1. The City of Erfurt
Many unique features characterise the mediaeval city of Erfurt, which is not only the largest city in Thuringia but is also one of the oldest cities in central Germany. The city's eventful history began over 1,250 years ago with its early development as an economic, political and cultural centre being largely due to its favourable location at the crossroads of important European trade routes. Prominent figures such as Martin Luther, Ulrich von Hutten, Adam Ries, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller and Wilhelm von Humboldt have a close association with the history of the city.
Erfurt, the capital of the free state of Thuringia, is located right in the heart of Germany, which gives it its favourable location for transport and travel. Erfurt is also in the immediate vicinity of famous towns and cities such as Weimar, Jena and Eisenach. With its 200,000 inhabitants, Erfurt is once again rapidly developing into a university city with great flair and character. Approximately 8,500 students currently attend its two institutions of higher education.
The charm of the well preserved and carefully restored mediaeval part of the city with its traditional patrician houses, picturesque alleys and squares can be discovered in the Andreas- and University quarter. The "Collegium maius" - the restored mediaeval University building - still stands in this old part of the city where the international guest house in the Michaelisstraße and the mediaeval residence halls am Kreuzsand are situated. The current student centre is housed within the vaulted cellars of the "Engelsburg" which has a club with a long historical tradition and which provides numerous student services.
See the following image trailer for a first impression!
2. Travel Arrangements to Erfurt and the University
Erfurt is centrally located and can easily be reached by plane, train or car.
By air: There are regular flights to Erfurt from almost all of the larger German airports (e.g. Düsseldorf, Köln-Bonn, München, but not from Frankfurt/Main). Erfurt Airport is situated on the outskirts of the city at about 10 km from the city centre. You can take the tram to the city centre.
By train: High speed trains (ICE, IC and IR) travel regularly to Erfurt from all parts of Germany. If you arrive via Frankfurt: There are trains from Frankfurt airport and Frankfurt Central Station ("Hauptbahnhof") to Erfurt every hour. There is a tram stop and taxi stand immediately in front of Erfurt Central Station. The tram travels directly to the University (see below).
By car: Erfurt can be reached via the motorways A 4 and A 71. From the west (Frankfurt/Main), you should drive on the A 4 Frankfurt - Dresden to the "Erfurter Kreuz". From the Erfurter Kreuz, drive along the A 71 to the Erfurt-Bindersleben turn-off. Then follow the signs to "Erfurt-Nord" and "Universität".
From the east (Dresden or Leipzig), follow the A 4 Dresden - Frankfurt to the Erfurt-Ost turn-off. Then follow the signs to "Zentrum" und "Universität".
There is a visitors' parking lot behind the university campus where there are plenty of free parking spaces available.
By tram: There is a tram stop in front of the central railway station. You can travel directly to the university with trams number 3 (going to "Europaplatz") or 6 ("Rieth") without having to change. The university tram stop is the seventh after the central station (Anger - Fischmarkt - Domplatz - Webergasse - Bergstraße - Baumerstraße - Universität). The main entrance to the university is directly opposite the tram stop.
3. "Semester ticket"
After paying the semester contribution you will receive your Student ID which also serves as your semester ticket . The semester ticket (in conjunction with an identity card or similar proof of identity carrying a photograph) entitles you to travel free of charge on the city routes of the Erfurt transport system (Verkehrsbetriebe AG) within the city zone and on the local trains of the German Railway System (Deutsche Bahn AG) within Thuringia. Given that a single tram journey is almost Euro 2 and that the semester ticket is valid for six months (October to March, or April to September, respectively), you can save a lot of money.
4. Student Halls of Residence
The student residence halls are administrated by the University's Studentenwerk (Student Services Organisation). Detailed information on all the residence halls as well as photos can be found at Wohnanlagen > Erfurt. The following residence halls are situated on the university campus in Nordhäuser Straße:
- Haus 6, Plauener Weg 8 (appr. 300 places)
- Haus 1, Alfred-Weber-Platz 5 (90 places)
- Haus 4, Alfred-Weber-Platz 2 (92 places)
Exchange students: You can download and use the housing application form (in German and English) for visiting students. Please specify on the form which dormitory you would like to stay in and whether you would like to stay in a double or a single room. Please return the housing application form together with your other documents for your studies at Erfurt to the International Office, and not to the Studentenwerk. We will handle and forward your application in order to make sure that all exchange students are offered university housing. Room reservations will not be confirmed; if you send us your housing form and do not hear from the Studentenwerk, you will automatically be assigned a room.
The rents are priced according to the size and quality of the room; see the Studentenwerk webpage for current price ranges. The rent price includes service costs (heating, water, electricity). Please note that the minimum lease for a room in the student halls of residence is 6 months, i.e. you will have to pay six months' rent even if you are only staying five months. A deposit of € 200 must be paid for all placements in residence halls. You can bring your own bed linen and sheet ("Bettwaesche") from home, or you can lease them from the Studentenwerk. A new pillow and blanket will be provided for which you will be asked to pay € 25.
5. Student Restaurants (Mensa)
One of the main tasks of the University's Studentenwerk (Student Services Organisation) is to prepare and serve meals at reasonable prices. The students' meals in the "Mensa" (refectory) are subsidised by the State of Thuringia. German and international food, including vegetarian, is served as the main meal and the standard menu. Salads and pasta are offered from self-service buffets. In addition, snacks are on offer in the cafeterias: Mensen & Cafeterien.
Mensa Nordhäuser Straße (University Campus)
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 07:00 - 15:00
Cateteria Studentenklause (University Campus)
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 07:00 - 15:00
6. Cost of Living
Living costs are currently estimated by the authorities to be about Euro 650 per month. You have to be able to prove to the relevant authorities that this amount of money per month is available for your stay in Germany.
Please take the following costs into consideration:
- Rent for a room in a student residence hall or for private accommodation (from Euro 100 to Euro 230)
- Deposit for a room in a residence hall (Euro 200), which is returned after the lease has expired
- Semester contribution (approx. Euro 160 per semester) including the semester ticket, with which you can travel free of charge on all local public transport in and around Erfurt
- Health insurance contributions (approximately Euro 65 per month for students under 30 years old). Be prepared to pay for the whole duration of your study period by the second month!
- Costs for books and learning materials
- Living costs
Keep in mind that you will need a big sum of money at the beginning of your stay (room deposit, semester contribution, health insurance, phone card, shopping). Before you leave for Erfurt, inform your bank that you will spend one or two semesters abroad, and find out if there is a daily or weekly limit for withdrawals. Bring enough cash and/or traveller cheques.
7. Shopping
Supermarkets are generally open between 8.00 and 20.00 from Monday to Saturday. There are outlets of large supermarket chains at the terminus of tram number 6 (Rieth) and at the Thüringenpark tram stop of the number 3 tram (Europaplatz). You can also buy good quality fresh fruit and vegetables at very reasonable prices at the local market in the Domplatz from very early on in the morning to approximately 13.30. In Germany all the shops are closed on Sundays. Petrol station shops and the shops near the train station are the only places that remain open during the night as well as on Sundays and public holidays.
You can plan your budget with the following supermarket prices in mind:
| Bread (1 kg) | 1,50 to 3 Euro |
| 1 Breadroll | 0,20 to 0,50 Euro |
| Butter (250 g) | 1,20 Euro |
| Milk (1 l) | 0,80 Euro |
| Joghurt (100 g) | 0,25 to 0,50 Euro |
| Sausages (100 g) | approx. 1 Euro |
| Coffee (500 g) | 3 - 5 Euro |
| Potatoes (2,5 kg) | 1,50 Euro |
| Pasta (500g) | 0,50 to 1,50 Euro |
8. Working / Jobs
It is hard to find part-time jobs in Germany. However, with good language skills, particularly in German and English, and a little bit of luck, you could find a temporary job such as typing, auxiliary work for companies or part-time jobs in call-centres, factories or bars. The University's Studentenwerk has set up a Student Job Agency in conjunction with the Erfurt Job Centre. In addition, the university itself needs students for temporary work.
If you do find a job, foreign students who are staying in Erfurt for at least two semesters are allowed by law to work for up to 90 days per year. You are allowed to take on your paid work only during the semester break. The authorisation is provided directly by the Foreigners' Registration Authority so that you do not need a work permit from the job centre. If you are studying on a scholarship and want to earn extra money during your stay in Erfurt, you will need permission from the body providing you with the scholarship.
9. Health Insurance
9.1 Health insurance requirement
Every student is required to have adequate health insurance coverage at all times. Documentation for health insurance must be provided when enrolling at the University. As a student, you have the right to statutory health insurance at the lowest rate of contribution (at present appr. Euro 78 per month).
The following health insurance options are available:
- for students up to 30 years old: a health insurance contract with a general local health insurance fund (AOK; see below) at student rates (approx. Euro 78 per month)
- for students over 30: a health insurance contract with a private health insurer (Compare the prices of various statutory and private insurance companies for the best offer!)
- the health insurance of certain countries with bilateral agreements with Germany is recognised in Germany so that it is possible for you simply to remain insured in your own country. You must obtain from your domestic national insurance the form specified below and present it at the AOK: (as of 4/2011):
| COUNTRY: | DOCUMENT: | |
|---|---|---|
| EU-countries | European Health Insurance Card (from national health insurer) | |
| EEC-countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway); Switzerland | European Health Insurance Card (from national health insurer) | |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | BH 6 | |
| Serbia, Montenegro | JU 6 | |
| Macedonia | RM/D 111 | |
| Turkey | Individual insurance certificate | |
| Tunesia | A/TN 11 |
Health insurances from other countries and travel insurances are normally not recognised. Students must follow options a) or b) and buy health insurance in Germany.
The general local health insurance fund in Erfurt is:
Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse (AOK)
Augustinerstraße 38, 99084 Erfurt
Telephone: 0180 2471000
Opening hours:
Mon, Tue, Thu: 9.00 - 18.00
Wed, Fri: 9.00 - 14.00
9.2 The German health insurance system
With a valid health insurance certificate you have the right to visit a doctor of your choice. As a rule, you need to see a general practitioner before visiting a specialist (exception: dentists and gynaecologists). Names and addresses of doctors are arranged according to their specialisation in the yellow pages of the telephone book. If you visit a doctor, there are personal contributions which you must pay, e.g. the office fee ("Praxisgebühr", Euro 10) for the first appointment with a doctor or dentist in each quarter of the year, or the fee for prescribed medication (Euro 5). Apart from the personal contributions, the German health insurance covers medical fees, hospital expenses, and surplus costs of prescribed medication. Detailled information regarding health insurance coverage, as well as the German social security system in general, is provided online by "Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse - AOK" at www.unilife.de > Foreign Students. The webpage is available in several languages, including English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese.
Information concerning the German health system tailored to migrants can be downloaded from the webpage of the BKK: BKK für Migranten. The information is available in many languages, e. g. Arabic, Bosnian, Greek, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and other languages.
10. Immigration Regulations
10.1 Visa
A visa authorises you to enter - but not to remain in - Germany. The visa has an expiration date and may be valid for different time periods. Students who want to enrol at a German university may only do so with a student visa. A visa is not required for students from EC countries, Switzerland, Canada, the USA and Japan. The visa must be applied for at the German embassy or consulate in your home country. The following documents must generally be submitted for an application for a visa:
- Notification of admission for study at the University of Erfurt
- Proof of sufficient financial means for the duration of the study period in Erfurt (currently approximately Euro 650 per month)
- Copy of a higher education entrance qualification
- Proof of knowledge of the German language
- Health certificate, if necessary
The processing of a visa can take up to three months. Please apply in good time! Never travel with just a tourist visa! This cannot be converted into a student visa. You would not be able to enrol and would have to leave Germany after three months!
10.2 Formalities after Arrival
After their arrival in Erfurt all international students must get registered in one of the city of Erfurt's Registration Offices (Bürgerservice) and apply for a residence permit from the local Foreigners' Registration Authority (Ausländerbehörde).
Registration Offices (Bürgerservice)
Bürgerservice Berliner Straße 26. Telephone: (0361) 655-4102
Bürgerservice Fischmarkt 5. Telephone: (0361) 655-5402
Bürgerservice Löberstraße 35. Telephone: (0361) 655-3845
Office hours
| Mon / Wed / Fri: | 8.30 - 12.00 Uhr |
| Tue / Thu: | 8.30 - 18.00 Uhr |
Additional office hours (only Löberstraße): Saturday 8:30-12.00
You will need the following document:
- your passport
- rental contract
Ausländerbehörde der Stadt Erfurt
Löberstraße 35
99096 Erfurt
Telephone: (0361) 655-3830
Office hours
| Mon / Thu/ Fri: | 8.30 - 12.00 Uhr |
| Tue: | 8.30 - 18.00 Uhr |
| Wed: | closed (As of 9/2011) |
You will need the following documents:
- your passport together with a photocopy
- students from EU-& EWR-countries: the form "Aufenthaltsanzeige gem. § 5 Freizügigkeitsgesetz / EU" (Authorization of free movement)
- all other countries: the form "Antrag auf Erteilung einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis (Application for a Temporary Residence Permit in Germany) (both forms can be obtained from the International Office)
- one passport-sized photograph which meet the requirements for biometrically-enabled passports
- certification of university enrolment ("Immatrikulationsbescheinigung") / student identity card
- proof of health insurance
- residence registration form ("Meldebescheinigung", available from Bürgerservice, see above)
- proof of sufficient financial means to cover the living costs for the duration of the study period in Germany (approx. EUR 650 per month)
11. Students with Disabilities
All of the teaching buildings and central utilities are gradually being converted to accommodate people with disabilities as part of the modernisation and renovation programme for the university campus. Unfortunately, there are still some access difficulties to some of the buildings, particularly for people in wheelchairs. However, your fellow students and the staff of the International Office are happy to help you. Detailed information can be obtained from each individual faculty or from the university representative for people with severe disabilities:
Schwerbehindertenbeauftragter (University Representative for Students with Severe Disabilities):
Bernhard Becher, Registrar
Abteilung Studium und Lehre
Verwaltungsgebäude, Raum 142
Telephon: +49(0)361/737-5101
Fax: +49(0)361/737-5009
schwerbehindertenbeauftragter(at)uni-erfurt.de
The Studentenwerk provides appropriate accommodation for people with disabilities in the residence halls (see 4.).
12. Recreation and Cultural Activities
12.1 The University Sports Centre
The University Sports Centre (USV) provides students and employees with the opportunity to enrich their sporting lives in Erfurt with a wide range of activities all of which are listed on the university sports centre website and in a brochure which is published at the beginning of each semester.
The following sports are just a small selection of what is on offer at the University Sports Centre: aerobics, aikido, badminton, basketball, (beach-)volleyball, gymnastics (with apparatus), football, handball, roller-blading, judo, karate, martial arts/self-defence, weightlifting, athletics, swimming, table-tennis, volleyball, skiing and yoga.
Building Saalestraße, opposite the beach-volleyball field
Telephone: +49(0)361/737-1826
Fax: +49(0)361/737-1827
info(at)usv-erfurt.de
www.uni-erfurt.de/usv
12.2 Music ensembles
Students who enjoy singing or playing an instrument, even if they do not study music, have the opportunity to join the University Choir, the Chamber Choir, the Jazz and Gospel choir, or the University Orchestra.
Contact: Prof. Dr. André Schmidt
Telephone: +49(0)361/737 2195
andre.schmidt@uni-erfurt.de
http://www.uni-erfurt.de/musik/ensembles
12.3 Student clubs
The "Engelsburg" Student Centre is situated in the mediaeval part of Erfurt, the Andreasviertel. Cultural events take place in the Engelsburg on an almost daily basis and can be found in the monthly calendar of events. Every Tuesday at 20.00, international and German students meet in the "Café International" (see above). The International Student Centre - ISIZ - can be found in the "Scheune" (barn), which is part of the Engelsburg building complex.
Studentenzentrum "Engelsburg"
Allerheiligenstraße 21/22
99084 Erfurt
Telephone: +49(0)361/244-770
www.eburg.de
You can find the uni k.u.m. (culture and music student club) at the back of the mensa building on the university campus. Various bands play here in the evening, but there are also discos and cinema evenings. The entrance and drinks prices are tailored to a student's budget.
Studentenclub uni k.u.m.
Nordhäuser Straße 63
99089 Erfurt
Telephone: +49(0)361/737-1884
club(at)uni-kum.de
www.uni-kum.de
12.4 Cultural Events and entertainment in the city of Erfurt
There are numerous theatres, cinemas, museums and leisure facilities to be found in Erfurt. The Erfurt Tourist Information Centre (Tourismus GmbH Erfurt) can provide you with more information and with a monthly calendar of events (Erfurt-Magazin) for a current overview of the events in Erfurt.
Tourismus GmbH Erfurt
Benediktsplatz 1, 99084 Erfurt
Telephone: +49(0)361/664-00
Fax: +49(0)361/664-0290
service(at)erfurt-tourist-info.de
www.erfurt-tourist-info.de
www.erfurt.de/
13. Checklist
You should make sure that you have the following items to take with you before your departure from your country of residence:
- A passport which is valid for the full period of your stay in Germany (otherwise you may have to return to your home country in order to have your passport extended)
- Notification of admission for study at the University of Erfurt
- Proof of financial means (see 10.)
- Visa (not a tourist visa), if required (see Visa)
- Proof of health insurance from your home country, if it is recognised in Germany (see Health Insurance)
- International student identity card (ISIC)
- Personal effects and other items that you will need:
- necessary medication and inoculation certificate
- travellers' cheques and cash for the first days after arrival (see 6.)
- EC bank card or credit card
- Plug adapter, sleeping bag, alarm clock
14. Further Information: Studying and Living in Germany
You need general information about studying in Germany? The German Academic Exchange Service answers frequently asked questions. Available in German, English and other languages.
Facts about Germany is a reference book offering all sorts of up-to-date information about Germany in general. All aspects of modern life in Germany are covered – be it business, culture, or politics. Available in German, English and 16 other languages.
