Pre-Departure Information

Once you have been accepted to join the FEM program, please read this section carefully before coming to Freiburg.

Accomodation

In Freiburg a fairly large number of student residences are available. Therefore, it is important that you apply for accommodation as soon as possible. You can do this via internet. There are public halls of residence (http://www.studentenwerk.uni-freiburg.de/en/) as well as church owned residences (http://www.kstwhfr.de).

Apart from that it is possible to look for accommodation in the private sector. Monthly rent for a room in a hall of residence generally costs between 170 and 220 Euro. The rent for a room in a shared private flat or house usually varies from 200 to 300 Euro a month. Accommodation can be found through

• the students’ accommodation office (http://www.studentenwerk.uni-freiburg.de/en/), search for "Wohnen"
• the local classifieds (www.zypresse.com) search for "Zimmer in WG"
• the internet: WG-Gesucht is  a good site to start with

It is best to already start looking for accommodation as early as August or September. In October it is very difficult to find accommodation.

While you are searching for your own accommodation you could stay in unoccupied rooms of masters students who are away during the break (please, contact the coordinator if you wish to do so). Or you could stay at the Freiburg youth hostel (www.jugendherberge-freiburg.de) or the ‘Backpacker Hotel’ (http://www.blackforest-hostel.de/en/index.htm).

Registration

You must register before the semester begins. Usually, registration takes place from the beginning until mid-October.

To register students must be admitted to the course. You will receive detailed information about registration along with your letter of acceptance, which is sent to your home address. You will be informed when you can register and which documents you need.

The following documents are required for registration:

• Acceptance letter
• Passport and student visa
• Residency permission issued by the Freiburg foreigners department
• Proof of health insurance
• Receipt for payment of the registration and the so called social fee (93 Euro)
• Filled in registration form
• 2 passport sized photographs

Before you register with the university you must register yourself at the citizens office (Bürgeramt) and apply for a residency permission. EU students do not need a residency permission. Please note, that you cannot register yourself at the citizens office until you have found accommodation.

Health Insurance

One of the prerequisites for registration is proof of health insurance. For students under the age of 30 health insurance is compulsory.

• Due to international health insurance agreements students from all EU-member countries do not have to register with a German health insurance company Students from these countries can show proof of health insurance carried in their home countries, which needs to be validated by one of the German health insurance companies (European Health Insurance Card EHIC):
• All other students have to register at a public German health insurance company, which costs about 55 € per month. Addresses of public insurance companies are sent with the official admission letter. You have to register at these companies personally once you have arrived in Freiburg, it is not possible to register in advance.

Orientation

In order to help you find your way around the faculty and the town we offer the following programme:
 

Introductory days of the faculty prior to the beginning of the programme

• Welcome and introduction by Prof. Fink (dean of studies), and Prof. Storch, (director FEM). Information about the faculty, modules, lecturers, programme committee etc.
• Learning and teaching accross cultures: Introduction into the German (academic) culture (Esther Muschelknautz)
• Welcome and introduction into organisational and administrative issues
• Guided tour through the faculty and visit to the computing centre of the University
• Excursion into the surroundings of Freiburg

Introductory week of the International Office

Two weeks before the semesters begins the International Office will provide you with important information about student life in Freiburg (http://www.io.uni-freiburg.de).

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