Planning and organization for international students

If you have successfully applied and received admission, you must register and upload your documents before arriving in unisono. Please follow the information on your admission letter. All information about enrollment can be found here.

After your registration you have to pay the semester fee; you will be asked to do so by e-mail. The semester fee should be paid by bank transfer if possible. If this is not possible, you can pay in cash or by credit card on campus by arrangement. You will receive all information on this when you enrol. Further information

Please note that it may take a few days or weeks before you are finally enrolled. So start as early as possible!

Prepare yourself as well as possible for your studies and your stay in Germany. There are many ways to do this online. For example, with the free course"How to study in Germany. An Introduction to German Academic Life."

The International Office's Forging Internatinoal Talents (FIT) program also offers a digital preparation course
course.

Apply for your visa as early as possible as soon as you have been admitted. Look out for information from the Federal Foreign Office on visa regulations, documents and the issuing of visas and contact your local German embassy or consulate. Further information

As soon as you have been admitted to your degree course or German course, you should look for accommodation, as many students are looking for accommodation at the start of the semester. You have various options: A hall of residence, shared flat, your own apartment, etc. Further information

Insurance is compulsory in Germany. This means that every registered person must have health insurance. In most cases, the insurance from your home country is not valid here (unless you come from an EU or EEA country) and you must take out insurance here. Further information

• If you want to enrol as a student and are under 30 years old, you must take out statutory health insurance. You are free to choose your insurance; the contributions for students are very similar for all statutory insurances.
• If you are initially enrolled on a language course or if you are already over 30 years old, you will need to take out private insurance. However, the premiums and benefits can vary greatly. Therefore, please inform yourself in advance.

Before you set off to study in Germany, you should make sure that you have sufficient funds to finance your studies. A part-time job can only cover part of your studies and living costs. Do not expect to receive a scholarship in every case. Further information

To get off to a good start in Siegen, you should remember to bring important documents and things you need for your start in Germany. Here is a list of things you should consider for your packing list.

Documents:

• Passport with visa (if required)
• Letter of admission from the university / certificate of study (if already available)
• Originals, translations and certified copies:
  • School leaving certificate
  • possibly university diploma
  • Possibly certificate of language tests
• Confirmation of health insurance, if it is recognized in Germany

You can travel to Siegen from Frankfurt am Main, Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn airports by train or long-distance bus. There are buses within University of Siegen that will also take you to the various campuses. More information below!

In the first few days, you will have to do a lot of things and register at various places. For certain procedures, you will need documents that you can obtain from other places beforehand. To avoid having to do a lot of things twice, it makes sense to follow a certain order. Experience has shown that the following sequence is best: Further information

As soon as you are enrolled, you will have access to the unisono campus management system, which you will need throughout your studies. Your matriculation number is your user name; you have already chosen your password during pre-enrollment.
You can also use unisono to activate your e-mail address and Wi-Fi. Please be sure to activate your e-mail address, as you will receive all important information via it.
You can also use unisono to change your address, print out a certificate of enrolment and a transcript of records. Further information

To use the W-LANS, please note this information.

After you have registered via unisono and uploaded your documents, you will be enrolled and will receive a request to transfer the semester fee. As soon as this has been done, you can use the Uni Siegen app
to display your digital student ID card. You can find more information here
and here.

Students of the University of Siegen receive a semester ticket / Deutschlandticket after enrollment. To do this, you must download the VWS app and activate it with a code. You will receive the code after successful enrollment via your student e-mail address. Further information

For all students, starting their studies brings with it many questions. International students face even greater challenges as they have to find their way in a new country with a new language and culture. That's why we offer Orientation Days for international students before you start your studies, where you can get all the important information about the university, the course and the city and also meet lots of other new students. We strongly advise you to take part in these preparation days and also to take advantage of the Welcome Weekoffers.
(ESE) offered by your Schools. Further information

Your studies usually start in the first or second week of April (summer semester) or October (winter semester). You can find the exact dates here. If possible, you should always be there in the first week of lectures (at the latest!) and take part in the desired/chosen seminars, otherwise you may lose your place. You should register for your courses via unisono
for your courses; after a few weeks you will also have to register for your performances/exams in unisono. You can get more information about this in the Welcome Week and from the respective advisors
and / or examination offices
in your Schools. Further information

Within two weeks of your arrival in Siegen, you must register at the citizens' office in your new place of residence. Further information

If your place of residence is in Siegen, you can have your semester ticket refunded once as soon as you have registered your place of residence here. Further information

If you are not from an EU/EEA country, you must open an account here. Find out which documents are required. Depending on the bank or savings bank, different documents may be required: Passport or ID, certificate of study, usually a registration certificate issued by the Citizens' Office. If you had to set up a blocked account for your visa, you must activate it here in order to be able to use it. Please check with the bank whether an appointment is necessary to open an account. Further information

Every person of legal age who is registered in Germany must register with the Beitragsservice for the broadcasting fees
and pay a monthly fee of 18.36 euros. It is rarely possible for foreign students to apply for an exemption. Further information

In Germany, it can be very expensive if you accidentally injure someone or break something. We therefore strongly advise you to take out liability insurance. It only costs around 5 euros per month. You can often take out liability insurance with a bank or other insurance company, for example.

Sometimes you also need to take out household contents insurance when you sign a rental agreement. This insurance protects you in the event of fire, burglary or water damage in your home, for example.

A few weeks before the end of the lecture period, you must register for all coursework and examinations so that you receive the points at the end. You do this via unisono. You will usually be informed by your lecturers or the Schools when the registration period begins. Please remember to register, otherwise you will not receive any credit points. Further information

You must request an appointment to apply for a residence permit at the immigration office responsible for you no later than three months before the visa on which you entered the country expires. Please note that the residence permit is linked to proper studies. Further information

For example, if you want to extend your residence permit, you must submit a transcript of records and a certificate of study. You can obtain both in your personal area on unisono
(My studies - Student services - Notifications / Certificates).

After the end of the lecture period, you will receive an email to your student email account asking you to pay the semester fee, which will be your re-registration for the coming semester. Please remember to state your matriculation number when making the transfer. Further information

Please note that a change of subject for foreign students can have considerable consequences for your residence permit. You should only change if you are absolutely sure.

You are also welcome to seek advice from ISA
for advice.

You have decided to study in Siegen and assured us upon your arrival that you are able to finance your studies independently. Therefore, please plan your finances very carefully from the outset so that you are not left without money at some point. If you are studying and enrolled, you are allowed to take on a student job, but your salary will probably not be enough to finance your entire life in Germany. You are also welcome to apply for scholarships, but experience has shown that the chances of receiving a scholarship are not overly high. Further information

Regardless of whether you are studying a German-language or an English-language course, you should practise your German regularly. This will help you feel more confident, give you an insight into German culture and make you feel more comfortable, as language is the key to integration. Be sure to take a German course at the language center.

Tips for learning German

Although your studies should definitely be the main focus during your stay, it is important that you rest in between, do activities and get to know people and the region. This will improve your knowledge of the language and the country and therefore your well-being. The university
and the region
offer you many opportunities for this. The FIT project
there are many opportunities to find a good balance to your studies.

Can you imagine staying in Germany after your studies? The region around Siegen (South Westphalia) offers you many opportunities for a job after your studies. The FIT in Siegen program gives you many opportunities to expand your skills and network. We support you from the start of your studies to graduation in the areas of Welcome & Orientation, Well Being & Social Integration, Soft Skills & Employability and Career & Networking. Further information

As soon as the last achievement of your studies has been recorded, your examination office will issue you with a transcript of records and a certificate for the successful completion of your studies. The transcript of records contains all the coursework that you have registered for and successfully completed. The last day of your studies is the day on which you completed the last achievement.

At the end of your studies, you should exmatriculate (i.e. deregister from the university). To do this, complete the application for de-registration in unisono(instructions). As soon as you have exmatriculated, you will receive an e-mail informing you that you can now download the certificate from unisono. You will need the confirmation of de-registration, for example, if you want to study at another university or have pension entitlements in Germany.
If you do not actively de-register, you will be automatically de-registered at the end of the semester.

ATTENTION: Students with German citizenship or Bildungsinländer* should de-register at the Registrar's Office.

As soon as you have completed your studies at the University of Siegen, you are an alumnus of the university. This allows you to become part of the Alumni Association network. This gives you the opportunity to stay in contact with other alumni and students of the University of Siegen and to take advantage of many offers. The Alumni Association would be delighted if you became a member and told students about your experiences and your career. Further information

Once you have successfully completed your studies, you are qualified to take on a job in Germany. The region and the country offer a range of support services to help you find a job. During your studies, you will certainly have taken part in our "Forging International Talents - FIT in Siegen"program
program. This will enable you to build up important skills for your career entry and create an optimal network to start your professional life after your studies.

Before you move out, you must terminate your tenancy agreement. As a rule, you must submit a written notice of termination to your landlord or landlady three months before you move out. Check the tenancy agreement for the specified deadlines.
A record must be kept of the handover. If there is nothing to complain about, the landlord has 6 months to transfer the deposit back to you. Further information

Inform your health insurance company in good time about the end of your studies in Siegen and clarify as early as possible which documents are required to terminate your health insurance (e.g. confirmation of deregistration). If you are going to stay in Germany, clarify which insurance is suitable for you.

If you are leaving Germany, remember to cancel any other contracts you have taken out (gas, electricity, internet, cell phone...) and check the notice periods here too.

Before you close your bank account, check your bank statements to identify any relevant debits or payments. Make sure you've paid all bills and contact your bank if you need help or support.

You must deregister your residence one week before to two weeks after your departure. You can do this on site at the Citizens' Registration Office (by appointment), alternatively you can send the form by post or email - or deregister directly digitally.

You can find the form for deregistration at the registration office here.
You can find the addresses of the citizens' offices of the city of Siegen (Siegen, Siegen-Weidenau, Siegen-Geisweid, Siegen-Eiserfeld) on the website of the city of Siegen.
Important: Please send a copy of your passport.

If you are only moving within Germany, you do not need to deregister in Siegen. As soon as you register in a new city, the deregistration from Siegen will be generated automatically.