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Registering with the college takes place when you get to Germany. The host University will more than likely have written to you after they have received your application form and inform you of the registration dates. Some universities are very helpful (e.g. Bielefeld) and group all the foreign students together and go through the entire process with them, helping you fill out the all the necessary forms.
The office for international students is also extremeley helpful and friendly. They understand that it is a complicated process for foreign students ans are always there to lend a hand.
Here are a list of the things that you need to register.
In german universities you are required to pay a "social contribution" per semester. The amount varies from university to university.
| Bielefeld | 167DM per Semester |
| Tübingen | 80DM per Semester |
Approximately a week after you register you will recieve by post your certificate of registration. This consists normally of 5 small certififcates, with your name and course on them. You will also receive your semester ticket with this. This can either be a seperate card (like your student card) or a sticker that you attach to your student card. The semester ticket entitles students (in Bielefeld) to free transport around the city on buses, trams and the underground as well as free travel on regional trains in any direction up to a radius of 60km
The university registration process also involves your course choice, however this provisional choice is not set in stone. This process normally takes place the first week in college and most students do not know at this stage the courses that they want to take. At the beginning students are encouraged to sit in on as many lectures as possible, and then at a later date, to make your final choice.
To get your student card, you need to bring one of the certificates of registration along with your passport to the central dispatch in the university. Here they check your passport, take the certificate of registration and give you your student card.
If you are planning to stay and study for more than one semester you are required to re-register. This process is a lot easier second time around. This normally takes place in February. The university will generally post you a letter to remind you (the office for international students will know that you are staying for more than one semester). When the university write to remind you, they will send you a bank giro needed to pay the social contribution for semester 2. As soon as you have paid this in the bank you are automatically registered for semester 2. The university will then post you new certificates of registration and a new semester ticket to replace your semester 1 ticket.
As citizens of the EC we do not need a visa when travelling to Germany, however you do need to register with the local authorities and obtain a residence permit. Failing to do so is seen as an offence.
What you need?…
You need to bring all these to the Civic offices and here they will give you your residence permit which you should carry with you at all times.
When you are leaving Germany you are also required to de-register with the civic authorites. This process basically involves returning to the civic authorities and signing a form
When applying for a residence permit at the civic authorities, you are requird to prove that you have sufficient money to support you for your stay in Germany. Up to now a sufficient amount is considered to be 1000DM a month. If you are in receipt of a grant or scholarship in Ireland then you must produce a letter from the relevant institution proving this. In a case where this amount is not enough an informal letter from your parents will suffice.
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