Health & Wellbeing

Finding medical care in a foreign country is not always easy and things also work differently in emergencies. You can find the most important information about the German health system on this page. Sometimes, everyday student life can also be quite challenging: If exam stress, financial worries or other issues are bothering you, you can always turn to our contact points and support services.

Health

If you become ill, your first point of contact for all health issues is a general practitioner (Allgemeinmediziner or Hausarzt). The best way to find a good doctor is to ask your acquaintances or friends for a recommendation. Unfortunately, many doctors' offices are very busy and therefore no longer accept new patients. We are happy to support you in your search for a doctor. Please contact us if you need support.

Please also note our information under "Emergencies" if you need a doctor very urgently.

If necessary, the general practitioner will refer you to a specialist (Facharzt). Ask your doctor to recommend somebody and to make an appointment for you directly. General practitioners and specialists can be found here:

Local telephone directory

To find a doctor who speaks good English or even your mother tongue, you can take a look at The Medical Directory. It lists the foreign language skills of the respective doctors:

Medical Directory of the State of Lower Saxony

Unfortunately, the database is currently only available in German. You can find an English manual for use here:

Manual for the Medical Directory (PDF, 118 KB)

Most doctors expect you to make an appointment by telephone. If you are seriously ill, make it clear that you would like to see the doctor that same day. Please remember to take your health insurance card (EHIC card or German health insurance card) with you.

If you have statutory health insurance, the doctor will invoice all costs directly to your insurance company.
If you have private health insurance, you will receive an invoice, which you have to pay. You can then submit the invoice to your health insurance company, which will reimburse your expenses.

Medication in Germany is only available at pharmacies.

Medication for minor illnesses such as headaches or colds can be bought without a prescription in the pharmacy.
Many medicines require a doctors's prescription which you will have to take to the pharmacy.
If you have statutory health insurance and a doctors's prescription, you will have to pay between € 5 and € 10 for most medicines. The rest is covered by your health insurance.
If you have private health insurance and a doctors's prescription, you will have to pay the cost of the medication at the time of purchase, then submit the receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Lettering "Don't Panic" on pink background

Phone numbers in case of emergency

☎ 112 Ambulances and fire brigades

☎ 110 Police

When calling the fire brigade, ambulance or police, state your name and location slowly and clearly. Describe what happened. Wait for further questions and never end the call on your own initiative! The emergency services may still have important questions.

If you fall ill in the evening or at the weekend, call the medical emergency service at the hospital Salzdahlumer Straße:

☎ 116 117

If you have an accident or are very seriously ill, go to an emergency room. Call an ambulance if necessary!

Emergency room Salzdahlumer Straße
Focus on internal medicine
Salzdahlumer Straße 90, 38126 Braunschweig

Emergency room Holwedestraße
Focus on surgery
Holwedestraße 16, 38118 Braunschweig

Medical emergency service and emergency rooms

Mental Health

In case of an emergency

Crisis hotline Braunschweig

Phone +49800 111 0 111 or +49800 111 0 222

Städtisches Klinikum Braunschweig

Psychiatric Clinic (24 h)

Tel. +49 531 595 2284 or +49 531 595 2871

Psycho-social crisis service Braunschweig

Tel. +49531 470 77 77

(Fri & Sat 15.00 – 22.00, Sun & holidays 15.00 – 20.00)

The Psychotherapeutic Counselling Centre of the Studentenwerk helps students with study-related problems or personal difficulties. Your concerns will be discussed calmly in confidential counselling sessions.

Topics with which you can contact the Psychotherapeutic Counselling Centre include:

Work and concentration problems
Exam nerves or other anxieties
Decision-making difficulties in your studies or in personal conflict situations
Conflicts with your parents, partner or in your flat-sharing community
Other difficulties that you would like to talk about with someone who will listen to you in an open, neutral and appreciative way.

Here you can find all informationen about the Psychotherapeutic Counselling Centre

Social Counselling

The social counselling service of the Studentenwerk Braunschweig is available to answer questions and difficulties of a financial, social and personal nature. Sometimes a short piece of information is enough, sometimes a solution requires a more intensive discussion. With their knowledge of a wide range of topics, the social counsellors help to develop solutions. As a rule, advice is given in a one-on-one consultation. You can also call or write an e-mail – of course, all inquiries will be treated confidentially.

The Social Counselling Service of the Studentenwerk offers support, information and advice on many questions and problems that may arise during your studies, for example:

if you are at the beginning of your studies and have questions about the first organisational steps of this new phase of your life
if you would like to find out about the costs and financing options of studying (with or without BAföG) as well as benefits for students
if you would like to know what special features there are for students when it comes to jobs, insurances, scholarships, loans and state support services
if you would like to know what additional support you can receive as a student with a disability or chronic illness, as a pregnant woman or student with a child or as an international student
if you need help with decisions of an organisational nature (change of subject, dropping out, semester off, etc.)

Click here to go to the Social Counselling Service

Consultation hours:

Tue 10.00 – 12.30

Thu 10.00 – 12.30 and 14.00 – 17.00

and by arrangement

A young woman is jogging in the forest at sunset.

Social Counselling Service of the AStA

The General Student Committee's (AStA) Social Department also provides comprehensive advice on personal or financial difficulties and challenges. You can find all information and consultation hours here.

HEALTH4YOU - Student Health Prevention

HEALTH4YOU

The HEALTH4YOU project supports students at TU Braunschweig in leading an active healthy lifestyle, building up health skills and developing strategies for dealing with stress. All offers are free of charge.

The offers are designed to help students get through the semester stress-free and relaxed. The focus is on methods for dealing with stress in a more relaxed and healthy way. In addition to seminars and workshops on topics such as nutrition and the psyche, stress management, functional training or procrastination, the HEALTH4YOU project of the University Sports Centre also offers trial courses in which you can try out different types of sports without any obligation.

See HEALTH4YOU programme