Study and research in Germany

Plenty of help and support: Nobody's left on their own

Your decision to study in Germany gives you a special challenge. You specifically chose to take up a course of academic training, because you see it as the best possible foundation for your professional and personal future. You now want to begin or continue this new stage in your life in a foreign country. This means that you have to learn a new language, new customs, habits and manners. You need to cope with the complicated course material and demanding examinations. That calls for great personal dedication and your best efforts and performance. Keeping control of all this is sometimes pretty difficult. But don't worry, you won't be left alone with your questions and problems. Germany's universities and their institutions maintain a wide and various range of – free-of-charge – advisory and helpful services for you to use. Don't hesitate, make early use of them.We'd now like to present some of the most common services below that are found at practically each and every university. Your university may possibly offer further support services locally. Just ask!

Services offered

If you have a specific problem or concern, our scout Mai will be pleased to tell you where you can find help and support.

• Fears, depression, self-doubt
• Studying with a disability or special needs
• Completely new in the country
• Writer's block
• Childcare
• Financial difficulties
• Unsure about your career planning
• Questions all about studying
• Properly insured?
• Finding a place to live

Fears, depression, self-doubt

You're constantly depressed; you're only making slow progress in your studies; you're suffering fears of failure: in such mental crises, you are in good hands at the Psychological Counselling Service (Psychologische Beratung). This service is generally offered by the Student Services (Studentenwerk) organisations. To check whether the Student Services at your university have such a service, just check their website: www.studentenwerke.de/main/default.asp?id=04101
Experienced psychologists work in the counselling centres. They will support you in the case of identity crises, psychosomatic problems, crises with your family or your partner. They also help you overcome any problems with your work or studies or any examination fears you may have; often these have psychiatric causes.

Studying with a disability or special needs

If you have a disability or a chronic illness, it's best to resolve a number of questions before you begin studying in Germany, such as: Where can I find barrier-free (including easy access for wheelchairs) accommodation? Does the university town of your choice have an assistance system? How much does it cost? The following contacts will be pleased to help you before and during your studies:

• Special Needs Officers for Students with Disabilities or Chronic Illnesses: they know how the disability-related disadvantages which you have in your studies and examinations can be compensated for and much more. A list of these officers can be found on the following website:  www.studentenwerke.de/adressen/bfb.
  
• Student Services: The Studentenwerke provide barrier-free accommodation that meets the needs of disabled students and give advice on health insurance in the Social Counselling Offices (Sozialberatungsstellen).
  
• Interest Groups of Disabled Students: these represent the interests of students with disabilities or special needs vis-à-vis the university and the public; they also offer advice, experience exchange, and partnership-based assistance.
  
• The German Society for Blind and Sight-Impaired Students and Professionals (DVBS): The DVBS provides a text service, legal advice, and more (www.dvbs-online.de).

Completely new in the country

The first few days in Germany are certainly very interesting, but also very strenuous. Universities offer various support services to help you settle in and feel at home. For example, many Student Services (Studentenwerke) run a Newcomer Service, which, for example, provides you with a tutor or helps you cope with bureaucratic formalities. A special service for newcomers is also offered by the International Offices, the Student Councils and the Protestant Student Communities (Evangelische Studierendengemeinden) and Catholic Student Communities (Katholische Hochschulgemeinden). They organise excursions, welcome parties and evening get-togethers. Take up such invitations. They are the best way to make contacts quickly.

Writer's block

Scared of writing a paper or thesis? Postponing the submission because you don't know how to write such a paper properly? A training course in the Writing Lab (Schreiblabor) at your university can help you overcome this. The lab offers workshops to improve your writing techniques and provides tips on writing study assignments and final theses.

Childcare

You're already parents and need reliable childcare for your under-school-age children? Many Student Services (Studentenwerke) offer appropriate childcare services for children up to school age. More info available from the website: www.studentenwerke.de/main/default.asp?id=04301

Financial difficulties

If you find yourself in a financial emergency during your studies, you should first contact the Social Counselling Service (Sozialberatung) offered by the Student Services (Studentenwerk) or the International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt). They will tell you where you can find financial assistance. For example, many student services organisations have an emergency fund for foreign students or offer bridging loans. Emergency loans are also offered by the Student Council. Private associations like the Protestant Student Communities, the Catholic Student Communities, or the municipal and local authorities in the town will often be able to help.

Unsure about your career planning

Internships and work placements enable you to gain initial career experience and help you get a clearer idea of your career wishes. The Internship Office (Praktikantenamt) will help you find a place. A successful career choice depends decisively on you being aware of what your own skills, abilities and goals are. Only if you know exactly what you are capable of and what you want will you be able to specifically plan your career.

Questions all about studying

Each faculty has a Students Advising Students Service (studentische Studienberatung). These students advise on problems with lecturers, give tips on examinations and tell you about any new study regulations. Besides this, your faculty will also offer useful advice: the Faculty Student Advice Service (Studienberatung der Fakultäten). The advice is mostly offered by research assistants and university teachers. You'll find out everything you need to know about the structure of your subject, about course certificates, credits and credit points, or about the examination regulations. More general questions about studying are answered by the Central Student Advice Service (Zentrale Studienberatung – ZSB). Staff will inform you about admissions procedures, study conditions and course contents.

Properly insured?

The Social Counselling Service of your Student Services Organisation (Sozialberatung des Studentenwerks) tells you when you have to pay social security contributions (statutory health insurance, nursing care insurance, accident insurance, unemployment insurance and pension insurance). This is also where you can find out whether your insurance covers you sufficiently when you take up a temporary job or do an internship or work placement. You can also find good advice at the Student Council's Social und Legal Advice Department (Sozial- und Rechtsberatung).

Finding a place to live

In major cities, in particular, accommodation can be in very short supply and so expensive. Ask your student services (Studentenwerk) about accommodation as early as you can (at least 6 months before your studies commence). The student services organisations operate their own student halls of residence at student-friendly terms. These often have Hall of Residence Tutors (Wohnheimtutoren) who help foreign students. In addition, the student services maintain a list of who offers private accommodation in and around town.

From my personal experience

"Go to events offered by student council and departmental student society"

Dalia from Portugal, studying environmental technology in her 6th semester:
"In my first few months in Germany, I really felt quite alone. My friend Ana, who came to Germany on an Erasmus grant, had already warned me. "It takes ages before you make any friends there." I really couldn't imagine this. After all, we Portuguese are known for being good at making contacts. But unfortunately Ana was right. I was really in despair, especially at weekends. That was particularly bad, because I was initially living in a furnished room outside town. I was the only tenant and the landlady was practically never there. Even in the courses, it was almost impossible to get to know anybody. My fellow students rushed from one course to the next. They never had time for a chat or a coffee. Luckily, I then saw a note hanging on the student council noticeboard. It invited new students to come to a get-to-know-each-other party. I went straight there. The party was great. I immediately met and got to know people. They then told me that the departmental student society also organises events for new students. The sports programme is really great. I've been playing in the volleyball team for two years now. Two of my best friends are also in the team."

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