Study in GermanyInformation for Students in CanadaDAAD Information Centre Toronto

DAAD Information Centre Torontoc/o Munk Centre for International StudiesNorth Side, Room 207University of Toronto1 Devonshire PlaceToronto, ON, M5S 3K7

Phone: +1 416 946 8116Email: daadca@daad.orgwww.daad-canada.ca

Study in GermanyInformation for Studentsin Canada

Publisher

DAAD Information Centre Torontoc/o Munk Centre for International Studies1 Devonshire Place, N207Toronto, ON, M5S 3K7www.daad-canada.ca

Editors Dr. Alexandra Hausstein, Eva Porten

Translation Jessica Denenberg, M.A.

On behalf of DAAD Deutscher Akademischer Austausch DienstGerman Academic Exchange ServiceKennedyallee 50, 53175 Bonn (Germany)www.daad.de

The information contained in this brochure was compiled with greatest possible care. However a guarantee for the correctness of the contents cannot be given.

Layout LPG Löwenstern Padberg GbR, Bonn

Print-run 500Copy Deadline: September 2010

© For all pictures by DAAD | Peter Himsel/David Ausserhofer (p. 5, 10, 15, 17, 20, 23, 26, 27,cover) , Uli Wenzel (p. 10, 16), Dörthe Hagenguth (p. 12).The pictures are not to be distributed to third parties.

This publication was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Introduction 5DAAD in Canada 6

Higher Education in Germany 7WHY Study in Germany? 8WHERE to Study: Types of Higher Education Institutions 10WHAT to Study: How to Select the Right Program 12Degree Structure: Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree, PhD 14HOW MUCH IS IT? Tuition Fees and Costs of Living 15DAAD Scholarship Programs at a Glance 16Doctoral Studies 18

Application and Admission 19The Academic Year in Germany 20How to Apply 21Admission Requirements and Eligibility 22Language Requirements 23Scholarships and Funding Opportunities 24

Living in Germany 25Work and Internships 26Visa 27Housing and Insurance 28Checklist and Weblinks 29Contact 30

Content

4

5

Introduction

Do you want to study and live inGermany? Are you interested in pursuinga postsecondary degree such as a bache-lor’s or master’s degree in Germany?Good choice! You belong to thosestudents who like challenges and whowant to experience an enriching timeabroad. There are many ways to reachyour goal and we are here to help you.

This brochure provides important infor-mation concerning applications, scholar-ships and requirements for studying inGermany. The DAAD Information Centre(IC) in Toronto is always available toanswer your personal questions. Just giveus a call or write us an email. If you needany other information or brochures, let usknow! We will gladly send it to you.

DAAD in Canada

What is DAAD?

DAAD stands for “Deutscher Akademi-scher Austauschdienst”, the German Aca-demic Exchange Service. It is agovernment funded joint organisation ofGerman higher education institutions,with the head office in Bonn. The Region-al Office for North America is located inNew York, and the Information Centre forCanada is in Toronto. Our aim is to pro-mote academic cooperation worldwide,especially through the exchange ofstudents, scholars, academics, and scien-tists.

Financially assisting globally over 55 000students annually, it is the largest fundingorganisation in the world! No matterwhat you study or where you come from,the DAAD scholarship programs are opento every student. Each year, DAAD fundsapproximately 300 students in Canada tostudy in Germany. And vice versa, thereare around 500 German students whocome to Canada with the help of DAADscholarships.

The DAAD Information Centre in Toronto: What we offer

Guidance:We provide detailed informa-tion about finding, securing and financingyour study or research stay in Germany. www.daad-canada.ca

Information Sessions:We regulary holdinformation sessions on study andresearch in Germany at Canadian univer-sities.

Fairs:We participate in Canada’s mostimportant education fairs andconferences.

Scholarship Programs: DAAD offersnumerous scholarships open to all stu-dents at Canadian higher education insti-tutions. Please note that the DAADRegional Office in New York is responsi-ble for the administration of all scholar-ship programs for students in Canadaand the US.

Contact us:Phone: +1 416-946-8116Email: daadca@daad.orgwww.daad-canada.cawww.daad.org

6

Higher Education in Germany

7

8

International ExposureOver 250 000 students from all over theworld are currently studying in Germany.If you want to be one of them, you canchoose between 355 differentuniversities/colleges and more than 12 000 bachelor’s and master’s degreeprograms.

High Academic StandardGerman universities are manifold anddiverse. Students receive an outstandinglevel of education at mostly public fund-ed universities. Max Planck Institutes andother research institutes provide excellentconditions for research and innovation.

Practical ExperienceMany institutions offer students theopportunity to do an internship or tocarry out industry research. Close tieswith famous companies like Siemens,Bosch, Adidas, BMW or others willincrease your career prospects.

International Degree Programs (IDPs)Currently, there are 800 degree programsin all disciplines (Master, Bachelor andPhD) which are taught either partly orcompletely in English! IDPs and PhDtitles are widely recognised.www.daad.de/idp

Economic PowerDid you know? Germany is one of theworld’s largest economic players and hasthe largest economy in Europe!

Moderate CostsIn comparison to Canada, tuition fees arevery low in Germany. Depending on theuniversity, it costs about 200-500 Euros(ca. 650 CAD) per semester.

More Than Just a LanguageGerman is not only the most widely-spo-ken language of the EU, but also a sym-bol for cultural assets. Intellectual events,art, music, theatres, operas, museumsand literature play a big role in the sociallife. And as Germany is located right inthe heart of Europe, people love to traveland visit other cities. Paris, Rome, Am-sterdam, Zurich, Vienna, Prague,Barcelona - everything is so close.Another benefit is the safety. Nowadays,people of all cultural backgrounds livepeacefully together. No wonder that Ger-many is the fifth largest recipient countryfor international students worldwide.

WHY Study in Germany?

9

...and I am a senior at the University ofAlberta, majoring in international busi-ness. I spent the last two semesters onan exchange at the Otto BeisheimSchool of Management in Germany.What a year it was! Academically, Iwas impressed with the quality andscope of the instruction I received.Germany is at the heart of Europe andthe European Union, and the greatconvergence of people, ideas, as wellas cutting edge research and technolo-gy, contributed to an ideal universityexperience.

Outside of school I had a terrific timeexploring Europe, making lastingfriends and immersing myself in therich local culture. Studying inGermany turned out to be the best yearof my life! If you want to be chal-lenged, grow as an individual, and justhave a ton of fun, then you shouldconsider what Germany has to offeryou.

Contact one of our YoungAmbassadors for real first-hand per-spectives: www.daad.org/page/ambassadors

Hi! My name is Steffen Janzen...

10

WHERE to Study?Types of Higher Education Institutions

Universities Public universitiesput strong emphasison the combinationof teaching andresearch. They offer

courses in basically all subject areas andoften have a long-standing tradition, sig-nificant libraries and excellent researchfacilities. However, some universities spe-cialise in specific fields such as the Tech-nische Universität (Technical University),the Medizinische Hochschule (MedicalSchool), the Sporthochschule (Sport Uni-versity), and the Hochschule für Politik(University of Politics).

Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS,Fachhochschulen)

The other type ofuniversity inGermany is morepractice-oriented.The so-called Univer-

sities of Applied Sciences (UAS) enjoy arapid increase in popularity. The focusmay vary from Technology, Business,Technical or Graphic Design, and SocialWork. Please note that doctoral research isnot yet possible at UAS.

Colleges of Art, Music and FilmThese colleges offer subjects like Fine Art,Industrial and Fashion Design, Music orSinging. Media-oriented colleges traindirectors, camera operators, authors, filmmakers and other TV professions.Students who wish to study there have topass an aptitude test and submit a port-folio of their own work. Music studentsare required to demonstrate their talent inan audition to enter the school.

Private UniversitiesSmall but exceptional! Students whoattend private institutions enjoy an inten-sive course of study and usually payhigher tuition fees. The degrees are recog-nised by the State.

Type of Higher Education Quantity

Universities 109Univers. of Applied Sciences 191Colleges of Art and Music 55Private Universities 80

www.university-ranking.dewww.higher-education-compass.dewww.study-in.de

11

Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences inGermany

12

International Degree Programs (IDPs)Currently, there are over 800 course pro-grams in all disciplines partly or entirelytaught in English. Therefore, in the begin-ning, it doesn’t matter how well youspeak German. An intensive languagecourse, running simultaneously to theprogram, can help you to acquire andimprove your language skills. With abachelor’s or master’s degree or a PhDtitle you will acquire an internationallyrecognised degree. IDPs are designed toaddress the needs of internationalstudents. They are based on working insmall groups and include intensive guid-ance and supervision. Interested? Thensearch here for fields in English and Ger-man: www.study-in.de, or programs taughtin English only: www.daad.de/idp

Summer and Language CoursesIf you just want to get a first taste of livingand studying in Germany, a summercourse would be the right choice for you.They are conducted at universities allover Germany. Various thematic coursesare offered in English and you can alsopick a language course to improve yourGerman. Maybe you want to combine itwith a little bit of travelling afterwards?Courses last approximately four weeksand cost about 400 - 500 Euros. Coursesthat include accomodation can be moreexpensive. For more information, pleasevisit: www.daad.de/sommerkurse

RankingGermany has a very diverse landscape ofhigher education institutions. You canfind excellent programs at small universi-ties or Universities of Applied Sciences. Ifyou are interested in the reputation andevaluation of a program, faculty oruniversity, have a look on this website:www.university-ranking.de

WHAT to Study?How to Select the Right Program

Month Action

October to December Collect information from DAAD,internet and brochures. Attendinformation sessions.

January to March Select a study program and a university. Contact the International Office or Uni Assist directly. Check application deadlines. Download application forms and other relevant materials.

March to June Send application form and other documents to the selected university or Uni Assist. Make sure you have a valid passport.

July If you have the letter of admission to your university, then apply for a room inresidence, apply for a student visa, and check if your insurance is recognised in Germany.

September to October Check if you have all the important documents you need. Make sure you have a place to sleep for the first nights.

October to December Get your residence permit at the Foreigners Registration Office (Ausländeramt).

13

Time Line

14

Degree Structure

University of Applied

Sciences

Bachelor’sDegree Program

3-4 years

Master’s DegreeProgram1-2 years

PhD Program3-4 years

Degrees: BA, MA, PhDIn 2005, Germany adjusted its education-al system according to the BolognaProcess. The classic German degreesDiplom (degree), Magister (master’s) andStaatsexamen (state examination) havebeen changed to bachelor’s and master’sdegrees. Thus, Germany has adopted asystem of easily readable and comparabledegrees worldwide. A full bachelor’sdegree at a German university or

University of Applied Sciences (UAS)takes three to four years.

If you want to specialise in a particulararea you can continue with a master’sprogram right away or after working fora few years in between. A doctoral degree(PhD) can only be achieved aftercompleting a master’s degree ata university.

University

15

One thing is certain: studying inGermany is less expensive than in othercountries! Most universities are statefunded and charge no fees or only verymoderate tuition fees, about 500 Eurosper semester. Additionally, there is asemester contribution of approx. 200Euros. It covers the semester ticket forpublic transportation, administrativecosts, sports, cultural events, and subsidi-sation of the cafeteria.

A full bachelor’s program costs as littleas 3000 Euros and a master’s degree notmore than 2000 Euros, including tuitionfees and living costs.

At the PhD level, there are generally nofees at all, except for the semester contri-bution! However, note that the costs forprivate universities can be considerably

higher. Alright, studying is really afford-able. But what about the living expenses?Every student has to eat, drink, buybooks and pay rent, insurance and trans-portation. Well, the good news is: livingin Germany is affordable, too!

The monthly amount of money an inter-national student needs is approx. 700Euros.

This sum varies depending on the extraactivities the student pursues in his or herleisure time (i.e. fitness clubs, social get-togethers, outings with friends,travelling, etc.)

DAAD Scholarships cover tuition fees,travel costs, health insurance, and mostof the living expenses.

HOW MUCH IS IT?Tuition Fees and Costs of Living

16

Undergraduate ScholarshipsDuration: 4 to 10 monthsPurpose: study, thesis research or intern-shipField: second and third year studentsDeadline: Jan 31www.daad.org/?p=undergrad

Study Scholarships for GraduatingSeniorsDuration: 1 to 2 yearsPurpose: complete the undergraduatestudiesField: fourth year students or recent grad-uatesDeadline: Nov 1, Nov 15 (see website)www.daad.org/?p=gradstudy2

Research Internships in Science andEngineering (RISE)Duration: 1.5 to 3 months in the summerPurpose: research experience on projectswith German PhD students at universi-ties

Field: Science, Engineering, no Germanrequired, but two years of undergraduatestudiesDeadline: Jan 31www.daad.de/rise

University Summer Course GrantDuration: 3 to 4 weeks Purpose: improve language skills andbroaden knowledge of modern GermanyField: at least second year studentsDeadline: Dec 15www.daad.de/sommerkurse

EMGIP Bundestag InternshipDuration: 2 months Purpose: work in the German parliamentField: any, must be fluent in GermanDeadline: Sept 15www.daad.org/?p=emgip

Study & Internship Program (SIP)Duration: 2 semesters Purpose: one semester of study at one ofthe UAS7 (Fachhochschule) followed byone semester internship at a company orresearch institute in GermanyField: particular fields, see websiteDeadline: Feb 15www.uas7.org

DAAD Scholarship Programs at a GlanceFor UNDERGRADUATES

Further information on deadlines, eligibility and application forms at: www.daad.org

17

Study ScholarshipsDuration: 1 to 2 yearsPurpose: complete a full master’s degreeField: a wide variety of fields, for fourthyear students, graduate students, recentgraduatesDeadline: Nov 15www.daad.org/?p=gradstudy

Research GrantDuration: 1 to 10 monthsPurpose: for highly qualified PhD candi-dates, individuals who wish to earn adoctoral degree or recent PhDsField: anyDeadline: Nov 15, May 15 (only for shortterm grants) www.daad.org/?p=gradresearch

University Summer Course GrantDuration: 3 to 4 weeks Purpose: improve language skills andbroaden knowledge of modern GermanyField: focus on literary, cultural, political

and economic aspects of modern GermanyDeadline: Dec 15www.daad.de/sommerkurse

Intensive Language CoursesDuration: 8 weeksPurpose: intensify language skillsField: any, except German Studies, Ger-man Language and Literature or GermanTranslation and InterpretationDeadline: Dec 15www.daad.org/?p=languagecourses

RISE ProfessionalDuration: 6 weeks to 4 months Purpose: internship at GermancompaniesField: DAAD alumni who are about tocomplete their bachelor’s, or undergradsin the fields of science and engineering,Master or PhD studentsDeadline: Jan 31www.daad.de/rise-pro

For an overview of Research TrainingGroups, Collaborative Research Centres,Graduate Schools and Research Clusters,visit: www.dfg.de

For GRADUATES

18

Doing a PhD in GermanyGenerally, you can do a doctoral degreeprogram (Doktor) at all German universi-ties, as well as at most Technical Univer-sites. Universities of Applied Sciences donot award doctoral degrees. A Germandoctoral title has a highly-acclaimed rep-utation worldwide. Beforehand, you needto have successfully completed a courseof academic studies up to master’s levelwith above-average grades. In exception-al cases, bachelor’s degree holders canalso be admitted to a doctoral program.Then, you can choose between two meth-ods of researching:

A) Individual Doctoral ProgramIt is supervised by a university professor(Doktorvater or Doktormutter) andknown to be the traditional way of gain-ing a “Doktor”. You should find out inadvance which professor and which uni-versity would best suit your area ofresearch. Doctoral candidates work veryindependently, and so they require goodorganisational skills and self-discipline.They enjoy the freedom to explore theirresearch interests in more depth.

B) Structured Doctoral ProgramOver the past decade, several universitieshave introduced structured PhDprograms as an alternative to an individ-ual research project. Candidates work inso-called Research Training Groups(Graduiertenkolleg), Graduate Schools orinternational doctoral programs.Thus, they integrate their dissertationinto a comprehensive and collaborativeresearch program with a fixed structureand some course work.

To find more about structured doctoralprograms, please visit these websites:

German Research Foundation, www.dfg.deMax Planck Society, www.mpg.dewww.daad.de/international-programmes

For more information please visit the fol-lowing websites:

www.research-in-germany.dewww.forschungsportal.de

Doctoral Studies

Application and Admission

19

20

The academic year in Germany is sub-divided into two semesters - a winter anda summer semester. Most degrees ofstudy begin in the winter semester, butexact dates can vary based on the institu-tion. Here are some important dates foryou to note:

Universities of Applied Sciences(Fachhochschulen)Summer Semester: March - SeptemberLectures begin on March 15Winter Semester: September - FebruaryLectures begin on September 15

UniversitiesSummer Semester: April - SeptemberLectures begin on April 15Winter Semester: October - MarchLectures begin on October 15

Semester Holidays (no lectures)Summer: End of July - mid-SeptemberWinter: End of February - mid-April

Please note: A few universities inGermany have already introduced a newacademic calendar, following the NorthAmerican model. Check with the univer-sity of your choice.

The Academic Year inGermany

21

How to Apply

Application through a University Exchange ProgramAsk your university if they have a multi-lateral or bilateral exchange programwith a German institution. Some Canadi-an provinces cooperate with specific Ger-man provinces, for example theOntario/Baden-Württemberg (OBW)University Exchange Program. Moreover,there is a bond between the Province ofAlberta and the Free State of Saxony. TheProvince of Québec has a cooperationwith the Free State of Bavaria.

Direct Application to the Universityin GermanyYou already know what you want tostudy at which specific institution? Great!Then contact the International Office ofyour host university in Germany for fur-ther details on how to apply there(www.daad.de/aaa). If it is a member of“Uni-Assist”, you will have to send yourapplication to that agency.

Uni-Assist118 German Higher EducationInstitutions only process internationalapplications once they have beenscreened by Uni-Assist. This agencychecks if your forms are complete andforwards it to the universities of yourchoice. One application costs 55 Euros

and enables students to apply at severaluniversities at the same time. www.uni-assist.de

Foundation for the Allocation ofStudy PlacementsSome subjects have a centrally restrictedadmission policy. In case the field of yourchoice is among them, you have to sendall your forms to that organisation:www.hochschulstart.de (only in German)

Apply for a DAAD Scholarship In order to be awarded a DAAD scholar-ship, in some cases you must provideproof that you have been admitted to auniversity in Germany. As the admittanceprocess for German universities can oftenbe long, we recommend that you beginyour application process for the scholar-ship well in advance, and submit yourletter of admission (Zulassungsbescheid)afterwards. Consider that these are twodifferent applications which often taketime and effort. So start to plan yourstudy abroad at least one year inadvance!

DAAD scholarship applicationdeadlines vary. Please refer to our web-site: www.daad.org

22

...for a full undergraduate programupon completion of High SchoolIf your school leaving certificate does notqualify you for admission to studies inGermany, you have to pass an assessmenttest to gain that qualification. These tests(Feststellungsprüfung) are usually takenat preparatory colleges (Studienkolleg).www.studienkollegs.de

...for 1 or 2 semestersStudents who are already enrolled in aCanadian institution and just want tospend one or two semesters in Germanyas undergraduate students can enrolwithout any problems. However, youmust check in advance if the Canadianinstitution recognises the study work andcredit points you have achieved inGermany. Generally, there are no assess-ment tests for admission to a Germanuniversity after your first year of studiesin Canada. Students are selected on thebasis of documents they provide.

...for a master’s programThe Canadian bachelor’s degree is recog-nised at most German universities, so youcan directly enrol in a master’s program.

...for a doctoral programWith a master’s degree you are eligiblefor applying for a PhD program inGermany, either to work with a singleprofessor or in a graduate school.

Who is eligible for a DAADScholarship?In general, students who are enrolled full-time in a degree granting program at anaccredited college or university inCanada are eligible. Recent graduatesmay also apply. Foreign nationals may beeligible if they have been full-time stu-dents/scholars in a degree program at anaccredited Canadian university for morethan one year at the time of application.Applicants may not be living in Germanyfor a period of more than one year.

Admission Requirementsand Eligibility

23

Depending on where and what you wantto study, a certificate of German languageproficiency may be required foradmission. The best route is to contact theInternational Office at your future univer-sity in Germany and ask for more infor-mation. Generally, you can demonstrateyour proficiency in the German languagewith following certificates:

Abitur from a German-language schoolKleines/Grosses Deutsches Sprachdiplom, Goethe-InstitutZentrale Oberstufenprüfung,Goethe-InstitutDeutsches Sprachdiplom (Stufe 2) from the KultusministerkonferenzTestDaF Level 4 (end of B2 or C1)DSH Level 2 (end of B2 or C1)

The Test of German as a ForeignLanguage (TestDaF) is offered by theGoethe-Institut in Toronto or at institutesin Germany. For more information:www.testdaf.de

Goethe-Institut Toronto100 University AvenueNorth Tower, Suite 201Toronto, ON M5J 1V6Contact: Dr. Venuta RecioPhone: +1 416 593 5257 21Mail: languagetoronto@goethe.orgwww.goethe.de/uk/tor

The German Language UniversityEntrance Examination (DSH) is onlyadministered at universities in Germany.Please contact the International Office ofyour host university.

Very important:Most International Degree Programs aretaught in English, but they may requireGerman proficiency at beginners level.However, it is an advantage to speak orunderstand a little bit as you can interactwith other students, socialise or find ajob. Most German universities offer lan-guage classes during the summer or win-ter break. Search here: www.daad.de/som-merkurse

Language Requirements

24

DAAD Funding OpportunitiesIf you have been studying at a Canadianuniversity for at least one year, then youare an eligible candidate for a DAADscholarship!

Bachelor students can get ascholarship for up to two semesters (oneyear) in Germany, but they have to main-tain their enrolment at their Canadianuniversity.

Master students have the chance toreceive a scholarship for the entireprogram of up to two years in Germany. Often, costs of living and basic amenitiesare partially or completely covered by ascholarship!

Get information and application formsfor a DAAD Scholarship here: www.daad.orgSee Scholarships at a Glance on pages16 and 17.

Other OpportunitiesMany organisations in Germany offerscholarships. In addition to those award-ed by the DAAD, you can apply for awide range of grants from other institu-tions, such as:

- Politically-affiliated foundations- Business-affiliated foundations- German federal states- Social institutions and churches- Research institutes- Student organisations

Use the DAAD Scholarship Database andsearch for scholarships for which you areeligible: www.funding-guide.de

University Exchange Programs andPrograms at the Provincial LevelAsk your university if they have a multi-lateral or bilateral exchange programwith a German institution. Some Canadi-an provinces cooperate with specific Ger-man provinces, for example the Ontario/Baden-Württemberg (OBW) UniversityExchange Program(www.yorku.ca/ontbw/index.html).Moreover, the Province of Alberta andthe Free State of Saxony offer internshipsabroad(www.international.ualberta.ca/goabroad).The Province of Québec has a coopera-tion with the Free State of Bavaria(www.baviere-quebec.org).

Scholarships and FundingOpportunities

Living in Germany

25

26

Working

Although scholarship holders receivefinancial help, they might want to workfor a little bit of extra pocket money. Part-time jobs as a waiter, bartender, babysit-ter, sales clerk, etc. are very common.Canadians are allowed to work for amaximum of 90 full days or 180 half daysoff-campus per year without a work per-mit. EU citizens are allowed to work asmuch as German students and have freeaccess to the job market. Jobs which arerelated to higher education (e.g. libraryassistant or university tutor) can be takenwithout any restrictions and for a longertime. However, these jobs can be difficultto get and require some knowledge of theGerman language.

Internships

Helpful websites for finding aninternship:www.aiesec.org (economics + others)www.iaeste.org (engineering + science)www.elsa.org (law)www.unicum.dewww.praktikums-boerse.dewww.praktikum.de/german/index.html

Most universities have an office (careercenter/Praktikumsbüro) that assists stu-dents in finding an internship.

DAAD offers intern scholarships in theIAESTE Program for bachelor and masterstudents of the following fields: Sciences,Engineering, Agronomy and Forestry. Theworkplace would be a company, aresearch institution or a university. Themost successful internship program ofDAAD for science and engineeringstudents is RISE and RISE Professional.Students of Social Sciences may apply fora two-month work experience at the Ger-man parliament with the EMGIPBundestag Internship. If you study at aUniversity of Applied Sciences, the Studyand Internship Program (SIP)mayappeal to you.

Read more on DAAD fundedinternships on page 16 and 17.

Work and Internships

-

27

Visa

For stays of up to three months, Canadiancitizens do not require a visa. If youdecide to stay more than 90 days in Ger-many, you have to apply for a study per-mit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zu Studien-zwecken) at the Foreigners’ RegistrationOffice.

For more information concerning the reg-ulations of visa and entry to Germany,please contact the Embassy andConsulate General.

Botschaft der BundesrepublikDeutschland in Kanada, OttawaPhone: +1 613 232 1101www.ottawa.diplo.de

Generalkonsulat der BundesrepublikDeutschland, MontrealPhone: +1 514 931 2431www.montreal.diplo.de

Generalkonsulat der BundesrepublikDeutschland, TorontoPhone: +1 416 925 2813www.toronto.diplo.de

Generalkonsulat der BundesrepublikDeutschland, VancouverPhone: +1 604 684 8377www.vancouver.diplo.de

28

In Germany, students live either in resi-dence, they share an apartment withother students, or they rent an apartmentprivately. All three scenarios have onething in common: the student has theresponsibility of finding a place on his orher own! Ok, that sounds difficult, butdon’t worry!

Halls of Residence (Studentenwohn-heim)International students can ask for help atthe Student Services (Studentenwerk).They offer a Service Set for internationalstudents which, besides accommodationand meals, may also contain health insur-ance (for approx. 158 - 358 Euros permonth). The rooms are fully furnished.TV and internet access are included in therent.www.studentenwerk.dewww.internationale-studierende.de

Shared Apartment(Wohngemeinschaft)Another option is to share an apartmentwith other people. It may be a little bitmore costly than a room in residence, butstill very common and a popular choice.Depending on the city, the average rentcosts between 150 and 350 Euros for aroom in a shared apartment. Search thefollowing websites for more information:www.studenten-wg.de

www.studentenwohnungsmarkt.dewww.mitwohnzentrale.dewww.wg-gesucht.de

Private RentingThose who prefer to live on their own canalso search for a one-bedroom or a bache-lor apartment close to the campus. Thisoption can be more expensive. Monthlyrent starts at 350 Euros and up.Advertisements for accomodations canusually be found in the local papers (Sat-urday edition), the bulletin board in theuniversity, or the internet: www.immobilo.dewww.immobilienscout24.de

InsuranceIn order to study in Germany you needhealth insurance. Without it, you cannotbe enrolled. Luckily, Canada andGermany have a social securityagreement. This means, that your Canadi-an insurance can get approved by a pub-lic health insurance company inGermany. Make sure you clarify at homewhich documents you will need to takewith you! If you don’t have health insur-ance at home, you will have to insureyourself in Germany - just like all otherstudents - for about 50 Euros per month.

DAAD Scholarships cover the costs ofinsurance.

Housing and Insurance

29

Checklist and Weblinks

This is what you need

a passport which is valid foryour entire stay in Germany

letter of admission from the higher education institution

proof of sufficient financial resources (about 550 Eurosper month)

translated and certifiedcopies of birth certificate andleaving certificate of HighSchool

eventually: language certifi-cate, proof of healthinsurance, vaccinationrecord, your international dri-ver’s license or thetranslation of the nationallicense

Important weblinks

Funding for North Americanstudents www.daad.org

Information and coursesearch www.study-in.de

Course database for inter-national programs in Englishwww.daad.de/idp

Funding databasewww.daad.de/scholarships

German ResearchFoundation www.dfg.de

Max Planck Societywww.mpg.de

Goethe-Institutwww.goethe.de

Language certificateswww.sprachnachweis.de

...and morewww.research-in-germany.dewww.forschungsportal.netwww.higher-education-compass.de

30

Contact

DAAD Information Centre Torontoc/o Munk Centre for InternationalStudiesNorth Side, Room 207University of Toronto1 Devonshire PlaceToronto, ON, M5S 3K7

Phone: +1 416 946 8116Email: daadca@daad.orgwww.daad-canada.ca

Office hoursMonday - Thursday: 9 am - 4 pmFriday: 9 am - 1 pm

Please call or email us to schedule anappointment!

DAAD Regional Office North AmericaNew York871 United Nations PlazaNew York, NY, 10017

Phone: +1 212 758 3223Fax: +1 212 755 5780Email: daadny@daad.orgwww.daad.org