Preparing for your stay in Germany
When should you arrive?
Before actually starting your studies there is a lot you have to organize. Finding accommodation, applying for a residence permit, handing in the last documents for enrollment etc.
It's useful to have these matters settled before the beginning of your studies, so that you can get a good start.
Take a minimum of one week in order to get everything organised. In case you did not find accommodations yet, calculate a minimum of three weeks!
Winter Semester 2012/13:
pre-sessional courses for students
in the Bachelor's program: mid-September
intensive language course: 1 October
orientation week offered by TUMi: beginning of October
introduction days at the Department: beginning of October (M.Sc.)
start of courses: 15 October 2012
Studienkolleg: 4 respective 17 September
Attention: 3 October is the Day of the German Reunification, the National Day. All shops and public institutions are closed!
Summer Semester 2012:
Studienkolleg / Propaedeutics: 30 January or 27 February (depending on your course)
orientation week offered by TUMi beginning of April 2012
introduction days at the Department: 12 April 2012
start of courses: 16 April 2012
Application for a Visa
In order to enter Germany, you may need a visa. You can apply for it at the German embassy or consulate in your home country.
There are different types of visas according to your purpose of stay. For every type of visa you will be asked to hand in different documents. There are visas for
- participants in German courses
- applicants for a study program
- students (also at Studienkolleg)
- students with a scholarship
The visa is valid for 90 days. After entering Germany, apply for a residence permit at the local foreigners registration authority. For further information contact the German embassy or consulate in your country.
Apply in time, at least two months in advance. Do not enter with a tourist visa! Once you are in Germany, a tourist visa cannot be changed for a residence permit for students and you have to go back home!
Should you have any problems during application, just contact us and tell us:
- at which Embassy or Consulate you have applied for your visa
- what exactly you need and in which format (sealed admission letter by post...)
- your registration code at the embassyor consulate
- your phone number so that you can be reached by the Embassy or Consulate
Before writing us, please inform yourself at the Embassy or consulate so that you know exactly what you need!
Accommodation
Finding accommodation in Munich is very difficult. Around 13% of the students live in a student residence, the big majority lives in shared flats and appartments. For getting assigned a room in a Student residence, they often have to wait for one to three semesters.
The Student Union (Studentenwerk) is in charge of most of the student residences and receives your application online. Please visit their website first. You can find there:
- Accomodaton Advice Service
- application for rooms in a student residence of Student Union
- information about private student residences
After getting admitted, please do apply immediately for a student room! Nearly all courses in the Master are held in Garching. Nearest residences are the ones in Garching, Studentenstadt Freimann, Olympic village, and others located next to U 6, the underground line going to Garching. From Klinikum Großhadern to Garching it takes 40 minutes. Please check the plan for underground lines and busses.
Many students can not get a room in a residence. Please do apply parallely for a room in a private residence and check the private market after you have arrived here. Do also network with other students!!
The private market: Shared flats and single appartments
TUM offers some hints how to find accommodation and a list of abbreviations in offers. You can also find a list of hostels offering cheap short term accomodation. Once you have arrived in Munich and search for a room here, you can contact Piotr Posluszny, the accomodation coordinator from TUM's International Office.
Then, it is always good to check the website of the English speaking community in Munich Toytown.
Attention! Munich is a very safe city and people are friendly. However, demand on the housing market is large and very few people take advantage of that. Please do never send any money to anyone before having seen the flat/room and having signed a contract!
Special information for the winter term
If you can be in Munich in September, you can go to the Student Residences Information Day with Rooms Draw. The Student Union raffles hundred rooms on this day and offers help finding accomodation on the private market.
In September/October please be aware of the famous Oktoberfest, which leads to fully booked hostels!
"Abholaktion" - Meet TUMi at the airport or at central station!
TUMinternational, a student service for you, offers to pick you up on your first day at the airport or at central station. Please register here (the form is in English).
