General information for incoming students

International students at the Viadrina

Various country flags for International Day in the foyer of the Viadrina Gräfin-Dönhoff-Building

Whether you want to complete one of our study programmes and graduate with an academic degree from the European University Viadrina or you are planning a one- or two-semester stay abroad with us as part of one of our exchange programmes - we are looking forward to welcoming you.

On this page you will find important information to make your arrival and settling in easier.

Application

We are delighted that you are considering studying at the European University Viadrina as a full-time student, exchange student or visiting student! Here you will find more detailed information about the options for studying at Viadrina:

Degree programmes at the  European University Viadrina

If you would like to obtain a degree at Viadrina, you will find detailed information on the application process for the following programmes:

You also apply for one or two exchange semesters at the Viadrina. All the necessary information on the various options for a stay abroad at the Viadrina and the application procedure can be found here.

 

Visa

If you want to study at a German university, you should apply for a visa for study purposes at the German Embassy in your home country in good time before travelling to Germany. Students from the following countries are exempt from this regulation:

  • States of the European Union and
  • States for other regulations exist (e. g. Honduras, Iceland, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the USA)

Information on visa requirements in Germany can be found on the website of the Foreign Office or the Visa-Navigator. On those website you can also find out whether you need a visa or not.

Under no circumstances should you travel to Germany as a tourist. It is not possible to convert a tourist visa into a long-term residence permit in Germany.

Please ensure that you apply for a "multiple entry" visa, which authorises you to cross the border several times. 

Due to Viadrina's location at the border with Poland, some courses take place at the joint institution of the European University Viadrina and Adam Mickiewicz University, the Collegium Polonicum. Should some of your courses take place at the Collegium Polonicum, please make sure that your visa/residence permit allows you to frequently cross the border between Poland and Germany. Contact the local authorities, if in doubt. Always carry your documents when crossing the border.

Only for exchange students: If your stay in Germany will not last longer than 12 months, you can ask the visa office to issue a D visa for the entire duration of your stay in accordance with Art. 18 para. 2 SDÜ for all Schengen states. In this case, you do not need to apply for a residence permit here in Germany.

Journey and arrival in Frankfurt (Oder)

Please inform us about your arrival in Frankfurt (Oder) at least one week before. You also have the option of registering with the student organisation Interstudis. This organisation will provide you with a tutor who will support you in the first few days.

When should I arrive?

If possible, please plan your arrival on a work day (monday - friday). On weekends, no one is available for you at the university or in the student dorms. If you will be staying in one of our students dorms, please arrive during the office hours of the Studierendenwerk. If you have to arrive on a weekend, please make sure to inform Interstudis in advance.

Please arrive at least one week before the start of the semester (i.e. in the winter semester: end of September and in the summer semester: end of March)

How can I travel?

To get to Frankfurt (Oder), you should travel via Berlin. Please do not confuse Frankfurt (Oder) with Frankfurt am Main! They are two different cities. Berlin is the next largest transport hub, where international flights also arrive.

You have the following options to get to Frankfurt (Oder):

Travelling via BER Airport:
After arriving at BER, you can either take a taxi or a train (FEX, RE7 or RB14) to Ostkreuz. Train tickets are available at the ticket machines near the platforms at the airport. From Ostkreuz, trains (RE1) run directly to Frankfurt (Oder). Details about the connection can be checked on the website of the local public transport network VBB or Deutsche Bahn.

Travelling by train via Berlin:
The timetable can be found on the Deutsche Bahn website. Normally, trains from Berlin to Frankfurt (Oder) run twice per hour and are called Regionalexpress (RE 1). The train travels directly to Frankfurt (Oder) or via Frankfurt (Oder) onwards to Eisenhüttenstadt or Cottbus. You should make sure that the train actually stops in Frankfurt (Oder).

Please also make sure that you get off at the correct station. Do not get off at "Frankfurt (Oder) - Rosengarten", but one stop further on at "Frankfurt (Oder)"!

Travelling by train via Poland:
If you are travelling via Poland, it is possible to travel directly to Frankfurt (Oder) by train.

In your first few days, you will have to deal with some bureaucratic matters. Please note: You will need around 500 euros for the first week!

Please make sure to have this money available in cash or in a bank account that you can access. Credit cards and traveller's cheques cannot be used for most official payments.

Studierendenwerk
Sign the tenancy agreement, collect the keys for your room
from the caretaker in the hall of residence

Semester contribution
Transfer or pay the semester contribution

Health insurance
Take out health insurance or obtain a certificate of insurance. You can also meet representatives of various statutory health insurance companies on Wednesdays in the foyer of the Auditorium Maximum at Logenstraße 4.

Immatrikulationsamt
Enrolment at the European University Viadrina

Authorities

  • Registration office (town hall): In Germany you are required by law to register your adress (Anmeldung) with the city. You will be given a confirmation of regsitration (Meldebescheinigung), which is an important document that you will need for e. g. opening a bank account, extending your visa, etc. and should be carefully kept.
  • Foreigners authority (town hall): Extend Germany visa/apply for residence permit (applies to degree-seeking, guest and exchange students from non-EU countries)

For more detailed information and support, please contact us and the Interstudis.

Information about the orientation week

Most students live in modern student residences, which are located on both sides of the Oder in Frankfurt (Oder) and in Słubice. Just like the university buildings, the student residences are also spread throughout the city. 

Please make sure to choose a dorm in the country for which you hold a visa/residence permit (if applicable).

More Information on student dorms

Health insurance

In order to enrol at a German university, you need a valid health insurance policy that meets the legal requirements (compulsory insurance). The insurance certificate must be submitted with the documents for enrollment (= matriculation) at the university. Please note the following information:

Applicants who come from countries with which there are special agreements regarding social and health insurance do not need to take out German health insurance. If this is the case, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is sufficient. You must apply for this in good time from your insurance company in your home country. In Germany, you present this to a German health insurance company so that they can issue the necessary insurance certificate for the university.

Please find out in good time whether this applies to you. Also note that there are different rules if you start working (e.g. a student job) during your stay. Find out about the requirements in advance.

If you come from a non-EU country, in most cases it is compulsory to take out German health insurance. After your arrival in Frankfurt (Oder), you must take out health insurance with a German health insurance company. They will then also issue you with an insurance certificate for the university.

Students from Turkey: If you come from Turkey and have the A/T 11 document, you do not need to take out German health insurance, as the A/T 11 document is completely sufficient. In Germany, you present this to a German health insurance company so that they can issue you with the necessary insurance certificate for the university.

Please do not take out any insurance policies in your home country, as these often do not meet the legal requirements and are therefore not recognised. If you need proof of health insurance for the visa procedure before you arrive in Germany, please contact us.

There are several statutory health insurance companies in Germany and you can choose any of them. Our students have had good experiences with AOK Nordost and Techniker Krankenkasse (TK).

Here you will find the link to the portal of the AOK for online applications.
Here you will find the link to the portal of the TK for online applications.

Please also send an email with the following information to either Franziska.Herschelmann@tk.de or Rebecca.Heinze@NORDOST.AOK.DE to receive the insurance certificate for the university:

  • Your first name, surname and gender
  • Your German address (with c/o, flat number etc.)
  • Full name of our university (European University Viadrina)
  • A scan of your A/T 11 (health card, mainly for Turkish students)

No insurance obligation exists for:

  • Applicants (and students) who have reached the age of 30 or have exceeded the 14th semester. You must then take out a voluntary statutory or private insurance yourself. In exceptional cases, the compulsory insurance can be extended. Please inform yourself in good time.

Private liability insurance
This insurance is not required by law, but is nevertheless one of the most important of all. Liability insurance pays out if you cause damage to others, i.e. if you accidentally damage the property or health of others (for example in a road accident as a cyclist). The damage caused can cost millions and become a financial risk. You can find many offers from private insurance companies on the Internet.

Accident insurance
If you are travelling for study purposes at the university, you are also covered by accident insurance through Viadrina.
In your free time, the accident insurance of the Studentierendenwerk applies.

Studying and Classes

Types of teaching formats and examinations

To give you a better impression of our courses, here is a general overview of the teaching and examination formats at the Viadrina.

1. Teaching Units

  • Semester hour per week:

One semester hour per week (SWS) is 45 min. This refers to the weekly contact/attendance hours of a course, which are also published in the corresponding course schedule. Courses at the European University Viadrina usually have a duration of 2 SWS, i.e. a duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

  • Start & End:

The start and end of the teaching units are regularly indicated with full hours. For the exact start of the teaching unit, please note the following time information:

"c.t."
Most teaching units begin "c.t." (Latin: cum tempore = "with time", the so-called "academic quarter"). This means that the teaching units start 15 minutes later than stated. This is also the case if there is no explicit "c.t."
⇒ Example: 10:00 am (c.t.) - start at 10:15 am
⇒ Example: 10:00 am - start at 10:15 am
"s.t."
If the teaching unit starts punctually at the specified time, this is indicated by the term "s.t." (Latin: sine tempore = "without time"). This is always stated together with the time.
⇒ Example: 10:00 am (s.t.) - start at 10:00 am

2. Teaching System

  • Lecture:

A lecture usually lasts two to three hours. A professor gives a lecture on a topic in front of an auditorium. The students take notes and usually also have the opportunity to ask questions during or after the lecture.

  • Seminar:

While a lecture can be attended without restrictions, the number of participants in seminars is limited. For this reason, pre-registration is often required for this form of teaching. Attendance is compulsory and is usually monitored via attendance lists. A seminar requires active participation from the students, who usually prepare an academic presentation on a topic and present it in plenary sessions.

  • Block seminars:

These are a more compact form of teaching and often take place at weekends.

  • Exercise/tutorial:

An exercise serves to deepen a topic covered in a lecture or seminar. It usually involves solving tasks in economics or cases in Rechtswissenschaft (Law). The tasks that are dealt with in the exercises are published in advance on the Internet by the lecturers. Students are required to prepare thoroughly at home and then present the solutions and problems in class and discuss them together.

3. Forms of Examination

  • Economics:

Lectures and tutorials in economics usually conclude with a written exam at the end of the semester. Students who do not pass the exam the first time can retake it at the beginning of the following semester. In the higher semesters, the requirements may increase: for example, an oral presentation may be required in addition to a written examination.

  • Law (Law):

Law students also complete their lectures and tutorials with written exams at the end of the semester. They are also required to complete assignments, which usually have to be written during the lecture-free period.

  • Cultural Studies:

Fewer examinations are written in cultural studies. As a rule, several essays or academic assignments are required as proof of performance. The deadlines are set by the individual chairs. Students usually write their assignments during the semester break.

Language Courses

Due to the international orientation of the university, foreign language training is an integral part of all degree programmes at the European University Viadrina. The Viadrina Language Centre of the European University Viadrina is the central institution responsible for the planning and implementation of foreign language training during studies.

The lessons are mainly taught by native speakers. The training ranges from the acquisition of basic skills to specialised language training. The Viadrina Language Centre's certificates are accredited by "Unicert" - an inter-university certificate system. Both the training and the certificates are in accordance with the Council of Europe's Framework of Reference.

Please note that:

  • there are certain deadlines for enrolment in the language courses,
  • you must register for the courses online,
  • you must take the placement tests if you already have previous knowledge of Russian, French, English and German

For more information, please visit the website of the Viadrina Language Centre.

Studying with health impairments

The European University Viadrina supports both undergraduate and graduate students as well as doctoral students with chronic illnesses and health impairments. Our university offers individual counselling and support. To ensure a successful study experience it is important to inform yourself in good time about the opportunities and conditions of studying with health impairments in Germany and at Viadrina:

Studying with health impairments in Germany

Studying with health impairments at Viadrina University

Please note that early planning and coordination with the relevant contacts are crucial to ensure the best possible study experience. We kindly ask you therefore to contact Viadrina International Affairs and/or the Counselling Service for Students with Health Impairments as early as possible during your application process.

Exchange students (e.g. ERASMUS) are requested to contact their home universities in the first instance. After the nomination we welcome you to get in touch with the above-mentioned contacts at Viadrina University.

For further information feel free to contact Viadrina International Affairs and the Counselling Service for Students with Health Impairments.

Study and examination adjustments

All study programmes at Viadrina University allow for study and examination adjustments for students with attested health impairments. If you intend to apply for study and/or examination adjustments at Viadrina, we recommend you to inform Viadrina International Affairs in good time in advance to your stay at our university. Please note that Viadrina University cannot offer personal study assistants. If you need assistance by a required accompanying person during your study stay abroad at Viadrina University you can apply for financial support with the Erasmus+ programme.

Financial support for Erasmus+ students with health impairments

Students with health impairments can receive additional financial support through the Erasmus+ programme to cover impairment-related extra costs. If required, we recommend that you get informed as soon as possible about the support opportunities and the application procedure:

Erasmus+ financial support for participants with disabilities and health impairments

 

Studying with a child

The European University Viadrina is a family-friendly university that supports students and employees with children and relatives in need of care. It offers family-friendly study and working conditions to ensure a successful balance between academia and family life. The university has been a member of the best practice club "Family at the university" since 2014.

The Viadrina offers you a family-friendly infrastructure as well as extensive counselling and support from the Family Affairs Officer. Information for international students and doctoral candidates with family responsibilities can be found on the website of the Equal Opportunity Department.

Financing

What will my studies at Viadrina cost?

There are no tuition fees at Viadrina (with a few exceptions). Nevertheless, you will have to plan for various costs for your studies, even though living in Frankfurt (Oder) is relatively cheap.

Scholarships

Who will fund my studies in Germany? This question arises for prospective foreign students, doctoral candidates and academics who want to study or conduct research in Germany. There are various options for funding through different scholarship programmes.

Earn money

With a part-time job, you can earn some extra money, get to know Germany better and make new contacts. You can find more information and tips for finding a job on the website of the DAAD.

End of studies/stay - Goodbye!

These documents may also be important for exchange and visiting students who did not come to the European University Viadrina as part of the Erasmus+ programme.

Letter of Confirmation

On this document we confirm the duration of your stay at the European University Viadrina. Normally you should have such a form from your home university (e.g. "Attestation de Présence", "Confirmation of Period of Stay", "Confirmation of Arrival and Departure"). If not, we can issue you with such a document.

Transcript of Records

The "Transcript of Records" lists your courses and the grades and ECTS credits you have achieved. It will only be issued by us once you have provided us with all your courses and grades. Please send us the PDF file with the grades of your academic courses from viaCampus by email to students-in@europa-uni.de.

You can find it under: My studies > Student services > Notifications/certificates > Transcript of records.

If you have taken language courses, you will find the printout of the grades in viaCampus under: My studies > Achievements > Transcript of grades for language courses. Please send this to us as well.

If you have failed a course (or several courses) and would still like it to be included in your transcript of records, please also attach a screenshot of your viaCampus results.

Rental agreement

  • Termination

If your tenancy agreement is not limited to the duration of your stay from the outset or you wish to leave earlier, you must cancel it in good time with the Studierendenwerk. Cancellation is possible after 3 months at the earliest. The cancellation period is 1 month and takes effect at the end of the following month. This means that to cancel at the end of a month, you must give written notice of cancellation at the end of the previous month. If you have any questions, please contact the Studentenwerk.

  • Appointment with the caretaker

In addition, you must hand over the flat before you leave, i.e. you make an appointment with the caretaker. During this appointment, the caretaker will check that your room and the communal areas are clean and undamaged. The refund of the deposit you paid at the beginning of your stay will depend on the assessment during this appointment.

  • Refund of the deposit

Guest and exchange students from countries with SEPA / IBAN (BIC) - payment transactions
The money will be transferred via SEPA either to your German bank account or to an account of your choice in your home country. So please remember to inform the Studierendenwerk in good time to which account the money should be transferred.

Guest and exchange students from countries without SEPA / IBAN (BIC) - payment transactions
Due to the high costs of international bank transfers for guest and exchange students from countries that do not participate in the SEPA procedure, the deposit can be paid out in cash on request. The Studierendenwerk must be informed at least one week in advance that you wish to collect your deposit in cash.

Bank account

If you did set up a bank account in Germany for your stay, you should remember to cancel it before your departure.

Other contracts

If you have taken out other contracts, e.g. fitness centre, mobile phone, etc., you must also cancel these in good time before your departure.

Health insurance

If you have taken out German health insurance for your stay, you can only cancel it with the certificate of exmatriculation. It is usually sufficient to present this certificate to the health insurance company. In some cases, you may also be required to present a flight or train ticket.

City Hall - Citizens' Office (de-registration)

Just as you registered at the Citizens' Office in the town hall at the beginning of your stay in Germany, you must now de-register again. This de-registration is mandatory. To do this, please go in person to the Citizens' Office in the Town Hall approximately one week before your departure and inform them of the planned date of your departure. There you will immediately receive written confirmation of your deregistration.

It is also possible to de-register online at the Citizens' Office - please fill out the de-registration form (available on the website of the City of Frankfurt (Oder)) and send it to: buergeramt@frankfurt-oder.de. An English version of the document is also available there. Please note, that the German version (filled out and signed) must be sent to the Bürgeramt. If you need a confirmation of de-registration, please indicate this directly in the application and add the postal address (you can also give an adress abroad) where you can receive the document.

European University Viadrina (Ex-matriculation)

If you do not ex-matriculate or continue your studies, you will be automatically ex-matriculate from the European University Viadrina at the end of the semester (31 March or 30 September). If you need to ex-matriculate earlier, you must apply for this. Please do not ex-matriculate before you have completed all examinations at the European University Viadrina!

Certificate of exmatriculation

1. Fill out the application for ex-matriculation
First you have to fill out the application for de-registration. It is important to enter the date of your departure from Germany as the date of de-registration.

2. Have the application for ex-matriculation signed

Your signature and one from the university library are required for this application

3. Certificate of ex-matriculation
You can hand in the completed and signed application for exmatriculation at the Service Point in the Auditorium Maximum or directly there during the office hours of the admission's office. The next day, you will be able to download and print out the corresponding certificate of de-registration from viaCampus.