FORMALITIES
Before arriving in Hamburg
There are a lot of things to plan and organize before beginning your study
program at ICGS in Hamburg. Here are the most important steps students need
to follow after receiving their admission documents from ICGS:
- Apply for an entry visa at local German embassy or consulate. The visa process can take up to three months, so this application should be submitted immediately upon receipt of the original admissions letter from ICGS.
- Transfer housing payment to ICGS, if you are requesting an ICGS student accommodation.
- Fax signed Housing Registration Form and copy of bank transfer slip (payment of housing deposit) to ICGS, if you are requesting an ICGS student accommodation (Fax: +(49) 40 244 244 99).
- Coordinate health insurance, if applicable
- Return completed and signed University registration form to ICGS by express mail for smooth processing of the semester documents.
- Book travel arrangements to Hamburg
- Confirm by email your arrival information (flight/train number, day, time) with ICGS (sievers@icgs.de)
Has your Email or Mailing Address changed since you applied to ICGS?
Make sure that your contact information, including mailing address and email address, are current! If your contact information has changed since submitting the ICGS online application form, please send us an email immediately (contact@icgs.de).
Visa
ICGS will take care of the student visa applications for their enrolled students upon arrival in Hamburg. This will be organized in ICGS' orientation program for new students at the beginning of October. Beforehand, however, students are required to apply for an entry visa for purposes of studying at their local German embassy or consulate.
Germany has various requirements for international students entering the country. Some students will be required to obtain an entry visa in their home country before entering Germany, whereas others can apply for a visa once on German soil.
General visa information concerning how to apply for an entry visa for purposes of studying ("Visum zu Studienzwecken") should be acquired from the German diplomatic mission (local embassy, consulate or representative office) in the student's home town or current place of residence or have a look at the German foreign office's website (Auswärtiges Amt). Students will need several documents including:
- Proof of available finances for the duration of their stay in Germany ("Finanzierungsnachweis") in cases where students are not receiving a scholarship from ICGS or another organization
Keep in mind that a tourist visa cannot be changed into a student visa, so it is critical to first enter Germany with a student visa.
Citizens of EU-countries are exempt from this rule. Some countries have, however, also been awarded a special status. These countries include: Honduras, Iceland, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, and the USA.
Please be advised that the visa application procedure can take up to three months. It is therefore advisable to start dealing with this matter as early as possible. The student affairs office is more than welcome to provide you with assistance where necessary.
Accommodation
Finding the right accommodation is very important to the student's overall feeling and can enrich the entire educational experience in Hamburg. ICGS provides their students with comfortable, fully furnished single rooms including internet access and laundry facilities in student dormitories or equivalent. ICGS' student housing is centrally located; simply a short bus or train ride away from the downtown and campus area.
Health Insurance
It is obligatory to have adequate health insurance coverage for the duration of your studies and is absolutely required for enrollment at the University of Hamburg.
- Students from the EU:
Students from countries within the European Union including Norway should contact their health department in their home country to obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC - former E111 or E128). It is very important though that the EHIC be valid for the entire period of stay abroad or that there is a possibility to renew the insurance policy from Germany before the coverage runs out. If students coming from EU-countries are not covered by a state health insurance agency, a statement from the respective (private) health insurance company is required confirming the student is covered by some form of health insurance.
Students from other countries that have an agreement with Germany regarding social security, including an insurance clause, can continue to be insured in their home countries. In order to do this, a certificate confirming adequate health insurance coverage and an application form must be presented to the local health insurance agencies.
- All other students:
Students who have spent less than 15 semesters studying at a university and who are under the age of 30 are eligible for the Statutory Health Insurance scheme (SKV). Students who are 30 or older must be insured through a private health insurance company.
However, as the SKV-system is geared to the semester structure prevalent at German universities, statutory health insurance contracts usually can only be cancelled at the end of the winter or summer semester (March 31 or September 30 respectively) each year. This proves to be a problem for study programs the duration of which does not fit this semester structure. International students should therefore also check the possibility of a private international student health insurance (NOT travel insurance) meeting the requirements of the German immigration authorities. Should you have questions regarding this issue, please contact kaiser@icgs.de for further assistance.
Registration at ICGS / The University of Hamburg
New students are required to complete the University registration form to
be properly enrolled as a student at ICGS / the University of Hamburg. This
form must be returned to ICGS in original by express mail. Fax or email copies
are not accepted. Since the registration form is in German, ICGS provides
their students with an English translation. ICGS' address, telephone and email
information should be used as the local German contact information.
Arrival in Hamburg
The official University winter semester begins the third week of October.
Students are encouraged to arrive in early October to participate in the orientation
programs scheduled of new incoming students. Students
should provide ICGS with their specific arrival information via e-mail as
soon as they have booked their flights.
Public Transportation
Public transportation in Hamburg is quick and efficient. A semester ticket
or a monthly ticket is highly recommended. The semester ticket is issued only
to enrolled students and permits the use of all buses (excluding the express
bus) and train services in Hamburg and the immediate surrounding areas. Most
bus stops include extensive information on departure times and or frequency.
The final destination is found on the front and sometimes the sides of the
buses and trains. Trains are: U-Bahn, S-Bahn and A-Bahn. Buses have numbers,
not names. You can buy the complete train and bus schedule as a book at the
major bus and train stations or look under www.hvv.de
for the electronic version. At most bus and train stations there are area
maps for your orientation. If you need to find out how to get somewhere fast,
look at www.geofox.de
for a personal time schedule and a street map.
