BEFORE YOU START YOUR PhD
If you are coming from abroad, there are a number of administrative hurdles to overcome if you decide to pursue a PhD in Germany. Rest assured that we and your colleagues will be happy to support you during your stay in Magdeburg. The following information will help you get started.
More detailed and up-to-date information can be found on the university’s official website.
In this case, your employer will issue you with an employment contract. However, this is only possible if you apply for a work visa at the German Embassy in your home country. To do so, you will need all your academic certificates, proof of health insurance, and either the employment contract or a binding offer letter from your future employer. We advise you to submit your application to the German Embassy in your country as soon as possible, as the application process can take between three weeks and three months.
However, the visa issued by the German Embassy is only valid for a specific period, usually three months. It must therefore be converted into a residence permit for the duration of your employment in Magdeburg.
In this case, you would need to apply for a student visa (for the purpose of a PhD) at the German Embassy in your home country. Your visa application must be accompanied by your letter of admission from the University of Magdeburg and proof of sufficient financial means to cover at least one academic year in Germany. We advise you to submit this application to the German Embassy in your home country as soon as possible, as processing can take between three weeks and three months.
However, even in this case, a visa issued by the German Embassy is only valid for a specific period, usually three months. Therefore, upon your arrival in Magdeburg, it must be converted into a residence permit for the duration of your doctoral studies.
Yes, if you are a national of an EU country or an EEA country (including Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland), you can enter Germany without a visa. However, after entering the country, you must obtain a certificate confirming your right of residence from the Residents’ Registration Office. Visa-free entry is also possible for nationals of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand and the USA. In this case, you must apply for a residence permit for study purposes at the immigration authorities after entering the country.
For further details, please visit the official website of the Foreign Office.
The answer is quite simple: yes. All students at a German university or college are legally required to take out health and long-term care insurance. This applies regardless of their source of funding. German health insurance is also required to obtain a residence permit. If the German embassy in your home country requires health insurance for Germany, we recommend taking out travel insurance, for example for the first one to three months of your stay. This has the advantage that you can then take out German health insurance in Germany at your leisure and do not have to pay twice.
Well, if you are a national of an EU Member State or of other countries with which Germany has relevant social security agreements. In such cases, you do not need additional health insurance in Germany. Valid proof of existing insurance must be presented to the university upon enrolment. If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you can even go straight to the doctor. Doctors’ surgeries should be familiar with the procedure. However, if you are unsure, please contact your health insurance provider before entering Germany to check for any special provisions.
Yes, if you intend to stay for longer than three months. As a PhD programme usually lasts three years or more, you must register with the city’s residents’ registration office within two weeks of your arrival.
Well, there are two different registration procedures, depending on whether you are an EU citizen or a non-EU citizen.
For EU citizens: In this case, please bring the following documents with you when you register:
- Passport or identity card
- Biometric photograph
- Confirmation from your accommodation provider
You may be asked to provide additional documents
- Certificate of enrolment or letter of admission
- European Health Insurance Card and
- Proof of sufficient means of support
With these, you can apply for the so-called EU Certificate of Free Movement, which usually arrives by post within a few days.
For non-EU citizens: If you come from a country outside the European Union, you will need the following documents:
- Passport or identity card
- Confirmation from your landlord
With these, you can obtain a registration certificate for your stay in Magdeburg from the Residents’ Registration Office.
The city of Magdeburg has a so-called Citizens’ Office. The central Citizens’ Office (Bürgerbüro Mitte) is located at Leiterstraße 2a, 39104 Magdeburg and is easily accessible by tram. However, there are also other Citizens’ Offices in Magdeburg. You can find these online here. Please check which one is nearest to you.
! Please note that appointments must be booked online via the online booking system. On this page, you can also book appointments with the Foreigners’ Registration Office!
If you have moved into a new flat – which is quite likely during your PhD studies – you will need to notify the Citizens’ Advice Bureau of your new address (change of address notification) and provide confirmation from your landlord.
In that case, we’d first like to congratulate you on graduating! Before you leave Magdeburg and Germany, however, you should also deregister (at least one week before your departure).
Every international student moving to Germany must register with the city’s Residents’ Registration Office as described above. You will then receive a written confirmation of registration. Please keep this document safe, as you will need it to obtain a residence permit from the Foreigners’ Registration Office. So there is a second step in the registration process – but not for everyone!
Well, if you are German or come from an EU or EEA country (including Switzerland), it’s simple. Once you’ve registered with the Residents’ Registration Office, you’re all set. If you are not a German citizen, you will receive confirmation of your right of residence when you register your address.
If you come from another country, you must apply for a residence permit.
The city of Magdeburg has a so-called Foreigners’ Registration Office. You can find all the relevant information here. Many applications can be submitted online via their website, for example, an application for a residence permit for employment as a skilled worker with a university degree. You can find the required documents, deadlines and fees, as well as information on the application process, on their website!
If you do not want long-term accommodation or are dissatisfied with your current accommodation, you could find a place to stay in the youth hostel, which is very close to the main train station.
However, since it is a hostel, we recommend that you check the guest floor of the university. This facility is located on the main campus in Building 18 at Universitätsplatz. The reception is in the same building in room 339. The host Mrs. Carolin Behrnd can help with questions. Of course, you can also find holiday apartments throughout the city.
If you want accommodation with a student vibe, the dormitories of the Studentenwerk may be perfect. In this case, we recommend that you apply as early as possible. You can submit the application form for accommodation in the dormitory directly to the Studentenwerk via an online form here.
A second option on campus are the nicely renovated buildings Campus House (Ernst-Lehmann-Str. 2) and Campus Tower (Universitätsplatz 1), which can be rented from a private company. A proof of enrollment is required for renting, which must be presented when signing the rental contract and can, for example, be a student ID, a certificate of enrollment, or an invitation from an institute. In addition, a valid identity card is required. The apartments and rooms range from 16 to 41 m² in size, and the rent varies between 250 and 420 euros per month. The price includes all additional costs, including electricity, heating, water, and cable TV. Only internet fees are not included in the rent. Further information about the apartments can be found on the homepage.
Last but not least, there are many private accommodations in the city. If you are looking for more information, feel free to ask your new colleagues or us!
The rights and obligations of both parties (i.e., tenant and landlord) are recorded in every rental agreement. Normally, it contains agreements about the type and amount of payments, termination periods, and information about what to do in the event of damage or defects. By signing, the contract actually becomes legally binding. That means you must pay the agreed rent for the duration of the contract. If your contract does not contain a fixed term, you must give notice in advance, on the date you want to leave the apartment.
This is actually very common in Germany. Normally, the deposit amounts to two or three months' rent. You have to pay it before moving in. The landlord must keep the money in a special account. When you move out at the end of the rental period, the landlord checks if the apartment is in good condition, and if everything is in order, the deposit is refunded.
The answer is very simple: Yes. You need an account to make all payments, from the rent of the apartment to any possible semester fees. Of course, you also need this account to receive your work or scholarship payments.
When you go to a German bank for the first time to open an account, we recommend bringing
- your passport or ID card
- the registration certificate from the residents' registration office, and
- your employment contract or scholarship agreement.
Please note that banks offer different services at different prices. Therefore, it can be a good idea to talk to colleagues first before deciding on a bank.
So, now you have mastered the most difficult bureaucratic hurdles for your move to Germany!
However, keep in mind that a visa has an expiration date. So you will probably have to extend your visa at some point. For that, you need to book an appointment online with the immigration office. Then follow the instructions and don’t forget to either send or bring the required documents.