Guide for International Students
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GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS A GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSITY AND DAILY LIFE IN GÖTTINGEN LIST OF CONTENTS WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN 1. THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN 6 2. PREPARING YOUR STAY 10 3. FIRST STEPS IN GÖTTINGEN 24 4. STUDYING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN 32 5. LIVING IN GÖTTINGEN 52 6. AFTER YOUR STUDIES 64 DEAR STUDENTS, DEAR STUDENTS, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the University of Göttingen. With its 277 years Thank you for choosing the University of Göttingen as your new academic home. The of history and at the same time modern facilities, the university provides you with university currently hosts students from 120 different countries and we are glad to excellent conditions for research-based education in nearly all areas of knowledge. In welcome you to our international family. This guide is designed to provide you with addition, our outstanding infrastructure and partnership with research institutions all the necessary information to help you find your way at the University of Göttin- within the Göttingen Campus give you an opportunity to get involved in high-quality gen and make you feel comfortable at your new home for the next months or even research, connecting to scientists from all around the world. years. We hope to make your stay in Göttingen a valuable and exciting experience. And even after your graduation, you will – as alumni – stay a member of this unique scientific family throughout your future career. Ulrike Beisiegel Uwe Muuss President of the university Director of As a town, Göttingen is also an excellent choice. With its vibrant culture and nume- The International Office rous sports events available, there will always be many things to see and do in your leisure time. I encourage you to take part in the events the university and the city have to offer! 2 3 GÖTTINGEN - YOUR NEW HOME Göttingen, with a population of approx. 120,000, is a city where tradition and innovation complement one another perfectly. The city dates back to the Middle Ages and still boasts a unique historic centre with beauti- ful half-timbered buildings. While the architecture breathes history, the spirit of Göttingen is young and vibrant – thanks to its 28,000 students, more than eleven per cent of them with an international background. Finding your way around town is very easy as The city also offers a range of outdoor activities the centre is compact and distances from one with its superb sports facilities, parks and ex- end to the other are pretty short. Profit from cellent bicycle routes. Göttingen is surrounded Göttingen’s continuously extending cycle by beautiful countryside, with its rolling hills, tracks, contribute to protecting the environ- forests, and the Harz: the highest mountain ment and do something good for your own range in Northern Germany. There are also a fitness. Otherwise, you can always take a bus, number of smaller towns that are worth a visit, which is free for all students (you just have to which can be seen on a day trip from Göttingen. show your student ID card). The semester ticket allows you to use Lower Saxony regional trains for free. Situated in the geographical centre of Germa- ny and Europe, Göttingen has excellent travel connections, e.g. Berlin, Hamburg or Frankfurt are only a two-hour train ride away. But you don't have to go that far to take a break, be- cause Göttingen itself offers many possibilities for recreational activities! DEAR STUDENTS, Göttingen is a very safe place to live. Moving I warmly welcome you to Göttingen, a city of knowledge! The University around, even at night, is no problem at all. Its of Göttingen, its students, scientists and staff, make Göttingen a special inhabitants are known for their friendliness place to live in: the city lives from science and for science. Göttingen is a and open-mindedness. This attitude is also re- melting pot that accommodates students from more than 120 different flected in Göttingen’s cultural life. Göttingen countries from all over the world. It is therefore a city of international en- offers a myriad of possibilities for recreational counters on a daily basis that nourishes and gives space for international activities. The town has three theatres, a sym- friendships and academic networks. Apart from the numerous opportu- phony orchestra, several cinemas, cafés and nities for studies and cultural activities, Göttingen offers a great deal of pubs, which provide numerous opportunities possibilities to arrange one's own leisure time. I hope you enjoy your stay Rolf-Georg Köhler to meet people and have a good time. Popular in Göttingen and I wish you all the best in your studies. Mayor annual events include the Night of Culture, the International Händel Festival, the Jazz Festival, the International Literature Festival and many more. The university and its student union sponsor many cultural and recreational events. 4 5 FACULTIES 1 THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN 1 NATURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES, LAW, ECONOMIC SCIENCES, MATHEMATICS AND INFORMATICS SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Faculty of Economic Sciences Faculty of Biology and Psychology Faculty of Humanities Faculty of Chemistry Faculty of Law Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Faculty of Social Sciences Ecology Faculty of Theology Faculty of Geoscience and Geography Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science Faculty of Physics University Medical Center CONTACT DETAILS Would you like to take part in one of the exchange programmes? Our database offers you an overview A GLOBAL PLAYER of our partnerships and provides you with contact details at the faculties. The University of Göttingen is well known as http://www.uni-goettingen.de/ a university which emphasises international exchange-programmes COMMITTED TO YOUR SUCCESS cooperation. The university has active agree- ments with almost 500 institutions of higher education in 75 countries and offers a wide Founded in 1737, the University of Göttingen is a research uni- variety of exchange and scholarship opportu- versity of international reputation, with a strong focus on re- nities for international students and scholars. search-driven teaching. The university is distinguished by the wide scope of its subjects and excellent facilities for scientific research. Almost all academic disciplines including medicine WORLD RANKINGS are represented in the 13 faculties, the exception being engi- neering sciences. Such a broad spectrum of subjects enables The University of Göttingen was ranked you to tackle overarching issues from an interdisciplinary per- number two in Germany and number 67 in the world in 2014-2015 by the Times spective. Higher Education World University Ranking. 6 7 1 Auflösung zu gering, neues Bild CONTACT DETAILS The International Office is located INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES between the Central and the North Campus, at Von-Siebold-Straße 2. Over 60 Bachelor, Master and Ph.D. programmes are taught in English and ensure that gradu- The office hours are Monday and ates emerge excellently equipped to enter the international job market. Approximately 28,000 Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. young people currently study here, some eleven per cent of which are from abroad. For more information, please refer to www.uni-goettingen.de/international. INFORMATION For more information about GÖTTINGEN CAMPUS the Göttingen Campus THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICE please visit: www.goettingen-campus.de The University of Göttingen and the University The International Office is your main point of con- Apart from taking care of administrative issues, we Medical Center are joined by eight non-univer- tact for non-academic issues before your arrival also organise numerous cultural events and excur- sity research institutions and form a collabora- and during your stay in Göttingen. Please feel free sions, which bring students from different coun- tive network across Göttingen’s research cam- to contact us via contact form, telephone or per- tries together. Please join us for one of the cultural pus. sonal visit during the office hours if you need any or cooking evenings; present your home country or ciplines and provides students with access to assistance with yourapplication or enrollment at simply have fun during one of our quiz nights or This network includes the Max Planck Insti- many different libraries, laboratories, facilities, the University. movie evenings. tutes for Biophysical Chemistry, Dynamics and a multitude of campus resources. and Self-Organization, Experimental Medicine, Solar System Research, and the Max Planck Joint professorships working at the university Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic and at these non-university institutions unite Diversity; the Göttingen Academy of Sciences teaching activities with on-going research and Humanities, the German Primate Centre projects, placing students at the forefront of and the German Aerospace Centre. developments in science, technology, metho- dologies, innovation and culture. Professors Together these on-site partners form an excep- and scientists take part in the graduate train- tionally vital cooperative alliance in research ing programmes, which also provide a range of and teaching. Their close proximity on campus professional skills tailored to the needs of doc- encourages the discourse of ideas across dis- toral students. 8 9 STUDYING IN GÖTTINGEN AS A DEGREE SEEKING STUDENT CHECKLIST: PREPARING YOUR STAY 2 PREPARING YOUR STAY IMPORTANT 2 Receive admission letter Please note that the steps Apply for visa (if required) below are valid for degree seeking students only. Clarify money-related questions Exchange students should · Secure funding for your studies refer to page 22. · Get proof of financial resources (if required) Apply for health insurance (if required) Prepare the documents to take with you to Göttingen Apply for accommodation Start learning German Apply for study-buddy/exchange-buddy programme (if desired) RECEIVING YOUR ADMISSION LETTER You automatically receive an admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid) from the University of Göttingen after your application has been accepted by the faculty.