Studying in Germany…

                A large no. of  students are opting to study in some of the popular,   coveted  European countries.  Countries like Germany, France, Denmark, Georgia, Greece, Finland, Austria, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands, Albania, Ireland have best of the universities and academic institutions  in the world.  These countries also provide scholarships, training and lectureship opportunities to European and foreign students.  Let’s get to learn more about the universities in Germany, life in Germany and the areas of education covered by them.

Most of the universities offer courses in the following areas:

• German Language and Literature
• Medicine, Law and Economics
• Art, Music, Fashion and Humanities
• Natural and Engineering Sciences

Thus, it is critical to choose a right university before applying. Once you apply for the desired course in the the university/college chosen, the next step is to plan for the stay. Living in any foreign country is a challenge but if you plan your living abroad with proper care and attention, you will be able to manage better.

Make sure you research enough about the overall routine life in any foreign country. As far as European country like  Germany is concerned, here are some handy tips:

 

 

Visa and Passport

Entry Requirements

 

 

Students/Visitors from any other country apart from the European countries need to fulfill the passport requirements while entering in Germany. European Nationals except Bulgaria and Romania,  holding a valid national ID card do not need passport. Citizens from Bulgaria and Romania are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.

All visitors must have valid passports (needs to be valid for 3 months beyond the departure date). Australian, Canadian and U.S. nationals do not require a visa for a less than 3-months visit. EU countries’ visitors must have a valid national ID, which could either be a passport or some other ID. EU countries’ visitors do not require a visa at all.

 

Weather

Best time to visit Germany is from May to October. Coastal Germany has temperate climate with warm summers and mild cloudy winters. The interiors are warmer during summers and winters are colder. Expect rain throughout the year. Carry clothing accordingly and do not forget an umbrella.

 

Finance

In Germany, it is advised that you change currencies only at the banks or legitimate exchange bureau. Although banks are shut on weekends, exchange bureaus at the airport and main stations remain open everyday between 6:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M.

Finance

Cash your traveler’s checks at exchange bureaus as banks would seldom accept it. Although Germans prefer cash transactions, nowadays major credit cards are being widely accepted. Probably the most convenient and quickest way to obtain cash would be at an ATM.

 

Culture

In Germany, unless asked, do not address people by their first names. Also take a small gift such as unwrapped flowers or a bottle of champagnefor the hostess. Make sure that you take uneven number of flowers and that they are not red roses. Courtesy states that on entering stores or restaurant use greeting such as Guten Tag before asking for anything. Also do not offend the Germans by just leaving without saying anything. The phrase to be used here is Auf Wiedersehen or Tschuss. Normally, casual dressing is acceptable, but in theaters, opera, certain restaurants, casinos and important social functions one must be appropriately dressed. Smoking is banned wherever notified, public transports and buildings. Restaurants and bars are exempted.

 

 Routine Life (Rules and Regulations)

Shops generally remain open between 10:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.- Monday to Saturday. The bigger stores, departmentals and supermarkets may remain open till 8:00 P.M. Countryside stores close by 6:00 P.M. and usually shut down for an hour in the afternoon. If the service charge is not added to the bill leave a 5 to 10 per cent tip on the check amount. Also tip the cleaning staff, hairdressers, porters and taxi drivers in small amounts.

Public toilets are easily available in Germany. They are marked as Toilette or WC. Larger cities would have spherically shaped or automatic cubic “boxes.” These toilets operate on coins of up to 50 Eurocents or even 1 Euro. Therefore keep some change handy. Also at several of these washrooms you will find attendants. Do leave small tip for them. Choose the correct toilet. ‘Manner’ is for men whereas women’s toilet would have ‘Damen’ or ‘Frauen’ sign boards.

• Driving

Non-EU visitors require an international driving license or an official German translation.

In order to hire a car you have to be a minimum of 21 years of age and require a valid driver’s license and a major credit card.  Germany drives on the right and overtakes on the left. Always.

If there are no signals/traffic police/sign indicating right-of-way, then right-of-way is always valid for traffic coming from right. This is true also for small side streets and main roads intersections.

Driving Rules in Germany

German laws are very strict on drunken driving. Front and rear seat belts are mandatory everywhere. Hand held mobiles while driving are not allowed.

There are no tolls to be paid on the German Autobahns. Radar traps to monitor speeds are frequent in Germany. Maintain speed limits while driving. Within cities the limit is 50 kph and two-lane highways 100 kph. Although most motorways or autobahns do not specify a speed limit, avoid topping over 130 kph.

 

• Insurance

Student medical insurance is a mandatory requirement at most foreign universities. Some universities do provide students with an insurance plan. However, it is recommended that you get a health insurance from your home country and apply for an insurance waiver simply because insurance from the home country is relatively cheaper and provides the same coverage (and sometimes more) at a lower cost. The availability of dozens of insurance providers may baffle you. Nonetheless, you have to be vigilant when it comes to choosing the right student health insurance policy.

Following universities in Germany demand Student Medical/Travel Insurance. Click on the names to know the requirements of these universities:

• Aachen University
• Bonn University
• Bremen University
• Frankfurt University
• Freiburg University
• Freie University
• GISMA Business School
• Heidelberg University
• HLL University
• Konstanz University
• Sttugart University

 

Medical Services

If any medical/non-medical emergency arises while you’re studying in Germany,  call 112 (ambulance) . Dial 110 for police.

For further queries, call 1800-209-888 (toll-free) or visit http://www.icicilombard.com for more information and to buy online. You can also visit our University Search section to get insurance information for more than 500 Universities worldwide.

 

(Reference resources – http://www.worldtravelguide.com)

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