Wissen. Was Praktisch Zählt. Guide for Exchange Students at Westfälische
Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
Guide for Exchange Students at Westfälische Hochschule, Gelsenkirchen Campus
Office for international Students Room B4.0.04 Mrs. Regina Klauke Neidenburger Str. 43 D - 45897 Gelsenkirchen Tel +49 (0)209 9596 943 Fax +49 (0)209 9596 554 E-Mail: [email protected] www.incomings.w-hs.de
Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
Campus Gelsenkirchen Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
Table of Contents
Semester dates page 4 Examinations page 5 How to get to Gelsenkirchen page 6 Office for International Students page 7 Getting enrolled page 8 Accomodation, Rental Contract page 9 - 10 Transportation page 11 Health Insurance page 12 Liability Insurance page 13 Registration Office page 14 Immigrations` Information Office page 15 VISA and Residence Permit page 16 - 17 Bank Account page 18 Television and Radio page 19 Sports & Leisure page 20
Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
Semester dates 2013 - 2014
Winter semester 2013/2014 Start of semester 01st September 2013 Start of lectures 16th September 2013 End of lectures 07th February 2014 End of semester 28th February 2014
Summer semester 2014 Start of semester 01st March 2014 Start of lectures 10th March 2014 End of lectures 11th July 2014 End of semester 31st August 2014
Please schedule your journey to arrive in Gelsenkirchen the week Before lectures start. This will allow you to “settle in” and complete all necessary formalities. Please note that your arrival at the weekend or in the night could be a problem.
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Examinations
Examinations are taken as follows: summer semester: over a period of two weeks past the end of lectures
winter semester: over a period of two weeks past the end of lectures
In order to take examinations you have to register online via our QIS HIS system. You will obtain your password upon your arrival in Gelsenkirchen.
The exact examination dealines will be published on the department‘s homepage in due time.
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How to get to Gelsenkirchen
The nearest airport to Gelsenkirchen is Düsseldorf. Gelsenkirchen is about 1 hour on the train away from Düsseldorf. Trains to Gelsenkirchen from the airport leave about every half an hour. Information about train connections is issued by Deutsche Bahn AG, the national rail company (http://www.db.de) and information as to bus/coach travel is available from Verkehrsverbund Rhein Ruhr, the Rhein Ruhr transport system (http://www.vrr.de/).
From Gelsenkirchen main station, take the tram number 302 (direction Gelsenkirchen-Buer) as far as the stop 'Buer-Rathaus'. From there, take the bus number 396 (direction Gelsenkirchen-Horst) up to bus-stop 'Neidenburger Straße', or take bus number 399, which takes you directly to the Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen (this bus does not run during the semester break). By car you can reach us via the A2 motorway, exit Gelsenkirchen-Buer.
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Office for International Students
We will be happy to support you before, during and after your stay in Gelsenkirchen. We are responsible for your application, your accommodation and your Letter of acceptance. We help you to prepare your stay in Gelsenkirchen.
Once you are here, our student tutors will assist you with all necessary formalities (as detailed below). The tutors will also help you to get integrated in academic and social life.
Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
Getting enrolled
Registration takes place in the Office for International Students (Room B4.0.04) after your arrival. The following items must be brought with you to complete your registration:
1. Passport and visa (non EU-members), copy of passport 2. Two recent passport photographs (with your name written on the back) 3. Certificate of valid health insurance (EU health insurance card or certificate from a German insurance company). We will give to non EU-members an application form for a German health insurance. 4. Student ID or certificate of enrolment from your home-university
For ERASMUS-students 5. Learning Agreement/Training Agreement, Confirmation Letter of arrival/ departure
Upon registration students need to pay a student and social facilities fee of currently 260,62 €. You will get a bank transfer form. Included in this is the price of the “NRW ticket”, with which you can use the public transport (tram, bus and trains) within North Rhine-Westphalia for free. Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
Accommodation
Hostel “Wodanstraße”, Wodanstraße 7a-f, 45891 Gelsenkirchen The village is comprised of several houses each containing 2, 3 or 4-room apartments. It is situated in the part of town Gelsenkirchen-Erle in a very central position with local amenities only approx. 300m away. You will get the keys of your room from your tutor or the keys can be collected in the caretakers office during his opening hours: Monday-Friday between 09.00am and 11.00am (Phone: +49-209-9772216). There are also washing-machines and dryers within the student village.
Residence “Düppelstraße”, Düppelstr. 12, 45897 Gelsenkirchen There are two double and five single rooms. There are several bath rooms and a big kitchen. The residence is 10 minutes away from the Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen.
Akademisches Förderungswerk Bochum” (AkaFö). Contact Person: Mr. Dennis Bauch Tel.: +49-234-3211414.
In case of damages or other problems in your room please ask the caretaker. Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
The rental contract
The rental contract runs for the duration of one semester or the academic year, including semester breaks. It can only be concluded over 6 or 12 months. Please note that it is not possible to terminate the rental contract earlier and to give notice to leave. The rental contract runs from 1st September to 28/29th February in the winter semester and from 1st March to 31st August in the summer semester.
The total rent per room is approx. 1.400,00 € per semester, the exact rental charges will be announced to you after your arrival. You do not have to pay a deposit. The rent has to be paid in two parts by 1st March and by 1st June for the spring term, by 1st September and 1st December for the autumn term.
Please note: The first part of the total rent has to be paid to the residence administration (not to Westfälische Hochschule) directly after your arrival.
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Transportation
You can use your “Semesterticket” which is on your student chipcard and the additional “Ticket to Print” to travel on all buses, trams and trains in North Rhine-Westphalia for free.
In Cranger Straße close to the student village is the tram stop “Breite Straße“, from which the tramline 301 runs. To get from the student village to Westfälische Hochschule, take the number 301 until “Rathaus Buer” in Goldbergplatz. From there you can take the bus number 399 directly to Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen in Neidenburger Straße. You can also take the number 396 which travels to “Gelsenkirchen-Horst”.
Get out at the stop “Neidenburger Straße“ and walk the remaining 5 minutes to Westfälische Hochschule. To go to main station in the city centre of Gelsenkirchen you can use the tramline 301.
Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
Health Insurance
During your stay in Germany a sufficient health insurance cover is required. Students from countries within the European Union only need to present their EU health insurance card.
If you come from a country outside of the European Union, you need a travel insurance for the first 4 to 6 weeks of your travel to Germany. This travel insurance must have a cover amount of 30.000 €. After your arrival in Germany you have to take out a German student`s health insurance which costs approx. 80 € per month. The Office for International Students will be happy to assist you with the application procedure.
Please don’t take out private health insurance in your home country for the whole period of your stay in Germany. This kind of insurance will not be accepted and you may have to pay cash for medicine, medical treatment and stay in hospital.
Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
Liability Insurance
We highly recommend that all students take out liability insurance to cover any accidental damage caused to other persons or property during their stay. This is not required by German law but is nevertheless strongly advised. Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt), Goldbergplatz 6 (at the town-hall)
Opening hours: Mon, Tue 8.00 am - 4.00 pm Wed 8.00 am - 2.00 pm Thu 8.00 am - 6.00 pm Fri 8.00 am - 1.00 pm
In Germany you are obliged to get registered as a resident at the local Registration Office within one week once you have a permanent address. Please remember to bring with your passport (and, if applicable, your visa). When you leave Germany you have to go to the Residents’ Registration office and cancel your registration.
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Immigrations` Information Office, Husemannstr.32 (Ausländerbehörde)
Opening hours: Mon, Tue & Thu 8.30 am - 3.30 pm Fri 8.30 am-12.30 pm Closed on Wednesdays
Once you have arrived and registered with the Residents` Registration Office you must go to the Immigrations` Information Office in order to apply for a residence permit (“Aufenthaltstitel”). Students from EU countries may be exempted from this rule.
Please remember to bring the following documents: • your passport (and, if applicable, your visa) • your registration certificate (“Meldebestätigung”) issued by the Registration Office • copy of your certificate of study • letter confirming financial support from parents or scholarship of at least 670 Euro per month • copy of your health insurance certificate
Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
How to apply for a VISA
Usually, foreigner (from non EU-countries) need a visa to enter Germany. For stays longer than 3 months you need additionally a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis). You must apply for a visa for students in your country of origin before you move to Germany. After immigration you have to apply for a residence permit at the Immigrations` Information Office (Ausländerbehörde). Please make sure, NOT to apply for a tourist visa.
USA, Israel, Brazil or South Korea
Students from socalled „positiven Drittstaaten“ such as the USA, Israel, Brazil or South Korea can enter Germany without visa. However, they have to get their stay legitimized by the Immigrations` Information Office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany. Thus, they need to apply for a residence permit („Aufenthalterlaubnis“), usually, students apply for § 16 AufenthG. The down mentioned requirements for financial documentation apply accordingly.
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How to receive a VISA
To receive a visa (usually for the purpose of studying) which permits immigration to Germany, you must document your financial background. Thus, you must prove to the German embassy in your country of residence and to the city of Gelsenkirchen that you can finance your stay in Germany. The approximate value is 8040 € per year, which corresponds to monthly 670 €.
You can document your financial background by: • starting a blocked account „Sperrkonto“ with a value of at least 8040 €. Note, that the amount depends on the duration of your stay. If you stay for six months, you will only have to put 6 x 670 € in the blocked account. The blocked account will allow you to take out 670 € per month max. • presenting a formal commitment („Verpflichtungserklärung“) of a third party (such as your parents) stating to support you with at least 670 € per month. The formal commitment must be presented to the German diplomatic representations. • presenting documentation of an acknowledged publicly financed scholarship (such as DAAD or from your home university) which support you with at least 670-, € per month or comparative proves of income (e.g. salary).
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Bank Account
It may be advisable to open a German bank account. This students` account will be free of charge. There are several banks near the bus station in Gelsenkirchen-Buer:
• Stadtsparkasse Gelsenkirchen, Neumarkt 2
• Volksbank Gelsenkirchen, Kirchstraße 1
• Deutsche Bank Gelsenkirchen, Essener Straße 1
You will find other banks in the vicinity of the student village in Cranger Straße.
To open a bank account you need your passport and your certificate of study. Out tutor will help you.
Wissen. Was praktisch zählt.
Television and Radio
For the use of your private radio and television sets you must pay broadcast fees, which are set of the GEZ (fee introduction center). The fee amounts 53,94 € for three months. The registration you find in the Internet : www.gez.de/online_service/anmelden.de
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Sports & Leisure Time
The Westfälische Hochschule offers a variety of (free) sport opportunities. These are displayed on the blackboard from AStA (Neidenburger Straße 10). If you are interested, contact the sport-representative in the student union (“AStA, Allgemeiner Studentenausschuß”, Neidenburger Straße 10): http://www.asta- wh.de/.
In Gelsenkirchen there are many ways to enjoy your free-time: sport- and leisure centres, wavepools, saunas, solariums, tennis-courts, cinemas and theatre.
For more information on cultural- and free time activities, visit the tourist office in the city centre of Gelsenkirchen (Ebertstraße 20). You can also obtain information on the following web site: http://www.gelsenkirchen.de