Your guide
There are a number of things to consider when recruiting international researchers. These include export control, financing, applying for a visa and residence permit, administrative steps on site, the family situation, providing a job and much more. The Welcome Center will be happy to support you in these matters.
It is particularly important that you contact the Welcome Center in good time to ensure a smooth and speedy process and refer your international guest or future employee to us. International researchers can register for our services here
to register for our services. Depending on the research area, nationality, home university, etc., the export control process can take several months. Depending on the country, you should also allow at least 2-6 months to apply for a visa and it usually takes some time to find accommodation. If you would like accommodation in the university's guest apartments, early contact is particularly important due to the high demand/limited number of apartments.
Important points at a glance
- Export control by customs department
- Financing of the entire stay
- Visa application with invitation letter or hosting agreement
- Accommodation in private or university-owned apartment
- Workplace and access data for starting work
The export control must be carried out for all non-EU citizens. If you have lived in an EU country continuously for the last five years, it is usually sufficient to submit proof of this to the customs department at the University of Siegen. Further information on this topic as well as the relevant forms can be found here.
If the international researcher is not employed at the University of Siegen, it is extremely important to check whether the funding for the entire stay is covered. Even if the employment is to be financed by third-party funds, we ask you to make sure that an employment contract cannot expire shortly after the start of work. This would not only cause great uncertainty on the part of the researcher, but may also have consequences under residence law. It is also important to ensure that it is clarified at an early stage before the contract expires whether continued employment is possible or not, so that there is sufficient time to look for another job in case of doubt.
If the stay is self-financed or partially financed by positions as research assistants (WHK), please ensure that the person has approximately > €1,100 per month at their disposal (more if staying with family). A blocked account may also be required. In such cases, please contact us in any case so that we can get in touch with the Foreigners' Registration Office and check the exact amount and the requirements.
To apply for a visa, it is often necessary to submit a letter of invitation from the University of Siegen. The following points should be listed here:
" Name and date of birth of the guest
" Duration of stay
" Type of funding
" Activity at the university or in the working group
" Information that insurance cover must be taken out independently
→ with employment contract: if applicable Liability insurance
→ without employment contract: health insurance, laboratory insurance (where necessary), liability insurance (possibly also included in the laboratory insurance)
Please note that a letter of invitation should only be issued after approval by the customs department.
In many cases, a hosting agreement is also required. Please note that the Welcome Center will forward the completed Hosting Agreements, including export control clearance and proof of funding, to the Chancellor for signature.
For doctoral students: Doctoral students can apply for a place in the dormitories of the Studierendenwerk. However, they must be enrolled at the university
enrolled
and should inform themselves and apply as early as possible, as places are in high demand and fill up quickly. In addition, there is always the option of looking around for shared apartments or searching for an apartment on the private housing market. For more information, please take a look here.
For postdocs: The University of Siegen rents out a few furnished apartments in the Artur-Woll-Haus. Due to the high demand, you should contact the Welcome Center early if you would like to accommodate someone there. Please also note that the apartments are generally only rented to academics with a doctorate. The minimum rental period is one month, the maximum one year.
Please note that enrolment is not possible throughout the semester. As a rule, the enrolment windows open approx. two months before the start of the semester and enrolment is usually still possible at the start of the semester. You can find general information here.
Please note that enrolment is only possible if the export control has already been carried out. Doctoral students must also register with the Welcome Center in any case.
Last but not least, please note that the admission letter from the Doctoral Committee must be submitted to the International Student Secretariat for re-registration for the second semester.
