Germany: Prospective Visitors

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This page should contain information for people who would be coming to Germany. This page needs more content/links.

Contents

German Language

See complete article on German language

Job searching in Germany / Europe

Following is a list of web sites using which Job searching in Germany (in particular) or in the entire Europe (in general) can be made possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following FAQ was compiled for a prospective student to Saarland University, in Saarbruecken and may not be indicative of the general trend in Germany. (if someone could spare some time, differentiate between general info and saarbruecken specific info)

How much money per month is required for living and education there?

To ensure you do not die, you need 300 Euros per month, which includes all bills, charges, university semester registration etc.

For a conservative, yet comfortable lifestyle, one should be able to manage reasonably with around 400 euros a month. For such a case it is assumed that you will look for (and get) a cheap apartment, will own a mobile phone but will not spend excessively on chatting with friends, will not have internet at home (but use the university facilities on-campus), will eat out only occasionally (restricting yourself to cheap doeners mostly, see below under food) and will cook at home frequently. Monthly estimates from a Saarbruecker's experience, as of Feb 2006, are given below:

Apartment rent: €175 to 225 (including utility charges)
Semester fee (monthly avg.): € 25 (as of Feb 2006, expected to change from Winter 2007, see below)
Health insurance: €57 (mandatory)
Mobile phone bill: €10 (including line rent and monthly charges)
Living expenses: €100

Of the above categories, amounts other than the apartment rent and living expenses are nearly impossible to reduce. It is possible to find even cheaper apartments, but don't count on it, at least for the first few months when you haven't extensively looked around. Living expenses have the greatest flexibility, but further reduction comes at the cost of austerity.

As of Winter 2005/6, the semester fee is slightly under €130 per semester (six months), the figure above is the conservative monthly estimate. This is expected to rise to €500 per semester soon, in which case add another €60 per month (roughly) to your expenses.

To reduce the cost of living, insist on getting a placed reserved in the University's Studenten Wohnheims (Student hostels), before you come here. They are very cheap (about 115€ per month) and very small (approx. 9 sq. meter). It is very unlikely though that you will get a place there as there is a very long waiting list and the ladies responsible for allotting rooms do not follow any rules.

Can I completely afford my living and studies there by doing some job?

Living yes. But with the semester fee of 500 Euros that will be required from Winter Semester 2007, things might change. But not drastically.

What kind of jobs can students take up while studying?

A student visa in Germany allows the holder to work for 90 days full-time or 180 days part-time (upto 4 hours). This is printed on the visa itself. According to the new law effective January 2005, there is no time limit for on-campus jobs. Also, frequently employers will also have their own financial or administrative constraints preventing them from hiring you at more than 16 hours per week.

Such part-time jobs mainly fall into two categories: HiWi, which is the Pakistani equivalent of a TA or student programmer, or odd jobs such as working at a restaurant or a factory. Be sure to check your visa to see the legality of off-campus or non-academic jobs.

HiWis

Hiwis are easy to come by, especially if you are fluent in Java, C++ or Flash. Most hiwi openings are looking for student programmers to work on small parts of university projects. To have a better idea, check the webpage for hiwi-openings (run through a translator). Most hiwis, however, are found through noticeboards, posters and word of mouth, and not through the website which is often incomplete and obsolete.

Pros: You get to work at the university, making it convenient to split your time between official work and your university coursework while being provided with a place to sit, often with a designated PC, with internet connectivity. A hiwi contract usually spans between 6 and 20 hours per week, but the timings are flexible and you don't have to be "seen working". For a student, often work that begins as a hiwi leads to added learning about the particular group's activities (e.g. you might be working at the Computer Graphics chair), and may lead to his/her pursuing a Bachelor or a Master thesis with the group. Working closely with professors also gives you one more person you can ask for a recommendation letter. Additionally, many people consider it more "respectable" as compared to working in restaurants; the amount earned can often be comparable in both cases.

Cons: Some people feel more comfortable with restaurant jobs since they don't carry their work home with them. On the other hand, this is mostly the result of misuse of time that the hiwi-doer should have spent working.

Non-university jobs

Working in restaurants or other places is completely different. Someone who has experienced it should add his/her opinion here:

Before Pros and Cons, I would say that working in a restaurant is illegal. I am quite sure that the student visa/residence permit hints towards this.I don't know if one is allowed to work in Mensa (kind of University Cafe/Mess/Restaurant). If somebody knows for sure about these things, then please rectify it.

The above information was not acquired from any authentic resource and was just a personal intuition.

It has been confirmed that off-campus jobs ( like working in Restaurants/Bars, Baby sitting, Gardening, Tutoring etc....) are all legal as long as your working hours remain around 700-800 hours/anum (90 full-days or 180 half-days).

For reference Please check the Following links: http://www.daad.de/deutschland/studium/studienplanung/00491.en.html http://www.daad.de/deutschland/deutschland/leben-in-deutschland/04658.en.html#headline_0_15


Pros: Does not require programming skills. In case of a restaurant, you may even get a portion of free food.

Cons: Work experience has little academic or resume-value. Have to follow the employer's timings, often on the weekends.

Can a student start a job starting from the first month of studies?

It is possible, the only parameters involved are: how quickly you are able to find an offer that matches your skills, and how soon you upgrade from your provisional visa to a regular visa. It is advisable to first be in Saarbruecken before applying or sending out emails, since the prospective employers often ask you to simply come and talk to them (sometimes quiz you on your programming skills). The best way to seek such opportunities is to ask the students who are already there.

As of 2005, fresh students are given only a provisional visa (with a maximum 3 month stay) that needs to be extended/upgraded to a full fledge student visa before you can take up any kind of official work. Such an upgradation is dependent on a few things, such as opening a bank account in Germany and depositing those 7000 euros, acquiring the signed contract for your apartment, officially enrolling in the semester at the university, getting the residence permit etc. All these things can take time, largely depending on how quick you are (not sure if the residence permit comes first or the visa extension).

How many hours/week on job are required to arrange money for living and education?

8-10 hours per week is very manageable is often sufficient to cater to the bulk of your expenses (without 'ayashee'), the leftover expenses depend on your spending habits. It is also advisable to first get a feel of the university workload during the first few months before plunging into heavy duty part-time jobs. The course-failure rate at Saarland University (especially among Pakistanis) is alarmingly high; the more semesters you spend making up for failed courses, the more months you will be paying for living expenses as well!

What is the pay scale (Euro per hour) of the jobs that student do to afford their living and studies?

For jobs in the university, it ranges from 8 to 10 Euros per hour. Off-campus jobs pay more.

'What are legal and illegal issues related to jobs that students do, do legal issues seriously matter there?

For off-campus jobs, you need a statement from your advisor/professor/whatever that your work is related to your studies. So selling flowers and all such off-campus jobs are illegal. There is however, a provision that allows us to work during the summer holidays without any permission.

Is there any semester fee in Saarland?

As of Winter 2005, the semester fee is slightly under EUR 130 (for six month). However, starting from Winter Semester 2007, students will be required to pay 500 Euros per semester. (is this confirmed? add url or source of information here)

Please tell me about university ranking & degree worth in the germany and outside world.

See German University Rankings

What is the "flavour" of studying at Saarland University?

Be prepared for a not so nice time when it comes to the administration of the university. Official information is hard to come by. Sometimes even the professors don't know what the rules are. Keep in mind that only YOU are responsible for everything related to yourself. That includes finding cheap accomodation, studying, food, even collecting certificates indicating that you took such and such courses.

Studying is hard work here. You don't see much competition so it easy to become relaxed and that is dangerous. The Europeans are generally good at mathematics. So that is something we Pakistanis have to put extra effort in. But it pays off in the end.

I still have to go through the visa process. What sort of questions will be asked during the interview at the German embassy?

The German embassy basically wants to check whether the person applying for a visa is a "genuine" person or not (if you know what I mean). So if your documents are in order, you have carefully followed the instructions on the visa applications, have taken a German language course and basically sound like you are genuinely interested in getting an "educational" degree, things will be okay.

Depending on the nature of your studies, your interview may be conducted in German or in English. If you have applied to an English program that does not require knowledge of German, state that up-front, and ensure that you have proper documents to support your claim: the language requirement is usually stated on the admission letter, and a TOEFL/IELTS score may be needed to show that you are good in English. If you have not, or can not, take such a test, show them the document on the basis of which the University accepted your language proficiency (such as an attested letter from your previous university certifying that your old programme was in English and you had no problems). If you have already enrolled in a German language course before the interview takes place, a proof of that might also help, even though the visa officers didn't seem very interested in that in 2003.

The interview itself is not very gruelling (even though you may have to wait several hours before it's your turn), straightforward, honest and well-thought replies is usually all that is required. Typical questions asked during the interview may include some, all, or none of the following (it depends on many factors unknown to us):

  • Why do you want to go to Germany instead of continuing in Pakistan?
  • How did you find out about this particular University, and why did you apply there?
  • What will you do after completing your education in Germany?

Be sure to prepare answers to these and similar questions before-hand. Also be ready to explain any obvious problems with your transcript, such as why did you get a C grade in your English literature class. You may be asked the same questions, at first only informally while you hand over your documents for verification, and later during the formal interview itself. It is believed that the primary motivation is to check the genuineness and the confidence-level of the candidate; if (s)he can't go through an interview properly, how likely is (s)he to cope with the problems of a foreign land, especially one whose language (s)he doesn't know.

What are job opportunities in Germany after Masters from Saarland?

According to my limited exposure to this arena, there are job oppurtunities, provided you develop good German language skills. There are many jobs which don't even stipulate the condition of having good german language skills but in practice, it turns out that it matters a lot.

Are there special offers from Government of Germany to support international students after completing there studies, like VISA extension to find job, work permits etc. etc.?

Yes you can extend your visa for one year after graduation to search for a job. BUT you cannot work during that time. Regarding work permits, people have gradually started taking up jobs here, so we are also new to these issues. Hopefully, some information will be added as we know more. Currently, atleast two graduates have a work permit.

Are Ph.D’s funded there. How much funding per month and how?

Yes they can get around 1000 Euros (I think) per month. (phd students, please write from your experience here)

Do you know if admission can be deferred to winter semester?

The application requirements state: "All certificates must be accompanied by an explanation of the grading system...". What they are asking for?

Transcripts issued by most Pakistani universities contain an explanation of the grading system on the back-side, for example in a GPA system, 4.0 corresponds to the letter grade 'A', 3.7 to 'A-' and so on. According to the German system, a 4.0 means 'D', so the explanation is very important.

Whenever in doubt, it's always best to confirm through official channels with the student coordinator. (for the Computer Science department at Saarland University: Susanne Schneider s.schneider AT cs.uni-sb.de, click to email).

What does "officially authenticated" mean? Does a simple attestation from my university suffice?

Full version of the question: What does "officially authenticated" mean? Does a simple attestation from my university suffice or do I have to go to Board of Intermediate & Secondry Education (BISE) to attest my Matric & F.Sc. documents and go to my university to attest my degree?

If your degree is from a 'recognised' university, then an attested copy of the degree from the university should work. If your degree awarding institute is not even recognised by the HEC, then you might need to contact the BISE as well as your institute.

Confirm all sensitive official matters with the university.

that was expected from o2. Getting a prepaid connection is also a good option. And u can find a mobile with prepaid SIM as well. Just look around in o2 shop, Media markt; Saturn, etc and try to find the best package. e.g. with some connections they give 10 sms free or month etc. This SIM + a simple mobile should cost about 50 euros.

Which insurance should i take during my study

When you go to the university, you are given the option to take government insurance or a private insurance. Once you reject govt insurance, you can not take it again. There are advantages and disadvantages in both. I think govt insurance is cheap for students under some age limit. After that age limit, it gets awfully expensive. Two companies provide govt insurance: TKK and AOK with little difference. Their benefit is that they cover wife free of cost, but upto your age limit. Their disadvantage is that you have to pay 10 euros to the doctor per quarter if you visit him. Here comes the benefit of private insurance where you don't have to pay anything to the doctor. But you have to pay extra for your wife. So once you go to uni, ask from TKK or AOK and then decide about it.

Which mobile connection should i take

O2 is the best option for us for both mobile and connection. If you do a contract for 2 years, you can get a mobile for 10 euros per month. Ask them to register you as a student. Than you will have 5 euros worth of free balance in your mobile every month. So choose contract type: O2 Genion S mit Handy, Student vertrag. With the contract type M, you pay 10 euros extra per month, but you can call all o2 and landline users in Germany free of cost from near your home. With contract type L, you pay 35 euros per month and you can call all users of o2 and landline users free from anywhere you want in Germany.

When you initially arrive here with only 3 months visa, o2 may not give you a prepaid connection. They usually require a 6 months visa to make that contract. In this case, eetting a prepaid connection from o2 is also a good option. And you can find a mobile with prepaid SIM as well. Just look around in o2 shop, Media markt, Saturn, etc and try to find the best package. E.g. with some connections they give 10 sms free per month etc. This SIM + a simple mobile should cost about 50 euros.

In which bank should i get an account

Normally we get an account in Sparkase or Deutsche Bank. Sparkase has many branches in every city but i think you cannot get cash from ATMs (Geld Automat) without service charges in other city. With other banks, you can get free cash in all of Germany. However, there is a special advantage for us in Citibank. i.e. we can get money from ATMs in Pakistan free of charge. One disadvantage with Citibank is that it has lesser branches. So maybe, Citibank is the best choice for us.

Anything else I should know?

  • Try learning as much German as you can. It is not required for the International (English) programmes but it helps alot when you go outside to buy food or whatever. See the page on German language for more information.
  • Bring your favourite/most important books along. Buying books can be very expensive here.
  • If you have a lot of luggage (usual for first-time arrivers), have some of it shipped as "unaccompanied luggage". If you have already made the booking, check with your airlines or travel agent for details. Also remember, you'll be carrying all your luggage from train to train yourself, including the unaccompanied luggage that you sent separately. Try getting in touch with some of the existing students (see list of students) for advice on which items to bring along and which ones to buy from here after your arrival.
  • If you are joining the CS program, you may or may not need a computer at home. Many CS students here have laptops (bought from ebay), but bringing along desktop components (processor chip, ram etc.) from Pakistan and buying a casing, monitor and keyboard from here may significantly reduce the cost.
  • If you plan to communicate with your family using voice chat later, and your folks happen to be computer illiterate, set up the computer, software, mic, instructions internet connection etc. before your departure. Voice chat on the internet is free, calling from phone costs money.
  • Bring along a pouch of medicines (for common problems like headache, indigestion etc.). Also include any cooking masalas or typical Pakistani things that you will not find here.
  • Hair-cuts are expensive compared to Pakistan (around €10), get one freshly done before leaving.

See also

German Universities (with and without English programmes) and German University Rankings

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