FEEL AT HOME Getting started at HHU Student Edition hhu.de/feel-at-home Legal notice Publisher Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) Responsible for content Professor Dr. Andrea von Hülsen-Esch, Vice-President for International Relations Editor International Office Student Services Centre (SSC) | Level 01 Telephone: +49 (0)211 81-14107 Dear Student Email: [email protected] www.hhu.de/home/en/internationales I am very pleased that you have chosen to study with us here at Editorial team Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU). An important new Dr. Benjamin Irkens, International Office chapter in your life is about to commence and we want to help Matthias Kaufmann, International Office and support you as best as we can. Dr. Saskia Reither, Personal Assistant to the Vice-President for International Relations You will find important information in this brochure which will With the kind support of HHU Student Services (Studierendenservice) help you to prepare for studying as well as for getting started. Translation ORANSKI Übersetzungen, Cologne Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the relevant contact Photographs © HHU / Ivo Mayr persons if you have any questions - they will be pleased to help Design atelier caer, Düsseldorf you. Issue: 2017 I wish you every success in your studies and hope that you enjoy This information brochure is intended above all for international first-semester students at HHU. It complements the “First Semester Bro- your time at HHU and soon settle down in your new environ- chure” published by HHU Student Services (Studierendenservice) which ment! is available online in HHU’s Study Start Portal on the SSC website or can be obtained as a print version from the SSC. This issue reflects the status as of July 2017. Although we have taken great care in compiling this brochure, we assume no liability whatsoever for the accuracy of the information provided. Prof. Dr. Andrea von Hülsen-Esch Vice-President for International Relations Please note that the links lead to German-language websites. Where the pages are also available in English, please click on the flag or button. Content PREPARATION Prior to arrival Checklist 12 Visa and entry 13 Insurance 15 Travelling to Düsseldorf 18 Financing your studies Cost overview 19 Scholarships 20 Financial advice 21 Accommodation The first nights 22 Student halls of residence 22 Finding accommodation 24 FIRST STEPS Formalities Registering at your place of residence 28 Residence permit 28 Opening a bank account 29 Enrolment Enrolment and re-registration 30 HHU Student Services 32 University identifier 33 NRW Travel Pass 34 Content Content On campus LIVING IN DÜSSELDORF Travelling to HHU by bus or tram 35 Finding your way around 36 Employment and career guidance Safety on campus 36 Work and study 58 Food and drink 37 Internships 59 Room for Silence and Prayer 39 Placement services for jobs and internships 60 Service Point 39 Career entry 60 HHU programme “UNI2JOB – Careers in Germany” 62 Good to know SERVICES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Visiting the doctor and medication 63 Local authorities’ hotline 63 Study start Festivities in Germany 64 “Feel at Home” welcome programme 42 Cell phone and landline 65 “Mate-For-You” buddy programme 43 Internet 66 Opening hours 66 Obtaining qualifications Punctuality 67 Modules, credit points and academic courses 44 Post 67 Examinations 45 Smoking ban 68 Assistance, events and initiatives Recycling and deposit 68 Tutorials 47 Travel 69 Learning German 47 TV and radio licence 70 Study completion grants 48 Weather and clothing 70 Events programme of Düsseldorf Student Services 49 “Sie” and “Du” 71 Clubs and church communities 50 Equality 72 International Students Office of the Students’ Union 51 Campus map International studies Learning foreign languages 52 Certificate in “Intercultural Competence” 52 Stays abroad 53 Abbreviations Abbreviations In this brochure, on the HHU website, and in everyday student GSB Gleichstellungsbeauftragte life you will encounter the following abbreviations: Equal Opportunities Officer AStA Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss Hbf Hauptbahnhof Students’ Union Main station CP Credit Points HHU Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf Credit points Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf CVJM Christlicher Verein Junger Menschen HIS-LSF Online-Vorlesungsverzeichnis YMCA Online university calendar DAAD Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst KHG Katholische Hochschulgemeinde German Academic Exchange Service Association of Catholic Students DaF Deutsch als Fremdsprache NRW Nordrhein-Westfalen German as a foreign language North Rhine-Westphalia DPD Deutscher Paketdienst SPV Studierenden- und Prüfungsverwaltung German Parcel Service Student and Examination Administration EU Europäische Union Department European Union SSC Studierenden Service Center EC-Karte Electronic-Cash-Karte Student Services Centre Debit card / cash card SWS Semesterwochenstunden ECTS European Credit Transfer and Accumulation Weekly hours per semester System STW Studierendenwerk (Studentenwerk up to 2015) European Credit Transfer and Accumulation Düsseldorf Student Services System ULB Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek EHIC Europäische Krankenversicherungskarte University and State Library European Health Insurance Card UPS United Parcel Service ESAG Erstsemester Arbeitsgemeinschaft United Parcel Service First Semester Working Group ZIM Zentrum für Informations- und Medien- ESN ERASMUS Student Network technologie ERASMUS Student Network Centre for Information and Media Technology ESG Evangelische Studierendengemeinde ZSU Zentrum Studium Universale Association of Protestant Students General Studies Centre EWR Europäischer Wirtschaftsraum European Economic Area PREPARATION Prior to arrival Prior to arrival Prior to arrival Visa and entry Checklist Whether and what type of visa you might need depends on your country of origin as well as on the duration and purpose of your The following checklist will help you to prepare your stay at visit (see p. 12). Please enquire well in advance (about a year) Heinrich Heine University (HHU) Düsseldorf. ERASMUS stu- before you travel at a German diplomatic mission in your home dents and students taking part in other exchange programmes country about the visa procedure and the documents you re- will find information on how to prepare their visit on the Inter- quire in order to apply. Binding information on visa regulations national Office’s website. is available on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. Time schedule and tasks Information www.auswaertiges-amt.de/ENEntry and Residence Prior to arrival ¡¡Visa for a language course Apply for a visa Visa and entry, p. 10 This visa is only valid for the duration of the language course and cannot be converted into a visa for study purposes. Information about health Health insurance, p. 13 insurance in Germany ¡¡Applicant’s visa Apply for a place in a hall You have not yet been accepted by HHU. This visa is valid Accommodation, p. 20 of residence for three months and can be converted into a visa for study purposes once you have been accepted by HHU. If you want After arrival to complete a language course in Germany first and then Enrol at HHU Enrolment, p. 28 apply to HHU for a place, you should apply for an applicant’s visa. Registering your place of Place of residence, p. 26 residence ¡¡Residence visa for the purpose of studying Opening a bank account Bank account, p. 27 You have received your letter of acceptance from HHU or preparatory college (Studienkolleg). Please go to the Applying for a residence Residence permit, p. 26 Municipal Immigration Office and have your applicant’s visa permit converted to a residence visa for study purposes. Getting to grips with studying Initial study help, p. 40 12 13 Prior to arrival Prior to arrival Please note that what is known as a “Schengen visa” is not valid You must apply for this before entering Germany. Please for studying in Germany, doctoral studies or research visits, nor apply for a residence permit for study purposes at the Mu- can it be converted into another type of visa in Germany. In or- nicipal Immigration Office before your entry visa expires. der to obtain a new visa you will be required to leave Germany and then enter the country again. When you apply for a visa and at the latest when you apply for a residence permit you must provide evidence that you have Do I need an entry visa for Germany? or will receive sufficient money to be able to live in Germany. Where do I get my residence permit? Examples of such evidence are, for example, a scholarship noti- fication, evidence of income or assets of your parents or a state- ¡¡EU and EEA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and ment of commitment from someone domiciled in Germany. Switzerland Nationals of certain countries must open a blocked account at a No visa required. bank in Germany. ¡¡Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Further information is available on the websites of the DAAD New Zealand and USA and German Student Services (Deutsches Studierendenwerk). No visa required. For a study visit longer than three months you can apply for a residence permit for study purposes www.daad.de/deutschland/en after entering Germany too at the Municipal Immigration www.auswaertiges-amt.de/ENEntry and Residence Office. https://www2.duesseldorf.de/auslaenderamt www.internationale-studierende.de/enPrepare your ¡¡Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and studiesEntry into GermanyProof of financing San Marino A visa is only required if