Preparation

Please assess your financial means realistically! By German standards, Braunschweig is not an expensive place to study. Nevertheless, you need a minimum of about €940 per month to be able to study here successfully.

Proof of financial resources

In order to receive your visa or residence permit in Germany, you have to prove that you can finance your stay in Germany. As an exchange student, you usually hold a partial or full scholarship from your home university or from a scholarship organisation such as the DAAD. Your scholarship certificate, for example an Erasmus or DAAD certificate, will be accepted as sufficient financial proof.

If you do not receive a scholarship, you must prove that you or your parents have sufficient financial means to finance the stay.

The language of instruction at TU Braunschweig is German. Some study courses offer classes in English. Study and research projects can also be written in English.

German language knowledge

As an exchange student you must prove that you have adequate language knowledge to follow the lectures. In order to do so, you need a language certificate according to CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Which language certificate is required depends on your choice of courses: If you have mainly chosen English courses, you will need an English language certificate, for German courses you will need a German language certificate.

The language certificate can be issued by your home institution. Native speakers are exempted. For a successful study we strongly recommend language skills at level B1/B2.

Should you wish to improve your German skills, the Language Centre at TU Braunschweig offers summer courses and German classes during the semester on all levels.

TU Braunschweig Summer School: International German Courses

German semester courses

If you come from a country which requires a visa, apply for a visa for educational purposes at the German embassy or consulate in your home country at least three months before you leave for Germany. You will need your letter of acceptance from TU Braunschweig and your proof of financial resources. Detailed information on visa and travel regulations is provided by the DAAD and the Federal Foreign Office.

Do not enter the country on a tourist visa, as this will not allow you to enrol!

An overview of visa requirements/exemptions for entry into the Federal Republic of Germany can be found here:

Visa requirements

For your enrolment at TU Braunschweig you need a valid health insurance!

German statutory health insurance for students

The simplest option is to take out German statutory health insurance for students upon your arrival in Braunschweig. It is available from all public health insurance providers and costs around € 110 per month. This insurance covers all costs for medical treatment, consultations and hospital stays, plus most of the cost of any prescription medicines.

If you come from another EU Member State

With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC Card) you do not need to take out German health insurance. Your health insurance complies with the German standard and covers all medical expenses in Germany. Please remember to apply for your EHIC card well before your departure and make sure it is valid for your entire stay in Braunschweig.

Recognition of other foreign health insurance schemes

Only a German statutory health insurance provider can verify and confirm whether your national health insurance does comply with the German standard. To receive this confirmation, you need to present your documents at the local office of an insurance provider as soon as you are in Braunschweig. Enquiries by post, phone or e-mail will usually not be answered.

Please do not take out travel insurance for the time of your stay in Braunschweig! Travel insurance policies do not provide adequate cover and you will not be able to enrol at the TU Braunschweig with travel insurance!

More information on health insurance can be found at the DAAD and on the website of the Krankenkassen-Zentrale.

We strongly recommend that you also take out liability insurance in Germany!

A liability insurance policy covers any accidental damage you might cause to other persons and their property. Accidents can easily result in costs amounting to millions of euros, for example if you cause a car or bicycle accident. Without personal liability cover, you alone will be responsible for any damages and the resulting costs.

The best way is to take out personal liability insurance once you are in Braunschweig, the cost is only € 7 per month.

Remember to plan your housing well in advance! We recommend that you start looking for a place to stay as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance.

Living in a hall of residence

The Studentenwerk at the TU Braunschweig has 7 halls of residence with more than 1,800 rooms for university students. Room types range from single rooms with a shared kitchen and bathroom to individual apartments. Rents range from € 280 to € 500 including electricity, water and heating. Additionally, you will need to pay a deposit of about 400€. The rooms are fully furnished and come with Internet access and a telephone connection. This does not include mattresses, blankets, pillows, sheets, towels, dishes or cutlery. However, the Studentenwerk offers various starter packages at reasonable prices with basic equipment.

Application for a room at a residence hall

If you want to apply for a room in a student residence, you can find the online application on the website of the Studierendenwerk: https://stw-on.de/en/wohnen/bewerbung

Please read the information and indications carefully before you complete the application. We strongly recommend to be flexible with the choice of the rooms and residence halls, and to calculate the upper rent limit realistically, because the places are restricted.

Please don’t apply before you have received an official Letter of Acceptance for your exchange study period from our side. Please note that accommodation cannot be guaranteed by the university!

Private accommodation

Braunschweig has a large number of private apartments and shared accommodation (WG) for rent. Prices range from € 250 to € 350 for a room in a shared apartment and from € 350 to € 500 for a single apartment, plus utility costs (electricity, water, heating).

Rooms and apartments to rent can be found on the university's bulletin boards, in newspapers and on the Internet, for example on the following pages:

Offer and search page of the Studentenwerks

WG-Gesucht

ebay Kleinanzeigen

Reading through private apartment adverts, you will find that they use a lot of abbreviations. The Studentenwerk offers a helpful list of the most common abbreviations.