Living in Germany - The first few days in Germany, a country with a different culture and customs will be full of new impressions and many unanswered questions.

The International Student Office (AAA) - You will be in contact with the International Student Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) right from the planning stage, long before you start studying and living in Germany. During your stay in Germany, the staff will advise you on bureaucratic formalities, legal assistance and will also help you in finding accommodation. The visiting hours of the AAA are from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on weekdays.

Studentenwerk - Student Services arrange accomodation and issue international student cards for discounts on theatre, cinema, museums, etc.

Log on to: Student services in Germany

Student Unions - The student union office can help you with the nitty-gritty of your everyday life.There are special counselling sessions for international students. AStA or UStA (the general or independent student's committee) or StuRa (student's council) are the self-administrated executive bodies of Student Unions.

All institutions arrange parties for first-semester students and semester opening parties that are excellent opportunities for getting into contact with fellow students. AStA, UStA and StuRA keep you informed about current and important issues and display huge notice boards for offering and finding accommodation, car sharing and much much more.

First few nights - if you have not arranged accommodation in advance and you have nowhere to stay when you arrive, the Student Services (Studentenwerk) may be able to arrange temporary accommodation for you. You can also spend the first few nights in a youth hostel (Jugendherberge ) , which is also cheaper than a guesthouse or a hotel. For this you need an International Youth Hostel card which can be obtained from any youth hostel in Germany. The Tourist Information Office (Verkehrsamt), which is usually located in or near the airport or the station, can help you find a guesthouse or hotel.

Looking for a room - German universities do not have student's hostels on campus. Students have to arrange for their own accomodation. This can be an exhausting task in some cities! We strongly recommend that you start looking for a place to live in well before the semester begins. Once the programme starts, most of the rooms are already taken. Various kinds of accommodations ranging from 100 to 250 Euros per month are available for students.

A Room in a Student's Hostel - Since this is the least expensive type of accommodation, demand for this is high. If you submit your application to the local student services office early enough, your chances are good. Contact the International Office for more information. For example see : students' accommodation in Dresden.

Private accommodation - As anywhere in the world, the standard of and rent for private accommodation varies. Very often students returning to their home countries leave the address of their landlords with the International Office. Student's services and the students’ union (AStA), at some institutions run agencies which provide information on rooms to let; (Student Apartments ) or www.mitwohnzentrale.de.

It would also be useful to check the notice boards of the student's services and AStA. Notices of accommodation to let and items to sell are usually posted there. You will find notice boards in canteens and departments.

Local newspapers carry advertisements on accomodation available once or twice a week (usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays). Try to get hold of a copy as early as possible and make an appointment with the landlord to see the accommodation. Most landlords will ask how long you intend to stay in Germany and what guarantees you can offer for paying the rent (e.g. your scholarship).

If you prefer to start the search for accommodation from home, you could contact an international flat-sharing agency. These agencies arrange accommodation across national borders and have a cosmopolitan approach. The following two are well known and do not charge excessive commissions:

• LIVIN - The international temporary accommodation agency for students: has offices in several countries and offers accommodation all over Germany.
• INTAS - The International Accommodation Service offers international students reasonable accommodation for the first few days in Berlin. Most of the German hosts speak English and are eager to be of assistance.

It is worth following up your inquiries with all agencies at regular intervals. Advance payment is not necessary. The agencies are allowed to charge commission only once a legally binding rent agreement has been signed.

Internet links to the above mentioned agencies can be found at: www.germany-opportunities.de/rooms. Also check the website of DAAD Germany.

The Euro - From January 2002, countries of the European Union (EU), with the exceptions of Britain, Sweden and Denmark have a unified currency, the Euro. Europe is growing closer together and the economic, political and cultural collaboration are improving continually. Travel in Europe has also become easier. You won't have to worry about changing money or its mathematics.

One Euro roughly equals Rs. 55. One Euro is made up of 100 Cents: There are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Cent coins as well as 1 and 2 Euro coins. Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euro.

Information on the Euro is available at: http://www.euro.gov.uk/.

You cannot study on an empty stomach - In Germany student cafeterias are run by the Student Services. The food in the refectory ("Mensa") is good, cheap and varied. Each day there is a choice of dishes including vegetarian and salad dishes. Some canteens also prepare special meals taking religious sentiments into account. The subsidised dishes are divided into different categories and cost between 3 and 5 Euro; drinks extra. You will find many small cafés and restaurants on and off campus offering good-quality, tasty dishes at a reasonable price. All restaurants serve vegetarian dishes, however not in the variety you are used to in South Asia and India, as only five percent of Germany’s population is vegetarian. For example see: menu for canteens in Dresden.

Cuisine in Germany does not only mean German food. Germany is famous for its variety of international restaurants and food stalls. You will find specialities from Italy, Turkey, Greece, China, Thailand, India and many other countries. For a meal in a restaurant you should calculate 10 to 20 Euros excluding drinks. You will also find the popular fast food stalls and chains.

If you cook for yourself you can reduce your expenses. Soon you will discover your favourite supermarkets and check them regularly for special offers, as many Germans do. Asian food stores with a good stock of Indian and other Asian food items can be found in every city.

A student approximately needs 250 Euros for food and drinks per month.

The language hurdle ... and how to cross it - Start attending a German language course in your home country. The addresses of Goethe-Institute (Max Müller Bhavans in India) can be found on this site. German is also taught at some universities, colleges and private language schools. Please take a look at the bottom of this page for link(s) to resources on German language.

Extra income - Most students can do with a bit of extra pocket money. For non-members of the European Union, the scope for employment is very limited. So make a realistic assessment of your finances and take the "Finanzierungsnachweis", that prove you have sufficient financial resources very seriously! Do not plan to finance your studies by working part-time in Germany!

As a full-time student you are allowed to work part-time for 180 half days in one year without a work permit. However, you will have to contact the employment office, to find out about the regulations.

The ideal solution would be a job at the institution of higher education itself (in libraries, Student Services or departments), but there is competition. Watch out for notices and ask at the department and the secretary's office whether there are jobs available as academic aides or tutors. Student Services may also know about tutoring jobs.

In co-operation with the employment office, Student Services runs a job agency for students. Here you might find temporary jobs.

Climate and Geographic Conditions - Germany has a moderate climate. In summer the temperature is about 20-22°C but can rise over the 30°C mark, while in winter the average temperature is around 0°C. Rain falls all the year round, especially in autumn.

• http://www.daad.de - The DAAD Office in Germany
• http://www.hi-potentials.de
• http://www.bundesregierung.de - Federal Government (Bundesregierung) Here you can download your copy of "Facts about Germany"
• http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de - Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt)
• http://www.deutsche-kultur-international.de - Information about German culture (Deutsche Kultur International)
• http://www.bund.de - The 16 Federal States of Germany
• http://www.goethe.de - Goethe-Institut Internationes
• http://www.deutschland.de - General information on Germany
• http://www.germany-tourism.de - German Tourist Board
• http://www.dw-world.de - German Radio (Deutsche Welle)