Preparation from abroad

You must be able to ensure that you can cover the costs of your stay in Bremen. For regular student life in Germany, an average of 842€ per month is required. This amount includes all costs for rent, food, insurance, leisure and study. Even if the University of Bremen does not charge tuition fees, you still have to pay a semester fee per semester. On the DAAD website you will find a detailed breakdown of the costs of education and living.

If you need financial support for your stay, you can search the DAAD scholarship database for suitable support from around 50 funding opportunities from a wide range of organisations.

Citizens of the European Union (EU) do not need a visa to enter Germany. Entry visas are also not required for citizens of certain other countries. Whether or not you need an entry visa can be found here. If you need a visa to enter Germany for study purposes, you will find a helpful graphic overview of the visa & entry process for immigrants from third countries with a visa requirement here. Please note: A tourist visa cannot be used for a study abroad.

Applying for a visa

1. Checking the requirements for a visa​​​​​

• ​​​As part of the visa process, you must prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses. For the purpose of studying, this proof of financing should be provided in the form of a blocked account. You can withdraw 1/12 of the amount per month from this account. The amount that must be deposited in the blocked account is currently €11,904 per year. You can find out how to open a blocked account in Germany here. The required cost overview for submission to credit institutions can be found here.​​​​​​ Alternatively, a person living in Germany can submit a “declaration of commitment” to the responsible migration authority. Another option is a scholarship.
• You have admission to a state-recognized university/preparatory college in Germany. If you do not yet have admission, you need a visa for the purpose of applying to university.
• Your passport must be valid for at least three months after the date when you expect to leave Germany. If you do not know when you will leave the country, your passport must be valid for at least three months longer than the visa applied for at the ambassador's office.

2. Apply for a visa in your country of residence

• A visa for the purpose of studying is issued by the responsible German mission in your country of residence. Please plan enough time for the visa application process, as the visa can take several months to issue. Some German authorities now offer the option of submitting applications online. You can check here whether this is possible in your country.

Information on the further procedure after arrival and the residence permit can be found here.

Anyone wishing to study in Germany is obliged to have health insurance. Without health insurance, it is not possible to enrol or apply for a resident permit. Further information on health insurance can be found here.

Brief overview: In Germany there is statutory health insurance (GKV) and private health insurance. EU citizens can usually use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Non-EU citizens should take out German health insurance, as foreign private travel insurance is often not recognized. Further information about that can be found on the webpage of the Studierendenwerk or the webpage of the DAAD.

Statutory health insurance (GKV)

Statutory health insurance is subject to a standard contribution rate. In addition, there is the additional contribution to the health insurance funds. You can find out how much statutory health insurance for international students generally costs on this page.
The services provided by statutory health insurance are largely fixed. There are differences in customer service, additional services and optional tariffs. You are free to choose any statutory health insurance. We have listed some providers with a branch on the university campus here. The services and prices are almost identical:

• AOK Die Gesundheitskasse
• HKK
• Techniker Krankenkasse

If you are not required to take out statutory health insurance, for example because you have European or private insurance, you must still contact a health insurance company. They will check your insurance and inform the university. This check is important and necessary for enrollment.

Private health insurance

In contrast to statutory health insurance, the contributions to private health insurance are not dependent on income, but are based on various criteria that reflect the risk profile, such as age, occupation, state of health and the insurance cover you require. The more comprehensive the desired services, the higher the contribution. Private patients are issued with personal invoices: you have to pay these yourself and will be reimbursed by the insurance company later.

There are some exceptions where you must take out private insurance:

• for the Preparatory Studies Program
• if you are a student 30 years or older
• for the period from arrival in Germany until regular studies begin

Selection of some private health insurance provider can be found here. 

Procedure for finding accommodation

Have you been accepted for a study place at the University of Bremen? Great! However, an acceptance does not mean that you already have a room or an apartment. In order to have a smooth start in Bremen, it is therefore essential to look for accommodation while you are still abroad. Since the demand for living space in Bremen is particularly high, we strongly recommend that you look for accommodation in good time and with a lot of patience. To help you with your search, we have put together a step-by-step guide for you to follow.
 

1. Take a look at the page Living in Bremen from the students office. You will find an overview of student residence in Bremen and links for searching for private rooms.
    
2. Fill out the online application for housing from the Studierendenwerk (student services in Germany). Since the furnished rooms of the Studierendenwerke are very popular due to their location and price/performance ratio, and unfortunately there are not enough rooms for all students, these are quickly occupied. You can find the link to the application here.
   Please note: The application is not a binding commitment for housing. You may end up on the waiting list for the time being.
    
3. Be sure to look for accommodation on the private housing market at the same time and do not rely on your application to the Studierendenwerk. The accomodation finder from Study in Germany is sure to be of help to you. 
    
4. In addition to that, there are also guest houses, apartments, hotels, hostels and Airbnbs in Bremen. An overview of further options can be found here.
    
5. Please note: Unfortunately, the International Office cannot help you find private rooms. It is best to only arrive in Bremen once you have found a place to live.

Make it in Germany and the DAAD offer you also useful information about living space in Germany.

If you are still unsure about which district of Bremen you would like to live in, you can find an overview of all districts here.
 

Beware of Rental Scams

If you are offered housing on the private market and are asked to transfer larger sums in advance, it could be a rental scam. Scammers especially target international students who are not yet in Germany. If you are an international students and have any doubts about an offer, you can contact the International Office.

Tips for avoiding rent scams:

• If it looks too good to be true, it is often not a real offer, but a scam!
   
• Scammers usually offer furnished and renovated apartments in a preferred residential location at a seemingly low rent and excellent condition with enticing pictures.
   
• Any attempt to visit the apartment will be refused. The scammers will not let you view the apartment via video call or in person. A typical excuse is that they are very busy abroad for professional reasons.
   
• Securing the apartment before the viewing: The scammers ask for a deposit or rent payment, as a reservation option due to high demand. The scammers may promise a refund if you do not like the apartment.
   
• Do not trust any copy of a passport that is sent to you, and do not send yours. The scammers usually use a stolen identity and ask you to send a copy of your passport. However, they refuse any phone or video call and communicate only via email or WhatsApp instead.
   
• If landlords can't prove they are the owners, they probably aren't. A draft lease does not prove the legitimacy of an offer or ownership. Fraudsters usually provide a foreign bank account that supposedly belongs to a family member.