Enrolment and additional important preparations

The enrolment process for bachelor’s or state examination students is online and can be completed from abroad. In addition to paying the semester fee, enrolment requires the upload of certificates and supporting documentation to the University of Göttingen upload portal.

More detailed information on the enrolment process for the bachelor’s / state examination programme can be found in your admission letter.

The enrolment process for master’s students is online and can be completed from abroad. In addition to paying the semester fee, enrolment requires the upload of certificates and supporting documentation to the University of Göttingen upload portal. More detailed information on the enrolment process for the master’s programme can be found in your admission letter from the faculty.

• Master's enrolment

The enrolment process for doctoral students is online and can be completed from abroad. In addition to paying the semester fee, enrolment requires the upload of certificates and supporting documentation to the University of Göttingen upload portal. More detailed information on the enrolment process for the doctoral programme can be found in your admission letter from the faculty.

• Doctoral enrolment

In Germany, health insurance is mandatory for all students. It is not possible to enrol at a university without presenting valid proof of health insurance. Therefore, it is important to research your health insurance options in Germany early in your planning process.

• Health insurance
• Medical care and emergencies

Where applicable, you will need to fulfil language requirements prior to enrolment. Detailed information on this can be found in your admission letter. If you have been admitted to the University of Göttingen, you can take the DSH examination at the Lectorate of German as a Foreign Language at the University of Göttingen.

More information on this can be found here.

Please find out before you begin your travel to Germany whether you need a visa and if so, which one. If you need a visa, the exact type will depend upon your country of citizenship, the length of your stay in Germany and specifics about your studies. Please plan enough time for your visa application, as it can take several weeks or even months to process an application. Do not enter Germany with a tourist visa (“Schengen visa”, N-Visa)! These cannot be extended or converted into a residence permit.

• Visa and residence permit: International students
• Visa and residence permit: International doctoral students

Financial stability is an essential part of your stay. When you apply for a visa (and later your residence permit), you must prove that you have enough funds to pay for your stay in Germany and your studies, at least for the first 12 months of your stay. Typically, this means that you deposit a sum of €11,208/year into a blocked account (Sperrkonto). Although this account belongs to you, you will only be able to access it once a month to withdraw a fixed amount and the account cannot be used for any other purpose. As a baseline for cost of living in Göttingen, you should budget at least 750 to 850 euros a month.

Usually, there is no tuition charged to international students to study in Germany; there is only a standard semester fee. However, as a result, there are fewer scholarships available in Germany, and none that are offered by the universities directly. Moreover, students can typically only apply for these scholarships after they have already begun their studies. Nevertheless, it can be worthwhile to find out about possible scholarships as soon as possible.

• Cost of living
• Semester fees
• Scholarships and Funding for International Students

Funding a doctoral study

Göttingen offers a wide range of housing options. However, it is advisable to start looking for a place to stay as early as possible. The flood of new students at the beginning of each semester means that affordable and/or attractively situated accommodation is particularly difficult to find in April and October.

• Accommodation Service

There are many offers to help you with the start of your studies. The Introductory Week provides you with an overview of the platforms you need to organise your studies, familiarise you with the University and the city of Göttingen. The Incoming Office will show you around the campus and your faculty and even introduce you to some leisure activities. Registration is required for some offers. This can be done online.

• Introductory week for international students

Students who would like to be met at the train station when they arrive in Göttingen and accompanied by a fellow student to their flat in Göttingen can register for our Buddy Service.

• Buddy (Pick-up) Service for international students

Students who would like support and assistance during the orientation phase at the University of Göttingen can register for the “Study Buddy Programme”.

• Register for the Study Buddy programme