www.sub.uni-goettingen.de. two specials of the day with a selection of Goßlerstraße 12 b side dishes, or an additional specialty dish, Monday to Friday: 11:30 am – 02:30 pm are offered.

30 31 Cafeterias There are a lot of cafeterias throughout Theocafete the institutes of the university. They all Theologicum, Platz der Göttinger Sieben 2 offer coffee, tea, water and snacks at a low FACILITIES AND Small and cozy cafeteria located in the 3 price. Eight of the cafeterias are run by the INSTITUTIONS AT THE 3 Studentenwerk, (have you described this Theologicum, which also offers vegan and UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN term elsewhere?) and in some of them you vegetarian snacks and a selection of cakes. can also find warm meals. Bistro am Turm Café Central The Mensa am Turm building, The building of the Zentralmensa, Goßlerstraße 12 Platz der Göttinger Sieben 5 The cafeteria has 160 seats available and Cafe Central is the Studentwerk’s largest in addition, a terrace with 48 seats. Located cafeteria and the only one that offers in a historical washhouse, its special delicious warm dishes from 11:30 am until atmosphere is fascinating. 03:30 pm. Would like to have breakfast instead? No problem, from 09:00 am on they CaPhy provide you with some great breakfast offers. Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1 DID YOU KNOW? Café Campus It offers 90 seats as well as a terrace Main Campus, Platz der Göttinger Sieben 5 with 60 seats. The modern winter You can pay with your garden invites you to take a long university / guest card in Cafe Campus offers 60 seats as well as a break. terrace with 44 seats. their staff will serve all canteens and cafeterias coffee specialties of all sorts in addition to of the University. Cafeteria HAWK their self-service offers. Büsgenweg 1a Cafeteria SUB Located in the northern part of town SUB building, Platz der Göttinger Sieben 1 this café offers 80 seats and a terrace There are 120 window seats at this cafeteria, with 36 seats. It is recommended for on different floors of the rotunda. You have a those who seek rest and relaxation away beautiful view on the campus. from the hectic university life.

32 33 3.4 COMPUTER AND NETWORK ACCESS 3.6 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES

The Learning Resources Centre in the Centre staff. It is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. In Göttingen there are different national Indonesian community: FACILITIES AND 3 University Library offers a wide array of during the week and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. communities which bring together www.ppi-goettingen.de INSTITUTIONS AT THE 3 IT-services to all guests of the library. during the weekend. representatives of the respective countries, Ghanaian community: UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN The equipment there is at your disposal All employees and visiting scholars can whether they are students, scientists or www.facebook.com/groups/397297837095246 for printing, scanning, editing files, and working professionals, and their families. apply for an Internet account, which also Mexican community: videoconferences. Furthermore, you are These communities organise numerous allows use of the University’s wireless www.mexgoe.de advised and technically supported by the access. social activities and offer support to those who are planning their stay in Göttingen. Nepalese community: www.nepaleseingoettingen.blogspot.com Brazilian community: www.facebook.com/groups/443000875757610 Peruvian community: www.facebook.com/groups/148800771976302 3.5 UNIVERSITY SPORT: “KEEP MOVING” Chinese community: www.uni-goettingen.de/de/305763.html Spanish community: erasmusgottingen.wordpress.com; For those looking for a break from the For more information, please refer to: Colombian community: www.facebook.com/groups/1414028722163228 research, there are several facilities www.hochschulsport.uni-goettingen.de www.facebook.com/groups/197216963644015 and opportunities available within and Those who enjoy a team sport might Indian community: outside the University. The Hochschulsport consider joining one of the football teams, www.uni-goettingen.de/de/132691.html Göttingen (University Sport) is one of playing in amateur leagues, an American the biggest in Germany and offers a football team (www.generals.de­ ), a baseball wide range of disciplines and gyms for team or a cricket club. In addition, the city students and employees of the University of Göttingen administers swimming pools, and the May Planck Institutes. More than tennis courts and other sports facilities 80 different sports with an indoor pool, which can be used by private individuals as climbing centre, fitness-studio and several well as by clubs and schools. outdoor sports fields are offered for an Many kinds of sports are organised in clubs. extremely reasonable price. Outside of Sports clubs usually charge a monthly fee the University there are several Sporting and make membership over a specified Clubs and recreational areas – for insight amount of time mandatory. information feel free to ask at the helpdesk at the University Sports. For more information, please refer to page 133.

34 35 4.1 CHECKLIST

Before leaving home Upon arrival The following checklist should help you These are the first steps you will need to take with your travel preparations: as soon as you arrive: • Decide when you are going to start work • Visit your department/institute 4 and discuss the date with your (host) • Sign your lease agreement A ROAD MAP 4 A ROAD MAP FOR YOUR RESEARCH VISIT institute well in advance • Register (yourself and your family) at the FOR YOUR RESEARCH VISIT 4 • Compile the most important documents local Einwohnermeldeamt (Residents’ (cf. chapter 4.2) Registration Office) and if you are going to • Arrange health insurance cover (for be employed apply for a “Führungszeugnis” yourself, your marital partner, and (certificate of good conduct) children) • Open a bank account • Find out about accommodation in your • Sign up for health insurance new place of residence (for yourself and your family) • Apply for your visa (and those of any • Sign your employment contract, if appli­ members of your family accompanying cable and get your tax identification you) number and electronic “Lohnsteuerkarte” (electronic income tax card) at the local • If required, enquire about local childcare/ tax office (Finanzamt) schools well in advance • Register your child/children at kindergarten or school • Extend your visa by applying for a resi- dence permit (for yourself, your marital partner and children) INSIDER INFO: • Set up your workplace (Internet access, Contact the Welcome university/guest card for access to library Centre at the earliest and canteen etc.) • Gather information on any potential tax opportunity! obligations and pension rights which may ensue from your employment status

36 37 4.2 IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

You will need the following documents • Marriage certificate (certified translation in order to enter the country: in German or English) • Passports or equivalent identity docu­ • Certified copies of your doctoral ments (valid for the entire duration certificate or any other certificates 4 of your stay in Germany) for yourself awarded for academic degrees A ROAD MAP 4 and any member of your family (preferably in German or English FOR YOUR RESEARCH VISIT accompanying you translation) • A visa for yourself and any member • Health insurance and vaccination of your family accompanying you certificate (see chapter 5.1) • A declaration referring to particular or • Letter of invitation from the University or previous illness (possibly recent x-rays) fellowship award letter and any current medication • Biometrical passport photo for your • If you intend to drive while in Germany: residence permit; possibly other passport an international driving licence or photos for the various ID cards you will foreign driving licence including need during your stay (please observe translation (depending on country of the requirements for passport photos issue); if you wish to take your car with laid down by the German Foreign Office) you to Germany you will need additional documents (see chapter 11.6) In many cases you will also need the • If you sign an employment contract with following documents: the university – depending on the type of contract – you will need additional Passport photograph requirements • Birth certificates for yourself and any documents; please ascertain which laid down by the German Foreign member of your family accompanying documents are necessary in your Office: you (in German or English translation) particular case prior to entering the www.epass.de country

38 39 5.1 VISA AND ENTRY

In order to enter Germany you need a visa soon as possible and enquire about which if you are coming from a country with visa documents you have to bring with you. requirements for Germany. You should Depending on your country of origin and apply for it at the German Embassy or a the length of your stay the entry regulations German Consulate in your own country or differ. In this chapter we have bundled the current country of residence at the earliest information relating to specific countries to possible opportunity. make it easier for you to follow. If in doubt, Depending on the duration and purpose however, be sure to approach a German ENTRY AND RESIDENCE 5 of your stay you will need a Schengen Visa diplomatic mission to find out whether 5 ENTRY AND RESIDENCE IN GERMANY (research visit lasting up to three months you need a visa or not. This is the only place IN GERMANY within Europe), a Tourist Visa (research where you will be able to obtain legally visit lasting up to three months but only in binding information. Germany, which cannot be extended) or a National Visa (D-Visa, research visit lasting Nationals of the Europan Union, more than three months). the European Economic Area, For a longer stay, you need to extend your and Switzerland visa by applying for a residence permit Citizens of the European Union, the (visa extension) in Germany. European Economic Area and Switzerland If your marital partner or children are in­- neither require an entry visa nor a tending to accompany you it is recom­ permit for stays of a longer duration. If mended that everyone should apply for you intend to stay in Germany for more a visa at the same time even if they are than three months you must register going to join you in Germany at a later at the Einwohnermeldeamt (Residents’ date. Please note that many consular Registration Office). offices only accept applications if you have Visit the website of the Federal made an appointment in advance, and that Foreign Office for the addresses processing applications can take several of diplomatic missions and weeks. So do make an appointment as information on entry requirements: www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN

40 41 Nationals of Australia, Brasilia, Canada, application for the Schengen Visa please be residence, which will allow you to remain in those coming from countries with no visa • Details of proposed accommodation in Chile, El Salvador, Honduras, Israel, sure to state “scientific work” or “research” Germany for a longer period of time. requirements to enter Germany. Germany Japan, New Zealand, Panama, the Repu- as the purpose of your stay. You are not allowed to stay longer than • Marriage and birth certificates of family blic of Korea, San Marino and the USA The Schengen Visa entitles you to move Visits on a “Visitor’s or Tourist Visa” three months if you entered the country on members freely between and stay in any of the so- a Visitor’s or Tourist Visa. If you are a national of any one of these This type of visa cannot be extended and • Application form (available from called Schengen States, i.e. the states that states you do not need a visa to enter only entitles you to stay in Germany for To apply for a D-Visa you will usually diplomatic missions) have signed the Schengen Agreement. Germany. However, for visits lasting more a maximum of three months. You would require the following documents: Depending on the individual Embassy the than three months you will require a then have to return to your own country at • Passport (valid for the entire duration of documents required may differ. Please residence permit for which you can apply The Schengen States your own expense and apply for the right your stay) contact the relevant diplomatic mission at visa there. The same applies to members once you have entered Germany (see Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, • Proof of your intended activity (e.g. the earliest opportunity in order to ascertain chapter 5.2 and 5.3). Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, of your family. The National or D-Visa only which documents you will need for your visa fellowship, employment contract, letter ENTRY AND RESIDENCE Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, entitles you to stay in Germany. If you application. National or D-Visas are usually 5 intend to travel to other Schengen States of invitation, or hosting agreement from IN GERMANY 5 Nationals of all other non-EU States Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, the University) issued for a period of three months. Once Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, during the first three months of your stay, you have entered Germany you must present • Proof that you will be able to support Short visits lasting up to three months Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. to attend a conference, for example, you this visa to your local Ausländerbehörde yourself financially if this is not evi­ should state this in your visa application. (Foreigners’ Office) to apply for a residence If your research stay in Germany is not In this case you may be issued with a so- denced by the documentation above scheduled to last longer than 90 days in a Visa exemptions for short visits permit (see chapter 5.3). called hybrid visa (Category C+D Visa). • Adequate health insurance cover sixth month period, a Schengen Visa will Nationals of some countries are allowed usually be all you need to enter the country to enter Germany for visits of up to three Visits lasting more than three months (C-Visa). However, you should bear in mind months without a visa. You can find a list that Schengen Visas cannot be extended of these states (table of countries whose If you are planning to stay and also work beyond the three month period, nor can citizens require/do not require visas to in Germany for more than three months, they be redesignated for other purposes. enter Germany) on the website of the you must apply for a National or D-Visa for You will have to leave Germany at the end Federal Foreign Office. Please note, how- Germany while you are still in your own of three months at the latest. ever, that on that kind of visa you will country or current country of residence if you are coming from a country with visa In order to obtain a Schengen Visa you not be able to apply for a residence title requirements for Germany. Please note will have to prove that you will be able to for a longer stay once you have entered that this applies even if you are already Table of countries whose citizens support yourself financially during your Germany, and that you will have to leave require a visa (short visits) the country after three months at the staying in another European Union country. stay in Germany. For all Schengen States www.auswaertiges-amt.de you will also be obliged to provide evidence latest. If you are planning a longer stay you Shortly after your arrival in Germany you must apply for a German visa, while you are need to apply for the extension of your visa > Welcome to Germany > Coming to or of travel health insurance cover amounting staying in Germany > Visa regulations to at least € 30,000. When completing the still in your country or current country of (residence permit). The same applies for

42 43 5.2 REGISTERING AT THE RESIDENTS’ REGISTRATION OFFICE

Any individual moving into a house or flat registered. You will need official proof of in Germany, and who stays longer than registration if you wish to extend your visa, 3 months, or who needs to register to open to open a bank account or to get a mobile a German bank account or to apply for a phone contract. residence permit, or who has a working If you need a Certificate of Good Conduct contract, must register. (Führungszeugnis), please request it at the ENTRY AND RESIDENCE Therefore, within two weeks of entering local Residents’ Registration Office. It will 5 IN GERMANY 5 the country, you and any family member cost € 13. The Welcome Centre can provide accompanying you will have to register you with the application form. at the Einwohnermeldeamt (Residents’ Registration Office) corresponding to the Transferring/cancelling registration area in which you live. The Göttingen Residents’ Registration One of the questions at the Residents’ Office is located in the Neues Rathaus, the Registration Office refers to your religious New Town Hall. faith. Religious communities are entitled to use the services of the tax office to collect In order to register, change or cancel “Church Tax” (see chapter 9.5) and the your residence in Göttingen you CONTACT: need to have your national passport Residents’ Registration Office will transmit Residents’ Registration Office and a confirmation of housing your tax-related data to the tax authorities. (Einwohnermeldeamt) In Göttingen you can declare tax-relevant (“Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung”) from New Town Hall membership in the Roman Catholic, the your landlord or provider of housing. If Hiroshimaplatz 1-4 Lutheran, or the Reformed Presbyterian applicable, you will be asked to show your 37083 Göttingen Church. Any other religious faith will not marriage certificate and birth certificate(s) Phone +49 (0)551/400-4044 of your child(ren). affect your registration. Opening hours: At the Residents’ Registration Office you Mon, Tue: 08:00 am – 03:00 pm will be given the Meldebescheinigung: Wed, Fri: 08:00 am – 12:00 pm this is a paper confirming that you have Thu: 08:00 am – 06:30 pm

44 45 5.3 EXTENDING A VISA IN APPLYING FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT

Nationals of Australia, Brasilia, Canada, • Fellowship award letter or employment an appointment. The Welcome Centre will Settlement permit will require a statement by the University Chile, El Salvador, Honduras, Israel, Ja- contract or other documents stating the gladly assist you in finding the relevant confirming that you are a highly qualified A settlement permit is an unlimited pan, New Zealand, Panama, the Republic amount of the monthly fellowship or person and making the appointment. academic, a copy of your rental agreement, salary you receive, as proof that you have residence permit which allows the holder and proof of your current rent paid. You will of Korea, San Marino and the USA to pursue gainful employment. In certain the means to support yourself financially Nationals of all other states also have to demonstrate that you are able Right after your arrival in Germany, before special cases, a foreigner coming to • Proof of health insurance cover to communicate in German by attending your entry visa runs out, you must apply See chapter 5.1. Germany may be issued with a settlement equivalent to German insurance an informal interview at the Foreigners’ for a residence permit at your local permit if the applicant is highly qualified. Office. If a settlement permit is issued, your • Rental contract of your accommodation Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners’ Office). EU Blue Card (§ 19a Residence Act) As a rule, however, foreigners are only marital partner will be given a residence ENTRY AND RESIDENCE 5 in Germany 5 entitled to a settlement permit if they permit which allows him/her to have IN GERMANY If you are a national of one of these states, This permit is intended for academically • For your marital partner/children: along have spent a minimum of five years in unrestricted employment opportunities. It or of any other countries without visa qualified foreign people. The EU Blue with a copy of the original certificates the country. The Foreigners’ Office is the is issued without recourse to the Federal requirements for Germany, and you entered Card is granted on condition that the you need certified German or English authority responsible. According to German Employment Agency, which means that the country without a visa but intend to individual has a university degree as well translations of marriage and birth immigration law the following people are it will not be necessary to check whether stay in Germany for a longer period of time, as an employment contract with a certain certificates (the latter only for children), defined as “highly qualified”: other people should be given priority over you must apply for a residence permit income. After 33 months, and provided within three months of entering the country. and also a school certificate for each • Academics who are especially highly you on the employment market. child who attends a school during your that the employment contract is ongoing, qualified or possess knowledge in a field We recommend submitting your appli­ stay in Germany holders of the EU Blue Card can be eligible of particular importance cation as soon as possible. You will usually for (indefinite) leave to remain. If language have to present the following documents • Anmeldebescheinigung (proof of skills are proven to be level B1 then • Academic teaching staff in leading to the Foreigners’ Office: registration) from the Residents’ (indefinite) leave to remain can be granted positions (e.g. institute directors and CONTACT: Registration Office chairs) • Completed application for a residence after just 21 months. The local Foreigners’ Foreigners’ Office (Ausländerbehörde) permit (available at the Welcome Centre) • Fees: a maximum of € 110 for the initial Office will give you further information and • Researchers in leading positions New Town Hall permit, € 80 for extensions (children pay examines if you are qualified to receive an (e.g. leaders of scientific projects or Hiroshimaplatz 1-4 • Valid passport (please note that it must be half the standard fees) EU Blue Card. independent research groups) 37083 Göttingen valid for the entire duration of your stay) To get an application or extension of your If you fall in any of these categories you can • One Biometric passport photo for each residence permit you need to make an apply for a settlement permit. There are family member (please observe the appointment at the Foreigners’ Office. no special forms, but you should submit requirements set out by the Federal Please contact the person responsible for the same documents as those required Foreign Office: www.epass.de) your case by phone or email to arrange for a residence permit. In addition, you

46 47 5.4 EMPLOYMENT LAW REGULATIONS

As a foreigner, if you want to work in means that you have no obligation to need approval in order to pursue gainful Germany, you usually require a residence seek the approval of the Foreigners’ Office employment. Citizens of the new EU permit which allows you to pursue gainful for this activity. If you are coming from a Member States (with the exception of employment. You have to apply for it at country with visa requirements in order to Cyprus and Malta) still do not enjoy full the Foreigners’ Office. In many cases the enter Germany you need to have a valid freedom of movement rights and, just like Foreigners’ Office itself then has to seek visa for the entire stay from the German nationals of third countries, still require the approval of the Federal Employment Embassy or German Consulate in your own permission to work in Germany. Since Agency; however, this does not apply to country or country of residence, stating the 1 January 2009, special regulations have 5 academic personnel at universities and right purpose of activity in Germany. been in place for academics (with a degree ENTRY AND RESIDENCE 5 research institutes, guest researchers, from a university or university of applied IN GERMANY or technical staff employed in a guest Employment for marital partners science). They have opened up the German researcher’s research team. These positions employment market by waiving the issue do not require the approval of the Federal If your husband or wife would like to work of priority. Employment Agency. The Foreigners’ Office in Germany you will have to apply for a itself is entitled to issue authorisation residence permit at the Foreigners’ Office. allowing you to pursue academic activity Researchers’ husbands or wives are also and can enter this authorisation in your allowed to work without the approval of residence permit. If you come from a the Federal Employment Agency, if the visa country with visa requirements to enter from the Embassy, when coming from a Germany make sure you have the right visa country with visa requirements, or their to work in Germany. residence permit from the Foreigners’ Office, states the purpose of “Re-uniting family” (§30: Ehegattennachzug). Academic activity during a short visit If you work at the University of Göttingen Nationals of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland in an academic capacity for no more than three months in a twelve-month period If you are a citizen of the EU, the EEA, or this does not count as employment in Switzerland you enjoy the right to freedom terms of the residence law. This usually of movement for workers. You do not

48 49 6.1 EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT OR APPOINTMENT

Academic employees at universities close Human Resources Department employment contracts with the university which state the salary scale and conditions The Human Resources Department is of employment. In Germany, however, responsible for the entire employment/ many professors and academic staff are appointment procedure. The hosting public servants, and they are appointed. institute and the Human Resources Department prepare the future employ­ Public servants’ salaries are laid down ment jointly. The Welcome Centre is by the Bundesbesoldungsgesetz (the law generally not involved in this procedure. regulating the salaries of public servants) and the corresponding regulations of the The Human Resources Department WORK AND RESEARCH 6 takes care of all administrative measures 6 WORK AND RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITY respective Federal State. The salary scale AT UNIVERSITY 6 for professors is called W-Besoldung. In related to employees; from the hiring of most Federal States academic staff is paid new employees to the termination of according to a collective pay agreement their employment/appointment. known as TV-L. These measures include the issuing and CONTACT: You will have to sign your employment conclusion of employment contracts, issuing and handing over of appointment Georg-August Universität Göttingen contract or you will have to be appointed Stiftung Öffentlichen Rechts before you officially start working. Your certificates, determination of the fee or salary classification, salary classification Abteilung Personaladministration institute or the Human Resources Depart­ und –entwicklung ment will tell you in advance which forms upgrades and promotions, just to name a few of the most essential services. Human Resources Department and documents have to be submitted Goßlerstraße 5-7 In addition, for employees there is the in order to draw up the contract. As an 37073 Göttingen employee you will usually be required to payment of salary and fees as well as child pay tax and social security contributions. benefits. Teams are responsible for this core Phone + 49 (0)551/39-4932 This is dealt with in chapters 8 and 9. business, they are assigned to ‘your’ faculty Fax + 49 (0)551/39-1822280 Please read them carefully. or institute respectively. [email protected]

50 51 You will find your personal contact by asking Safety and environmental protection at your host institute. Safety and environmental protection is a An important service is offered by the major issue at the University of Göttingen. Personnel Development division, which If you have any questions relating to health concentrates on the direct advancement of and safety you should approach your the University’s employees to improve their immediate superior who is responsible for potential at the workplace, using, among implementing and observing the rules and INSIDER INFO: other things, qualification profiles as a basis. legal regulations governing your safety in For this purpose, they organize development the workplace. The academic quarter seminars, continuing education and coaching, as well as counselling for hiring One peculiarity of German universities is the procedures in individual cases. They would so-called “academic quarter”: lectures often like to point out the internal job placement begin a quarter of an hour later than the market, with which the University aims time given on the timetable. These lectures to promote cost-cutting conditions in are usually marked “cum tempore” (c.t.) by WORK AND RESEARCH Germany on one hand, and the vocational 6 AT UNIVERSITY 6 and qualified mobility of its employees on contrast with those that begin on the hour the other. which are marked “sine tempore” (s.t.)

The Personnel Development division at the University of Göttingen regularly organises Seminars for new staff and continuing education series for academic and non-academic personnel. Please visit the homepage of the Personalentwicklung for details.

52 53 6.2 VISITING FELLOWSHIPS 6.3 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

If an institute invites you to work at the German researchers who want to return ELFI – searching for research funding In principle, you should ask your host or For all issues relating to intellectual University as a fellow you will become a to Germany after spending an extended employer about the handling of intellectual property rights, patents, and inventions you ELFI is a service point for electronic research member of the University for the duration period abroad. If you are interested in these property, patents, and inventions at an early should turn to MBM ScienceBridge. funding information in German-speaking of your stay and will be entitled to make programmes, EURAXESS Germany maintains stage. When doing so, you should bear in countries. ELFI maintains a database that use of the facilities and opportunities a comprehensive database containing more mind that since 2002, the law on employees’ collates and organises information on Intellectual property rights offered by the University. As such, you will than 80 programmes offered by funding inventions (Arbeitnehmererfindungsgesetz) research funding which is then made be subject to the terms and regulations organisations in Germany. The website of has changed significantly: all inventions by German Patent and Trade-Mark Office: available to academics, research officers, applicable at your host institute. We the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation members of institutions of higher education www.dpma.de/english students, and companies online. recommend to clarify issues with your offers information on sponsorship pro­ have to be reported to the employer. European Patent Office: www.elfi.info academic host like the use of equipment grammes for postdoctoral scientists At universities and research institutes there www.epo.org and laboratories and how cooperation and scholars. You can also find funding is nearly always an office responsible for the World Intellectual Property Organisation with other members of the academic and programmes for students, post-graduates, WORK AND RESEARCH transfer of research and technology. This (WIPO): www.wipo.int 6 (where applicable) technical staff at the and post-docs in the scholarship database CONTACT: should be the first place to go to in order to AT UNIVERSITY 6 institute is supposed to work in practice at run by the German Academic Exchange German Research Foundation: Zentrale Kartenstelle get advice on handling intellectual property the earliest opportunity. Service (DAAD). Käte-Hamburger-Weg 1 and to register patents and licences. Here www.dfg.de/en Please note that fellows and visiting Phone +49 (0)551/39-12475 you will be able to get information on the IP rights in EU projects researchers are not insured by the EURAXESS Funding Database [email protected] necessary procedures and regulations at www.iprhelpdesk.eu University. You must arrange for health www.euraxess.de/en/in_foerder­daten- the respective institution and also to get insurance cover yourself. In addition, we bank.php support in carrying out the steps required to Recommendations of the German recommend to take out accident and GUEST CARD complete registration. Research Foundation on Professional third-party liability insurance cover. Many Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation Where a patent is to be registered depends Self Regulation in Science insurance companies offer appropriate www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/ A guest card (Gästekarte) is issued for on the type of protection desired. If the CONTACT: insurance packages (see chapter 8). home.html persons doing research at the University German market suffices, you can approach At institutions of higher education and research institutes in Germany it is usual to MBM ScienceBridge GmbH of Göttingen for a limited time without the German Patent and Trade Mark Office. Hans-Adolf-Krebs-Weg 1 DAAD funding programmes comply with the German Research Foun­ Finance and funding for research having a contract with the University. If Protection at European level can be sought at 37077 Göttingen visits to Germany www.daad.de/deutschland/ the European Patent Office, while the World dation’s (DFG) ‘Recommendations on Pro-­ Phone +49 (0)551/30724-151 stipendium/en/ you need a guest card, please contact your Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) fessional Self Regulation in Science’, which There are a number of funding programmes Fax +49 (0)551/30724-155 institute to get in touch with the card office offers international protection of patents. seek to safeguard good scientific practice. for foreign researchers who want to con-­ (Kartenstelle). www.dfg.de/en [email protected] duct research in Germany as well as for

54 55 6.4 RESEARCHERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

The University of Göttingen provides If you have any further questions and need services for students, employees, and help please contact the representative for scholars with special needs. employees with special needs: Schwerbehindertenvertretung Barrier-free buildings an der Universität Göttingen Many of the new buildings on the central Humboldtallee 15 campus and on the north campus are 37073 Göttingen barrier-free and wheelchair-accessible. Phone +49 (0)551/39-22725 However, some of the old buildings in Fax +49 (0)551/39-22185 downtown locations are accessible only [email protected] by stairs. Details will be provided by the WORK AND RESEARCH 6 representative for employees with special 6 needs. AT UNIVERSITY

Special computer work stations at the State and University Library The State and University Library (SUB) provides two specially-equipped computer work stations which enable blind or visually disabled persons to compose texts on a PC, use the Internet, and all the services of the library. A member of the library’s staff can provide orientation and explanation of the system according to the user’s special needs.

56 57 7.1 THE HOUSING MARKET IN GÖTTINGEN

There is a shortage of housing in German radically in the course of the year. At the cities and especially in Göttingen, which beginning of the semester the demand for means that accommodation is rather accommodation is particularly high. expensive. You may have to spend 40 % We urgently recommend that you start of your monthly salary/fellowship on looking for accommodation for yourself rent. This is particularly true for the kind and your family in Germany as soon as of accommodation visiting researchers possible; preferably several months before usually require: furnished or at least partly you begin your stay. As an international furnished, readily available, and on a short guest researcher or newly appointed lease. The relationship between supply and professor you may turn to the Welcome demand, particularly in cities where there Centre for help in these matters. are large numbers of students, changes

7 ACCOMMODATION IN GERMANY 7.2 SEARCHING FOR ACCOMMODATION ACCOMMODATION IN GERMANY 7

Guest Houses For further information please contact: Servicebüro Nord Guest house of the University with different equipment available, and all Studentenwerk Göttingen of Göttingen are furnished. They have a fully equipped Grisebachstr. 10 The guest house of the University is run by kitchen, shower and toilet, linens and 37077 Göttingen the Studentenwerk. It opened its doors for towels. All rooms are equipped with a Phone +49 (0)551/39 338 49 the first time in 1997 and offers accommo­ phone, cable TV, and Internet connection. Fax +49 (0)551/12878 dation to German and international The guest house is located in the centre of guests of the University. There are 35 single the North campus on Justus-von-Liebig- [email protected] apartments and 15 double apartments Weg. www.studentenwerk-goettingen.de/1/ gaestehaus.html

58 59 IBZ – Internationales Begegnungs- All apartments are bright and fully boards. Furthermore, you can enlist the help zentrum e. V. furnished, and bed-linen, towels and of an agency to find accommodation. A list INSIDER INFO: The Internationale Begegnungszentrum tableware are provided. The caretaker and of estate agents from Göttingen is available If an advertisement does not Göttingen e. V. (IBZ) (international scientific the centre administrator are accessible on at the Welcome Centre. meeting place) provides 31 apartments for location. Property advertisements for the Göttingen mention that the accommo foreign guest scientists of the University As there is huge demand for accommodation area can be found in the local daily dation is furnished or partly- and the Max-Planck-Institutes in a quiet in these guest houses you should make newspaper Göttinger Tageblatt. furnished, you must assume neighbourhood. There are many university enquires at the earliest opportunity. Some are available online via the following that it will contain neither facility buildings and Max-Planck-Institutes link: immo.goettinger-tageblatt.de equipment nor furniture. within walking distance. Private accommodation (German only) In the ample outdoor area there is a spacious Advertisements appear in the printed If you want to search for accommodation playground for families. The university edition on Wednesdays and Saturdays. privately, you can consult the following sports centre, with a wide array of leisure websites: The Welcome Centre at the University of activities on offer, is just around the corner. Göttingen has a pool of reliable private • www.wohnung-mieten.de The nearest bus stop is a two-minute walk landlords. We will be pleased to assist you away. The IBZ is also located close to the • www.studenten-wohnung.de in finding accommodation in Göttingen. forest, which has nice walkways. (German only) Please inform us about your needs as • www.immobilienscout24.de early as possible using our questionnaire. 7 (German only) Please note that furnished apartments in ACCOMMODATION IN GERMANY 7 • www.immowelt.de Göttingen are rare and often expensive. (German only) We kindly ask you to let us know your requirements at least three months • www.zwischenmiete.de before your arrival in Göttingen. Please (German only) IBZ Göttingen e. V. note that we cannot guarantee to find an Zimmermannstr. 32 appropriate offer for you. Moving during 37075 Göttingen It is worth reading the advertisements in the local newspaper and checking the notice your stay might be necessary if you stay for Phone +49 (0)551/-36458 a longer period. Fax +49 (0)551/-33806 boards at the University for offers. You can also post your own advertisement on the [email protected] websites mentioned above, for example, www.ibz.gwdg.de or in the local newspaper, and on notice

60 61 Short term accommodation For general information on Address Phone / Fax / Internet Options accommodation in Germany (search For stays which are shorter than one month you should book a hotel or boarding room. Here criteria, lease, advertisements, is a list of hotels with special rates for guests and visitors of the University of Göttingen. Romantik Hotel Phone +49 (0)551/4968-0 Single Room Gebhards Fax +49 (0)551/4968-110 Double Room deposits, handing over property) Please ask for those when making your reservations. Goethe-Allee 25 c [email protected] Suite visit the EURAXESS Germany website: 37073 Göttingen www.gebhardshotel.com Address Phone / Fax / Internet Options www.euraxess.de/en Novostar Hotel Phone +49 (0)551/99770 Komfort-Room Hotel Astoria Phone +49 (0)551/30500 Single Room Kasseler Landstr. 25d Fax +49 (0)551/9977400 Star-Room Hannoversche Str. 51-53 Fax +49 (0)551/3050100 Double Room 37081 Göttingen [email protected] Boardingroom 37075 Göttingen [email protected] Boarding House www.novostar.de www.astoria-goettingen.de Apartment Hotel Beckmann Phone +49 (0)551/209080 Single Room Leine-Hotel Phone +49 (0)551/50510 Single Room Ulrideshuser Str. 40 Fax +49 (0)551/2090810 Double Room Groner Landstraße 55 Fax +49 (0)551/5051170 Double Room 37077 Göttingen [email protected] Family Room 37081 Göttingen [email protected] Triple Room www.hotel-beckmann.de Boardingroom www.leinehotel-goe.de Boarding House Best Western Hotel Phone +49 (0)551/30550 Standard Room Hotel Stadt Hannover Phone +49 (0)551/547960 Single Room am Papenberg Fax +49 (0)551/3055400 Double Room Goethe-Allee 21 Fax +49 (0)551/45470 Double Room Hermann-Rein-Str. 2 [email protected] Suite 7 37073 Göttingen [email protected] Triple Room 37075 Göttingen www.papenberg.bestwestern.de ACCOMMODATION IN GERMANY 7 www.hotelstadthannover.de Freizeit In GmbH Phone +49 (0)551/9001-0 Single Room InterCityHotel Phone +49 (0)551/52110 Standard Room Dransfelder Str. 3 Fax +49 (0)551/9001-100 Double Room Tourist Office Bahnhofsallee 1a Fax +49 (0)551/5211500 Business Rooms 37079 Göttingen [email protected] Family Room Central Reservation Service 37081 Göttingen [email protected] Junior Suite www.freizeit-in.de Phone +49 (0)551/49980-0 www.goettingen.intercityhotel.de Eden Hotel Göttingen Phone +49 (0)551/507200 Single Room [email protected] Hotel Central Phone +49 (0)551/57157 Single Room Reinhäuser Landstr. 22a Fax +49 (0)551/5072111 Double Room The tourist office is offering an Online- Jüdenstraße 12 Fax +49 (0)551/57105 Double Room 37083 Göttingen [email protected] Triple Room Booking-System to reserve hotels, inns 37073 Göttingen [email protected] Triple ssRoom www.eden-hotel.de Quadruple Room and also holiday apartments for short www.hotel-central.com Junior Suite term stays: Park Inn by Radisson Phone +49 (0)551/270 707-560 Standard Room Hotel Weender Hof Phone +49 (0)551/503750 Single Room Kasseler Landstr. 25 c Fax +49 (0)551/270 707-555 Business Room www.goettingen-tourismus.de Hannoversche Str. 150 Fax +49 (0)551/5037555 Double Room > accommodation 37081 Göttingen [email protected] Family Room 37077 Göttingen [email protected] http://www.parkinn-goettingen.de www.weenderhof.de

62 63 Shared accommodation 1-ZKB 1 Zimmer, Küche, Bad: 1-room-apartment, kitchen, bathroom Here you will find WGs (shared accommodation) and apartments, 2-Zi-Whg 2 Zimmer, Küche, Bad: 2-room-apartment (one bedroom) some of which are furnished: 3 ZKBB 3 Zimmer, Küche, Bad, Balkon: 3 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, balcony http://www.wg-gesucht.de/en/ (two bedrooms) www.studenten-wg.de (German only) WG Wohngemeinschaft: flat-share EFH Einfamilienhaus: one family house

Common abbreviations in housing EG Erdgeschoss: ground floor advertisements 2. OG 2. Obergeschoss: second floor If you want to search for accommodation in Germany privately you will discover DG Dachgeschoss: attic floor that advertisements contain a lot of m2 Quadratmeter: Square metres abbreviations. To help you search more efficiently we have compiled a list of Wfl. Wohnfläche: living space abbreviations with English translations: KM Kaltmiete: monthly rent without extra / running costs, e.g. heating, electricity, rubbish removal ACCOMMODATION IN GERMANY 7 WM Warmmiete: monthly rent incl. all extra costs 7 NK Nebenkosten: extra costs, difference of WM and KM HK Heizkosten: Heating costs ZH Zentralheizung: Central heating DU Dusche: Shower EBK Einbauküche: fitted kitchen NR Nichtraucher: Non-smoker Stellpl. Stellplatz / Parklplatz: Parking space TG Tiefgarage: underground car park Kaution Deposit

64 65 8.1 A BRIEF INTRODUCTION INSIDER INFO: German Sozialversicherung (social security) 8.3 to 8.6 is essentially of importance to is a statutory insurance system providing those employed by a university and not of For detailed information on cover for potential risks such as illness, relevance to fellows. many different aspects of social unemployment, old age, accidents at work, security in Germany visit: and dependency on nursing care. www.deutsche- Research visit based on an It comprises five areas: employment contract sozialversicherung.de/en • Health insurance If you conduct your research in Germany on • Pension scheme the basis of an employment contract you • Unemployment insurance are required to pay fixed statutory social security contributions. The employer and the • Accident insurance employee each pay part of the contributions • Nursing care insurance (approximately 20 % of your gross salary each). Accident insurance contributions are Research visit based on a fellowship paid entirely by the employer. Fellowships are usually exempt from As soon as you take up your position. You statutory social security payments, with will need to register with the Krankenkasse the exception of health insurance which (health insurance provider) of your choice which will inform the other social security 8 even fellows are required to have (see SOCIAL SECURITY IN GERMANY 8 SOCIAL SECURITY IN GERMANY chapter 8.2). Please note that you will not providers. Once registration has been be insured through the university and are completed you will receive a Sozialver- required to arrange all insurance matters sicherungsnummer (social insurance yourself. Apart from health insurance, which number) and a Sozialversicherungsausweis is essential, it is also recommendable to (social insurance card) from the pension take out insurance against accidents and scheme provider. The employer is third-party liability claims. responsible for paying the contributions and will deduct the sum at source. The information on pension schemes, unemployment, accident, and nursing care insurance contained in chapters

66 67 8.2 HEALTH INSURANCE

Transfer of rights Germany has one of the best health it may not exclude certain treatments like an insurance company in Germany or an Statutory health insurance care systems in the world, providing its pregnancy and childbirth. insurance company in your own country. Citizens of EU Member States, EEA States, residents with comprehensive health Within the European Union you might Contributions for health insurance cover are and Switzerland are covered by an EU First of all, you should check whether your deducted from your gross salary at source. insurance coverage. Health insurance insurance at home covers medical and be able to use your European Health regulation on the rights and transferability (Krankenversicherung) is mandatory by Insurance. You should ask the insurance The total amount is split into parts. One of social security entitlements within hospital costs incurred during your stay paid by the employee and the other by the federal law for all researchers and their in Germany. If this insurance cover is not provider in your country, the organisation the European Union. The EEC regulations families accompanying them. You will awarding the fellowship or contact us at employer. stipulate two basic principles: adequate you will have to take out an need proof that you are insured in order additional insurance policy. the Welcome Centre. The benefits of statutory health insurance 1. You are insured in the country you work in to obtain a residence permit and conclude are, for the most part, also standardised. If your stay in Germany is scheduled to last an employment contract. It is advisable There are differences in customer service, 2. You are only subject to the legislation of so long that you are required to become Research visit based on an employment to contact the insurance provider of your additional benefits and optional premiums. one Member State resident in Germany, you are required to contract choice before entering Germany so that You are free to choose your statutory health possess health insurance cover from an any problems can be dealt with in advance, If you work on the basis of an employment insurance company. A comparison of the insurance provider licenced in Germany and so that you are insured from the very contract then as a matter of principle you are different insurance benefits is therefore still if you are not insured by statutory health first day. It may be worth taking out travel subject to statutory German health insurance. worthwhile. insurance or entitled to allowances for insurance for the first few days Up to a gross salary of € 50,850 (upper members of the public service. General features of statutory health in Germany, too. income limit 2016) you must be insured by insurance: For short-term stays (less than three months), a statutory health insurance company. If • Covers visits to physicians, prescribed What type of health insurance to choose? your gross annual salary regularly exceeds 8 as a rule a travel health insurance valid for medicines and outpatient therapies, SOCIAL SECURITY IN GERMANY 8 the entire Schengen area (with a minimum There are two kinds of health insurance in € 50,850, you are free to choose between a in-patient hospital treatment coverage of € 30,000) is required. Where Germany: statutory health insurance and statutory health insurance provider and a (no coverage for private doctors) possible, this should be taken out in the private health insurance. Which one you private health insurance company. This means that you may opt either for a statutory or for a • Covers all the costs for treatment except applicant’s own country, although it may also can choose depends on whether you will for dental prosthetics and glasses be purchased by the host. be working in Germany on the basis of a private health scheme. You must inform your employer which health insurance company • € 10 a day for the first 28 days in For long-term stays (longer than three fellowship or an employment contract. DISCLAIMER you have chosen. The insurance company hospital per calender year months) comprehensive health insurance The insurance providers cited in this forwards the registration to the other social is required. The insurance must cover all Research stay based on a fellowship • Prescriptions can be filled out only chapter are known to the Welcome security providers. costs for medical treatment in the event of in pharmacies Centre. However, the Welcome Centre If you have a fellowship you can only opt serious illness and accidents in Germany. It can accept no responsibility for for private insurance cover – either via must not have a maximum plan limit, and the quality or completeness of the information.

68 69 If your marital partner or children are Travelling abroad in Europe if you are a you have a right to the treatment that is same rate as they would if they had been you should stock up with the necessary Private Health Insurance Companies accompanying you to Germany it may statutory health insurance user medically necessary during your stay. incurred at home; any excess costs must be medication in your own country because For a list of private insurance companies be possible under certain circumstances You are entitled to the same medical paid by you, the patient. illnesses predating the visit to Germany visit: to insure them on the same policy at Every statutory health insurance provider are not usually covered by the German is required to issue its members with a treatment in the host country as the We therefore urgently advise you, whether www.pkv.de/verband/mitgliedsunternehmen no additional cost (family insurance). In residents of that country themselves. The you are travelling privately or officially, insurance company, and you would have order to benefit from this offer, the family European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). to pay for any ensuing costs yourself. Pre- Or contact the Welcome Centre for a list This facilitates your path to treatment costs are covered by your statutory health to always take your European Health members must be registered in Germany insurance provider and will be paid at the Insurance Card or a provisional insurance natal care and childbirth are also excluded of independent insurance brokers and as their main residence. during a temporary visit abroad in Europe. from private health insurance policies agencies. Statutory health insurance users are certificate with you when you travel to In contrast to private insurance companies, countries in the European Economic Area if the expectant mother has become entitled to medical treatment in case of pregnant before entering Germany. Study statutory insurance providers pay the costs injury or acute illness in the EU Member (EEA) or Switzerland. It may be advisable to to the doctor or hospital directly. You merely take out additional, private travel insurance the premiums and benefits carefully. If in States as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, doubt, speak to your insurance company have to present your insurance card before Norway, and Switzerland. This means to cover the costs of return transportation treatment. The insurance providers cited and potential price differences between before you start treatment, particularly in this chapter are known to the cost of treatment in the host country if this involves a stay in hospital, to check the Welcome Centre. However, and in Germany. exactly what costs will be refunded. STATUTORY HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDERS IN GÖTTINGEN (SELECTION) the Welcome Centre can Special case: EU citizens accept no responsibility for the Private health insurance The following information applies to AOK – Die Gesundheitskasse In contrast to statutory health insurance quality or completeness of the citizens of EU States, as well as citizens für Niedersachsen BKK – Technoform information. cover, private health insurance premiums are not income-related but dependent on of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Godehardstr. 24, 37081 Göttingen Weender Landstraße 94-108, 37075 Göttingen various criteria that influence risk, such as Switzerland, who are spending time 8 Phone +49 (0)551/52170-325 15 Phone +49 (0)551/63425210 age, gender, profession, state of health, and abroad. SOCIAL SECURITY IN GERMANY 8 www.aok.de or +49 (0)551/308 31 12 on the particular kind of health insurance www.bkk-technoform.de cover you want. The more comprehensive Health insurance during short visits the package, the more expensive it becomes. If you are insured privately or by statutory BARMER GEK KKH – Allianz Servicezentrum Techniker Krankenkasse Private patients receive personal invoices; insurance you may make use of the health you must pay them yourself and then Wiesenstr. 1, 37073 Göttingen Weender Landstr. 6, 37073 Göttingen Bürgerstr. 42, 37073 Göttingen services in other EU States, as well as submit them to your insurance company Phone +49 (0)800/332060 55 1719 Phone +49 (0)1803/554103 Phone +49 (0)40/46 06 51 11-401 in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and for refund. or +49 (0)800/332060 55 1721 www.kkh-allianz.de www.tk-online.de Switzerland, and have the costs reimbursed www.barmer-gek.de If you are suffering from an illness or by your health insurance provider. In cases condition prior to coming to Germany of out-patient treatment, you can choose A complete list of all the statutory health insurance providers can be found at: www.gkv-spitzenverband.de > GKV

70 71 whether you wish to be treated in Germany In the case of hospital treatment in are only staying in another country on a or in another Member State. If you consult another Member State, the agreement temporary basis – on holiday or business. a doctor or use other medical services of the health insurance scheme must be In case of illness you are eligible for services within the European Union you will initially obtained in advance. This may only be that are necessary medically, including have to pay the costs of the treatment refused if you could obtain the same or hospital treatment. on the spot and then submit the receipts equally effective treatment at the same EU LISSES AND to your insurance provider in your own general standard of medical knowledge in INFORMATION ON country. The costs will then be reimbursed good time at a hospital in Germany. SOCIAL SECURITY at the same level as they would if they had Extended health insurance cover comes been incurred for treatment at home; any into force if you are covered by statutory European Commission excess costs must be borne by patients health insurance and you and your family Internet Portal themselves. ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm

HEALTH INSURANCE FOR HanseMerkur GUEST SCIENTISTS (SELECTION) Versicherungsgruppe MAWISTA nord GmbH Some companies offer special product Siegfried-Wedells-Platz 1 Albstraße 26 packages for foreign researchers and 20354 Hamburg 73240 Wendlingen fellows staying in Germany only for a Phone +49 (0)40/41190 Phone +49 (0)7024/46951-10 certain period of time. You can usually [email protected] Fax +49 (0)7024/46951-20 purchase these packages online while www.hansemerkur.de [email protected] 8 you are still at home. SOCIAL SECURITY IN GERMANY 8 www.mawista.com Educare 24 DAAD Dr. Walter GmbH Schwanenweg 10 Phone +49 (0)228/882-400, -505, -630 53819 Neunkirchen Seelscheid (Mon-Fri: 09:00 am – 12:30 pm) Hotline +49 (0)800/6782222 (free of charge) Phone +49 (0)228/882-8644 Phone +49 (0)2247/9194-0 (Mon-Thu: 01.00 pm – 04:00 pm) Fax +49 (0)2247/9194-40 [email protected] [email protected] www.daad.de/versicherung/en www.educare24.com

72 73 The European Health Insurance Card EU Citizens: extended visits abroad (EHIC) To facilitate treatment during temporary patients are eligible both for services which However, the EHIC only has limited scope. An extended visit abroad is one that If you are entitled to statutory health visits abroad, every health insurance are free of charge in the host country as It is valid: lasts longer than a holiday or business insurance at home, then your domestic scheme is obliged to issue its members well as for free medical treatment. Costs for • for temporary visits abroad trip or attending a conference, such as a health insurance provider will issue Form with a European Health Insurance Card. services which usually incur charges in the guest professorship or research visit for a E106 on request. Form E106 entitles you • for necessary medical services In case of illness in another EU country, host country will be covered by the health semester or a year. If you are staying abroad and your family members to register with or in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and insurance scheme on presentation of the • not for trips abroad specifically for the within the European Union, or in Iceland, a German health insurance scheme. The Switzerland, medical services are provided insurance card. purpose of treatment Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, German health insurance scheme will then according to the laws of the host country • not for the costs incurred in transporting instead of the European Health Insurance provide all the services to which a German and reimbursed according to the charges an invalid home Card, the following applies: user would also be entitled. The German applying there: by presenting the card, health insurance scheme will subsequently invoice your domestic health insurance provider for their costs.

8 SOCIAL SECURITY IN GERMANY 8

74 75 8.3 PENSION SCHEME

Contributions to Rentenversicherung, the Contributions to the statutory pension Recognition of pension rights Your pension scheme contributions will und der Länder (Pension Institution of ADVICE FOR EU CITIZENS: German pension scheme, are part of the scheme are deducted from salaries at remain valid in every country in which you the Federal Republic and the Länder, VBL). When examining the prerequisites for The Citizens statutory social security payments. The source. You do not have to worry about have been part of the pension scheme and VBL provides occupational pensions. The ‘ Signpost Services scheme protects those insured and their them. As a rule, the employer is responsible entitlement, Member States of the EU have paid contributions until you have contributions paid by employees under (CSS) provides free legal advice families if their employment capacity is for paying half of the contribution towards or Partners to the Agreement have to reached pensionable age according to the the statutory scheme are fixed at a certain for EU citizens on topics like resi endangered or reduced and when it ends pensions, the employee the other half. The recognise periods during which pension laws of the respective country. All social percentage. dence law, social security, taxation due to age or death. It covers medical employer registers his employee with the rights have been accrued in Germany. security providers award pensions on the - Periods during which pension rights have If you are employed at the University on etc.: rehabilitation measures, professional respective health insurance provider who basis of their own national legislation. This a short-term academic contract you can rehabilitation, pensions due to diminished then automatically forwards the registration been accrued in countries which do not could mean that you might receive various www.ec.europa.eu have a Sozialversicherungsabkommen be exempted from the VBL’s statutory employment capacity, old-age pensions, and to all the other social security providers. different pensions. insurance scheme. However, your employer dependents’ pensions. (social security agreement) with Germany may not be added to the German periods will have to register you for the VBL’s in order to fulfill the prerequisites for Pension contribution refunds voluntary insurance scheme. In this case, it is only the employer who pays into the entitlement. It is definitely worth informing If you return to a country which does not scheme, at a reduced rate. You can apply Advice on pension schemes Occupational pension yourself beforehand about the regulations have a social security agreement with for exemption at the Human Resources Statutory pension scheme VBL - Versorgungsanstalt des valid in your country. Germany you can apply for a refund of Department within two months of We urgently recommend that you contact Bundes und der Länder the pension contributions you have paid If you have been employed in different starting work. the Deutsche Rentenversicherung for in Germany. After a waiting period of Hans-Thoma-Straße 19, 76133 Karlsruhe countries in the course of your working advice on the pension rights you have Phone +49 (0)721/9398931 life and have paid contributions to two years, you may apply to the Deutsche accrued in Germany and on potential SOCIAL SECURITY IN GERMANY 8 [email protected] the respective social security systems Rentenversicherung (German statutory 8 refunds of contributions before you leave you should make enquiries about your pension insurance scheme) for a refund. Germany. For special information for academics entitlements with the social security Visit their website for more information on fixed-term contracts visit: providers in the individual countries well on which contributions can be refunded. Deutsche Rentenversicherung www.vbl.de in advance. Service Centre Göttingen > English > Products > Download: Occupational pensions VBLspezial for employees with a On principle, it is not foreseen that a single Robert-Gernhardt-Platz 1, 37073 Göttingen short-term scientific position in pension, comprising all the periods covered, If you are classified as a public service Phone +49(0)551/70705-0 academia or research should be paid by any one country. There employee according to your employment [email protected] are just a few exceptions aimed at avoiding contract you will usually be included in the www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de mini-pensions. statutory Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes

76 77 ACCIDENTS AT WORK 8.4 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE 8.5 ACCIDENT INSURANCE If you have an accident at work or on the way there or back you should inform Unemployment insurance Fellowships are usually exempt from Accident insurance (Unfallversicherung) in Germany or your own country. As a your superior immediately. He or she (Arbeitslosenversicherung) contributions compulsory social security payments. is another pillar of the statutory social matter of principle, obtaining private will have to report the accident and forward the information to the HR- are part of the statutory social security security contributions. The most important accident insurance is the researcher’s own To what extent benefits accrued in Germany Department. payments. This insurance provides cover will be recognised by unemployment object of accident insurance is to cover responsibility. A research institution or the for jobless people. Those who fulfil the insurance companies in other countries potential accidents at work; it does not organisation granting a fellowship may Please find more information on how to proceed after an accident at work here: preconditions for entitlement, i.e., those must be ascertained in the respective apply to private accidents. opt to provide accident insurance for the who worked in Germany immediately country. If you are returning to a country Statutory accident insurance contributions researcher. www.uni-goettingen.de/en/1437.html before becoming unemployed, were which does not have a social security are paid by the employer who registers all When obtaining private accident insurance, subject to statutory social security for at agreement with Germany you will not be employees with the respective employer’s please pay special attention to the following least 12 months in the last 2 years, are in Statutory accident insurance for public entitled to receive German unemployment liability insurance association. aspects: employees in Göttingen is provided by: possession of a valid residence permit, benefits there. Fellowships are usually exempt from • Coverage of accidents in Germany and are available without restrictions for Landesunfallkasse Niedersachsen While drawing unemployment benefits compulsory social security payments. job recruitment here, are entitled to the • Coverage of accidents while travelling www.lukn.de (Arbeitslosengeld), recipients’ contributions German unemployment benefit. Previous to your own country or third countries towards health insurance and nursing care periods of employment in member states Special case: private accident insurance • Coverage valid for the specific type insurance are paid by the Employment of the EU/EEA and Switzerland can be and duration of your research stay Agency (Agentur für Arbeit). Statutory Statutory accident insurance does not taken into account. (use caution with traditional travel pension scheme contributions will also be cover private accidents. Depending on insurance!) Unemployment insurance is deducted from paid. The unemployment insurance provider your country of origin and type of research salaries at source. The employee does not is the German Federal Employment Agency activity, the statutory accident insurance • Coverage of work accidents if they SOCIAL SECURITY IN GERMANY 8 Agentur für Arbeit Göttingen 8 have to worry about them. As a rule, the (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), represented by from your own country may not be valid are not covered by statutory accident Bahnhofsallee 5 employer is responsible for paying half of its local employment agencies. for the duration of your stay in Germany. insurance 37081 Göttingen the contribution towards unemployment Under certain circumstances, you might • Coverage of accidents that might occur Phone +49 (0)1801/555111 insurance and the employee the other half. not qualify for German statutory accident under the specific circumstances or your (for employees) The employer registers his employee with insurance, for example if you are not an research activity (e.g. lab accidents) the respective health insurance provider employee, but a fellowship holder. [email protected] who then automatically forwards the • Exclusions of liability, e.g. for dangerous www.arbeitsagentur.de In order to close these gaps between activities or sports registration to all the other social security private and occupational accident providers. insurance coverage, we recommend that you obtain private accident insurance

78 79 8.6 NURSING CARE INSURANCE 8.7 OTHER BRANCHES OF INSURANCE

Another element of statutory social Besides the aforementioned branches third party liability insurance policy (for security is Pflegeversicherung (nursing care of insurance, private companies offer families) in order to be insured for claims insurance). It is directly linked to health additional insurance schemes. Depending in respect of accidental damages. insurance and automatically taken out on individual circumstances, it is worth • In Germany every pet/animal owner is with it. Nursing care insurance is designed carefully considering whether such schemes liable for damages caused by their pet/ for people who are in need of care and are necessary and should be purchased, for animal. This applies especially to dogs dependent on the assistance of others. It instance: and horses. It is therefore common for provides for domestic and in-patient care. • Disability insurance dog and horse owners to purchase a Contributions to nursing care insurance are • Third party liability insurance private animal-owner third party liability deducted at source from the employee’s insurance policy. • Household contents insurance gross salary. As a rule, the employer pays half the contributions, the employee the • Motor vehicle insurance Already existing insurance schemes other half. Childless employees pay a • Life insurance If you already have insurance schemes in surcharge of 0.25 % of their gross salary • Legal costs insurance on top of this. The employer registers place in your own country the following his employee with the respective health questions should be considered in respect insurance provider who then automatically In particular, on the subject of third party of each policy: forwards the registration to all the other liability please consider the following: • Does the insurance policy cover the stay 8 social security providers. • In Germany all motor vehicle owners are in Germany? SOCIAL SECURITY IN GERMANY 8 legally required to possess motor vehicle • Is there a need for an alternative or insurance with third party liability cover. additional insurance policy for the Anyone who owns a motor vehicle and duration of the stay in Germany? does not possess sufficient third party • Does it make sense to cancel, suspend, liability insurance is criminally liable. or switch the existing policy to the • In Germany everyone is liable for damages entitlement rate in your own country for inflicted on a third party. Parents are the duration of the stay in Germany? liable for the actions of their children. It is, therefore, common to purchase a private

80 81 The German tax system is complex. Income should try to clarify these matters in tax is deducted from your gross salary at advance to avoid paying unnecessary tax. source. There are certain deductions, like Taxation of an individual’s income is pro- special exemptions, tax breaks for families, gressive, the higher the rate of tax payable. and much more. How much tax you are Single taxpayers are liable to pay tax if they charged, or whether you will be asked to earn more than € 8,652 (2016) per year and pay taxes in your home country depends the amount is doubled for married taxpayers. on whether Germany has a tax agreement Tax rates for an individual vary between 14 % with your home country. If possible, you and 42 % depending on income.

9.1 RESEARCH VISIT BASED ON A FELLOWSHIP

If your research visit to Germany is The preconditions for tax exemption supposed to take place within the on fellowships in Germany are: framework of a fellowship you may, under certain circumstances, be exempt • They should be paid from public funds from taxation under German income or via a public or non-profit agency tax law. It is certainly worth consulting (recognised under German law) the organisation which has awarded the • They should sponsor research or fellowship about this point. Furthermore, academic or artistic training or you should find out whether the fellowship continuing education 9 TAXATION IN GERMANY paid in Germany is subject to taxation in • They should be no higher than the TAXATION IN GERMANY 9 your own country. amount required to fulfil the research task or to cover living and training needs • They should be granted according to the regulations of the donor • There should be no quid pro quo require- ment or employment of the recipient

82 83 9.2 RESEARCH VISIT BASED ON AN 9.3 DOUBLE TAXATION AGREEMENTS EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT In order to avoid a situation in which taxation to your own country. If one of Visit the website of the Federal Ministry foreigners are liable to pay tax both in these conditions is not met, your salary will of Finance for a list of the countries If your research visit is based on an details will be forwarded to the tax office Germany and in their own countries, be taxed in Germany. Agreements exist that have signed double taxation employment contract in Germany (and and you will be issued with an ID number double taxation agreements have been with some countries stating that university agreements with Germany: will last more than 6 months) you will valid throughout your lifetime. The tax ID signed with many countries. They regulate teachers and researchers who come to www.bundesfinanzministerium.de > effectively be liable for taxation in Germany number will be usually sent by post a few in which country you have to pay tax. Germany for paid research at a public Themen > Steuern > Internationales on your globally-earned income and assets. days after registering at the Residents’ INSIDER INFO: TAX CARD If you stay in Germany for less than 6 research institution may pay their taxes in Steuerrecht > Staatenbezogene Registration Office. As the process will If you are only going to work in months, your income will be taxed in your their own countries for a limited space of Informationen Income tax take a while, please go to the tax office in Germany for a shorter period own country provided that you work for time. Details can be found in the double For further useful information, forms, Göttingen to get your tax number soon a foreign employer and that the double taxation agreements between the member and leaflets on the topic of taxation and Income tax is deducted from your salary at after your arrival. This will ensure you don’t you should submit an application taxation agreement assigns the right of states of the EU and other countries. double taxation in Lower Saxony visit source and paid to the state directly by your have to pay more tax. for the website of the Oberfinanzdirektion employer. The amount of taxation depends “beschränkt einkommens When you first start work and at the (regional tax office): on income, personal status and tax bracket. steuerpflichtige Arbeitnehmer- “ beginning of every subsequent calender Every person registered at the Residents’ (employees subject to limited www.ofd.niedersachsen.de year, you will have to give the ID number to Registration Office will be asked to give tax liability) to the tax office. your employer. details that are relevant for taxation. Those 9.4 TAX RETURN

At the end of each calendar year you may home. It must reach the local tax office apply to the tax office at your place of by May of the following year. If a tax CONTACT: residence for a Lohnsteuerjahresausgleich accountant is doing the tax return for you Finanzamt Göttingen (annual income tax adjustment). it can be handed in at the very latest by 9 TAXATION IN GERMANY 9 Godehardstr. 6 This may entitle you to a partial refund of 31 December of the following year. When 37073 Göttingen tax paid. The necessary documents can be the tax office has processed the tax return Phone +49 (0)551/407-0 obtained from the tax office or online. you will receive a Steuerbescheid (tax Fax +49 (0)551/407-449 statement) informing you whether and to You can also submit a tax return from your what extent tax will be refunded. Opening hours: own country if you have already returned Mon-Fri 08:00 am – 12:00 pm Thu 02:00 pm – 05:00 pm

84 85 It may be worth paying a Steuerberater (tax accountant) to help you complete your 9.5 CHURCH TAX AND SOLIDARITY tax return. For matters relating to double taxation SURCHARGE the tax office is responsible for staff at the University of Göttingen. It is here that An unusual feature of taxation in Germany tax in some parts of Germany but not in the applications are examined and the is state-collected Kirchensteuer (church tax). Göttingen. Any other church membership respective tax bracket allocated. If you have Under certain circumstances, churches can (e.g. Anglican Church or Orthodox Church) any other questions you can get advice at have their tax collected for them by the tax or religious faith will not be tax-relevant. the Göttingen tax office. office. In the case of the major churches, If in doubt, ask for advice at the Residents’ Advice, though only for members, church tax (roughly 9 % of income tax) is Registration Office. is also available from the Lohn- und collected by the state together with income The merging of the two Germanies was Einkommensteuer Hilfe-Ring (income tax and automatically deducted from your and is in part financed by the solidarity tax advisory service): monthly salary. This is the reason why tax, which is a surcharge of 5.5 % of the www.lhrd.com you are asked to state your religion when normal income tax paid by all employees you register at the Residents’ Registration in Germany. Please ask the Welcome Centre for a list Office. of English-speaking tax accountants in Göttingen. The religious communities levying tax in Göttingen are the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Jewish Communities INSIDER INFO: and certain Protestant Free Churches levy You will find a database of 9 tax accountants online: TAXATION IN GERMANY 9 www.dstv.de/en/dstv-en CONTACT: Finanzamt Göttingen Godehardstr. 6 37073 Göttingen Phone +49 (0)551/407-0

86 87 10.1 ENTRY REGULATIONS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

According to German law, international Please check the pages of the German academics may bring their spouses and mission in your country about what children with them to Germany in order requirements you have to meet when to establish and preserve the long term applying for a visa and inform the Welcome relationship of the family (§ 29 Laws Centre in good time if your family will be Pertaining to Foreigners Living in Germany; coming with you, so that we can help you Article 6 GG). with the formalities. Depending on the Non EU/EEA-Citizens must prove that they circumstances, the issuing of a visa can have sufficient financial means at their take up to 12 weeks. disposal and adequate accommodation for Generally, spouses of international the family, and that all family members are academics are allowed to work in Germany protected by an adequate health insurance. in accordance with the current laws pertaining to foreigners living in Germany.

10.2 CHILDCARE

If you are bringing your children with you contact the Welcome Centre. Basically, to Germany you should look for childcare there are three different types of childcare: at the earliest opportunity and take steps Kindergarten (kindergarten), Krippe (crèche) to find a place for your children while you and Tagesmütter/-väter (child minders). 10 RESEARCH VISIT WITH A FAMILY 10 RESEARCH VISIT WITH A FAMILY are still at home. As a first step you may 10

88 89 Kindergarten Krippe THE FAMILY SERVICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN Attendance at kindergarten is voluntary Children aged between 1 and 3 are looked (EXCLUDING THE MEDICAL FACULTY) in Germany, but all children have a legal after in Krippen (crèches). Both, Krippen and right to a place from the age of three years Kindergarten, are often parts of child care The Family Service gives advice on questions concerning the combining of on (until age six). Parents are required to facilities. However, in Göttingen as in many academic life with family situations. It pay a fee during the first two years. In German towns there is a severe shortage of INSIDER INFO: offers information on family situations. Lower Saxony the last year prior to school places. The costs of childcare vary according You should try to enroll It offers information on family-friendly is exempt from fees. Kindergartens are run to the services provided, the age of the your children as early as working arrangements, e.g. telework, by churches, social organizations, or private child and the income of the parents. and specialized childcare services like providers. They are usually open from 7:30 possible, since there may • Emergency childcare am or 8:00 am and are either limited to Tagesmütter/-väter be a waiting list. morning care (until 12:00 pm) or provide • Childcare during business trips Child minders, in German Tagesmütter day care (until 2:00 pm or 4:30/5:00 pm). • Childcare during events Day care includes lunch, which needs to be or –väter, provide individualised care and paid for separately. have more flexible hours. They usually look after several children at a time in their own CONTACT: homes. Child minders are trained and must The best way of finding babysitters to look Renate Putschbach have an official license from the local after your children for a few hours during Goßlerstr. 9, 37073 Göttingen child and youth welfare services. The the day or in the evenings, is to ask the Phone +49(0)551/39-12490 CHILDCARE OFFERS OF THE UNIVERSITY AND ASSOCIATED INSTITUTIONS Kindertagespflegebörse Göttingen helps Kindertagespflegebörse or to ask colleagues, [email protected] you to find a child minder. The option of neighbours or have a look at the students’ www.uni-goettingen.de/en/124435.html Studentenwerk SportKinderGarten Kindertagespflegebörse Göttingen child minders is supported by the city of notice boards. www.studentenwerk-goettingen.de www.sportkindergarten-goettingen.de Waageplatz 8, 37073 Göttingen Göttingen in case you do not find a place > Kindertagesstätten Phone +49(0)551/384385-0 in a nursery. Kindertagesstätte der www.kindertagespflege-goe.de RESEARCH VISIT WITH A FAMILY 10 ASC Kinderbewegungshaus Universitätsmedizin (day care of the Opening hours: 10 (children‘s movement house) University Medical Centre Göttingen) Tue: 09:30 am – 12:00 pm www.kitasport.de/kinderbewegungshaus www.med.uni-goettingen.de > Service Thu: 03:00 pm – 6:00 pm > Einrichtungen > Kindertagesstätte and daily by appointment

90 91 INSIDER INFO: 10.3 SCHOOLS Holiday programmes: www.ferien.goettingen.de School attendance is mandatory for all Christmas, and in spring. Most primary run by the government and do not charge Primary school lasts for four years. In the Reife. The Realschule is designed for For information about childcare children in Germany between 6 and 15 years schools are half-day schools and offer classes tuition fees. You do, however, have to pay for final year the child and the parents receive those who will be entering an programmes during the holidays visit of age. Home schooling is not permitted. in the morning only, but a growing number books and teaching material, as well as for a recommendation from the teachers apprenticeship in a commercial the website: The German school year usually starts in of Göttingen primary schools nowadays excursions. The same goes for the two Roman concerning the type of schools most trade or medical profession such as August or early September and ends in June provide after-school care. Some secondary Catholic schools. The private Montessori appropriate for her/his continuing education nursing. The emphasis is more on www.goettingerland.de/ferienbetreuung or July. The actual dates vary from year to schools are full time schools and even in school and a Waldorf school are co-funded by in secondary school. This recommendation mathematics and language skills year and from state to state. Summer break those that aren’t: the higher the grade, the public funds and charge moderate income- is based on the teacher’s evaluation of the than on manual activities. If pupils lasts about six weeks, with further holiday more afternoon classes will be held. The related fees. child’s performance, abilities, and interests. have performed well in Realschule, vast majority of schools are public schools, they can transfer to the Gymnasium. periods of varying length in autumn, around The general language of instruction is ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SECONDARY SCHOOL German. English language classes already THE GERMAN SCHOOL SYSTEM: start in primary school. Later, pupils have Gymnasium Deutscher Bildungsserver SCHOOLS IN GÖTTINGEN SCHOOLS THAT OFFER INSTRUCTION the opportunity to learn further foreign Hauptschule This school is the highest level of (The German Education Server): IN ENGLISH (PARTLY): languages, such as Latin, French, or other The local Schulamt (education authority) secondary education and ends with languages. A secondary education in German is the www.bildungsserver.de/start_e.html can provide information on the school Felix-Klein-Gymnasium general school (Hauptschule), which goes the Abitur and prepares pupils to enter situation in Göttingen. You usually decide www.fkg.goettingen.de After four years of primary school th th Kultusministerkonferenz through to the 9th or 10th grade. It prepares university. It goes through to the 12 or 13 which school to choose after a visit and (Grundschule), pupils are streamed to grade. This is the most demanding type of (Conference of Ministers of Hainberg-Gymnasium pupils for vocational education and ends an interview with the head teacher. different types of secondary schooling Education and Cultural Affairs): www.hainberg-gymnasium.de with a Hauptschulabschluss. Graduates schooling, with 32 to 40 hours of lessons (Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium, www.kmk.org/kmk/information-in-english.html The Welcome Centre can provide you generally enter an apprenticeship (Lehre) in per week and lots of homework. Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium Gesamtschule). with lists of schools including addresses, a manual trade, sometimes combined with EURAXESS Germany: www.thg-goettingen.de contact person, and further details. some part-time studies at a vocational school Gesamtschule PRIMARY SCHOOL www.euraxess.de/en Schulamt der Stadt Göttingen (Berufsschule). The comprehensive school (Gesamtschule) Services > Incoming > Research stay with (local education authority) Children start primary school (Grundschule) combines the Gymnasium, Realschule and a family > Childcare and Schools www.goettingen.de between the ages of five-and-a-half and Realschule Hauptschule. This school type allows pupils six-and-a-half, depending on the month > Bildung & Wissenschaft A Realschule is more advanced than the to switch between the different tracks 10 your child was born. The number of weekly without changing schools. RESEARCH VISIT WITH A FAMILY 10 Official Göttingen schools’ website hours of lessons at primary school varies Hauptschule and goes through to 10th grade. including addresses of all schools in from 20 to 30, depending on the class and It offers a broader range of emphasis Göttingen: the age of the child. for intermediary students and ends www.goettingen.de > Schulen with a Realschulabschluss/Mittlere

92 93 10.4 BENEFITS FOR FAMILIES CONTACTS FOR QUESTIONS RELATING TO AND APPLICATIONS FOR CHILD ALLOWANCE Child allowance – Kindergeld If you apply for child allowance at the Non-EU citizens parents drawing parental allowance to Family Office (Familienkasse) please compensate for loss of income are eligible For staff of the University of Göttingen: Parents are eligible to apply for Kindergeld present your and your childs’ tax Foreigners living permanently in Germany for the full 14 months parental allowance (child allowance) for children up to a identification number. are eligible to receive child allowance if due to the lack of a partner. maximum age of 18 or, alternatively, they have a valid settlement permit or Familienkasse at the University With the separate “parental allowance Reiner König (First Letter A-K) up to the age of 25 if the dependent is residence permit for specific purposes. One undergoing schooling or training or higher EU / EEA citizens of these purposes is to pursue research PLUS” benefit the government has revised Phone +49 (0)551/39-4243 its regulations on claiming halved parental education. Under certain circumstances If you are a citizen of a member state of according to §20. Foreigners who have a Fax +49 (0)551/39-184243 allowance over a longer period: it allows foreign parents are also entitled to child the EU, the EEA States, or Switzerland you residence permit for the purpose of study parents to receive a reduced parental [email protected] allowance. Child allowance is usually may receive child allowance regardless of or doctoral study (§16) are not entitled to allowance of 50 % beyond the period of paid when the applicant is domiciled or whether you have a settlement permit or receive child allowance. 14 months if they continue to meet the Gesa Sangmeister-Grotzke normally resident in Germany. In addition, a residence permit. The same applies if you basic eligibility requirements for parental (First Letter L-Z) the child must be domiciled or normally are a national of Serbia and Montenegro, Parental allowance – Elterngeld allowance. Parents can apply regardless of Phone +49 (0)551/39-4242 resident in Germany or another EU Bosnia-Herzegovina, Morocco, Tunisia, Parental allowance compensates for loss of whether they have additional income and Fax +49 (0)551/39-184242 member state. Applicants whose residence or Turkey on the basis of the respective is abroad may become eligible for child income following the birth of a child. After it can be claimed for a maximum of [email protected] bilateral agreements, provided that allowance if they are unlimited income deducting taxes, social security payments, 24 months in total. goettingen.de you are liable to pay contributions for tax payers in Germany. There are certain unemployment benefit under the terms and tax allowances, it amounts to 65-67 % The third form of allowance, known as circumstances under which applicants of your employment in Germany. of the average monthly income available “partnership bonus months”, is only For EU citizens may be eligible although they are normally prior to birth, or a maximum of € 1,800, or available if both parents each work part- If you are working on the basis of a service resident abroad or their income is earned a minimum of € 300. Non-working parents time for 25 to 30 hours a week concurrently Familienkasse Göttingen contract or have been sent to Germany Bahnhofsallee 5 abroad – constellations of this kind can receive the minimum amount in addition over a period of four months. It can be on temporary assignments by employers 37081 Göttingen usually only be clarified when applications to the family income. Parental allowance claimed for up to 28 months. resident abroad you are not eligible is paid to the father and mother for a Familienkasse-Goettingen@ are submitted to the Family Office of the Parents whose children are born in for child allowance even if you have a maximum of 14 months. They are eligible arbeitsagentur.de Federal Employment Agency. Germany on or after 01.07.2015 will be able settlement permit or residence permit for to split the period between them. Neither Child allowance is currently (2016) € 190 to claim and combine these three forms of Opening hours: the purpose of gainful employment. parent may claim for more than 12 months. RESEARCH VISIT WITH A FAMILY 10 per month for the first and second child, allowance. 10 Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 08:00 am – 12:00 pm A further 2 months may be paid if income € 196 for the third child and € 221 for each Thu 02:00 pm – 06:00 pm is lost during this period and the partner We recommend that you contact the additional child. is involved in caring for the child. Single appropriate public authorities for advice

94 95 on which form of parental allowance Under certain circumstances, parental Citizens of the EU/EEA a settlement permit automatically fulfil legally. Foreign parents who hold a residence INFORMATION AND ADVICE: is the most suitable for your personal allowance may also be paid in respect of this requirement. Those holding a residence permit for the purpose of studying or only EURES – The European Job Mobility Portal: circumstances before making your employment abroad. Citizens of the European Union (EU), permit only fulfil the requirements if they in connection with a work permit for a the European Economic Area (EEA) and ec.europa.eu/eures application. Application for parental allowance must be are also entitled to take up employment specified maximum period are not eligible Switzerland are usually eligible for parental in Germany or have already worked here to receive parental allowance. Bundesagentur für Arbeit made in writing to the office responsible allowance if they are employed in Germany Eligibility (Federal Employment Agency) for parental allowance in the federal or if they are not employed but live in states. Each parent may apply for parental www.arbeitsagentur.de Mothers and fathers are eligible for Germany. allowance for him- or herself. parental allowance if: Useful online job portals: The application does not necessarily have • they care for and educate their children Other foreigners 10.5 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES to be submitted immediately after birth. ec.europa.eu/euraxess/index.cfm/jobs/ themselves after birth Retrospective payments are, however, Other foreigners are eligible for parental FOR PARTNERS index • they are not employed for more than only made for the last 3 months prior to allowance if their residence in Germany is www.zeit.de/jobs 30 hours per week the month in which the application for deemed permanent according to the type of Employment law regulations Job offers www.academics.com • they live together with their children in parental allowance was made. residence title they possess and their access www.monster.de one abode to the employment market. Those holding If you are accompanying your husband or You will find job offers in the weekend wife to Germany and intend to search for editions of newspapers, online, on notice • they are resident or have their habitual a job, please take note of the employment boards, or through the employment In Göttingen: place of residence in Germany law regulations (see chapter 5.4). Enquire agencies belonging to the Bundesagentur Arbeitsagentur Göttingen INSIDER INFO: at the German foreign mission or your für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency). (Employment Agency) local Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners’ Office) Job offers and useful information for Bahnhofsallee 5, 37081 Göttingen Tax allowances for children: whether your marital partner is eligible to anyone wishing to take advantage of the Phone +49 (0)1801/555111 CONTACTS FOR QUESTIONS RELATING TO AND APPLICATIONS FOR PARENTAL ALLOWANCE If you are a taxpayer in Germany you engage in gainful employment and what free movement of labour can be found at are entitled to a documents may be required to do so. EURES – The European Job Mobility Portal. [email protected] Stadt Göttingen Phone +49 (0)551/400-3126 www.arbeitsagentur.de Kinderfreibetrag EURES staff work at the job centres in the Department Youth, Parental Allowance Ms Klüber Qub – Z (Tax allowance) for dependent children. This entitlement starts in the month local employment agencies in Germany. Hiroshimaplatz 1–4 Fax +49 (0)551/400-2804 37083 Göttingen in which the child is born. www.familienkasse-info.de/elterngeld.php [email protected] This usually means that you will Opening hours: pay less tax. 10 Phone +49 (0)551/400-2972 Mon, Wed, Fri: 08:30 am – 12:00 pm RESEARCH VISIT WITH A FAMILY 10 Ms Albrecht A – Hak Thu: 02:00 pm – 05:00 pm Phone +49 (0)551/400-3125 Ms Uhlmann Hal – Qua

96 97 10.6 DUAL CAREER SERVICE

CONTACT: The Dual Career Service of the Welcome The Dual Career Service offers: Welcome Centre Centre assists newly appointed professors • Information on employment Dual Career Service and their families in achieving professional opportunities within the University of as well as family-related goals, prior to and Nadine Dreyer Göttingen during their new stage of life and work. Von-Siebold-Straße 2 • Information on employment Benefitting from an extensive network 37075 Göttingen opportunities with the University’s of regional co-operation partners from co-operation partners Phone +49 (0)551/39-21352 science, education, economy, social services, Fax +49 (0)551/39-1821352 and administration, the Welcome Centre • Establishing and procuring contacts [email protected] coaches occupational mobility decisions • Information on further education www.uni-goettingen.de/welcome and develops individual solutions. opportunities > Dual Career Service • Coaching for job applicants We would like to point out that the University of Göttingen cannot warrant INSIDER INFO: employment. Job offers of the University of Göttingen and the university hospitals: www.uni-goettingen.de/de/2794.html www.sub.uni-goettingen.de/en/about-us/ job-openings-training/ www.med.uni-goettingen.de/app/jobs www.uni-goettingen.de/en/305406.html 10 RESEARCH VISIT WITH A FAMILY 10

98 99 11.1 DOCTORS AND HEALTH

If you need to consult a doctor in Germany You can find the telephone numbers in the you can ask your colleagues or acquaintances next chapter or on the Internet. You may for a recommendation. You will find a list also ring a doctor: usually the answering of all the doctors, listed according to field machine will contain a message (in of specialization, in your local classified German) telling you where to get help. directory, Gelbe Seiten (Yellow Pages). It is often advisable to consult a general Pharmacy service practitioner, known as a Hausarzt, who will transfer you to a specialist if necessary. In Germany medicine, including painkillers, can be purchased at pharmacies You should always ring the doctors’ office (Apotheken) only, no matter whether you in advance to make an appointment. In have a prescription (Rezept) or you are case of accident or emergency you will be looking for over the counter drugs. given an appointment immediately or on the same day. Otherwise you will probably The law on prescriptions is very strict have to wait a couple of days or even weeks in Germany. Many medicines that you for an appointment, particularly with may be able to buy over the counter in dentists or specialists. your own country, such as antibiotics, IN GÖTTINGEN must be prescribed by a doctor in Opening hours at doctors’ offices vary Official health portal: Germany. However, some painkillers, considerably. At night or during weekends www.gesund-durch.de such as headache tablets, are available at doctors’ offices are usually closed but pharmacies without a prescription. emergency and stand-by services are All-night pharmacies: available at all times. With statutory health insurance, the www.apotheken.de majority of the costs of prescription > Notdienstapotheken > search for your medicines are paid for directly by Emergency services postal code your insurance company. You do pay If you urgently need a doctor at night, a small nominal fee for each drug during the weekend, or on a public holiday, (Zuzahlungspflicht). you will have to turn to the ärztlicher Notdienst or ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst 11 LIVING IN GERMANY 11 LIVING IN GERMANY (emergency services). 11

100 101 Costs of medical treatment Statutory health insurance Private health insurance Opening hours of pharmacies are similar to If you are not a private patient your doctor If you have a contract with a private health other shops: Mon-Fri: 08:00 am – 06:30 pm, will invoice your statutory health insurance insurance provider you will usually have to Sat: 08:00 am – 01:00 pm; in busy areas provider directly. All you need to do is to pay the costs for treatment and medication some have longer opening hours. present your health insurance card at the yourself and then submit the invoices to For emergencies, there is always at least surgery. However, for some treatment and the insurance provider for reimbursement. one pharmacy open in every area day services, such as certain dental fillings, Take careful note of the conditions of your and night (Notdienst). You can find this dentures, spectacles, contact lenses, and health insurance which stipulate whether information on the window of each particular medications, you have to pay an the provider will reimburse your costs pharmacy, in the daily newspaper, or on the additional fee even if you are not a private and at what level. Depending on your Internet at www.apotheken.de (you need patient. insurance premium certain treatment may to enter the postal code on the left, under be excluded, or you may be required to pay “Notdienstapotheken”). part of the costs yourself.

Hospitals HOSPITALS AND CLINICS IN GÖTTINGEN (SELECTION) All hospitals, except for some private clinics, However, state insured patients pay € 10 Evangelisches Krankenhaus are open to all insured patients. Normally each day, but only for a maximum of 28 Universitätsmedizin Göttingen Krankenhaus Neu-Mariahilf Göttingen-Weende gGmbH doctors transfer patients to a hospital and days per calendar year for their stay. The Georg-August-Universität, Waldweg 9, 37073 Göttingen An der Lutter 24, 37075 Göttingen control of treatment is then managed by a room you get depends on your health Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen Phone +49 (0)551/5034-0 Phone +49 (0)551/5034-0 doctor there. When going to a hospital or insurance scheme. If privately insured, you Phone +49 (0)551/39-0 www.neumariahilf.de www.ekweende.de clinic, take proof of your health insurance will probably get a single or double room. www.med.uni-goettingen.de with you (although you’re unlikely to be If you have a state insurance, you will Neu-Bethlehem gGmbH refused in case of emergencies). If you are probably share with two or three others. admitted to hospital, your health insurance Bring a night-dress or pyjamas, towels, and Humboldtallee 8, 37073 Göttingen will cover the costs of that stay. toiletries to the hospital as these are not Phone +49 (0)551/494-0 provided. www.neubethlehem.de 11 LIVING IN GERMANY 11

102 103 Selection of foreign-language speaking doctors in Göttingen Doctors Languages Address Phone +49 (0)551/

Doctors Languages Address Phone Dermatologists (Hautärzte) +49 (0)551/ (Ms.) Dr. Finger, Dr. Vente English Zindelstr. 3 47778 General Practitioners (Allgemeinmediziner) (Ms.) Dr. Thoms English Prinzenstr. 3 45911 (Mr.) Andreas Fricke English, Spanish Obere Karspüle 33 57236 (Mr.) Dr. Bartels, English Groner-Tor-Str. 25 45220, (Ms.) Dr. Kruppa, Polish, Russian, Solling Str. 2B 94029 (Ms.) Dr. Cleffmann, 48877866, (Ms.) Dr. Behroznia Persian, Turkish (Ms.) Dr. Ranke-Greve 45911 (Mr.) Dr. med. Koch English Königsallee 66 61700 Childrens Doctor (Kinderärzte) (Ms.) Dr. med. Hähnel English Bürgerstr. 42 42990 (Mr.) Dr. med. Rosenboom English, French Herzberger Landstr. 43 484101 Ophthalmologists (Augenärzte) (Mr.) Dr. med. Hulpke-Wette English, French Nikolaistr. 29 77555 (Ms.) Dr. Schröder, English Theaterplatz 7 548930 (Mr.) Dr. med. Meyer English, French Kurze Str. 2 42623 (Mr.) Prof. Dr. Hoerauf Dentists (Zahnärzte) (Ms.) Dr. Winter-Buerke, English Waldweg 5 58550 (Mr.) Dr. Chirivi Italian, French, Weender Str. 75 7977736 (Ms.) Dr. Ammermann English (Mr.) Dr. Egbert, English Henneberg 18A 3070722 (Mr.) Dr. Möller English Herzberger Landstr. 25A 5888944491 (Ms.) Dr. Oelhafen (Ms.) Dr. Kremer English Alfred-Delp-Weg 6 795323 Gynaecologists (Frauenärzte) (Mr.) Dr. Hoch English, Russian, Prinzenstr. 14 57509 (Mr.) Dr. med. Blaschke English, French, Bühlstr. 16 45988 Persian, Turkish Spanish, Italian, Polish, Croatian Internal Specialists (Internisten) (Ms.) Dr. Suren English Nikolaistr. 28 48060 Praxis am Gauss Wall English Hospitalstr. 5 900369-0 (several doctors) (Mr.) Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. English, French Nikolausberger 43121 11 Martin Weg 56 (Mr.) Dr. Zänker English, French & Groner-Tor-Str. 3 484055 LIVING IN GERMANY 11 Dutch (limited)

104 105 11.2 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Important emergency telephone Emergency ward, Weende Hospital Emergency medical home visit service Poison Emergency Service: numbers Phone: +40 (0) 551/5034-1255 (by doctors), not covered by statutory Giftinformationszentrum Nord, health insurance: Fire department, emergency calls 112 Weender Krankenhaus Pharmakol. u. toxikol. Zentrum der Phone +49 (0)551/19257 Universität Göttingen Police 110 An der Lutter 24, 37075 Göttingen Mon-Sun: 00:00 am – 12:00 pm Mon-Sun, public holidays: Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen PERSONAL OR FAMILY CRISIS The numbers 110 and 112 can be dialled 00:00 am – 12:00 pm Crisis Line (jointly provided by Pro free of charge from any regular phone, Phone +49 (0)551/19240 Emergency walk-in clinic when doctor’s payphone, or mobile. It is even possible to Fax +49 (0)551/3831881 testant and Roman Catholic Churches): offices are closed Emergency medical service for children - dial the emergency numbers without the [email protected] when doctor’s offices are closed +49 (0)800 1110111 SIM card or without knowing the mobile´s Phone +49 116117 www.giz-nord.de/cms/index.php/ Call any paediatrician and the answering Shelter for Battered Women and PIN number. These numbers are valid for the Universitätsklinikum Göttingen englisch.htm their Children: emergency services throughout Germany. Robert-Koch-Straße 40, level 01 machine will tell you which paediatrician is 37075 Göttingen in charge. Vehicle breakdown +49 (0)551 5211800 Important information in emergency Mon, Tue, Thu: 06:30 am – 10:00 pm Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club Helpline for Children in Distress: Emergency service for small animals situations: Wed, Fri: 01:30 am – 11:00 pm (ADAC): +49 (0)180/2222222 +49 (0)800 1110333 Phone +49 (0)551/3933387 • Who are you? Sat, Sun, public holidays: Auto Club Europa (ACE): +49 (0)711/530343536 • Where has the emergency occurred 08:30 am – 11:00 pm Frauen-Notruf e.V., Emergency help for (address, floor, building...)? Lost or stolen credit card? Emergency medical home visit service women • What has happened? Central blocking number (by doctors), covered by statutory health Counselling and professional centre for • How many people are involved? for all cards +49 116 116 insurance sexual abuse and domestic violence • What are the injuries / what is the illness? Visa +49 (0)800/8118440 Phone +49 116117 Phone +49 (0)551/44684 • Wait for answers! MasterCard +49 (0)800/8191040 Mon, Tue, Thu: Kurze Geismarstr. 43, 37073 Göttingen American Express +49 (0)69/9797 Emergency ward, University Hospital 06:00 pm – 08:00 am (of the following day) [email protected] Wed, Fri: Phone: +49 (0)551/39-8605 Eurocard +49 (0)69/79331910 01:00 pm – 08:00 am (of the following day) Diners Club +49 (0)69/900150135 or -136 Universitätsklinikum Göttingen Sat, Sun, public holidays: Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen 08:00 am – 08:00 am (of the following day) 11 Mon-Sun: 00:00 am – 12:00 pm LIVING IN GERMANY 11

106 107 11.3 BANKS AND SPARKASSEN Selection of banks in Göttingen

If you are staying in Germany for an cooperates with your bank at home. your home bank or you can do the transfers extended period, are receiving a regular Apart from cash, most shops, restaurants, via online banking. When you want to Bank Opening / Closing hours salary or fellowship and have to pay rent, and firms accept debit and credit cards. make a transfer payment, you need to fill Deutsche Bank AG it is a good idea to open a current account Smaller sums, in cafés and bakeries for out the name of the recipient (Empfänger), Zindelstr. 3-5, 37073 Göttingen Mon,Tue, Thu 09:00 am – 06:00 pm at a bank at the earliest opportunity. You example, are usually paid in cash. his/her international account number can open a current account at a bank (IBAN) and the bank sorting code of the Phone +49 (0)551/401-1 Wed 09:00 am – 01:00 pm or Sparkasse (savings bank). To do so, recipient’s bank (BIC – Bank Identify Code). Fri 09:00 am – 02:00 pm The cheque account www.deutsche-bank.de you will need to present your passport For payments of recurrent bills, such as rent, Volksbank Göttingen eG or identity card and confirmation from The most common and convenient account utilities and telephone, it is very common Kurze-Geismar-Str. 2, 37073 Göttingen Mon, Wed, Fri 08:30 am – 04:00 pm the Einwohnermeldeamt (Residents’ is the cheque account (Girokonto), which (and convenient) to set up a standing Phone +49 (0)551/4040-100 Tue, Thu 08:30 am – 06:00 pm Registration Office) that you are registered. allows you to deposit and withdraw money order. There are two types: direct debit www.volksbank-goettingen.de There are hardly any differences between as you need it. The banks will even extend (Einzugsermächtigung), which gives your the banks in respect of the services they you a credit line, which can amount to billing party the right to debit your account Sparda-Bank Hannover eG offer, but there are differences in the thousands of euros, depending on your directly at regular intervals; or standing order Groner Str. 24, 37073 Göttingen Mon,Tue, Thu 08:30 am – 06:00 pm charges you have to pay, so you should be regular monthly income. (Dauerauftrag), which specifies a set amount Phone +49 (0)551/5113018-0 Wed, Fri 08:30 am – 01:00 pm sure to check in advance. You will be issued Most banks charge you a monthly mainten­ to be transferred to the billing party at a www.sparda-h.de with a debit card called a EuroCheque- ance fee for your current account. While the frequency you determine. The advantage Karte (EC card) for your current account maintenance fees are not that high, these with these systems is that you never have to Commerzbank AG which will allow you to draw cash from a fees and additional charges differ from worry about missing a payment. A standing Prinzenstr. 2, 37073 Göttingen Mon, Tue, Thu 09:30 am – 06:00 pm cashpoint (ATM). This service is free if you bank to bank. Some consumer-oriented order can save you from a penalty fee for Phone +49 (0)551/408-0 Wed 09:30 am – 04:00 pm use cashpoints belonging to your own bank banks and most direct banks now offer late payment. Of course, the direct debit www.commerzbank.de Fri 09:30 am – 02:00 pm but incurs charges if the cashpoints are free current accounts if you have a certain (Einzugsermächtigung), by giving the billing maintained by other banks. Most banks minimum income (this varies from bank to party the right to draw from your account, is Postbank Göttingen are open from Monday to Friday between bank). also dangerous if misused by irresponsible Groner Str. 15-17, 37073 Göttingen Mon-Fri 09:00 am – 06:00 pm Phone +49 (0)180/3040500 Sat 10:00 am – 01:00 pm 09:00 am and 04:00 pm. Most payments in Germany are made parties. You should therefore be extremely Transferring money abroad can be expensive. via direct transfer from one account to cautious when granting this power. www.postbank.de You should enquire about the conditions another. Cheques are very unusual in Reputable, established companies are fine, as PSD Bank Braunschweig eG at your own bank at home in advance and Germany. You can use transfer forms (many are all government agencies and utilities. Jüdenstr. 1-2, 37073 Göttingen Mon-Fri 09:00 am – 01:00 pm 11 possibly choose a bank in Germany that banks charge a fee), use the terminal of Phone +49 (0)551/999533-0 02:00 pm – 04:30 pm LIVING IN GERMANY 11 www.psd-goettingen.de Tue, Thu 02:00 pm – 06:00 pm

108 109 Bank Opening / Closing hours 11.4 PUBLIC LIBRARY Santander Consumer Bank AG Barfüßerstr. 7, 37073 Göttingen Mon-Fri 09:30 am – 01:00 pm Most places in Germany have a Stadt­ In addition to many events for children, Stadtbibliothek Göttingen Phone +49 (0)551/4951-34 Mon, Tue, Thu 02:00 pm – 06:00 pm bibliothek or Stadtbücherei, a municipal the Stadtbibliothek hosts a project called Central public library Wed, Fri 02:00 pm – 04:00 pm www.santander.de library. These are public libraries which Deutschstunde where people who want Thomas-Buergenthal-Haus are usually operated by the municipal to practice and improve their German Sparkasse Göttingen Mon, Thu 09:00 am – 06:00 pm Gotmarstr. 8, 37073 Göttingen or local authorities. They serve a general can meet in small circles and talk about Weender Str. 13-15, 37073 Göttingen Tue, Wed, Fri 09:00 am – 04:00 pm Phone +49 (0)551/400-2830 educational purpose, provide information everyday life in German. Phone +49 (0)551/405-0 Fax +49 (0)551/400-2760 and are a cultural facility for local residents. These courses are offered free of charge: banking.spk-goettingen.de As a result, they cover a very broad spectrum Mon-Tue, Fri 10:00 am – 11:00 am [email protected] www.stadtbibliothek.goettingen.de of interest. Apart from specialist and Mon 02:00 pm – 03:00 pm non-fiction works they usually have a Tue 04:30 pm– 05:30 pm Opening hours: comprehensive collection of light reading Thu 11:00 am– 12:00 pm and Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 10:00 am – 07:00 pm as well as books for children and young 04:00 pm– 05:00 pm Sa 10:00 – 04:00 pm people. They often also stock light reading The times may change. Please see the WHAT IS A SPARKASSE? in foreign languages. Most libraries lend current timetable at the Stadtbibliothek. Sparkassen or savings banks are public films, CDs, DVDs, and games, as well as books and magazines. In order to use the Information: financial institutions. Their profits are library and borrow books and other media Büro für Integration designated to be used for the general you will need a library card. You can register (Integration Office of Göttingen) good. One of the tasks of at the library by presenting your passport Phone +49 (0)551/4002782 to promote medium-sizedSparkassen enterprises is and proof that you are registered in the by granting them credit. Just like private locality. Registration itself is free of charge; libraries often charge a modest fee for banks, Sparkassen offer the full portfolio borrowing books and other media. of banking and other financial services. The Stadtbibliothek in Göttingen offers a wide range of books, films, games, and other media. In addition, language courses with CDs are offered which can be borrowed up to 4 weeks. There are novels in English, French, Spanish, as well as a number of 11 further languages. LIVING IN GERMANY 11

110 111 11.5 PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Germany has a good public transport If you are embarking on a longer journey, University of Göttingen job ticket are regulated and passengers are charged Mitfahrzentralen system. You can easily get almost particularly at the weekend, you should Employees at the University of Göttingen are a basic price plus a charge per kilometer. All www.blablacar.de everywhere you want to go by train or reserve a seat. On some routes the trains able to apply for a so-called job ticket. The only taxis have a taxi meter which runs during www.mifaz.de bus, tram or underground. tend to be rather crowded. prerequisite is that you have a contract for the entire journey and registers the price at Many cities also have a sophisticated network the whole year starting from the 1st January the end. It is common to give the taxi driver Air travel a tip by rounding up the amount. of bicycle lanes – if you enjoy cycling it can be a Local transport system until 31st December. You pay a reduced Some airlines offer special rates on certain useful alternative to public transport. Public transport within Göttingen is served monthly rate for this ticket, which entitles Taxis in Göttingen (selection): routes. You may well be able to fly to other you to use the entire VSN (Verkehrsverbundes by the Göttinger Verkehrsbetriebe (GöVB) +49 (0)551/69300 Göttinger-Funk-Taxi-Zentrale European countries at very reasonable Süd-Niedersachsen) regional public transport Deutsche Bahn with nineteen bus lines running by day and +49 (0)551/57444 Taxi Blitz GmbH prices, and even within Germany air travel network as often and as long as you like, even The Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) connects eight by night. Numbers 21 and 22 connect +49 (0)551/34034 Hallo Taxi may be cheaper than rail travel. However, in your spare time. all larger and many of the smaller cities the train station and the town centre with +49 (0)551/484848 PUK Mini Car GmbH on domestic routes you may not save time locally, regionally, and long-distance. the north campus. The town is well- Information on the job ticket: if you add the time spent getting to the connected to the urban hinterland as well www.dasoertliche.de/Themen/Taxis/ airport and waiting for the flight. Most The Deutsche Bahn has many special www.uni-goettingen.de/en/104966.html as to neighbouring cities by a bus network Göttingen.html cities have good connections to the nearest offers and deals. With the BahnCard 50 www.vsninfo.de of 16 local bus companies, integrated in airports by public transport. and the BahnCard 25 you can save 50 % or Human Resources Department the Verkehrsverbund Süd-Niedersachsen Mitfahrzentrale 25 % respectively on the standard price of (Göttingen University) GmbH (VSN). Single tickets, 4- and 8-trips- One alternative to public transport, especially From Göttingen to the airport any ticket for a whole year. Furthermore, Goßlerstr. 5 - 7, 37073 Göttingen tickets, and 24-hour-tickets, group- and for long journeys, is the Mitfahrzentrale (car by public transport there are special discounts for groups and Phone + 49 (0)551/39-4239 or -4240 family tickets, weekly-, and monthly-passes sharing agency). Drivers who are going on long advance bookings. Fax + 49 (0)551/39-184239 www.airport.de/en/27.php can be purchased on every bus (except [email protected] journeys often register their journeys at car (Airport Hamburg) Buy your ticket before you get on the 8-trips-tickets), at a number of shops and [email protected] sharing agencies and offer to take passengers. train. You can purchase tickets online, or www.frankfurt-airport.com/content/ tobacconists, or at the GöVB Service Centre These offers are sorted according to destina- from ticket machines, or ticket offices at frankfurt_airport/en/services_at_the_ (Kundenzentrum der GöVB) at Markt 3, near tion and date, and you can find out about the station. Make sure you always have a Taxis airport.html (Airport Frankfurt) the medieval town hall. them online or by telephone. You pay a fixed valid ticket. There are ticket inspections on Although generally taxis in Germany are www.hannover-airport.de/en/passengers- www.goevb.de sum based on distance to the driver directly. trains and buses, and travelling without a relatively expensive and many people only visitors/traveling-parking/anreise www.vsninfo.de Please note that you use car sharing agencies valid ticket (Schwarzfahren – fare dodging) use them in special situations – at night, for (Airport Hannover) at your own risk. The agencies themselves might prove expensive. Ticket selling points: example, or when they have a lot of luggage can-not usually guarantee the quality or reli- www.bahn.com/i/view/GBR/en/index.shtml www.goevb.de/service/vorverkaufsstellen – in Göttingen, due to the short distances ability of the arrangement or accept liability. (by train / to all destinations) LIVING IN GERMANY 11 to cover, they are rather affordable. Prices 11

112 113 11.6 YOUR OWN VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCE

Having your own car guarantees you (Kraftfahrzeug-Zulassungsstelle). international “green insurance certificate” or EURAXESS • driving licences issued in Andorra, Hong DRIVING LICENCE OFFICE: maximum freedom and flexibility despite if your car has a registration number from www.europa.eu/european-union/life/ Kong, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Neues Rathaus the heavy traffic and frequent traffic jams Kfz-Zulassungsstelle Göttingen one of the following countries: the Czech driving_en Switzerland, and Senegal (no German (New Townhall), room 023 in cities, on the motorways, during rush Republic, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, translation required) FD Straßenverkehr Kfz-Zulassungsstelle Göttingen hour, at weekends, and during holiday Norway, San Marino, Slovakia, Switzerland, Automobile associations • driving licences accompanied by a Führerscheinstelle Straßenverkehrsamt Kfz-Zulassung times. Many researchers bring their cars the Vatican. certified German translation by either a Hiroshima Platz 1-4 Hiroshimaplatz 1-4, 37083 Göttingen The Allgemeine Deutsche Automobil- with them from home or buy one in For stays exceeding one year, your car must sworn translator, a German automobile 37073 Göttingen Club (ADAC) is the largest automobile Germany. If you are only staying up to six Phone +49 (0)551/400-2147, -2739, -2148, be registered in Germany and you must club, a German diplomatic mission, a association in Germany. You can also Phone +49 (0)551/400-2761 months this is relatively easy. There are no -2005, -2789, -2745 take out a third-party insurance police captain of a German seagoing vessel or join the Auto Club Europa (ACE) or the +49 (0)551/400-2228 problems with the validity of your driving Fax +49 (0)551/400-272-3 with an insurance company in Germany. an internationally-accredited automobile Automobilclub von Deutschland (AvD). Opening hours: licence, or with whether you have a foreign Opening hours Visit the EURAXESS website for more club of the issuing country They provide services in case of breakdown. Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 08:00 am – 12:00 pm number plate and car papers, or even Mon-Tue 08:00 am – 03:00 pm information on taxation and insurance, the You can call them for help if you get stuck Six months after arriving in Germany, all Thu: 08:00 am – 05:00 pm with vehicle tax and third-party liability Wed, Fri 08:00 am – 12:00 pm validity of your driving licence and how you on the road somewhere. This service is drivers with licences as listed above must insurance. Thu 08:00 am – 05:00 pm can get a German driving licence. usually free for members; non-members be in possession of a German driving However, many researchers stay longer and have to pay. For emergency phone numbers licence. then have to face costly, time-consuming Motor vehicle tax see chapter 11.2. In case of a stay longer than 6 months, but bureaucratic challenges in order to comply If you bring your own vehicle with you, you definitively less than 1 year, one can apply with the regulations on driving licences A foreign-registered car is not subject to should not forget the following documents: for an extension of the 6-month time and registration. One also has to deal with taxation provided the driver is a foreign Driving licence (*) limit at the Driving Licence Office. Foreign vehicle taxation and insurance. Do think national residing in Germany for less • International driving licence or a licence Valid according to validity date, without driving licences as listed in the paragraph (*) – driving licence for motor vehicles with carefully about whether it is really worth than one year, and that the car has been issued abroad: depending on the country it max. 9 seats, max. 3.500kg (7,700 lb). Different further restrictions above can be exchanged for German your while to bring your own car with you imported and is used for personal needs. should include a German translation (after 6 rules apply to licences for motor vehicles with • German driving licences, national driving licences at the Driving Licence Office. Your more seats or a permissible maximum weight to Germany. Otherwise you must pay motor vehicle months at the latest you will have to apply tax. for a German driving licence) licences, issued in EU countries, Iceland, original licence will be stored at the Office exceeding 3,500 kg (7,700 lb), motorcycles, tractor Liechtenstein, and Norway (no German engines, combination of vehicles, etc. Please check • green insurance card (confirming German and can be swapped back at the end of individually with the Driving Licence Office. Registration of your car translation required) Car insurance insurance cover) your sojourn in Germany. Please bring your If your stay in Germany is longer than • confirmation from your third-party liability passport, registration form, and driving 1 year, your car must be registered at For a stay of up to one year you are insurance provider at home that you have Valid for six month after entering Germany licence. If your licence is written in Latin the Motor Vehicle Registration Office not required to take out a German not had any accidents (this should entitle you for the first time characters, a certified translation may or 11 car insurance policy if you possess an to a rebate on your German insurance policy) • international driving licences LIVING IN GERMANY 11

114 115 may not be requested; please contact the Car sharing in Göttingen Car Hire Office to find out. Grünes Auto Please find below a selection of car Holders of licences issued in some non-EU- rental companies in Göttingen. Check countries may be asked to pass additional Bahnhofsplatz 1, 37073 Göttingen their websites for the current rates and written or driving tests. The regulations Phone +49 (0)551/5311110 conditions. vary from state to state and are subject to Fax +49 (0)551/5311112 frequent change. [email protected] Avis Ask at the Driving Licence Office, or www.gruenes-auto.de contact us if you need assistance with Im Kaufpark Opening hours: comprehending the German information. Kasseler Landstr. 26, 37081 Göttingen Mon-Fri 08:00 am – 01:00 pm and Phone +49 (0)551/97555 03:00 pm – 06:00 pm www.avis.de/Autovermietung/Europa/ Sat 10:00 am – 02:00 pm Deutschland/Goettingen Stadt-teil-Auto Europcar Groner-Tor-Str. 1, 37073 Göttingen Groner Landstr. 27, 37081 Göttingen Phone +49 (0)551/57769 Phone +49 (0)551/547190 [email protected] www.europcar.de www.stadt-teil-auto-goettingen.de

Meyer’s Miet Mich Hannoversche Str. 64A, 37075 Göttingen Phone +49 (0)551/300013 www.meyers-miet-mich.de

Sixt Groner Landstr. 33, 37081 Göttingen Phone +49 (0)551/547570 www.sixt.de

11 LIVING IN GERMANY 11

116 117 Bicycle hire Most people in Göttingen prefer to travel by bike, because it is very convenient in a small university­­ town. It might be useful to have a bike 11.7 RADIO, TELEVISION, TELEPHONE, already on your very first day in Göttingen. If you prefer to check prices and buy calmly, you can hire a bike at some of the following places until AND INTERNET you buy:

Licence Fee – AZDBS (ARD ZDF German Telephone and Internet Shop / Internet Address / Phone Opening hours Prices for rental country radio service for fees) The Deutsche Telekom operates the Radelaktiv Friedrichstr. 1 Mon-Fri 09:30 am – 06:30 pm € 7 for the first day (24 hours) Anyone who stays longer than three telephone service in Germany. Apart 37073 Göttingen Sat 10:00 am – 02:30 pm € 5 for every next day www.radelaktiv.de months in Germany must register and pay from Deutsche Telekom there are now +49 (0)551/5085866 charges for the public radio and television numerous other providers which might be more convenient. Most firms offer various marcobike. Bahnhofsplatz 3 Mon-Sat 10:00 am – 06:00 pm € 6.90 up to 12 hours programme to AZDBS. options and services, for example, different 37073 Göttingen € 9.90 up to 24 hours A simple rule applies for all citizens since www.marco-bikes.de telephone and Internet packages. It is well +49 (0)551/791010 € 24 per weekend 2013: one residence – one fee. The licence worth it to take your time to compare. You € 4 per day (from 4 weeks onwards) fee is not linked to broadcasting device. It is irrelevant how many TVs, radios or can register or cancel a Telekom landline at Fahrrad-Doc Petrikirchstr. 18 Mon-Fri 10:00 am – 06:00 pm € 5 per day computers there are at a residence. The T-Punkte (telephone shops), which can be www.fahrrad-doc.de 37077 Göttingen Sat 10:00 am – 02:00 pm € 25 for one week licence fee is € 17.50 per month and is only found in nearly every town. +49 (0)551/20013848 € 70 for three weeks paid once per residence. Charges for telephone calls vary € 80 for four weeks significantly according to the provider, Radomat Weender Landstraße 41 Mon 12:00 pm – 06:00 pm € 6 Euro per day Registration time of day, and distance. You can use 37075 Göttingen Tue-Fri 10:00 pm – 06:00 pm € 36 Euro per week cheaper providers on a call-by-call basis www.radomat.de Registraion is simple and can be done +49 (0)551/34533 € 15.50 Euro weekend (by pre-dialling a specific code) from online. Changing addresses, account details € 50 Euro / 100 Euro deposit private telephones. The differences may and names can also be done online. If you (will be returned) be substantial if you are phoning abroad. wish to inform AZDBS of any changes in There are also a number of mobile writing, please use the forms available providers offering different options and from the local authorities as well as from services. Check the entire contract before banks. The corresponding forms can be also you sign it. downloaded and printed at ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice www.rundfunkbeitrag.de 11 LIVING IN GERMANY 11

118 119 Comparing charges 11.8 RELIGION Using the following links you can compare the current charges levied by the various providers. As the charges Article 4 of the German Grundgesetz affiliated to any religious group. Altogether, change constantly, it is worth taking a look (Basic Law/Constitution) guarantees the there are more than 160 different religious regularly. freedom of belief: every person is free to communities in Germany, which contribute www.billigertelefonieren.de choose and practise his or her own religion. to the religious diversity of the country. www.billiger-surfen.de Equally, every person has the freedom not The largest proportion of Göttingen to choose or practice a religion, to leave parishes are Lutheran, fewer are Catholic, a religious community, or to join another Searching for telephone numbers one Reformed Presbyterian. Some of these religious community. parishes offer church services in languages Telephone Book There is no state church in Germany. The state other than German and provide room for www.dastelefonbuch.de and the churches or religious communities groups who maintain country-specific Anyone who is registered in the Telephone are not allowed to enter into institutional forms of worship. Please contact the Book can also be found online. Alternatively, association; they are, however, allowed to Lutheran Superintendent’s, the Catholic you can ring directory enquiries (This cooperate provided that the principles of Dean’s or the Presbyterian parish’s office for service incurs charges and can be neutrality and non-discrimination are upheld. further details. Other Protestant parishes, expensive.): This means that churches are expected to such as the baptists have rooms of worship make statements on social issues and be and contact people in Göttingen. For domestic telephone numbers: 11 8 33 involved in bodies and commissions like The Islamic community offers a forum For domestic telephone numbers in ethics councils. The state and the churches for Muslims in Germany. In Göttingen English: 11 8 37 have also come to agreements on religious the Islamic commun­ ities­ are the instruction in state schools and the collection Islamische Gemeinschaft Al-Iman e. V., For foreign telephone numbers: 11 8 34 of church tax by state financial authorities the DITIB Moschee, and the Al Taqwa- In the classified directory or so-called (see chapter 9.5). As a result, there is not Verein Göttingen. There are two Jewish Gelbe Seiten (Yellow Pages) you will find the a strict division of church and state in the congregations in Göttingen, the Goettingen telephone numbers of doctors, pharmacies, secular sense in Germany. Jewish Community and the Jewish shops, restaurants, plumbers, electricians, Today, about 30 percent of the population Religious Community for Goettingen and and many others. in Germany are Roman Catholics, another Southern Lower Saxony. Their activities Yellow Pages 30 percent are Protestants. Roughly five are supplemented by a Jewish house of www.gelbe-seiten.de percent of the population are Muslim, about learning. Its doors are open to all interested 11 three percent belong to other religious people. The Buddhist centre offers a wide LIVING IN GERMANY 11 communities and roughly 32 percent are not range of events and seminars.

120 121 Churches and religious communities in Göttingen: Jewish Buddism Jewish congregations Buddhist centre Christian Baptist Community www.juedische-gemeinde-goettingen.de www.buddhismus-mitte.de/goettingen www.baptisten-goettingen.de/startseite.html (German only) (German only) University Services: (German only) The weekly University Services on Sunday jkg-goettingen.org (German only) Information on churches and religion in New Apostolic Church are celebrated as preaching services. Once Jewish House of Learning Germany www.nak-mitteldeutschland.de/gemeinde/ a month the Eucharist is celebrated. The www.juedisches-lehrhaus-goettingen.de www.bmi.bund.de/EN goettingen (German only) place of worship is the University Church of (German only) > Society and the Constitution St. Nikolai and the service commences – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints > Religion and the State until otherwise stated – at 11:30 am. www.lds.org/pages/kontakt/gemeindesuche Universitätskirche St. Nikolai ?lang=deu&country=de Nikolaikirchhof 9, 37073 Göttingen (different languages) www.uni-goettingen.de/en/305799.html 11.9 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS Catholic churches Islam The following days are statutory public Christmas Day (1. Weihnachtstag) on www.katholische-kirche-goettingen. Turkish Islamic community holidays in Lower Saxony: December, 25 de/bho/dcms/sites/bistum/pfarreien/ www.ditib.de/default.php?id=13&lang=de goettingen/index.html (German only) &13&filter=alphabet&abc=G New Year’s Day (Neujahr) on January, 1 Boxing Day (2. Weihnachtstag) on Reformed Presbyterian Church of Göttingen (German only) December, 26 Good Friday and Easter Monday (Karfreitag www.refo-goettingen.de/eng.htm Al-Taqwa Mosque and Ostermontag, movable Holiday) New Year’s Eve (Silvester, Half-Holiday) Lutheran parishes and Lutheran www.moscheesuche.de/moschee/ on December, 31 superintendent Göttingen/Al-Taqwa+Moschee/13871 Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) on May, 1 www.kirchenkreis-goettingen.de (German only) Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt, Visit the following websites for an overview (German only) Islamic community Al-Iman movable Holiday) of the current public holiday dates and www.moscheesuche.de/moschee/ school holiday dates organised according Evangelische Freikirche Ecclesia Pentecost Monday (Pfingstmontag, Göttingen/Al-Taqwa+Moschee/13872 to Federal State: www.ecclesia-goettingen.de movable Holiday) (German only) (German only) www.feiertage.net Day of German Unification (Tag der Freie Evangelische Gemeinde www.ferienkalender.com Deutschen Einheit) on October, 3 www.goettingen.feg.de (German only) Advent community Christmas Eve (Heiliger Abend, Half- LIVING IN GERMANY 11 goettingen.adventist.eu (German only) Holiday) on December, 24 11

122 123 11.10 GOOD TO KNOW – A TO Z OF USEFUL INFORMATION Räuschel-Textilpflege Der Waschsalon Weender Landstraße 76 or Reinhäuser Landstraße 150, 37083 Göttingen Annastr. 13, 37075 Göttingen, Phone +49 (0)5509/3934735 Addressing people: “Du” and “Sie” CinemaxX Göttingen Dry Cleaning 37075 Göttingen Opening hours: (in the REWE market) Mon-Sat: 06:00 am – 10:00 pm The polite form “Sie” plus surname is the Bahnhofsallee 3, 37081 Göttingen Fasson Opening hours: way to address people you do not know in Phone +49 (0)1805/24636299 Ritterplan 3, 37073 Göttingen Mon-Fri: 08:00 am – 07:00 pm; Germany – usually all those over the age +49 (0)551/5212200 Kurze-Geismar-Str. 25, 37073 Göttingen Phone +49 (0)5509/3934735 Phone +49 (0)551/487168 Sat: 08:00 am – 02:00 pm of 15. Many Germans who work together in Opening hours: www.cinemaxX.de Opening hours: offices every day still use this form. In order Karl-Methe-Straße 1 , 37083 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 06:00 am – 10:00 pm to move on to the more personal “Du” you Mon – Fri: 07:00 am – 07:00 pm (in the REWE market) Lumière Sat: 08:00 am – 04:00 pm www.derwaschsalon.de usually wait for a suitable occasion. The Opening hours: “Du” is “offered” by one person to another. (most movies in original language) Am Kaufpark 2, 37079 Göttingen Mon-Fri: 08:00 am – 06:00 pm; Traditionally, the older or more senior Geismar Landstr. 19, 37083 Göttingen Phone +49 (0)551/5099076 Sat: 08:00 am – 01:00 pm SB Waschsalon GmbH person makes the offer. However, younger (in the real market) www.raeuschel-textilpflege.de Weender Landstraße 76, 37075 Göttingen people (up to about the age of 30) are less Phone +49 (0)551/484523 Opening hours: (also reachable through: Annastr. 13), formal. They often use the “Du” plus first [email protected] Mon – Fri: 08:30 am – 07:30 pm Phone +49 (0)551/300784 name from the very first meeting. If you are www.lumiere.de Sat: 08:30 am – 06:00 pm Launderettes in Göttingen (Selection) Opening hours: unsure, we recommend to wait until the Königsallee 249, 37079 Göttingen Wäscherei Frieda Kaser Mon-Sat: 06:00 am – 10:00 pm person you are talking to has addressed Clubkino Phone +49 (0)551/67311 you and react accordingly. Nikolaistraße 17, 37073 Göttingen Platz der Göttinger Sieben 4, 37073 Göttingen (in the Edeka market) Opening hours: Phone +49 (0)551/41123 Electricity Cinema Phone +49 (0)551/395101 Mon-Fri: 08:30 am – 01:00 pm Mon – Fri: 08:00 am – 06:00 pm German electrical power points use 220V [email protected] 02:00 pm – 06:00 pm In Germany foreign films and television Sat: 08:00 am – 02:00 pm and 50 Hz alternating current. Euronorm www.studentenwerk-goettingen.de/ series are often dubbed. If there is no www.fasson-textilpflege.de plugs fit all power points. Depending on clubkino.html Mc Clean GmbH reference to the language in the programme where you come from you may have to use you can assume that the film will be in Hauck Roland Reinigung Annastr. 5, 37075 Göttingen an adapter or transformer. German. However, quite a few of the smaller Phone +49 (0)5509/383660 independent cinemas show films in their Reinhäuser Landstr. 150, 37083 Göttingen Phone +49 (0)551/73714 Opening hours: original language (OV) or in the original Mon-Sat: 06:00 am – 10:00 pm language with subtitles (OmU). www.mcclean-gmbh.de/index.php/ 11 waschsalons/goe-annastrasse.html LIVING IN GERMANY 11

124 125 Fitness clubs in Göttingen (Selection) Name / Address / Phone / Internet / Offers Name / Address / Phone / Internet / Opening hours E-Mail Offers Opening hours E-Mail FEMALE FITNESS FIZ of the Universität Kurze-Geismar-Str. 16-18 +49 (0)551/44855 fitness courses, Göttingen 37073 Göttingen www.female-fitness.de prevention courses, 2 Sprangerweg 2 +49 (0)551/395652 850 m training Mon-Thu: 10:00 am – 09:30 pm [email protected] sauna, solarium, 37075 Göttingen www.hochschulsport. area, complete Fri: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm vibration training Mon-Thu: 08:00 am – 10:30 pm uni-goettingen.de/fiz fitness facilities, Sat, Sun: 11:00 am – 04:00 pm Fri: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm [email protected] more than 100 sport Sat: 09:00 am – 06:00 pm goettingen.de activities, climbing FITNESS FIRST Sun: 09:00 am – 08:00 pm hall, swimming pool, Weender Landstr. 8 +49 (0)551/505530 fitness courses, sauna 37073 Göttingen www.fitnessfirst. personal training, de/lifestyle-club/ cycling room, child FITNESSLOFT Mon, Wed, Fri: 07:00 am – 10:30 pm Tue, Thu: 09:00 am – 10:30 pm goettingen.html care, massage room, Weender Str. 75 +49 (0)551/50535777 fitness / company Sat, Sun: 10:00 am – 08:00 pm sauna, dynamic yoga, 37073 Göttingen www.fitnessloft.de courses, personal wellness area Mon-Fri: 09:00 am – 10:00 pm [email protected] training, functional Sat, Sun: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm training, weight- and CALIFORNIA FITNESS cardio training, Reinhard-Rube-Str. 10a +49 (0)551/377599 750 m2 training rehabilitation sports, 37077 Göttingen www.california-fitness- area, sauna, weight prevention courses Mon-Fri: 09:00 am – 10:00 pm goettingen.de training info@california-fitness- FEMME VITALE Sat, Sun: 11:00 am – 06:00 pm goettingen.de Benzstr. 1a +49 (0)551/507771 fitness courses, sauna, 37083 Göttingen www.femme-vitale- solarium, massages FITNESS FUTURE Mon: 07:30 am – 10:00 pm fitness.de Hannoversche Str. 40 +49 (0)551/50088267 fitness courses, Tue, Thu: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm femme-vitale-fitness@ 37075 Göttingen www.fitness-future- sauna , solarium, web.de Wed: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm Mon-Fri: 07:00 am – 11:00 pm goettingen.de/ cardio cinema Fri: 08:00 am – 09:00 pm Sat, Sun: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm info@fitness-future- Sat: 01:00 am – 07:00 pm goettingen.de LIVING IN GERMANY 11 Sun: 09:00 am – 03:00 pm 11

126 127 Recycling – Let’s sort this out together! Music schools in Göttingen Musikschule für den Landkreis Göttingen Purchase tax

Freie Musikschule am Wall e. V. Reinhäuser Landstraße 4, 37083 Göttingen Purchase tax, often referred to as Residual Organic Phone +49 (0)551/525500 Mehrwertsteuer (value added tax), has to be waste wastes Used paper Kurze-Geismar-Str. 16-18, 37073 Göttingen http://musikschulen-niedersachsen.de/ paid to the financial authorities on the sale Phone +49 (0)551/484402 e. g. e. g. e. g. newspapers, magazines, index.php?id=205 of goods or services. In Germany, the rate is cardboard, cardboard boxes, www.freie-musikschule-am-wall.de 19 percent; the reduced rate 7 percent. The Vacuum cleaner bags Fruit and brochures Piano, keyboard, accordion, harmonica, vegetable waste reduced rate is valid for food, magazines, Street sweepings Piano, drums, saxophone, guitar, bass, drums, violin, viola, cello, gamba, bass, Food waste and books, as well as for artistic services. Ashes singing, flute, clarinet, cello, violin, guitar, mandolin, harp, flute, clarinet, Bones/Fish bones Yellow sack trombone, trumpet, and accordion saxophone, bassoon, horn, trumpet, Value added tax (MWSt.) is included in all Diapers/Cotton wool (not raw) Hygienic paper trombone, and singing stated prices and invoices. Tea and coffee filters e. g. plastic packaging, tins, composite Meat/Fish waste (raw) materials (e.g. Tetra Paks) Technics Musikschule “Auftakt” Residual contents Bones (raw) of tinned goods Separating waste / recycling Groner-Tor-Straße 16, 37073 Göttingen No smoking Cigarette butts Meat and fish waste (not raw) Environmental consciousness in Germany Cat litter Used glass Phone +49 (0)551/5314550 In Germany, smoking is prohibited in all Bread waste is comparatively acute. One of the ways China www.musikschule-auftakt.de official buildings under the authority of Citrus fruit Only hollow glassware and container glass it expresses itself is in the separation Earthenware e. g. preserving jars, bottles, Acoustic and electric guitar, electric bass, the state, such as stations, airports, and Egg and nut shells Ceramics sorted according to colour keyboard, piano, singing, flute, saxophone, public transport, as well as cultural, leisure, and recycling of waste. In most cities you Lawn cuttings Lightbulbs and drums and sports facilities. An exception is made have individual, colour-coded dustbins, or Leaves, moss Baking parchment for separate areas and rooms which are skips for paper (blue), plastics/composites Wilted flowers Shoes/Textiles (yellow) compost/garden waste (green) Wallpaper remnants Musi-Kuss Musizierschule e. V. specifically designated. You are usually not Pot plants Emulsion paint, (without pot) e. g. shoes, textiles, textile remnants, allowed to smoke in restaurants and bars and landfill (grey). In addition, there are hardened Paper towels curtains, feather beds Reinhäuser Landstr. 55, 37083 Göttingen but they often have separate rooms for also public containers for glass, batteries Soiled paper Paper napkins Phone +49 (0)551/704973 smokers. (at supermarkets) and electrical waste. Photos/Slides Paper bags Hennebergstr. 13, 37077 Göttingen Most drink bottles are refundable: if you Pots/Pans Bulk trash** Twigs, branches Phone +49 (0)551/3056314 take the bottles back to the supermarket Toys No organic waste in e. g. cabinets, sofas, beds, mattresses, www.musi-kuss.de you will be given a refund. Non-refundable Video cassettes plastic bags! carpets, bicycles, washing ma- bottles, like wine bottles, belong in the chines, electric ranges, refrigeration Accordion, viola, cello, electric bass, elelctric units, etc. glass container. guitar, bassoon, violin, guitar, harp, horn, keyboard, clarinet, piano, bass, oboe, flute, Hazardous substances* saxophone, drums, and trumpet e. g. batteries, paints, oils, car batteries, energy-saving bulbs, fluorescent tubes, hobby chemicals, 11 pestacides, etc. LIVING IN GERMANY 11

** Application for collection with the ”Collection Request Card“ * Delivery to the recycling yard: Rudolf-Wissell-Str. 5 • 37079 Göttingen 128 or via the Internet or via direct delivery to the recycling yard Opening hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8:00 am - 5:00 pm · Fri. 8:00 am - 2:00129 pm Shopping Speciality shops in Göttingen (Selection)

Generally, shops are open in Germany Name / Adress / Phone Opening hours Name / Address / Internet Opening hours from Monday to Saturday from 09:00 am to 08:00 pm. Supermarkets and large Phuong Lan, Asian Food, Goetheallee 14, Mon-Fri: 10:00 am – 06:30 pm KAUFLAND www.kaufland.de shopping centres sometimes have longer 37073 Göttingen, +49 (0)551/531072 Sat: 10:00 am – 04:00 pm Kurze-Geismar-Str. 26, 37073 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm opening hours. Smaller shops, on the other Robert-Bosch-Breite 8, 37079 Göttingen Poorana’s Asia Center, Nikolaistraße 6, Mon-Sat: 10:00 am – 07:00 pm hand, often shut during the week between 37073 Göttingen, +49 (0)551/4978954 06:00 pm and 07:00 pm and around REAL www.real.de lunchtime on Saturdays. All shops are shut Aliman Market, Arndstraße 23, 37075 Göttingen, Mon-Sat: 09:00 am – 08:00 pm Große Breite 6, 37077 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm on Sundays and public holidays. Bakeries +49 (0)551/371513 Am Kauf Park, 37079 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 08:00 am – 09:00 pm are an exception. They often open in the Family Store Nermin Akar, Vegetarian Specialities, Mon-Sat: 08:00 am – 07:00 pm PENNY www.penny.de mornings on these days. Johannisstraße 5, 37073 Göttingen, +49 (0)551/42896 Theodor-Heuss-Str. 66, 37075 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm At petrol stations and kiosks you can Leibnizstraße 8, 37083 Göttingen usually find a modest selection of groceries Turkish Bakery Karadeniz, Angerstraße 5, Mon-Sat: 06:00 am – 08:00 pm and other articles during the night and the 37073 Göttingen, +49 (0)551/4886668 Sun: 8:30 am – 03:00 pm LIDL www.lidl.de entire weekend Industriestr. 4a, 37079 Göttingen Mon-Sat:. 08:00 am – 09:00 pm Turkish Bakery Dilay, Lange-Geismar-Str. 26, Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 08:00 pm Maschmühlenweg 64, 37081 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 08:00 am – 09:00 pm 37073 Göttingen, +49 (0)551/4886762 Sun: 09:00 am – 05:00 pm Annastr. 36, 37075 Göttingen Sinem Supermarket, Turkish Specialities, Rudolf- Mon-Sat: 08:00 am – 07:00 pm EDEKA www.edeka.de Winkel-Str. 13, 37079 Göttingen, +49 (0)551/9003584 Düstere-Eichen-Weg 21, 37073 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 07:00 pm Fair Trade Shop „Contigo“, Lange-Geismar-Str. 51, Mon-Fri: 09:30 am – 06:30 pm Weender Landstraße 59, 37075 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm 37073 Göttingen, +49 (0)551/485371 Sun: 09:30 am – 06:00 pm Königsallee 249, 37079 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 06:00 am – 08:00 pm Resedaweg 2-4, 37077 Göttingen Mon-Fri: 07:00 am – 07:00 pm ALNATURA, Lange-Geismar-Str. 61-64, 37073 Göttingen, Mon-Sat: 08:00 am – 08:00 pm (closed 01:00 pm – 03:00 pm) www.alnatura.de, +49 (0)551/3894071 Sat: 07:00 am – 01:00 pm BioMarkt, Weender Landstraße 59, 37075 Göttingen, Mon-Sat: 08:00 am – 08:00 pm Salinenweg 1, 37081 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm www.biomarkt.de, +49 (0)551/2053765 Selection of supermarkets in Göttingen: TEGUT www.tegut.com Naturkost, Burgstr. 18, 37073 Göttingen, Mon-Fri: 08:00 am – 08:00 pm Weender Str. 75, 37073 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm www.naturkost-goettingen.de, +49 (0)551/485735 Sat: 08:00 am – 06:00 pm An der Lutter 22, 37075 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm Am Kaufpark 1, 37081 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm Cron & Lanz, Weender Str. 25, 37073 Göttingen, Mon-Fri: 08:30 am – 07:00 pm Alfred-Delp-Weg 7, 37085 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm 11 www.cronundlanz.de, +49 (0)551/50088710 Sat: 08:30 am – 06:30 pm LIVING IN GERMANY 11 Sun+holiday: 01:00 pm – 06:30 pm

130 131 Name / Address / Internet Opening hours Sports activities in Göttingen NETTO www.netto-online.de Güterbahnhofstr. 4, 37073 Göttingen for all Netto stores: ASSOCIATIONS Prinzenstr. 13, 37073 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm WASPO 08 / TWG 1861 Königsallee 243, 37079 Göttingen Sandweg 11, 37083 Göttingen fitness, triathlon, badminton, dart, juggling, NAHKAUF www.nahkauf.de +49 (0)551/705508 ping-pong, handball, canoe, swimming, Rosdorfer Weg 12, 37073 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 12:00 am www.twg1861.de, [email protected] diving, dance, underwater rugby Hauptstr.46, 37083 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm SVG GÖTTINGEN 07 e. V. Geismar Landstr. 63 A, 37083 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm Allerstr. 31, 37081 Göttingen Mon-Fri: 08:00 am – 06:30 pm Sandweg 3, 37083 Göttingen football Sat: 07:30 am – 02:00 pm +49 (0)551/72272 Genfstr. 1, 37079 Göttingen Mon-Fri: 07:00 am – 08:30 pm www.svg-goettingen.de Sat: 07:00 am – 04:00 pm [email protected] Ludwig-Prandtl-Str. 26, 37077 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 08:00 pm ASC asian fight sports, baby/children REWE www.rewe.de Danziger Str. 21, 37083 Göttingen massages/sports, ballet, badminton, Reinhäuser Landstr. 177, 37083 Göttingen Mon-Sat: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm +49 (0)551/5174645 boxing, fencing, ball sports, rehabilitation Weender Landstr. 76 or: Annastr. 13, sports, prevention course, inline hockey, www.asc46.de 37075 Göttingen bowling, children’s sports, modern dance, [email protected] Lange-Geismar-Str. 56, 37073 Göttingen wheelchair sports, table soccer sports, Groner Str. 54-56, 37073 Göttingen hiking, water sports, and more Sollingstraße 2, 37081 Göttingen SCW Göttingen badminton, ball sports, dance, Karl-Methe-Straße 1, 37083 Göttingen Am Weendenspring 3, 37077 Göttingen cardiovascular sport groups, karate, ALDI www.aldi-nord.de +49 (0)551/376259 gymnastics, bowling, children’s sports, Weender Landstr. 59, 37075 Göttingen Mon-Fri: 08:00 am – 08:00 pm seniors sports, tennis, table tennis, www.scwgoettingen.de Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 5, 37077 Göttingen Sat: 08:00 am – 06:00 pm volleyball, hiking [email protected] Leinestr. 49, 37073 Göttingen Reinhäuser Landstr. 177, 37083 Göttingen MTV GEISMAR e. V. badminton, fitness & health sports, Alfred-Delp-Weg 5, 37085 Göttingen Am Kalten Born 39a, 37085 Göttingen basketball, gymnastics, jazz dance, Am Kaufpark 2, 37079 Göttingen +49 (0)551/794362 handball, judo, dancing, senior’s sports, Rudolph-Winkel-Str. 13, 37079 Göttingen tennis, table tennis, volleyball, hiking 11 www.mtvgeismar.de LIVING IN GERMANY 11 [email protected]

132 133 RSV GÖTTINGEN 05 e. V. football, rugby, tennis, badminton, BOWLING Ottostrasse 14a, 37083 Göttingen cycling, Prellball BOWLING CENTER GÖTTINGEN +49 (0)551/76509 Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 10, 37077 Göttingen bowling, slot machines like: air hockey, www.rsv05.de +49 (0)551/34848 basketball, billiards, darts, flipper, kicker [email protected] Mon-Sat: from 15:00 (over 18 years) BG 74 GÖTTINGEN e.V. basketball, baseball, American football, Sun: from 11:00 cheerleading, cricket, ultimate frisbee, Hardenbergweg 42, 37083 Göttingen www.bowlingcentergoettingen.de +49 (0)551/795819 gymnastics (40 – 75 years) www.bg74.net/ YOGA [email protected] SHIVAYOGA AM WALL Calsowstr. 7, 37085 Göttingen yoga, ayurveda, reiki, shiatsu TENNIS +49 (0)551/7701393 TENNIS UND SKI CLUB e. V. GÖTTINGEN www.shivayoga- goettingen.de [email protected] Calsowstrasse 70, 37085 Göttingen 3 indoor courts, 11 outdoor courts, 6 sand +49 (0)551/484461 courts YOGASTUDIO GÖTTINGEN www.tsc-goettingen.com Lange-Geismar-Str. 72, 37073 Göttingen hatha yoga, ashtanga yoga, vinyasa flow [email protected] +49 (0)551/703599 power yoga, individual lessons GÖTTINGER TENNISCLUB e. V. www.yogastudio-goettingen.de Bismarckstr. 111, 37085 Göttingen 7 sand courts [email protected] +49 (0)551/72881 playground for children KUNDALINI YOGA GÖTTINGEN www.goettinger-tennisschule.de Weenderstr. 102, 37073 Göttingen yoga courses, individual lessons +49 (0)551/20190177 HORSE RIDING www.kundaliniyoga-goettingen.de REITVEREIN HAINHOLZHOF am Kehr [email protected] Borheckstr. 66, 37085 Göttingen 70 boxes, 2 riding halls, paddocks +49 (0)551/72483 11 www.reitverein-hainholzhof.de LIVING IN GERMANY 11 [email protected]

134 135 SWIMMING DANCING

BADEPARADIES EISWIESE ART LA DANSE - Die Göttinger Balletschule Windausweg 6, 37073 Göttingen total area of 8.400 m2, swimming Geiststrasse 6, 37073 Göttingen children’s ballet, ballet, modern dance +49 (0)551/507090 attractions, thermalsole-hall, swimming +49 (0)551/42582 Mon-Fri: 10:00 am – 10:30 pm for schools and clubs, sauna, diving, www.artladanse.de Sat, Sun: 09:00 am – 10:30 pm shiatsu, jahara, children birthdays celebration, aqua fitness STEP BY STEP www.badeparadies.de [email protected] Düstere-Eichen-Weg 1a, 37073 Göttingen courses for children and adults: modern +49 (0)551/5313453 ballet, jazz dance, hip-hop, dancing early FREIBAD AM BRAUWEG www.step-by-step-goettingen.de education, jazz funk, salsa, aerobics and Brauweg 60, 37073 Göttingen 1 swimmingpool 20 x 43,1 m with 10 m [email protected] fitness, pilates, bodystyling, power yoga, +49 (0)551/50709190 diving platform, 1 swimmingpool wedding dances 20 x 50 m, 2 non-swimmerpools Mon-Fri: 06:30 am – 08:00 pm 18,5 x 25 m, a total area of 13.900 m2, HIPPOCRITZ SCHOOL GÖTTINGEN Sat, Sun: 08:00 am – 07:00 pm 80 m long water slide, children’s play Attiogbe’s African Music & Art School courses for children and adults: www.goesf.de/index.php?id=19 area Nikolaistrasse 1b, 37075 Göttingen workshops for schools, african jogging, [email protected] +49 (0)551/4997865 body-drumming, african dance NATURERLEBNISBAD GRONE www.hippocritz-school.com Greitweg, 37081 Göttingen [email protected] sandy beaches, sports, natural +49 (0)551/61742 TANZSCHULE KREBS adventure, paddling pool, chlorine-free Mon-Fri: 09:00 am – 08:00 pm water Leibnizstr. 1a, 37083 Göttingen courses for children and adults: hip hop, Sat, Sun: 09:00 am – 07:00 pm +49 (0)551/74614 salsa / latino, wedding dances, jump www.goesf.de/index.php?id=20 www.ts-krebs.de style, swing, zumba [email protected] [email protected]

ADTV Tanzschule Rynkar Bachstr. 2, 37081 Göttingen courses for children and adults, classic +49 (0)551/9899222 and modern dance 11 www.ts-rynkar.de LIVING IN GERMANY 11 [email protected]

136 137 HIP HOP DANCE ACADEMY SELF-DEFENCE Groner Landstr. 21, 37081 Göttingen hip hop, RnB, latin, ragga, dancehall, BUJINKAN ARASHI DOJO +49 (0)551/99951675 electric boogaloo, breakdance Shihan: Oliver Piskurek Bujinkan Ninpo, Budo Taijutsu www.hip-hop-dance-academy.de Postfach 1529, 37005 Göttingen [email protected] +49 (0)551/25021809 TANZSCHULE SWING www.arashi-dojo.de [email protected] Schützenanger 20, 37081 Göttingen dance 4 fans, kiddy dance club, wedding +49 (0)551/5317401 dances, children and adult courses, SHOTOKAN GÖTTINGEN e. V. wedding dances www.tanzschule-swing.de Maschmühlenweg 109, 37081 Göttingen karate, capoeira, self-defence courses [email protected] +49 (0)551/371774 GOLF www.shotokan-goe.de [email protected] Hardenberg GolfResort Golf Club Hardenberg e.V. different golf courses (early morning, Tipping Weather Gut Levershausen, 37154 Northeim after work, public courses) +49 (0)5551/90838-0 It is common to leave a tip (Trinkgeld) in The weather is often changeable. You have restaurants and cafés. Hairdressers and www.gchardenberg.de to be prepared for cold spells and rain even taxi drivers as well as others who provide [email protected] in summer. We therefore recommend that a service usually receive a tip, too, in you bring at least some warm clothes with WELLNESS recognition of good service. The standard you. sum is about 10 percent; usually you round VITAL SPA up the sum owed. If you pay in cash and Dransfelderstr. 3, 37079 Göttingen health, fitness, sauna, massages, do not have the right amount plus tip it +49 (0)551/9001700 fatburner/sensitive cycling, total body is quite normal to ask the waiter or taxi workout, fitness boxing driver to round the sum up to the amount www.vitalspa.de you wish to pay. You can either state the [email protected] amount or say how much change you’d like to receive. When you go out to restaurants or cafés with friends or acquaintances it is quite customary to ask for separate bills in LIVING IN GERMANY 11 Germany. 11

138 139 11.11 SMALL LANGUAGE GUIDE ENGLISH GERMAN ENGLISH GERMAN FOR GERMANY Asking questions: The days of the week:

Who? Wer? Monday Montag Basic words: What? Was? Tuesday Dienstag

ENGLISH GERMAN ENGLISH GERMAN Which? Welcher? Wednesday Mittwoch Welches? Yes. Ja. Excuse me. Entschuldigung. Thursday Donnerstag Where? Wo? No. Nein. Just a minute, Einen Augenblick, Friday Freitag please. bitte. Why? Warum? Please. Bitte. Saturday Samstag Help! Hilfe! How long? Wie lange? Thank you. Danke. Sunday Sonntag I’d like… Ich möchte… When? Wann? Thanks a lot. Vielen Dank. I’m from… Ich komme aus… Is there? /Are Gibt es? The seasons: You’re welcome! / Bitte!/Gern there? Not at all! geschehen! Where are you Woher kommen Spring der Frühling from? Sie? Not at all! Nichts zu danken! Summer der Sommer My name is… Ich heiße… Excuse me? Wie bitte? Autumn der Herbst What’s your Wie heißen Sie? Of course. Selbstverständlich. name? Winter der Winter

Agreed! Einverstanden! How are you? Wie geht es Ihnen?

11 LIVING IN GERMANY 11

140 141 ENGLISH GERMAN ENGLISH GERMAN Numbers: 0 Null 17 Siebzehn The months: What time is it? – 1 Eins 18 Achtzehn Wieviel Uhr ist es? January Januar 2 Zwei 19 Neunzehn The clock shows: Es ist (Punkt) February Februar 09:00. neun. 3 Drei 20 Zwanzig March März The clock shows: Es ist zehn nach 4 Vier 21 Einundzwanzig April April 09:10. neun. 5 Fünf 22 Zweiundzwanzig May Mai The clock shows: Es ist Viertel nach 09:15. neun. 6 Sechs 23 Dreiundzwanzig June Juni The clock shows: Es ist halb zehn. 7 Sieben 24 Vierundzwanzig July Juli 09:30. 8 Acht 30 Dreißig August August The clock shows: Es ist Viertel vor 09:45. zehn. 9 Neun 40 Vierzig September September The clock shows: Es ist fünf vor 10 Zehn 50 Fünfzig October Oktober 09:55. zehn. 11 Elf 60 Sechzig November November The clock shows: Es ist halb fünf. 12 Zwölf 70 Siebzig 04:30. December Dezember 13 Dreizehn 80 Achtzig The clock shows: Es ist zwölf Uhr. 12:00 pm. 14 Vierzehn 90 Neunzig

The clock shows: Es ist 15 Fünfzehn 100 Hundert 12:00 am. Mitternacht. 16 Sechzehn 101 Hundert(und)eins

11 LIVING IN GERMANY 11

142 143 Formalities 200 Zweihundert It is customary to say “bitte” (Please/here 300 Dreihundert you are) and “danke” (thank you) a lot. 1000 Tausend The German language, like most continental European languages, makes 2000 Zweitausend a clear distinction between “Sie” (formal you, usually coinciding with use of the 10,000 Zehntausend surname) and “Du” (familiar you, used with 100,000 Hundertausend the first name). People tend to use the formal mode of address more extensively 1,000,000 Eine Millionen than speakers of English might assume, and you need to be aware of this in order 3.5 % 3,5 Prozent to avoid embarrassing yourself and others. When in doubt, use the formal “Sie” and 1/ , 1/ Ein halb, ein Drittel 2 3 wait for your German counterpart to initiate the use of “Du”. Units of measure to someone is “Auf Wiedersehen” or, less Greeting people 1 km = 1000 m formally, “Tschüss” km = Kilometer, m = Meter When meeting a person for the first time, it is customary to shake his/her hand and Mealtimes 1 m = 10 dm = 100 cm = 1000 mm state one’s name either in full or just the dm = Dezimeter, cm = Zentimeter, Before starting to eat it’s conventional surname. mm = Millimeter to bid people sharing the meal “Guten The most common greeting is “Guten 1 l = 1000 ml Appetit!”, the appropriate response being Morgen” (morning till midday), “Guten l = Liter, ml = Milliliter “Danke, gleichfalls”. The most common Tag” (morning till late afternoon), “Guten toast would be “Prost” or “Zum Wohl!” 1 kg = 1000 g Abend” (evening only), or, less formally, kg = Kilogramm, g = Gramm “Hallo”. Greeting by hugging and kissing Answering the phone: on the cheek has become popular to some extend, especially for women, but requires When answering the phone it is customary an appropriate level of familiarity. The to state one’s name, so that the caller most common phrase saying good bye knows who is on the line. 11 LIVING IN GERMANY 11

144 145 12.1 CHECKLIST

Please bear in mind that you will have to • Check with the Human Resources deal with some organisational matters Department/your fellowship provider before you leave the country. It is usually well in advance to see whether you advisable to start planning your move will receive your final salary/fellowship about three months in advance. The payment before you leave the country. following timetable will help you to save The move and the final payment often time and energy. cross. • Cancel your public transport season ticket. Three months to go • Cancel any subscriptions to newspapers • Cancel your tenancy agreement in good or journals. time. • Cancel your membership in any societies, • Cancel your contracts with local utility associations, clubs etc. providers (electricity, gas, water). • If you are moving to another European • Talk with your landlord about whether country we recommend that you contact you have to do any maintenance before one of the EURAXESS Service Centres leaving your accommodation. located there – they will be able to help you organise your research stay in your • It may be advisable to consult a tax new target country. accountant about completing your tax EURAXESS Service Centres declaration. www.euraxess.eu Residents’ Registration Office, • If you have been drawing a salary from Göttingen the university and have paid social One month to go security contributions, arrange an New Town Hall appointment with an adviser at the • If you have children, inform the school or Hiroshimaplatz 1-4 Rentenversicherungsanstalt (Pensions kindergarten that you are leaving. Opening hours: Service) to discuss your pension • Inform your insurance companies that Mon, Tue: 08:00 am – 03:00 pm Wed, Fri: 08:00 am – 12:00 pm entitlements. you are leaving. Thu: 08:00 am – 06:30 pm

12 BEFORE146 LEAVING GERMANY 147 BEFORE LEAVING GERMANY 12 • If you want to sell your car in Germany • As you will probably need to use your Moving day or take it to your own country, you must bank account right up to the last minute, INDEX inform the Kraftfahrzeugzulassungsstelle we recommend not to cancel it until • Note down the meter readings for (vehicle licensing authority) and the shortly before the move. electricity, gas, and water in the handover report and get your landlord to sign it. A Car Sharing Agency 113, 117 company providing your third-party • Please leave your new address at the Central Office for Languages and Key liability insurance. Please take note of Welcome Centre (welcome@uni- • Check your accommodation and the Academic Orchestral Association 23 staircase for damage. Qualifications (ZESS) 29 the formalities necessary to export a goettingen.de). Academic Quarter 52 vehicle purchased in Germany (export Certificate of Good Conduct 37, 45 • Join Alumni Göttingen e. V. so that you • Depending on what you have arranged declaration). Accident at Work 79 can keep in touch with the University in with your landlord, clean your Checklist accommodation. Accident Insurance 67, 79 • Inform your telephone provider. the future. Before Leaving Germany 146 • Hand over the accommodation empty Accommodation 9, 37, 43, 46, 58-65, 89, • Arrange for the rent deposit to be • Cancel your registration at the Before Leaving Home and return the keys to the landlord/ 147-148 reimbursed including the interest and Einwohnermeldeamt (Residents’ & upon Arrival 37 any compound interest accrued during Registration Office). property manager. Agentur für Arbeit (Federal the rental period. Employment Agency) 47-48, 78, 94, 97 Documents 37-38, 41, 43, 46-47, 51, It will be necessary to present 85, 97, 114 • If required, complete a Nachsendeantrag We hope that you had a pleasant stay in Alexander von Humboldt the confirmation of housing Child Allowance 94-95 (forwarding request) at the post office so (“Wohnungsgeberbestätigung nach §19 Göttingen and that you will visit us again! Foundation 54, 154 that your post can be forwarded to you. des Bundesmeldegesetzes”) in order Alumni 148 Childbirth 68, 71 www.efiliale.de to cancel your registration a few days Childcare 9, 37, 89-91, 93 Your Welcome Centre Team Apartment see Accommodation > Nachsendeservice before your move. ARD ZDF German Country Radio Service Child Minders 89-91 • If you have paid radio and television (AZDBS) 119, 148 Children 9, 37, 41, 46, 70, 81, 89-92, 94-96, Einwohnermeldeamt der Stadt Göttingen licencing fees inform the ARD ZDF Ausländerbehörde 43, 46-47, 97 105-107, 111, 133-134, 136-138, 147 German country radio service (AZDBS) Neues Rathaus Church 22, 24, 26-27, 45, 87, 90, 107, 121-123 that you are leaving Hiroshimaplatz 1-4 B Church Tax 45, 87, 121 www.rundfunkbeitrag.de. Opening hours: Babysitter 91 Cinema 24, 124, 127 • Take borrowed books and journals back Mon, Tue: 08:00 am – 03:00 pm Collective Pay Agreement 51 to the university library or departmental Wed, Fri: 08:00 am – 12:00 pm Bank 9, 37, 45, 54, 108-110, 119, 149 libraries. Thu: 08:00 am – 06:30 pm C-Visa 42 • If you want to send luggage home by C freight service arrange an appointment Cafeteria 31, 33 D with the freight carrier to pick up the Car (vehicle) 27, 38, 64, 81, 107, 113-115, Day Care 6, 90 parcels. 117, 129, 148 Dentist 101, 105

12 148 149 INDEX

Deutsche Bahn 112 F H Private Health Insurance 68-69, 70-71, 102 Herzog August Library, Wolfenbüttel 19 Deutsche Forschungs­gemeinschaft Family 13, 37-38, 42-46, 48, 59, 63-64, Health Insurance 9, 37-38, 42-43, 46, 54, Social Insurance Number 67 Historical University Library Building 25 (DFG) 55 70, 72, 75, 89, 91, 93-95, 98, 107, 112, 130 67-72, 74-76, 78, 80, 89, 101-103, 106 Third-party Liability Insurance 54, 114, 148 Public Library (Stadtbibliothek) 30, 11 Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst Family Insurance 70 Private 68-69, 70-71, 102 Travel Health Insurance 42, 68 Research Libraries 30 (DAAD) 54, 72 Federal Employment Agency Statutory 67-72, 75-80, 101-102, 106, 123 Unemployment Insurance 67, 78 State and University Library 30, 56, 34, 60 Doctor 69-70, 72, 101-107, 120 47-48, 78, 94, 97 Health Insurance Card 69-71, 74-75 Intellectual Property 55 Literarisches Zentrum (Literary Centre) 25 Double Taxation Agreement 85 Fellowship 38, 43, 46, 54, 59, 67-69, 78-79, Health Insurance Card, International Communities 35 Literaturherbst 24 Driving Licence 38, 114-116 83, 108, 147 European (EHIC) 69-71, 74-75 Internationales Begegnungszentrum Dual Career Service 9, 98 Finanzamt (Tax Office) 37, 45, 84, 86-87 Holiday Programmes 93 (IBZ) 60 M Foreigners’ Office 43, 46-48, 97 Holidays 72, 75, 92-93, 101, 106, 114, 123, 130 Internet Access 34, 37, 56, 59, 102, 119 Marital Partner (spouse) 37, 41, 46-48, E Führungszeugnis 37, 45 Hospital 16, 68-72, 98, 102-103, 105-106 Invention 55 70, 89, 97 Education Authority 92 Funding 8, 54 Human Resources Department 51, 77, 112, 147 Medical Treatment 68, 70, 74, 102 Einwohnermeldeamt 37, 41, 45, 108, 148 J Medication 38, 71, 102 G Emergency 91, 101, 106-107, 115 I Job Offers 97-98 Meldebescheinigung 45-46 Emergency Number 91, 101, 106-107, 115 General Practitioner 101, 104 Illness 38, 67-68, 70-72, 74, 106 Job Portal 8, 97 Mensa 23, 31-32 Employment 37-38, 43, 46-48, German Academic Exchange Service 54 Immigration Office see Foreigners’ Office Job Ticket 112 Museum 25 51, 67-69, 76-78, 83-84, 94, 96-98 German Language Courses 29, 144 Income Tax 37, 83-87, 94 Music 7, 23-25, 128, 137 Employment Contract 37-38, 43, 46, 51, German Rail 112 K 67-69, 77, 84 Insurance German Research Foundation 55 Kindergarten 37, 89-90, 147 N Entry into Germany 41, 46, 89 Accident Insurance 67, 79 Guest Card 33, 37, 54 Health Insurance 9, 37-38, 42-43, 46, Neues Rathaus 45, 115, 148 EU Citizen 71, 75, 77, 94 L Guest House 59-60 54, 67-72, 74-76, 78, 80, 89, 101-103, 106 Nursing Care Insurance 67, 78, 80 EURAXESS 8, 54, 63, 93, 97, 114-115, 147, 154 Insurance against Accidents Language Courses 9, 29, 111 European Health Insurance Card at Work 67, 79 Language Guide 140-144 (EHIC) 69-71, 74-75 Nursing Care Insurance 67, 78, 80 Library 9, 19, 25, 30, 34, 37, 56, 111, 148 Exhibition 25

150 151 INDEX

O Residents’ Registration Office 37, 41, 45-46, T University Library 30, 56 Z 84, 87, 108, 147-148 Occupational Pensions 77 Taxation 8, 77, 83-87, 114 University Sport 34, 60 ZESS (Central Office for Languages University’s Wireless Access 34 and Key Qualifications) 29 Orchestra 22-23 S Annual Income Tax Adjustment 85 Double Taxation Agreement 85 P Salary Scale 51 V Electronic Tax Card Savings Bank 108, 111 Parental Allowance 95-97 (Elektronische Lohnsteuerkarte) 37 Vehicle (car) 27, 38, 64, 81, 107, 113-115, Schengen States 42 117, 129, 148 Patent 55 Income Tax 37, 83-87, 94 Scholarship Database 54 Vehicle Registration 114 Pension 37, 67, 76-78, 147 Tax Accountant 85, 86, 147 School 6, 9, 34, 37, 46, 90, Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Personnel Development 52 Tax Exemption on Fellowships 83 92-94,121, 123, 128, 136-137, 147 Länder (VBL) 76-77 Personalabteilung 51 Tax Office (Finanzamt) 37, 45, 84, 86-87 Settlement Permit 47, 94-95, 97 Visa 9, 37-38, 41-43, 45-46, 48, 68, 71, 89, 107 Pharmacy 101-102 Tax Return 85-86 Sparkasse 108, 110 C-Visa 42 President 7 Telephone 101, 106, 108, 113, 119, 120, 148 Sport 6, 23, 34, 38, 43, 45-46, D-Visa 41-43 Public Holidays 106, 123, 131 Third-party Liability Insurance 54, 114, 148 60, 79, 90, 126, 128, 133, 136 Hybrid Visa 42 Public Library 30, 111 Theatre 7, 22, 24 Social Security 8, 51, 67-69, 73, 76-80, 95, 147 National Visa 41 Public Servant/Service 51, 68, 77 Train 19, 21, 27, 112-113 Social Security Agreement 76, 78 Schengen Visa 41-42 Public Transport 112-113, 128, 147 Transfer of Research and Technology 55 Spouse (Marital Partner) 37, 41, 46-48, Visitor’s or Tourist Visa 41-43 70, 89, 97 Travel Health Insurance 42, 68 R Surroundings 18, 27 TV-L (Collective Pay Agreement) 51 W Radio and Television Licensing Fees 119, 148 SUB (Göttingen State and W-Besoldung (Salary Scale for Professors) 51 Refectory 31 University Library) 30, 56 U Welcome Centre 8-9, 45-46, 51, Religion 26, 87, 121, 123 Unemployment Benefit 78, 94 59-60, 69-71, 86, 89, 92, 98, 148, 154-155 Residence Permit 9, 37-38, 41-48, 68, 78, Unemployment Insurance 67, 78 Wireless Internet Access 34 94-95, 97 Unfallversicherung 67, 79

152 153 PHOTO CREDITS IMPRINT

Peter Heller: 11, 21, 22, 23, 31, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 50, 61, 65, Publisher: Proofreader: 82, 84, 88, 95, 97, 99, 100, 109, 110, 116, 120, 144, 145, 159 Georg-August-Universität Göttingen Dr. Eduardo Xavier Fargas Ronald Schmidt: 32, 56, 69, 78, 101, 103, 104 Christina Hinzmann: 28, 49, 52, 92, 142 Göttingen International – Christoph Mischke: 7, 13, 19, 26, 32 The International Office Design: Daria Kulemetyeva: 1,2, 27, 61, 68 Von-Siebold-Straße 2 Domino Werbeagentur GmbH Frank Stefan Kimmel: 3, 10 37075 Göttingen Alciro Theodoro da Silva: 12 www.uni-goettingen.de/international_office Michael Mehle: 16 Printer: Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious PR Druckerei GmbH and Ethnic Diversity: 16 Concept, text, and editing: Max Planck Institute for Dynamics Nadine Dreyer (Welcome Centre, and Self-Organization:17 University of Göttingen), As of November 2016: All the information Ebener/Max Planck Institute for contained in this guide has been carefully Experimental Medicine: 17 Heidemarie Hopf (Welcome Centre, researched and checked, and all reasonable Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research: 18 University of Göttingen), efforts have been made to avoid errors. Michael Moser/DPZ: 18 Daria Kulemetyeva (International Office, Adrienne Lochte/ Göttingen Academy Factual or printing errors can however not of Sciences and Humanities: 18 University of Göttingen), be completely ruled out. German Aerospace Center: 19 Chapter 4 to 12 were originally published Lars Gerhardts: 20 in a ‘Guide for International Researchers’ Thomas Müller: 24 of the Universities Bochum, Bonn, and Marc Oliver Schulz: 25 Marburg and are reprinted here (with Christian Malsch: 26 Burghart: 40 revisions) by kind permission of the above Gisa Kirschmann-Schröder: 53 mentioned universities. Martin Liebertruth: 57 Articles from portal EURAXESS Germany Fotolia: 58, 146 have, in partly modified versions, been Studentenwerk: 62 included by kind permission of Alexander Devovska: 80 Schuchardt: 91 von Humboldt Foundation. The publisher Vicente Jimenez Miras: 123 takes full responsibility for the content. Sven Pförtner: 132, 134 Arne Göring: 136 Petrow: 138

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