Semester @ NGU
NGU Nuertingen-Geislingen University is glad to welcome students from all over the world at the two campuses in Nuertingen and Geislingen. We do not only try to provide you with the best education available but also strive to make your stay here as convenient and enjoyable as possible.
As a prospective international exchange student you are on the doorstep of a great adventure, studying and living in Germany. Although the adventure is great, it can also be quite difficult finding your way through the rules and regulations, from applying until your journey to Germany. Please read the following information carefully and some of your questions might already be answered.
We wish you a pleasant stay!
Contact: andrea.heissler@no spamhfwu.de, +49 7022 201 436
General information
What's different?
Bank
In Germany, banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday. However, if you have a checking account you can also withdraw cash from this account at one of the ATMs located at every bank.
Shops
All the shops are closed on Sunday. During the week, supermarkets are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Some supermarkets may be open until 10 p.m. Smaller stores, book stores, boutiques etc. are normally open from 8 or 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. They might be closed from 12.30 a.m to 2.30 p.m. Bakeries and butchers open at 7 a.m. already. They close at 6 p.m. and are often closed during lunchtime. Please check the opening hours. No store is open 24 hours a day.
Textbooks
Most lecturers have a handbook which can be downloaded from our Learning Management System "NEO". Textbooks are recommended in every subject. Many textbooks can be borrowed in the library. However, if you don’t go to the library in time the books can be already lent. Some books are not available in the library and have to be bought.
Exams
In most subjects there is a written exam at the end of the semester. In some subjects you have to do a presentation or assignment.
Living Expenses
On average, German students have about 700 Euro per month at their disposal. However, some students manage on less than 600 € a month while others spend 900 € a month. How high the cost of living turns out to be in practice will depend on your lifestyle and the city you choose.
Source: Deutsches Studentenwerk
Accommodation in dormitory € 243 plus € 600 deposit |
| Broadcast fees (mandatory) € 18,63 |
| Semester fees (mandatory) € 98,90/per semester |
| Food € 160 |
| Clothes € 50 |
| Public transportation (optional) € 35 |
| Personal expenses € 150 |
| Books and materials € 33 |
| Telephone € 35 |
| Health Insurance for non-EU-members € 121 |
Travel and Visa
Visa
Who does not need a visa
Students from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and from some other countries can enter Germany without a visa.
Who needs a visa
As a rule, all other international students need a visa - especially if they want to stay longer than three months in Germany. Enquire in advance about the entry regulations which apply for your country! Once you arrive in Germany you must present your visa to the German Immigration Office where it will be converted to a residence permit for the purpose of studying.
A visa for Germany is always issued for a particular purpose. Students apply for a student's visa. To do this you have to contact either the German Embassy or the German Consulate General in your home country. Do not enter Germany with a tourist visa - you will not be able to convert it to a residence permit once you are in Germany!
To get a visa you need a passport, a notification of admission and proof that you can finance your studies. The German Embassy or the German Consulate General can inform you of any further requirements. If you already have a notification of admission to study then you can apply for a student's visa. The visa is valid for three months; once you are in Germany you must have it converted into a residence permit for the purpose of studying.
When to arrive
All incoming students are strongly recommended to arrive in Nuertingen not later than on Tuesday before the beginning of the orientation days. The orientation days always start 10 days before lectures start. Please email your exact arrival information to Andrea Heissler .
Note: It is not possible to move into the rooms before September 1 resp. March 1! Students who arrive earlier than the regular check-in date or not within the stated time frame, have to book a room at a hostel or hotel for the night. The regular check-in dates for the residence hall beginning on September/March are as follows:
| Monday - Thursday: | 8.00am – 11.00am |
| 1.30pm – 3.00pm | |
| Friday: | 8.00am – 11.00am |
There are no move-ins on Saturday, Sunday, or public holidays.
For arrival in Geislingen, please get in touch with Gisela Zimmermann
How to get to Nuertingen
If you fly to Germany then Stuttgart airport is the destination to get to Nuertingen or Geislingen. However, many international flights end in Frankfurt (biggest airport in Germany). From there you can either fly to Stuttgart or get a train which starts directly at Frankfurt airport (long-distance train station) or a train from Frankfurt main station. If you start from the long-distance train station at Frankfurt airport there are some direct trains to Stuttgart and some where you will have to change trains. Alternatively you can take the suburban train "S-Bahn" from the airport to Frankfurt main station (10 minutes ride) and take a direct train to Stuttgart from there.
Information on Stuttgart airport is available at: http://www.flughafen-stuttgart.de and on Frankfurt airport at: https://www.frankfurt-airport.com/en.html
You have to buy the train tickets before the ride at the ticket vending machine (TVM) or the service points. For information on train and bus connections, please refer to the website of the German Railway (Deutsche Bahn).
Nürtingen from Stuttgart main station
Take the ‘Regional Express’ train to Nuertingen with the final destination in Tuebingen. This name is mentioned on the display panels at the Stuttgart train station. These trains usually leave from track 2 at 22 minutes past the hour from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (i.e. 5:22/6:22/7:22. etc.). During rush hours there are also direct trains that leave at .52 past the hour. All trains go via Bad Cannstatt, Esslingen and Plochingen. Wendlingen is the last station before Nürtingen. The train ride from Stuttgart to Nuertingen usually takes 32 minutes. The price for the whole ride is approx. 5,50 Euros.
Nürtingen from Stuttgart airport
You can either take a taxi which is very expensive (about 40 Euros) or use public transport: First take the suburban train S2 to Filderstadt-Bernhausen which leaves on track 1 in the basement of the airport building. (Make sure you take the right direction: Filderstadt-Bernhausen). You have to buy the ticket to Nuertingen (ZOB - Zentraler Omnibus Bahnhof / central bus station) at the ticket machine before you enter the train. The ride takes about 4 minutes. In Bernhausen you have to change to the bus which leaves from the bus station (2 minutes away from the train station: just go upstairs and turn right) and take bus no 74 to Nuertingen ZOB. Final destination of the bus line is the central bus station in Nuertingen. This ride usually takes 25 minutes. The price for the whole ride is approx. 4,50 Euros.
Geislingen from Stuttgart main station
Quite a lot of direct trains go to Geislingen/Steige. They are trains with final destination in Ulm or Munich. You can either take the Regionalbahn which usually leaves 2 minutes past the hour or the Regional-Express which usually leaves 31 minutes past the hour. The ride is about an hour. The name of the train and the destination Ulm/Munich are mentioned on the display panels at the Stuttgart train station. The ticket from the airport to Geislingen costs approx. 9 €.
Geislingen from Stuttgart airport
You have to go to Stuttgart main station first and then follow the under-mentioned instructions. To get to the main station take the suburban train which leaves on track 2 in the basement of the airport building. These trains run on a regular schedule approx. every 10 minutes. The ride takes 27 minutes. There are two different suburban trains which run to main station. You may ask at the airport for assistance. S2 has the city of “Schorndorf” as final destination and S3 has the city of “Backnang” as final destination. Take one of them and leave the train at Stuttgart main station.
From Stuttgart main station, quite a lot of direct trains go to Geislingen/Steige. They are trains with final destination in Ulm or Munich. You can either take the Regionalbahn which usually leaves 2 minutes past the hour or the Regional-Express which usually leaves 31 minutes past the hour. The ride is about an hour. The name of the train and the destination Ulm/Munich are mentioned on the display panels at the Stuttgart train station. The ticket from the airport to Geislingen costs approx. 9 €.
Public Transport
All facilities in Nuertingen are situated within walking or cycling distance of each other, the town centre and the train/bus station. It takes 20-30 minutes by foot to get from the newer building Schelmenwasen and the residence hall to the city centre and the city campus. There is also a bus station in front of the university building Schelmenwasen / residence hall. Bus no. 183 brings you down town. A ring-and-ride taxi service (Anrufsammeltaxi: AST) is operated in Nuertingen outside public transport service hours.
In Geislingen, everything is within walking distance - the university buildings, the residence halls, the train/bus stations and the city centre.
Public Transportation System
The German public transportation system functions very well. Buses run regularly within Geislingen and Nuertingen and the surroundings. If you want to go to major cities like Stuttgart, Ulm or Munich, you can take the train or long distance buses. Nuertingen and Geislingen belong to the regional transport network of greater Stuttgart (Verkehrsverbund Stuttgart: VVS) which makes Stuttgart and its suburbs easily accessible by train. With your Student ID Card you can ride buses and trains free of charge within that region on the weekends, public holidays and after 6 p.m. during the week.
Bike
As the university buildings and the residence halls in Nuertingen are apart you might consider to buy a second-hand bike. Please refer to websites such as: https://www.bikesale.de/, https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/, https://www.quoka.de/, https://www.markt.de/nuertingen/marktplatz/fahrraeder/.
Driving Licence
Foreign driving licences are valid for stays of up to six months in Germany. However, you may have to provide a German translation of your national licence or an international driving licence. After six months non-European driving licences are mostly no longer valid. Thereafter, you will most probably have to take the German driving licence. Germans drive on the right side of the road. The speed limit in cities is normally 50 kmh, sometimes 30 kmh. The speed limit on country roads is normally 80 kmh. On highways you have to obey the speed limits. If there is no speed limit you can go as fast as you like.
Money Matters
When planning your journey to Germany you should take into account that banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday. However, the exchange offices at the airport are open at the weekends or in the evenings. Here you can exchange foreign currency.
During the first days of your stay in Nuertingen or Geislingen you will need a considerable amount of money in cash for extra expenses such as
- 600€ deposit for the room in the residence hall
- plus the rent approx 243€/month for the first month i.e. September or March
- processing fee for a residence permit approx 100€
(not for EU citizens and some scholarship holders)
You should make sure that this money is easily available (e.g. cash) during the first days of your stay. Please note that if you use bank cheques, you have access to the money only about 2 weeks after the transfer on your account. All major credit cards can be used to withdraw money from the ATMs (automated teller machines) but this usually involves additional costs. Credit cards are not widely accepted in stores and restaurants. But you can basically pay everything with an EC card (electronic cash and debit card) that is connected with a German bank account. We arrange appointments to open a bank account during the orientation days. A German bank account is needed for the monthly payments such as the rent and the AOK health insurance. The Studierendenwerk and AOK will withdraw the money directly from the German bank account. You get an EC card which can be used for cashless payments or withdrawing money from the cash machine (ATM). The banks we recommend offer a current/checking account (Girokonto) without fees for students.
Alternatively, you can transfer the deposit for the room in the residence hall amounting to 600€ and the first rent for September/March amounting to approx. 243€ to the account of the Studierendenwerk in advance, once you have signed the rental contract. But, your bank might charge you an extra fee for the international money transfer service. For more information, please contact Andrea Heissler.
For regular expenses you might be required to give permission for automatic withdrawal. Rent for the following month is automatically deducted within the first week of a month. The monthly AOK health insurance contribution is automatically deducted on the 15th of the following month. Make sure your account always has enough money for these regular expenses.
Nowadays, you can easily get online banking for your account if you ask for it. Every bank account comes with 3 numbers, the account number (Konto-Nummer), the routing number (Bankleitzahl) and an international bank account number (IBAN). You should know the IBAN number for money transfers.
Accommodation
Rooms for the first nights
Health Insurance / Liability Insurance
NGU Nuertingen-Geislingen University requires all exchange students to have adequate health insurance for their stay in Germany. Before you can be enrolled at NGU you must provide proof of health insurance (either AOK or EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)) which is valid throughout the entire semester or study period (September 1st to February 28th for winter semester and March 1st to August 31st for summer semester). Without this proof you will not be admitted. You should also make sure that you have sufficient health insurance during your travelling/arrival day(s) and the interim period. Statutory health insurance (AOK) in Germany does not cover repatriation. It is necessary to sign up for a travel insurance covering repatriation costs for the whole period of your stay. Since the liability insurance is also not included in the health insurance, it is strongly recommended to sign up as well for a liability insurance for the duration of your study period.
For more information on the German health insurance system and liability insurance, please refer to the following websites: Verbraucherportal.de
Doctor's Visit
It is wise to find a general doctor in your neighbourhood. This way, you will not have to start the search for one when you are ill. Please ask the Coordinator in NGU's international office to find a doctor in your neighbourhood. To be able to benefit from all the medical care, treatment and preventive measures offered by the health insurance system, you will be asked to present your health insurance card at your visit each quarter of the year. Do keep in mind to consult your general doctor first at all times. Should you need to see a specialist, you should get an “Überweisung” from your doctor first. Only in case of emergencies you can visit the hospital directly.
Medications
Medical drugs can be obtained from pharmacies (Apotheke). The co-payment for prescribed drugs is 5 to 10 Euros depending on the price of the medical drug.
Health Insurance EU-Nationals
Students from the 28 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland should contact their health insurance provider. They only need to bring along an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) from their insurance company. The card gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during the temporary stay and under the same conditions and at the same cost as nationals of Germany. However, it is possible that your insurance will not cover all costs in Germany. Before you enter the country make sure you know exactly what services you are entitled to in Germany. Since the liability insurance is also not included in the health insurance, it is strongly recommended to sign up for a liability insurance for the duration of your study period.
Important – the European Health Insurance Card
- is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property,
- does not cover your costs if you are travelling for the express purpose of obtaining medical treatment,
- does not guarantee free services. As each country’s healthcare system is different services that cost nothing at home might not be free in another country.
Health Insurance Non-EU Nationals
NGU Nuertingen-Geislingen University requires all exchange students from Non-EU countries to purchase statutory health insurance administered by AOK, a German health insurance provider (monthly contribution approx. 120 €). Statutory health insurance (AOK) in Germany does not cover repatriation. It is necessary to sign up for a travel insurance covering repatriation costs for the whole period of your stay. Since the liability insurance is also not included in the health insurance, it is strongly recommended to sign up as well for a liability insurance for the duration of your study period.
For your orientation about prices and benefits, please refer to the AOK website.
Andrea Heissler from the International Office will assist you if you need help.
Welcome to AOK
Information about statutory health insurance with AOK
AOK membership application form, please send it to Andrea Heissler
Registration
Enrolment
Enrolment is the process through which exchange students must agree to become a student at NGU Nuertingen-Geislingen University for one or two semesters. Upon receipt of the Admission Letter, exchange students are asked to enrol at NGU by filling out the registration form below (all 4 pages of the pdf-file) and submit it hand-signed together with all the required documents by email to Andrea Heissler before July 15 for fall/winter or December 15 for spring/summer. We kindly ask you to respect the application deadlines and encourage you to submit your complete enrolment documents and the appropriate semester fee mentioned below well in advance of the posted deadline (at least 4 weeks before).
Your enrolment becomes effective, once we have received your payment of the semester fee amounting to 98,90 EURO via bank transfer. We do not accept check-payments of any sort. Please keep in mind that payments can take up to 4 weeks and that your bank might charge you an extra service fee. For more detailed information and the bank data, please refer to page Fees.
Required documents:
- NON-EU Nationals: filled out AOK Membership Declaration Form in PDF-format (see above Health Insurance/Non-EU Nationals)
- EU Nationals: digital copy of European Health Insurance Card (valid for the entire study period)
- Proof that semester fees has been paid (i.e. transfer receipt, bank statement etc.)
- passport photo in JPEG format
- digital copy of passport in PDF format
- hand-signed NGU Registration form (incl. StudiCard form) in PDF format
Residence Permit
On the first day of the orientation days, ALL students need to register their place of residence at the local administration (Bürgeramt) in the town hall (Rathaus). For registration you need to bring:
- your passport (with the entry visa if necessary) OR
- identification card (EU citizens) which both have to be valid for the whole period of your stay
- "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung" (landlord confirmation form)
Keep your confirmation of registration (Meldebestaetigung) safe. If you leave Nuertingen/Geislingen for your home country or to move somewhere else at the end of the semester you have to notify the Bürgeramt of your move.
Students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland do not need a residence permit.
Non-EU students have to go to the Local Immigration Office (Auslaenderbehoerde) in the town hall to apply for a residence permit. You need to bring with you:
- Confirmation of registration at town hall (Meldebestaetigung) issued by the Bürgeramt
- passport valid for the whole period of your stay
- "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung" (landlord confirmation form)
- One passport photograph (biometric)
- Proof of AOK Health Insurance
- Letter of Enrolment (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung)
- Confirmation letter from your university or proof of financial resources
- approx. 100€ for paying the processing fees (not for some scholarship holders!)
You need to do the registrations during the orientation days. Your buddy is informed where to go and will help you fill out all the necessary forms.
For more information please also see:
http://www.internationale-studierende.de/en/on_arrival/register/
Academic Calendar
The official academic year is divided into two semesters (spring/summer and fall/winter), each lasting 15 weeks. The spring/summer semester officially starts on March 1 until August 31, and the fall/winter semester officially starts on September 1 until February 28.
The NGU academic calendar does not always match perfectly with the academic calendar in some countries. Therefore, we show you some possibilities how to cope with it:
1. The next semester at my home university starts too early. What can I do? In exceptional cases, i.e. if your lectures start earlier at home and attendance is mandatory to reserve your seat, you can take the NGU exams at home
2. The time until my next semester starts at my university is too long? Why don’t you attend our study tours? The Marketing Study Tour takes place in July after the end of our examination period. The Study Tour Innovation for Sustainability takes place in September before the start of our orientation week. For more information, please refer to the website Study Tours
3. Alternatively, do a short term internship, or look for a student job, temporary job, holiday job etc. to bridge the time gap between your holidays and the semester start at NGU
For more information please contact Andrea Heissler
| Winter Semester 2022/2023 |
|---|
| Orientation week: September 22 – September 30, 2022 |
| Classes begin: October 4, 2022 |
| Classes end: January 27, 2023 |
| Examination Period: January 30 - February 17, 2023 |
| Holidays |
|---|
| October 3: Reunification Day |
| November 1: All Saints' Day |
December 25/26: Christmas |
| January 1: New Year's Day |
| January 6: Epiphany |
| Christmas break: from December 24, 2022 to January 6, 2023 |
| Summer Semester 2023 |
|---|
| Orientation days: March 8 – 17, 2023 |
| Classes begin: March 20, 2023 |
| Classes end: July 7, 2023 |
| Examination Period: July 10 - July 28, 2023 |
| Holidays |
|---|
April 7: Good Friday |
| April 9/10: Easter |
| May 1: Labor Day |
| May 18: Ascension Day; May 19 lecture free |
May 28 /29: Pentecost |
| June 8: Corpus Christi; June 9 lecture free |
Student-ID Card
Exchange students will receive the NGU student card, after enrolment has been processed, after the semester fee has been paid and proof of health insurance has been shown. The NGU student ID card is required to borrow books from the university library, pay for meals in the student restaurant, laundry in the residence halls, and printouts and copies from the university's copy machines and printers. Upon presentation of the student ID card, students can get a student discount at some cinemas, museums and other places. For the student ID card exchange students also need to send a digital photo in JPEG format.
With the student ID card students are entitled to use buses and trains of the VVS (Verkehrsverbund Stuttgart) after 6 pm, at weekends and on public holidays. The student ID card is also needed at the final exams to identify oneself. If the card is lost, stolen or destroyed, this must be reported to the Admission Office at once and a duplicate card obtained on payment of 18 Euros.
Orientation Sessions
Our orientation sessions for exchange students start 10 days before lectures start. These days are designed to help you feel more comfortable in Germany and to give you time to register for classes, meet other exchange students and get to know the campuses. We even do a hiking tour to a waterfall and a trip to a nice place within Germany. Important note: Excursions with exchange students are on the student’s own risk. If you take part in the excursions and activities, the university cannot be held responsible for loss, damage or personal injury.
Buddy Program
Every semester NGU Nuertingen-Geislingen University hosts exchange students from our partner universities. The international office tries to make their stay in Nuertingen and Geislingen as enjoyable as possible. The buddy program does just that: it pairs up an exchange student with a native student to make life in the new environment easier and more fun.
For students coming to Germany there is a lot to think of: register the place of residence, open a bank account... etc. A buddy can guide exchange students through these administrative duties and helps to integrate the newcomer into day-to-day student life.
It's up to the student and buddy to decide how to handle the partnership but the international office encourages the native student to show his/her partner the university, the region and sights. Furthermore, the international office organizes trips and other events exclusively for exchange students and their buddies.
We do hope that all incomers feel comfortable at NGU Nuertingen-Geislingen University right from the start!
