Information for
international PhD students


Checklist for international PhD students

 
Are you from abroad and not a national of an EU or EEA country? No problem – the following information is designed to help you prepare for your time as a PhD student and give you an idea of the formalities that need to be completed shortly after your arrival in Magdeburg. You are also welcome to take a look at the network for international PhD students at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, which also offers plenty of information and support on its website.

 

Before the PhD

 

Visa

You can only enter Germany without a visa if you are a national of an EU or EEA country. Everyone else must apply for the appropriate visa, depending on their employment contract.

Health Insurance

All students and staff at a German university are legally required to have health and long-term care insurance. This applies regardless of their source of funding.

Local Registration

Anyone staying in Magdeburg for more than three months must register with the city’s Residents’ Registration Office within two weeks of arrival. The procedure depends on the country of origin.

Residence Permit

Foreign nationals from non-EU and non-EEA countries must register with the Foreigners’ Registration Office. Your residence permit entitles you to live anywhere in Germany, whilst your local registration allows you to live in Magdeburg. 

Accommodation

A PhD is more than just work. Of course, you’ll need somewhere to stay, and Magdeburg offers a wide range of accommodation options, from short-term to long-term stays.

Bank Account

From paying rent and any tuition fees to receiving wages and scholarship payments, everyone needs a bank account. In Germany, there are many different banks to choose from.

Back to the Immigration Office

At this stage, you have overcome the most difficult bureaucratic hurdles involved in moving to Germany. Bear in mind, however, that a visa has an expiry date. You will probably need to renew your visa at some point.

Assessment of the equivalence of international qualifications

If you obtained your Master’s degree (or an equivalent qualification) at a foreign university, it must be assessed for equivalence with German qualifications. If your international qualification has already been assessed, please submit the relevant documents to the Faculty of Natural Sciences during the admission process. If you do not have such documentation, the equivalence assessment forms part of the admission procedure.

 

See the FAQs

 


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