Autonomous Department of International Students

Who we are and what we do

We are a group of students of the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg who come from different faculties and nationalities. We appreciate the diversity of the students’ community and wish to actively engage ourselves in it. Especially, we value the input coming from international students but also recognise the obstacles studying abroad in another university structure might bring to them. Therefore, we want to share our experiences with students from different backgrounds to help them find their way around in their every day life just as in university and integrate.

One the one hand, we want to provide the kind of administrational support international students might need at the university or mediate them to corresponding offices or institutions.

On the other hand, we would like to offer practical support to manage their everyday business in a new country. For example we could come with them if they want to open a bank account and need someone to translate. Or accompany them to a meeting at an administrative office. … Additionally, we are happy to share tips on how to spend free time with activities other than university in and around Freiburg.  

Furthermore, we represent the interests of international students in the students’ representation. Ideally however (we think), international students would do so themselves! Therefore, we not only try to represent their voices but also to encourage and motivate them to get involved in the students’ representation themselves. There are lots of possibilities to actively shape and develop our community!

Our mail adress is: referat-internationale-studierende@stura.uni-freiburg.de

Useful links for international students

In the list below you’ll find important links regarding information on topics like Housing, Finance, Administration, Education, Counselling, or getting around Freiburg. Explore the various possibilities to get support or information regarding studying and living in Germany as an international student!

Some helpful bureaucratic stuff

Here you can find everything related to administration in and outside university (e.g. offices, departments, services)

Bürgerservice

The webpage of Citizen Services of Freiburg provides you with important information on public and administrational services regarding your life as an inhabitant of Freiburg. Here you can for example register as a new citizen of Freiburg, find information on cultural or scientific events, and advises on what to do around Freiburg. Unfortunately, this webpage is only available in German at the moment.

The International Office/Office for International Affairs

Here you can find all information concerning your life as a student at Albert-Ludwigs-University. If you have administrational questions concerning application, admission, study choice, or orientation at the university, you will find helpful advice here. Or if you are a degree-seeking international student (not on an exchange program) and you want to spend a semester or two abroad, you can find information concerning your exchange outside of Europe here.

Studierendenwerk Freiburg

The Studentenwerk provides you with all the information on you life as a student outside of university. They organise trips to nearby cities, hiking tours, offer jobs for students, or for example provide psychological counselling if necessary. It is always worth paying a visit to their website, as there are many more opportunities to be discovered on it. 

Alternatively, you can come by their office in Schreiberstraße 12-16.

Deutsches Studentenwerk 

The Deutsche Studentenwerk is the umbrella organisation of the 58 Studentenwerke in Germany. The Studentenwerke are partner organizations of the universities and support the ca. two million students with lots of help and services around their studies. This web site contains all the practical information about planning to study in Germany, registration with the authorities, enrolment at the university upon arrival, information regarding residence permit and health insurance… that makes your daily life much easier. 

Students Service Centre

The Student Service Centre may provide you with additional information regarding getting around the university. Administrational services are provided, if you are an international student studying permanently in Freiburg (not on exchange program) you can find advise on studying abroad for a semester or two here (Erasmus). 

Dormitory

When searching for a place to live, the first step is often to apply for a place in a dormitory. Here, you quickly get in contact with other students and often rents are quite cheap. Keep in mind that there are fixed application dates.

Several dormitories are offered by the Studentenwerk Freiburg (1). You can apply for the winter semester from July 15th to August 31st, for the summer semester between January 15th and February 28th. Therefore, you can use an application portal (2). It is advisable to call at Studentenwerk just after the deadline for applications has passed and ask whether they can offer you a place.

(1) http://www.swfr.de/en/wohnen/wohnheime/summary-of-dormitories/

(2) http://www.swfr.de/wohnenportal/index.html

Studierendenwerk also offers a Service Package for international students, which includes a dormitory place, insurance, tutoring and other services.

http://www.swfr.de/en/wohnen/wohnheime/service-packets/

There are also other student accommodations, provided by church or other institutions. Here, it is necessary to apply for every single dormitory separately.

 

Shared flat or apartment

You may also look for a single room or shared flat. Here, search can be particularly difficult for international students as it is often necessary to visit shared flats on the spot in order to get a room. Moreover, most proposals are in German language. The following websites might be helpful for you, though:

In addition, you can search for a flat in several groups on facebook:

Here you can find all information regarding jobs, scholarships, and opening a bank account

Jobs

First, you have to consider that there are certain regulations in Germany for jobbing.

  • https://www.studium.uni-freiburg.de/studieninteressierte-en/guide_for_internationals-en/job-en

 
When looking for a job, the job intermediation service of the Studierendenwerk is very helpful.


There are also many other websites to look for jobs, however they are in German.

 

Scholarship

To receive additional financial and ideological support, you can consider applying for a scholarship. Note that there are certain associations that particularly target international students.  Information can be found on the following websites:

 

Bank account 

If you would like to create an own bank account in Freiburg, here you can find several links to banks offering bank accounts for young adults, with special conditions for students. Compare their offers and choose what suits you expectations best. Unfortunately, those websites are only available in German.

o you want to learn more about German culture? Here are some links to German newspapers (also with English content), radio, educational institutions…

Educaional Web-Sites

STUBE-Baden-Württemberg is a Student Program for students from Africa, Asia and Latin America. STUBE is a development-oriented education program and offers seminars, workshops and other activities related to development issues.

STUBE seminars and activities take place mainly during weekends. STUBE seminars supplement the professional university-studies with themes and issues related to social, economic and cultural situations in the home-countries. There are also other STUBE in each of the 16 Federal States (Bundesland).

The German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD (German: Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) is the largest German support organization in the field of international academic co-operation.  It is one of the biggest state-funded, self-governing national agency of the institutions of higher education in Germany.  It has a special database for everything you need to know if you are interested in studying, doing research, or teaching in Germany.

Online Newspapers 

Die Zeit is a German national weekly newspaper covering a wide range of different topics and columns related to studying or “das Studium”. 

It is another German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg with its international version in English and covers all national and international news. 

 Radio

Deutsche Welle (DW) is the Germany’s international broadcaster representing Germany in the international media landscape. It broadcasts news and information (multimedia) on shortwave, Internet and satellite radio in 30 different languages. Furthermore, it provides the exclusive opportunity to learn the German language for free. “You can choose the learning style that suits you best: e-learning at the computer, with short videos, audio courses or podcasts, or with texts and worksheets you can print out.”

If you should encounter problems, do not feel well, or just need someone to talk but do not know whom to approach you could find support here

Nightline

If you are facing problems or you just need someone to talk to, you can call the Nightline Freiburg between 8 pm and midnight. It is always anonymous.

Psychological Counselling Studentenwerk

Should you ever feel overwhelmed by any problems do not hesitate to contact the psychological counselling offered by the Studentenwerk. Those can be held in English, French, Chinese and Slovenian. The first 4 sessions are cost-free, further sessions are charged with 8€. You can either come to the open consultation hour or fix a meeting.

Here you can find everything regarding transportation in Freiburg and Germany, activities in Freiburg, and other interesting tips

Transportation

By tram and train

Here you can find all information on public transportation by tram and bus in Freiburg. There are several service points in the city where you can buy your Semester Ticket as well. 

The RVF network covers the area of Freiburg and its surroundings.

Deutsche Bahn is one of the main service providers of public transportation in Germany. If you want to go somewhere by train, you should check out their website for more information. If possible, plan your trips well in advance as ticket prices are more expensive if you buy them last minute. 

If you plan to travel more frequently you could consider buying a BahnCard. This cards costs 41€ (for students until the age of 26) and is valid for one year. You get 25% off regular charges and special offers are available. Be sure to terminate your subscription, if not it is going to expand and cost you for another year.

If you really need to get a train ticket on the last minute, check out this page! They sometimes got special offers on train tickets for the coming week!

Car-pooling 

There are several alternatives to public transport. For example, you can look on the car-pooling websites if there is a spot offered or you can offer a ride yourself.

Long distance busses

Additionally, there are several bus companies offering long distance rides all over Germany. Prices are quite low; however prepare to spend many hours on the bus, if you wish to cover longer distances by it.

What to do in Freiburg

  • Events and Parties

If you want to find out about the latest events and parties you can check the event calendar on the webpage of the local newspaper Fudder.

If you enjoy watching movies in a relaxed atmosphere in a lecture room after the daily university business is over, come to the Aka Film Club. They show a broad variety of really new and some quite older films on different topics. Don´t miss the Rocky Horror Picture Show special;)

If you look for sport activities in Freiburg, have a look on the offers of the university sports department. It’s a good place to meet nice people and also an affordable alternative to other sport clubs and gyms.

Getting to know people and learn German (or any language) 

The International Club is a community of people from different nationalities and cultures. They meet regularly and organise events for internationals and all other students of Freiburg! You could even find a language tandem partner here.

Another quite interesting offer of the International Club is the Buddy program. If you wish to get some additional support during your first time in Freiburg, you can sign up for a buddy. S/he will show you around and help you orientate!

The Sprachlehrinstitut (Institute for Languages) offers lots of different language classes and tries to mediate tandem partners. There are also regular language meetings where everyone interested in learning a new language comes together.