Practical tips for international students

Visa

Are you unsure if you need a visa to enter Germany? The Federal Foreign Office has summarized all information on visa requirements and the application process.

Important: Please do not enter Germany with a tourist visa. This cannot be changed to a visa for study purposes after your entry.

Besides, THI is not in the position to influence the duration of your visa application process. Please contact the German diplomatic mission in your home country in case of any questions.

Application for residence permit

Students from non-EU countries who are allowed to enter the Federal Republic of Germany without a visa (e.g. citizens of Brazil or the Republic of Korea) have to apply for residence permit 3 months after having entered the country at the latest. Students who entered the Federal Republic of Germany with a visa must hand in the application for residence permit before their visa expires.

This video tutorial will guide you through the application for residence permit.

Late Arrival

It often happens that international students can only enter the country after the start of the semester. If this is the case for you, please find out early on what hybrid study options your degree programme offers.

List of study programs

Please note: Even if you are not yet in Germany, you must have and pay for health insurance from the start of your studies at THI (either 1 October for the winter semester or 1 March for the summer semester).

Please find out whether you have to pay Service Fees:

More information

Health Insurance:

In order to be allowed to enrol at a German university, you are obliged to have a valid statutory health insurance.

Students from EU-countries who have a European Health Insurance Card and students from non-EU countries who have bought health insurance for Germany in their home country need to get their insurance checked by a German health insurance company. At best, you will receive a certificate confirming the exemption from health insurance which you can use for registration at THI.

If you have no or insufficient health insurance, you need to obtain health insurance from a health insurance company in Germany. You are free to choose your health insurance company, please find below some examples. More information about the insurance can be obtained directly from the insurance company.

Addresses

• AOK Ingolstadt, Harderstraße 43, 85049 Ingolstadt
• Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) Ingolstadt, Nördliche Rindstraße 19, 85057 Ingolstadt
• DAK-Gesundheit, Donaustraße 6, 85049 Ingolstadt
• Barmer GEK, Ludwigstraße 30, 85049 Ingolstadt

Here you can find further information about the German health insurance system.

Other Insurances:

Here you can find all kinds of insurances (please scroll down for English).

Appartments and shared flats in Ingolstadt and Neuburg are in high demand. Therefore, the search for suitable accommodation takes at least several weeks and in many cases even months. Please start your search early. You can find an overview of all student residences here. We strongly recommend that you also look for accommodation on the private housing market.

THI does not own any flats or halls of residence and has no influence on the allocation of these rooms.

Important: Please read this document to recognize fraudulant offers during your search for accomodation.

Here you can find an overview of the residence halls located in Ingolstadt. We strongly recommend searching for accommodation on the private housing market.

Finally, here you can find general information about the costs of living in Germany. For Master students, the Service Center Study Affairs provides an overview of estimated costs for a whole study programme.

You must register your residence with your competent authority as soon as you have found permanent accommodation. This is a prerequisite for opening a bank account and applying for a residence permit. 

• If you live in Ingolstadt, then this is Ingolstadt. You can obtain further information directly from Ingolstadt Bürgeramt.
• If you have accommodation in Neuburg, you must go to Neuburg Town Hall.
• If you live for example in Eitensheim, Eichstätt, Gaimersheim or Köschingen, the local authorities there are your point of contact.

Please check exactly which documents the respective authority requires. Please note: Each authority has its own form for this!

On Moodle you will find a video tutorial on how to fill in these forms.

• Students from EU countries may open a regular bank account at any bank of their choice. You need your passport, confirmation of registration at the city of Ingolstadt and your confirmation of enrollment. Usually, the latter can be handed in later.
• Students from non-EU countries need to provide proof of financial means of 992 € per month for their stay in Germany saved on a blocked account. This proof has to be handed in when applying for a visa and when applying for residence permit. Fintiba provides plenty of information on blocked accounts on their website.
  You must have a German bank account opened at the branch of your bank after your arrival in Germany. You will then receive a bank card, your PIN and information on online banking by post.

Important for scholarship holders: Only 50% of the above mentioned amount (931 € per month) may be covered by a scholarship or sponsor. Proof of funding is mandatory.

German is the official language in Germany. People mainly speak this language in everyday life - even in the larger cities. Many messages, announcements and notifications, as well as television and news are exclusively in German. You also need German for shopping, a job interview or a visit to the doctor. Even if you are enrolled in an English-taught study programme we urge you to learn German as well. This will help you cope with your daily life much better. Furthermore, this will improve your chances of an internship or finding a job in Germany many times over.

The language centre offers German classes and further info on offers in Ingolstadt.

Mehr Informationen zum Studium und Leben in Deutschland:

• Study in Germany - Land of Ideas
• Study in Germany - Land of Ideas auf Instagram
• Study in Bavaria
• Young Germany - Your career, education and lifestyle guide

The Service Center Study Affairs has published all important semester dates. Please be aware that the given deadlines for exam registration and re-registration are not valid for exchange students. They will receive further information from the International Office during orientation.

There might come a time, when you´ll need a doctor, a dentist and/or a pharmacist. You can only benefit from the health services, if you have valid health insurance.
There is a wide range of GPs (Allgemeinarzt) and dentists (Zahnarzt) available. If you need a specialist, your GP will refer you to one. Please note, you must always bring your health insurance card.

For real emergencies you should go to the emergency room of one of the local hospitals (Krankenhaus). If you need an ambulance, call 112. This number is valid for all EU-countries.

Pharmacies don´t usually have unlimited opening hours, but they take it in turns to open at night. Here you can find out which pharmacies are open tonight.

...with the local busses?

Ingolstadt has a well-connected bus network. As a student, you have the option of purchasing a discounted Deutschlandticket für Studierende (Deutschlandticket for students) from the regional transport company. This costs €29, can be purchased online and accessed in the VGI app. This allows you to use all buses.

...with the local trains?

Ingolstadt can be reached from all directions by regional trains (RB, RE, agilis). The discounted Deutschlandticket für Studierende (Deutschlandticket for students) is also valid for these trains.

...by bike?

It is easy to get around by bike as well. You can buy second-hand bikes in a good condition at one of the bike flea markets:

• Fahrradzentrum Willner, Friedrichshofener Straße 1e, 85049 Ingolstadt
• Radhaus, Bei der Arena 7, 85049 Ingolstadt

You can find out more about transport in Germany for students on Moodle.

The Service Center Study Affairs, Department Financial Assistance, gives advice on possibilities to finance your studies and provides information on various scholarships for which all degree-seeking THI students can apply.

• Once a year, the International Welcome Center awards scholarships to international degree-seeking students. Please check the announcements in moodle.
• The DAAD offers various scholarships for international students, too. Alumni of German schools abroad further have the possibility to apply for a "BayBIDS-Motivationsstipendium".

Students' Clubs

Would you like to join exciting projects or to engage in social groups next to your studies? Here you can find an overview of our students´activities.

Sports

In cooperation with KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and some regional sports clubs, THI offers a broad sports programme to their students.

Workshops, Excursions, and Events

The International Office organizes trips to neighbouring cities like Munich, Regensburg and Nuremberg as well as several intercultural events throughout the semester. Besides, the international degree-seeking students get the chance to participate in excursions to various companies in the region and in workshops related to study organization or the preparation for an application at German companies. Free spots will be available for exchange students. The respective programme is published at the beginning of each semester. Registration for the workshops and excursions is possible via Moodle..

Besides, THI hosts various events throughout the year. They are published in the event calendar.