CHECKLIST FOR NEW INTERNATIONAL MASTER'S STUDENTS

Dear prospective students in the international Master’s programs,

There are a lot of things to do before your Master’s program at TUHH starts in October 2024. This guide will
inform you about the important things you need to get done before the start of your program.
If you have further questions after reading this information, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email
([email protected]). Please understand that we can only answer questions sent by email which are not already
answered in this guide or on our websites.

1. ADMISSION LETTER

You can download your certificate of admission from the application portal. TUHH doesn’t send hardcopies of
the certificate of admission by post mail. You can find a confirmation concerning study and living expenses on
page 2 of the admission letter.

2. START OF YOUR STUDIES AND PERSONAL PRESENCE IN HAMBURG

The winter semester 2024/25 starts on October 1 and the lecture period starts on October 14, 2024. The
lectures at TUHH will take place in presence! We strongly recommend to be present in person from October
1 onwards, as various introductory events (preparatory German course, Welcome Weeks and maybe,
introductory meetings of the course coordinators) will take place from 01.10. onwards.

3. CLARIFY MONEY-RELATED QUESTIONS (AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!)

Proof of Financial Resources

For your visa application (and also later on for your residence permit) you will need a proof of financial
resources which shows that you can finance your studies and daily living costs in Germany. Students must
prove that they have at least €11.208 per year at their disposal. To get further information and the exact amount
for the financial proof please contact the German embassy in charge directly: https://www.auswaertiges-
amt.de/en/about-us/auslandsvertretungen/deutsche-auslandsvertretungen

Costs of Living and Semester Contribution

The costs of living in Hamburg are rather high. Students should count a minimum of €950 per month
including accommodation, semester contribution and health insurance!
Each semester students have to pay a semester contribution of approx. €350. A ticket for public transport
(valid for 6 months throughout the public transportation network in Hamburg) is included within the semester
contribution. New students will get the payment details after they have completed all the enrolment formalities.
Especially at the beginning, students might be required to spend more than €950 in a month (e.g. to pay a
deposit when renting a room, for the semester contribution and the fees for your residence permit). It is
therefore highly recommended to make sure that you have access to sufficient financial means.

4. APPLY FOR A STUDENT VISA (AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!)

International students need a student visa to enter Germany! Visa application may take several months’ time,
for this reason you should apply for the student visa immediately! TUHH cannot accelerate the visa procedure.
The enrolment deadline at TUHH cannot be extended due to a missing student visa!

Students from the European Union (and some other countries) are exempted from this requirement. To check
if you need a student visa and to get further information about the visa application, please check the website
of the German Embassy in charge of your place of residence or use the visa navigator:
https://digital.diplo.de/navigator/en/visa

TUHH / STUDIS / guide2024AOS-Teil1 / page 1 of 6

If you need the name of a contact person to complete your visa application form please check:
https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/en/education/contacts/admission-registration-office

Do not enter Germany with a tourist visa or a national residence permit issued by a Schengen country! If you
do so, you have to leave Germany after 90 days and after that you cannot re-enter the country!

5. FINDING ACCOMMODATION

In Germany, public universities do not offer rooms in a student hall on campus and students do not
automatically receive rooms when accepted by the university. They have to find accommodation by
themselves! In Hamburg, the accommodation situation for students is extremely difficult, as cheap
accommodation is hard to find. It is very important to start the search for accommodation as soon as possible!
You have to arrange accommodation prior to your arrival. Do not trust on finding accommodation after
your arrival, this will be almost impossible!

The following institutions help you to find accommodation, but even there the supply is very limited:

Studierendenwerk Hamburg: https://www.stwhh.de/en/accommodation-for-students-and-trainees

TUHH: Accommodation Office: www.tuhh.de/rooms

6. ARRANGING A GERMAN HEALTH INSURANCE

Students in Germany are obliged to be insured at a German statutory health insurance company (costs: app.
€110 per month). Students with a DAAD scholarship also need a German statutory health insurance!
Students older than 30 years of age cannot sign up for a statutory health insurance, but have to apply for
coverage with a private German health insurance.

Only students from EU member countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, who are able to
present a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), don’t have to arrange an additional German health
insurance. The EHIC is valid all-around Europe. However, students with an EHIC cannot take up a student job
or a paid internship in Germany. Students who are planning to do so should arrange a German statutory health
insurance.

You can at least start to arrange your health insurance from abroad. Please contact the German health
insurance of your choice directly! Before you sign your health insurance contract, please make sure that it is
a German statutory health insurance, not an international or private insurance!

Some statutory health insurances that you may find in Hamburg:

AOK: https://www.aok.de/pk/leistungen/studium-beruf/information-for-international-
students/
Schlossmühlendamm 30 – 32, 21073 Hamburg
Barmer GEK: https://www.barmer.de/en
Scheller Damm 3 – 10, 21079 Hamburg
DAK: https://www.dak.de/dak/english-2167614.html#/
Schlossmühlendamm 8 – 10, 21073 Hamburg
TK: https://www.tk.de/en
Kasernenstraße 12, room 1.12, 21073 Hamburg
(situated in building F on university campus)

You can find a complete list of all the German statutory health insurance providers on this website:
https://www.krankenkassen.de/gesetzliche-krankenkassen/krankenkassen-liste/

The health insurance company will arrange for TUHH to receive a notification of the insurance status online.
The TUHH-sender-number "Absendenummer" is H0002497. A copy of your health insurance contract is not
sufficient for enrolment. If you managed to arrange German health insurance before the enrolment, please
submit the proof of health insurance upon enrolment.

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A few weeks after arranging statutory health insurance and submitting all the required documents (German
address, bank details, photo etc.) to the health insurance company you will get a health insurance card
which you need to take with you when you visit a doctor. If you have a statutory health insurance medical
treatment is free of charge, however, some special treatments e.g. tooth replacement must generally be paid
for in full. When in doubt please contact your health insurance beforehand.

7. FIRST CONTACT TO TUHH SENIOR STUDENTS + INFORMATION FROM TUHH SENIOR

STUDENTS

For first contact with TUHH senior students please feel free to contact the General Students' Committee
(AStA) or one of the International Students Asscociations at TUHH.

AStA – Department for International Affairs:

https://www.asta.tuhh.de/en/members/international-affairs/
[email protected]

International Student Association:

- African Student Association: [email protected]
- Indian Student Association: [email protected], https://www.tuhh.de/isatuhh/
- Latino AG (Latin American students): [email protected]
- Pakistan Student Association: [email protected]
- Student Association Bangladesh: [email protected]

Booklet "Your First Steps in Hamburg":

The AStA has published a booklet "Your First Steps in Hamburg" for new incoming students”. In this booklet,
the AStA has compiled his own information for new students. You can download the booklet on this website:
https://www.asta.tuhh.de/suche/?q=Your+First+Steps+in+Hamburg
On page 23 of this booklet you can find the contact details of all the International Student Associations at
TUHH. Please note that the AStA is solely responsible for the content of this booklet!

Interpreter Service:
The AStA also offers an interpreter service for new students. For details please check page 1 of the booklet
mentioned above.

8. ENROLMENT AT TUHH (BY OCTOBER 1, 2024)

The deadline of enrolment is October 1, 2024!

Approx. on September 1, 2024 we will activate the enrolment-tool in the application portal: https://tune.tuhh.de/

The exact enrolment procedure for the winter semester 2024/25 is not yet fixed. We will publish the details
here as soon as possible. Please check again to a later date!

9. RECEIVING THE CONFIRMATION OF ENROLMENT

AND TRANSFERRING THE SEMESTER CONTRIBUTION

A few days after you have submitted your complete application for enrolment you can download the
confirmation of enrolment and the payment demand for the semester contribution in the application portal.
The semester contribution for the winter semester 2024/25 is payable within 14 days after the enrolment
deadline.

Please do not transfer any money before you have received the confirmation of enrolment!
Only transfer the semester contribution if you are sure that you want to start your studies at TUHH,
because a refund of the semester contribution at a later date is not possible!

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When transferring the semester contribution, do not forget to indicate the exact purpose of use
(“Verwendungszweck”), which you will find on your payment demand! Without this purpose we cannot assign
the payment!

We recommend to transfer the semester contribution from a German bank account, because international
money transfer is more expensive and more prone to error.

10. RECEIVING YOUR STUDENT ID, SEMESTER TICKET AND TU-ACCOUNT

As soon as we have received your semester contribution, you will get your student ID and the ticket for
public transport. The exact procedure for this is also not yet fixed. We will publish the details here as soon as
possible. Please check again to a later date!

The students section of the TUNE-portal will be activated as soon as we have received your semester
contribution. By that date you will also receive your login and password for the student section in the TUNE-
portal.

11. REGISTRATION IN HAMBURG (WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER YOUR ARRIVAL)

Within two weeks after your arrival you need to register as a resident in Hamburg. You can do that in one of
the Customer Service Centers (“Kundenzentrum”) or at the Hamburg Welcome Center.
To do so you need an appointment. You should arrange the appointment well in advance! Booking the
appointment is sufficient to meet the two-week deadline.

On the following website you can check how to get an appointment for the registration, you can find a
complete list of all the required documents and you can download the required registration form:
https://www.hamburg.com/welcome/entry-residence/general-regulations/11725242/registration/

After the registration you will get a confirmation of registration (“Meldebestätigung”). Keep this document safe.
You will need it for opening a bank account, for your health insurance and for your residence permit.

12. OPENING AN ACCOUNT AT A GERMAN BANK

While studying in Hamburg you will need a German bank account. Many banks offer free bank accounts for
students. You can open a bank account at any bank in Hamburg. Several banks are located near TUHH.
Usually you don’t have to make an appointment to open a bank account:

Some banks that you may find in Hamburg-Harburg:

HASPA: Alter Postweg 29, 21075 Hamburg
Hamburger Volksbank: Lüneburger Tor 2, 21073 Hamburg
HypoVereinsbank: Lüneburger Straße 3, 21073 Hamburg
Deutsche Bank: Harburger Rathausstraße 44, 21073 Hamburg

What to take along for opening a bank account?

• Passport
• Confirmation of registration (“Meldebestätigung”)
• Certificate of admission issued by TUHH

If you have a blocked bank account you have to activate it after your arrival in Hamburg in order to access
your money. To do so you have to contact the bank where you have opened the blocked account.

13. APPLICATION FOR THE RESIDENCE PERMIT (BEFORE YOUR STUDENT VISA EXPIRES)

Students from non-EU countries need a residence permit for their stay in Hamburg. It can take up to eight
weeks until you get your electronic residence permit, for that reason you have to apply for the residence permit

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in time before your student visa expires. You can apply for the first-time issue of the residence permit at one
of the locations for Foreigners' or at the Hamburg Welcome Center.

Locations for Foreiners‘ Affairs: https://www.hamburg.com/welcome/entry-residence/immigration-registration-

offices/11746008/districts/

Hamburg Welcome Center: https://www.hamburg.com/welcome/entry-residence/immigration-registration-

offices/11746154/hamburg-welcome-center/

USEFUL WEBSITES

Accommodation Office:
https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/en/international/incoming-international-students/accommodation-office

Campus map: https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/en/tu-hamburg/campus

Examination office:
(information about examinations, examination regulations, study plans, modul manuals etc.):
https://www.tuhh.de/sls/service-fuer-lehre-und-studium/zentrales-pruefungsamt-geschaeftsstelle-des-
promotionsausschusses-s6.html

General Student Counseling and Psychological Counseling:

The Student Counseling Service provides general student counseling and psychological counseling (also in
English language) for TUHH students throughout their studies:
https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/en/education/contacts/student-counseling-center

German Language Courses for Master Students:

https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/en/studying/during-your-studies/learn-a-language-at-tuhh/learning-
german.html#c36351

Important dates:
https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/en/education/students/organisational-details-about-your-studies/dates-respites

Information for new students (New@TUHH):

https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/en/education/newtuhh

International Office:
https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/en/international/international-office

Organizational details about your studies:

(deregistration, financing your studies, renewal of registration, replacement of certificates, sabbatical
semester, self service functions, semester documents, semester ticket)
https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/en/education/students/organisational-details-about-your-studies.html

Service portal for studying in Hamburg /Studierendenwerk Hamburg:

https://www.stwhh.de/en/

Services provided by the TUHH Computer Center:

https://www.tuhh.de/rzt/beratung/usc

Student Jobs:
International students from non-EU-countries (with exception of students from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein
and Switzerland) as well as students from Croatia are only allowed to take up a limited amount of paid
employment (a maximum of 120 days per year, alternatively 240 days part-time up to four hours per day). For
any work that exceeds your 120-days account and that is not a compulsory part of your studies you need a
work permit. Jobs as a “Studentische/Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft” (teaching or research assistant) within the
university can be exempted from the work permit requirement if the majority of performed tasks has a scientific
character. Further information is given here:
https://www.daad.de/deutschland/in-deutschland/arbeit/en/9148-side-jobs/

TUHH / STUDIS / guide2024AOS-Teil1 / page 5 of 6

STUDIS-Studierendenservice / Admission and Registration:
(Admission, enrolment and student administration)
https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/studium/im-studium/ansprechpersonen/studis-studierendenservice

TUNE:
In the TUNE-Portal you will find all applications related to student and examination management. There you
can change your address or phone number, download certificates of enrolment and academic records,
register for and withdrawal from examinations and check the admission to examinations:
https://tune.tuhh.de/
Instructions on how to use TUNE: https://www.tuhh.de/tune/en/manuals/students

University library (TUB):

https://www.tub.tuhh.de/en/

Welcome weeks for international students:

The Welcome Weeks Program is focused on the special situation of being new at TUHH. Our team will be
able to assist you on your arrival in Hamburg and to help you get off to a good start on your study courses.
https://www.tuhh.de/welcome/orientation-networking/welcome-weeks.html

(Last update: 13.12.2023)

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