International
For general information on pursuing postgraduate studies at the JLU, please visit the university’s international pages.
Please also consult the DAAD’s comprehensive guide for international researchers, "Studying in Germany".
The International Student Advisory Office also offers a general (non-disciplinary) counseling service:
Büro für Studienberatung – Abteilung Internationale Studierende (International Student Advisory Office)
Goethestr. 58, Room 21, 35390 Giessen
Email: promotionsstudium-international@uni-giessen.de
Phone: +49-(0)641-99 12 172
Fax: +49-(0)641-99 12 179
Consulting hours: Monday and Wednesday, 10:00 - 12:00 a.m. (or by arrangement)
Are international postgraduate researchers eligible for membership?
Yes! We welcome and encourage applications from around the world. For more specific information see information for international applicants and services for international members.
How much will I need to pay for tuition fees and living expenses?
In Hesse, doctoral researchers do not have to pay tuition fees. However, every student has to pay a so-called social fee (Sozialbeitrag) – at present about €270 per semester. This includes a free ticket for regional public transport (map) which is valid throughout the semester. Living expenses amount to approximately €700 per month.
Do I need a visa?
In general, foreign researchers and study applicants from abroad need a national visa to enter Germany. For longer stays, they additionally need to obtain a residence permit.
Please note: most visa applications will take between six weeks to three months. For the visa application process, you will probably need proof of health insurance plus an official copy (no e-mail or fax) of an admission letter from the University of Giessen. Please plan the start of your visa application process accordingly.
For further information and exemptions please consult the comprehensive guide for international doctorates provided by the DAAD and the homepage of the German Foreign Ministry. You are also welcome to contact the International Office for further advice.
What kinds of social security insurance (e.g. health insurance) do I need?
Social security contributions are deducted at the source, i.e. directly from your gross salary. Your employer will sign you up by registering you with your chosen health insurance provider, which will in turn advise all other relevant social security agencies. If, on the other hand, you have a research grant, you will be exempt from any social security contributions.
Do I need a work permit?
If you are a scholarship or fellowship holder or are working as a research assistant for a publicly financed employer (e.g. a research institution based at a university), you do not generally need a work permit. However, please check with your scholarship provider or your employer as early as possible whether this exemption also applies to you. If you are completing your research stay in Germany within the scope of an employment contract, you will need a work permit, in case you are not an EU or EEA citizen. You apply for your work permit together with your visa. Further information on all questions of employment law is available on the homepage of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Is my spouse allowed to work in Germany?
Spouses of research-grant holders who wish to take up employment in Germany and who do not come from a member state of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) must indicate this intention before entering Germany and must apply for the appropriate residence permit. The procedure for issuing a work permit is time-consuming and not always successful. Since the employment market situation in Germany is quite tight, it can be very difficult to find a vacancy at all.
Do I have to pay taxes?
How available are kindergartens, nurseries and schools?
Germany has special childcare services for each age group. These are run by public, church and private institutions. Some universities also maintain child care services for the children of their staff and researchers. Children up to the age of three generally go to a nursery school. Then, until the age of six (the start of compulsory schooling), children attend kindergartens. Childcare services may be provided on an hourly or full-day basis. However, the availability of these childcare services is not equally well-developed across the whole of the country. You will often have to reckon with long waiting lists. This is why you should register your child(ren) as soon as possible. Attendance at a kindergarten is voluntary and involves costs. These costs vary from one town or city to the next and are, in most cases, based on parental income. Find further information on studying with a child in the comprehensive guide compiled by the JLU Student Union.
In Germany, all children from age 6 to 16 years must attend school. This mostly begins with a four-year phase of primary or elementary schooling, after which it is possible to choose between three different types of secondary schools: the lower secondary school (Hauptschule), the intermediate secondary or middle school (Realschule) or the upper secondary or grammar school (Gymnasium). The latter type leads to an Abitur school-leaving certificate (Allgemeine Hochschulreife) that is the general German qualification for admission to higher education. Schools usually only teach in the mornings in Germany. Attendance of state schools is free of charge. Only very few private schools or international schools exist, which charge school fees that can be quite high. You can find further information on the German school system at the German Education Server.