Frequently Asked Questions Master of Business Administration (MBA) Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences Content Welcome to the MBA programme at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences! .................. 2 1) Why should I choose Darmstadt for studying? ...................................................................... 2 2) Which special support can I receive in the MBA programme? ............................................ 3 3) How is the application procedure?........................................................................................ 3 4) Which kind of visa do I need in order to come to Germany? ................................................ 4 5) How is the detailed visa procedure? ..................................................................................... 5 6) Am I allowed to work and how much? .................................................................................. 7 7) How can I find a job? .............................................................................................................. 7 8) What are the job opportunities after my studies? ................................................................ 9 9) Do I need to learn German to work in Germany? ................................................................. 9 10) Do I need to learn German to study in the MBA programme of h_da? ............................. 10 11) Do I need a health insurance? ............................................................................................. 10 12) How can I find accommodation? ......................................................................................... 12 13) How high are the living expenses in Germany? ................................................................. 15 14) Do I need a German bank account? .................................................................................... 15 15) How is it to live in Darmstadt and what can I do in the area? ............................................ 15 16) RMV Semester- Ticket ........................................................................................................ 17 17) I am in Germany, so what is next? ...................................................................................... 18 18) Who can help me at the university? .................................................................................... 19 1 Welcome to the MBA programme at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences! This programme offers you the opportunity of planning a career in Germany whilst attaining an MBA. The part-time structure of the programme conveniently enables you to combine a job, an internship or intensive German language courses with continuing education. The outstanding economic significance of Darmstadt and its surroundings offer best conditions to enter the local job market. With our Services for international students we will help you organising your stay in Germany and support your personal and professional development. 1) Why should I choose Darmstadt for studying? Darmstadt is located in the Rhine-Main region, which is well-known as the economic hub of Europe. The fully-developed infrastructure enables very good transportation to nearly any place in Europe making it easy for you to explore every spot you like and does not at least at- tract multinational companies to the region. A total number of 108,740 registered companies is host for more than 2 million employees, thereby accounting for a GVA (Gross Value Added) of around 180 billion euro. Several large international companies such as Accenture, Bosch, Deutsche Bank, Evonik Industries, Merck, Procter & Gamble, Siemens and many more gained ground in and around Darmstadt. Located at the heart of Europe, the Rhine-Main Region is home for 5.5 million inhabitants on 14,755km² and also Germany’s most cosmopolitan region. The centre of the region, Frankfurt am Main, the surrounding cities are not less worth a visit. Nearby, you will find many cities rich of culture such as Heidelberg (40 min.) or Mainz (20 min.). Frankfurt, Germany’s financial cen- tre, is the head-quarter of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the hometown of Johann- Wolfgang von Goethe. Heidelberg is known for its famous castle and stunning flair in its histor- ic centre. Bright carnival is celebrated in Mainz and many heritage sites take you back in the past. In short, Darmstadt offers an advantage because of the Economic strength and job opportunities Excellent infrastructure and location Cultural sights and heritages in and around the city 2 2) Which special support can I receive in the MBA programme? The MBA management team wants to help you organising your stay in Germany and to support your personal and professional development. In our MBA programme, you will have the oppor- tunity to profit from our network and infrastructure. Our aim is to help you organising your stay in Germany and create more value for you and your career. Our services for international stu- dents include: Buddy system for students from abroad Help in finding accommodation German language courses Intercultural trainings Application trainings Advice regarding visa and work permit Finding jobs and internships through our network Pursuing a broad range of sports like badminton, boxing, basketball, soccer, rugby, swimming, diving, table tennis, volleyball, workout in the gym and many more (besides that, more than 100 sports organisations offer over 1500 possibilities to pursue your fa- vourite sport) Free public transport using the student-rail pass Cultural activities Getting in touch with other international and German students Regular events like fireside chats, guest-lectures and discussion-panels with corporate representatives Up-to-date classroom technology, free Wi-Fi on campus, extensive library access, e- learning 3) How is the application procedure? Applicants with foreign university degrees are requested to apply via Uni-Assist Berlin. After your online-registration on http://www.uni-assist.de/service-portal.html and transfer of the han- dling fees to Uni-Assist, you have to send your complete application documents to Uni-Assist Berlin: 3 Hochschule Darmstadt c/o Uni-Assist e.V. Geneststraße 5 D-10829 Berlin A detailed list of the required application documents can be found on http://www.mba.h-da.de and on http://www.uni-assist.de. A submission of your documents to h_da is not necessary. Uni-Assist will submit your dossier after examination to the MBA Examination Board at h_da for further processing. Application deadlines for applicants with foreign university degree Admission for the winter semester (which commences in October): 1 June Tip: Initiate your admission process as soon as possible. The recognition of foreign university degree, visa issuance procedures, and the relocation from one country to another are all time- consuming. Admission requirements: Graduation from a first degree programme/an above average economics or non- economics university degree An equivalent of 210 credit points (CP) according to the European Credit Transfer Sys- tem (ECTS). Applicants with less than 210 CP are expected to take preparation courses. Adequate basic knowledge of Business Administration. Applicants, who do not have ad- equate basic economic knowledge, are expected to take preparation courses. A minimum of three years of professional experience after graduation. Comprehensive knowledge of the English language and a corresponding test certifi- cate. 4) Which kind of visa do I need in order to come to Germany? You need different documents to get the permission to enter Germany. The most important one is the visa. You should apply for it in advance, because the processing of your documents takes a while. You can apply for it at the German embassy or consulate in your home country. You can 4 find the addresses of the German embassy and the consulate in your home country on the website of the Federal Foreign Office (http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Laenderinformationen/DtAuslandsvertretungenA-Z- Laenderauswahlseite_node.html) For your MBA you will need a National Visa: If you wish to study you must make sure right from the beginning that you apply for a national visa for the purpose of studying (student visa). As a rule, you will have to present the following papers and documents to the relevant German mission abroad (e.g. embassy or consulate in your country): letter of admission from the German university health insurance policy proof of any academic credits gained or examinations passed proof of any German language skills you may have or of your plans to take a language course in Germany documents that prove how you intend to finance your living expenses while you are studying Tip: Student applicants who have not yet been admitted to a German university should apply for a Student Application Visa. It is valid for three months and can be converted into a residence permit for the purpose of studying once you have been admitted to a higher education institu- tion. Please note, that not every country issues a Student Application Visa. You must, after arriving in Germany and having reported to the registration authority, go to the Foreigners Authority in your university town to apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studying. For further information please check: http://www.study-in.de/en/study/admission-requirements/before-you-leave/visa/ 5) How is the detailed visa procedure? Generally speaking, all other foreigners require a visa for stays in Germany.