Arrival
The University of Bremen is a campus university on the outskirts of the city of Bremen, near the city forest and the university lake.
You can find a detailed description of how to get here and a campus map here.
After you have moved into your new home in Germany, you must register with the city. This registration takes place at the BürgerServiceCenter in Bremen. As it can take some time to get an appointment, it is best to book an appointment via the online portal at the BürgerServiceCenter-Mitte as soon as you arrive.
Tip: Check the website early in the morning or late in the evening to book an appointment that has been cancelled at short notice.
After entering Germany, you will need a residence permit for a longer stay (more than 90 days) and therefore for your studies. A residence permit in accordance with § 16b AufenthG applies for studying. This residence permit also covers preparatory study programmes, such as language courses or attending a preparatory college.
Students at the University of Bremen can apply for this residence permit at bremen_service universität (bsu). Further information on the application process can be found on the bsu website.
Important: Due to the long waiting times at the bsu, we advise you to apply in good time (6-8 weeks before your visa/previous residence permit expires). Please also make sure to submit all required documents completely and in one pdf-file and avoid asking about the current status.
Opening a German bank account is highly recommended, especially if your stay will last several months. You can find more information and examples of current accounts in Germany here. At the University of Bremen, there is a branch of the Sparkasse directly on campus, opposite the university dining hall (Mensa). There are also many other banks to choose from in the city centre, such as Santander am Schüsselkorb. There are also online banks such as N26 and ING.
To open a bank account, you usually need to present a confirmation of registration. As it can currently take a little longer to get an appointment for city registration, a tenancy agreement or confirmation of residence is sometimes sufficient. Contact the relevant credit institution directly for more information on opening an account.
As an international student, you may work up to 140 full or 280 half working days per year or up to 20 hours per week during your studies. Student part-time jobs can be pursued for an unlimited period of time. International students from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have free access to the German job market and are treated equally to German students. The 140-day rule does not apply to them.
You can find detailed information from the Studierendenwerk here.
The ‘Study Buddy’ programme enables international students to establish contact with German students by assigning them a local student as a ‘buddy’. The ‘buddies’ help you settle into life in Bremen and provide you, as an international student, with advice and support. The programme is a great opportunity to make friends, get to know other cultures, improve your language skills and have fun. The Study Buddy Programme starts in the first weeks of the semester.
Further information can be found under Study Buddy.