Before your arrival
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These are the things you need to take care of as an exchange student before your arrival in Darmstadt:
1. Visa
As an international exchange student, you may need a visa and/or a residence permit to study in Germany, depending on where you’re from.
To apply for a visa, turn to the local embassy or consulate in your home country. The documents typically needed to apply for a visa comprise the following:
- a valid passport
- your Letter of Accetpance from h_da
- proof of health insurance
- proof of sufficient funds
- a transcript of your study skills
- a language certficate
Please make sure you apply for your visa well in advance as the process might take several months! Find helpful information also on this website.
Whether or not you need a visa, depends on your nationality (see also an up-to-date overview of the Federal Foreign Office):
Non-EU students with a residence permit for another EU member state (REST procedure)
You belong in this group if…
- you have a vaild residence permit for the purpose of study in an EU member state (except for Denmark, Ireland, UK)
- you have been admitted for an exchange semester at h_da
If this applies to you, you are eligible for a simplified visa application procedure called EU-REST (REsearches & STudents). It's not a classical visa application but a formal request to have your current residence permit cover your exchange in Germany as well. It is requested at the Federal Office of Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and allows you to study in Germany for up to 360 days as well as to travel within the EU. If you are not sure whether this applies to you, please contact the embassy at your home country first.
These are the documents we need from you:
The REST permit has to be requested by us (not by you). For this, please send us the following documents by email (they should be in English or German, except for the bank statement):
- residence permit for the EU Member State where you're currently studying (the permit must be for study purposes; the word "study" has to appear in the document)
- proof of financial means for your exchange in Germany: 934 euros per month for at least 5 months (*for more details, see below)
- proof of valid health insurance coverage, i.e. your European Health Insurance Card (as a scan, both back and front), a travel health insurance is not sufficient
*How to prove your financial means:
- a scholarship confirmation from your home university listing 934 euros or less per month (the document has to state how much you receive per month)
- a confirmation of a blocked bank account with a financial institution that is permitted to carry out banking transactions in the Federal Republic of Germany. A blocked bank account is an account where you deposit money but that lets you use only a certain amount of the money each month, i.e. part of the money is blocked. Typically, you cannot use more than 934 euros from this bank account each month
- a declaration of commitment (issued by the German embassy)
- a written confirmation from your parents (details in the letter should include: amount, period, date and signature) and a copy of your parents' passport. You're also required to provide evidence about how you receive this money from your parents (e.g. through a bank statement listing the respective transactions)
- a student loan
- your own bank statement (which cannot be older than three months and not be longer than 2 pages)
- if you have a job: an income confirmation for this job (you'll need a copy of your work contract).
These options may be combinded to reach the overall sum of 934 euros per month.
Processing time:
The Federal Office of Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is allowed to decline the application within 30 days (but in most cases, it has to accept it). It is your resposibility to hand in the documents in time. If you have a question concerning the REST procedure, please let us know: incoming.int@h-da.de
If you’re from a non-EU country other than Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea or USA, you cannot enter Germany on your passport and need to apply for a visa in your home country before coming to Darmstadt as early as possible (preferably as soon as you have received our admission letter).
If you’re from one these countries, you can
- a) apply for a visa that covers the entire period of your stay,
or - b) enter Germany on your passport, i.e. without a visa, and apply for a so-called residence permit in Germany (about 2 months into your stay).
Please note that starting mid-2025, you'll need to apply for an ETIAS permission by the European Union (including a fee).
Option a):
You apply at the German embassy or consulate in your home country before coming to Darmstadt. Often, embassies and consulates are less strict about the proof of financial means. (Option b requires you to deposit a large amount of money on a special bank account). We highly recommend this option! Below you'll find out why.
OR
Option b):
You may enter Germany without a visa and then request a so-called residence permit once you’re in Germany. Entering on your passport gives you the right to stay in Germany for up to 90 days. Of course, your stay with us will be longer than 90 days, which is why you will need to request a residence permit. Requesting a residence permit is similar to requesting a visa.
It requires you to open a blocked bank account and deposit 934 euros for each month you‘ll be staying in Germany. You can open the blocked bank account either before you come to Darmstadt or when you‘re here.
In many cases it takes a while to receive an appointment with the Foreigner's Office in Darmstadt/Dieburg. If your 90 days are expired and you still haven't talked to the Foreigner's Office, it's possible that you may not be able to travel outside of Germany for a while. This is why we highly recommend applying for a visa in your home country.
If you do choose this option, we will assist you with your residence permit application once you're in Darmstadt/Dieburg!
Non-EU students from India and China
Students from India and China must apply for their visa at the Academic Evaluation Center (APS). This process is mandatory and cannot be avoided. The individual APS group number will be requested by Marina and Ronja after successful admission to h_da and then forwarded to the students. You can then use this number to apply for your visa.
2. Accommodation
Darmstadt offers plenty of housing options, from residence halls to private apartments. Finding a place to stay for only one or two semesters can be a little tricky - but we‘re there to help you!
Rent and application:
We have a contract with Studierendenwerk Darmstadt, a non-profit organization that runs a range of student residence halls in Darmstadt. Each semester, they provide us with a set number of pre-booked rooms in two of their residence halls, for which you can apply. The rooms are part of shared apartments and exchange students share their apartment with between two to four other students (these may be other international students or local students). The monthly rent for the rooms is between 400 and 550 euros. Additionally, students have to pay a deposit of 2.5 monthly rents (which you'll get back after moving out of your room).
So, how can you apply for one of our International-Office rooms? for this, just fill out the form we'll send you by email in June or July (if you're coming for the winter semester), or December or January (if you're coming for the spring semester).
Please be aware that:
- there is no guarantee that you will be assigned a room
- the rooms are rented out for one semester only (even if you're staying for two semesters)
- the Media Departmen is located in Dieburg; classes from the Business Department are partially taught at the Dieburg campus. Our International-Office rooms are located in Darmstadt, not Dieburg (Dieburg is about 30 minues away from Darmstadt)
- the move-in date is at the beginning of September, or beginning of March, respectively. If you arrive in Darmstadt a day or two earlier before the start of your rental contract, please make sure to book a hostel, hotel or Airbnb room for the first one or two nights.
- special deal: For the months of August, and February, you do not have to transfer a monthy rent for the room, if you have rented the room for the full period (March through August or September through February)
- the application procedure for our special International-Office rooms is through h_da's International Office, not through Studierendenwerk Darmstadt's website.
Important for everyone to know:
Some students search for "Studierendenwerk Darmstadt" on Google and apply for a general Studierendenwerk room before actually having received all of the information on our special International-Office rooms (all of these rooms are officially rented out through Studierendenwerk Darmstadt, but our International-Office rooms are different from the general Studierendenwerk rooms). Of course, you may apply for a general Studierendenwerk room through the website of Studierendenwerk Darmstadt. Please bear in mind, though, that the terms and conditions for the general Studierendenwerk rooms are different and generally more strict. As there are differences between the two types of rooms (even though they're all part of Studierendenwerk Darmstadt), we strongly advise you to wait for our email about our International-Office rooms before making a final decision about your place to stay in Darmstadt. This email is typically sent out to students in June or July (for students studying with us in the winter), and December or January (if you're coming to Darmstadt/Dieburg in the spring). The application procedure for our special International-Office rooms is through h_da's International Office, not through Studierendenwerk Darmstadt's website - the rooms are not available through the general Accommodation Service of Studierendenwerk Darmstadt.
You may apply for a general room in one of the many student residence halls in Darmstadt through Studierendenwerk Darmstadt's Accommodation Service. Applications for these rooms are managed by Studierendenwerk Darmstadt's Accommodation Service, not by h_da's International Office. A condition to apply for their rooms is that you're officially enrolled at one of the universities in Darmstadt. You'll find all the relevant details on their website.
Important: International-Office rooms versus general Studierendenwerk rooms
It is up to you whether you'd like to apply for one of the International-Office rooms or for a general Studierendenwerk room, but please be aware that the conditions for the two types of rooms are different. The conditions for the general Studierendenwerk rooms are typically a bit more strict than for our International-Office rooms:
- Rental period: Both types of rooms are rented out for 6 months. However, the exact rental period is different for the two types of rooms: The lease for our International-Office rooms starts at the beginning of September, and the beginning of March, respectively, because your exchange semester with h_da starts either at the beginning of September, or the beginning of March. The end of the rental period is end of February, and end of August.
The lease for the general Studierendenwerk rooms on the other hand starts on 1 April and 1 October and runs until the end of March, and September, respectivey. - Cancellation procedure: The lease for the general Studierendenwerk rooms needs to be actively cancelled by you if you want to move out; the lease for the International-Office rooms ends automatically.
- Number of payments: For the International-Office rooms there is a special deal with Studierendenwerk Darmstadt, according to which you do not have to transfer any monthly rent for your room in August, and February, respectively. For there general Studierendenwerk rooms, there is no such deal.
Please bear these aspects in mind when applying for a general Studierendenwerk room.
You‘re not the residence hall type? That‘s ok – you can find a place to stay on your own. These links might be helpful:
Darmstadt:
- Dünen Apartment: https://www.home2feel.de/mikrowohnen/
- Smartments: https://www.smartments-student.de/en/locations/darmstadt-stephanstrasse
- Stolze Haus Darmstadt: https://www.stolzehaus.de/en/
- The Fizz: https://www.the-fizz.com/student-accommodation/darmstadt
- Uninest: https://unineststudents.de/en/locations/darmstadt/elementum
Dieburg:
- Camp 5 Dieburg: https://camp5.de/en/
- Quartier 56 Dieburg: https://www.quartier56.com/en/studentenwohnheim/
- Study & Stay Dieburg: https://www.vonovia.de/de-de/wohnungen-in-dieburg
If you‘re looking for a flatshare, you might want to check out this website:
https://www.wg-gesucht.de.
We also have a Facebook group called "h_da housing exchange”, where you can get in touch with h_da students who are about to spend a semester or two abroad and who would like to sublet their room – it’s worth taking a look! (But please note that h_da is not liable in any way for the offers published on these websites!)
Residence halls
If you apply for an International-Office room, it's likely that your room will be in one of the two residence halls "Karlshof" (Alfred-Messel-Weg) or "Berliner Allee" (LAB), but changes are possible. You'll find more information and pictures here.
Useful information when looking for accommodation
WG - Flatshare
In Germany, it is common for students and trainees to live in a flatshare, called wohngemeinschaft (WG) in German. This means living in a shared apartment with other students and/or trainees and sharing your kitchen, bathroom, and living room (if there is one), but having a room of your own. Most room offers are posted on wg-gesucht.de. This is a German website, but it has an English interface. Even though most offers are posted in German, you may translate them easily using DeepL.
3. Health Insurance
In Germany, only people with sufficient health insurance coverage can be enrolled as students. This is why we are required by law to check your insurance status before you can complete your final enrollment at h_da. Your German health insurance always starts on 1 April (in summer) or 1 October (in winter). You can take out travel health insurance for the orientation weeks (but we do not check this).
Please note that receiving a Letter of Acceptance does not mean you’re enrolled at h_da. Enrollment takes place in two steps:
- Pre-enrollment on the basis of your Letter of Acceptance
- Final enrollment in person – when you’re in Darmstadt and after your health insurance plan has been checked (and you have paid the semester contribution.)
The following providers are not accepted for enrolment:
- Care Concept
- Dr. Walter
- educare24
- Guardme
- Mawista
- VELA
- and other (private) insurances
If you are over 30 years old, different health insurance rules apply to you (private health insurance may still be accepted).
So, what kind of health insurance coverage do you need? Again, this depends on where you’re from:
You already have European-wide health insurance coverage – make sure you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for the entire duration of your stay and bring it with you! Note that you will be required to pay a certain amount of the treatment costs in advance, but you can ask your health insurance company for reimbursement. Please contact us if you do not have an EHIC.
You are required to prove that you have a health insurance plan equivalent to the public health insurance coverage for students in Germany. Basically, you have two options:
- You have bought a private health insurance plan that covers your study abroad-stay in Germany. In that case, please contact us so we can have your insurance plan checked. If your health insurance coverage is sufficient, you will receive a validation letter from us that you can use for your enrollment with us.
Please note, though: Most private health insurance plans are not accepted for enrollment at h_da, even if they are recommended by the International Office of your home university! Travel health insurance plans are not accepted, either. - You can take out a German public student health insurance plan (monthly costs around 120€). We will send you an email with all the details.
Our advice: Apply for a German public health insurance plan!
- It is a very good plan and valid throughout all of Europe.
- You’ll have easy access to medical services in Germany (as you will have a to European Health Insurance Card).
Students from Turkey are required to hand in a so-called A/T 11 document. Please ask your health insurance company to issue this document for you - they know exactly what kind of document this is. It's sufficient to hand in the document in January (if you're coming in the spring) or July (if you're coming in the winter).
The German healthcare system
You'll find more information about the German health insurance system at:
https://www.krankenkassenzentrale.de/wiki/incoming-en
4. Expected living expenses
You‘re probably thinking about the financial side of your study-abroad stay with us.
5. Classes (first look) & Learning Agreement
Classes
In Germany, the final course catalog is available online rather late compared to other countries. At h_da, the course catalog for the winter semester does not post online before 1 September, the course catalog for the spring semester is usually not available before 1 April.
Even though you will not be able to select your final classes before these dates, you can become familiar with the typical course offerings by taking a look at our English-taught classes or our German-taught classes on https://qis.h-da.de/
Make sure you select the right semester.For English-taught classes, select “English“ as the “Language of instruction“. For German-taught classes, select “German“.
Erasmus (Online) Learning Agreement (OLA)
If you‘re an Erasmus+ student, please don‘t forget to have your Learning Agreements signed (one Learning Agreement has to be signed before your arrival; if you change a class or two you need to have a new one signed after you‘ve arrived in Darmstadt). Without the signed Learning Agreement you will not receive an Erasmus+ grant. Please note that it takes a couple of days for us to sign the document.
For Erasmus students, completing this document is absolutely necessessary. But even if you’re not an Erasmus student, your home university may ask you to fill in a Learning Agreement and have it signed by us.
This is how it is done:
- Consult with your home university's departmental Erasmus coordinator about the classes you should take at h_da. Ask them whether these classes can be counted towards your degree and if so, in what way
- Take a look at our info sheet to find out which h_da professor has to sign your Learning Agreement; look up their address and other information in our list of staff members (Marina and Ronja cannot sign your Learning Agreement, but you may list them as your administrative contact at h_da).
Please note: If you don't select the correct professor, your Online Learning Agreement cannot be signed. - We use an online platform to manage our incoming students' Online Learning Agreements. Please tell your home university about this, so they can send us your Learning Agreement electronically. Don't worry - they will know how to do this.
When should you submit your Learning Agreement? Please submit your Learning Agreement after being officially admitted for an exchange semester with us. For to six weeks before the start of the exchange semester will do.
6. Online get-together
Before your arrival in Darmstadt/Dieburg, we will meet up online to discuss the following aspects of your exchange semester(s) with us:
- the things you need to take care of once you‘re in Darmstadt
- the document you need for your final enrollment at h_da
- the types of health insurance plan that are accepted at h_da (for students from overseas & Turkey)
Our online meeting is also a great way to meet your fellow exchange students for the first time! After the meeting, your exchange semester will suddenly feel much realer and more palpable.
Our online meeting will take place in June/July for those of you coming to Darmstadt for the winter semester as well as in January/February for those of you starting their studies with us in March. You will be invited by email.
7. Enrollment at h_da
After our online meeting, you will be required to prepare your final enrollment documents. For your final enrollment, we need:
- a confirmation from your health insurance provider accepted at h_da
- the semester contribution (see below)
Semester contribution :
Students from Europe, or the EEA, are required to pay the semester contribution by bank wirement to h_da's bank account before their arrival in Darmstadt/Dieburg (i.e. before the beginning of September, or March, respectively). We will send you the bank details as well as the exact amount to be paid by email. Do not send any money to h_da until you receive our email! Please also note that the exchange students pay a reduced semester contribution (excluding the administrative part of the fee).
Students from overseas and Turkey are required to pay the semester contribution only after they have arrived in Darmstadt/Dieburg (see here).
8. Information for students with disabilities
You’ll find details on h_da’s Inclusion Office (website currently only in German) and who to turn to for help in any inclusion-reated matters. The following website by the EU can also provide information on h_da's support services: https://inclusivemobility.eu/
9. Our scholarship opportunities
Students of some of our partner university are eligible to apply for a scholarship:
Brazil: Universidade Estadual Paulista 'Júlio de Mesquita Filho' (UNESP) ● Brazil: Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC) ● Brazil: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) ● Brazil: Universidade Federal de Goiás ● Brazil: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina ● Chile: Universidad de Talca ● Colombia: Universidad ICESI ● Georgia: Caucasus Universtiy ● Georgia: Georgian Institute of Public Affairs ● Ghana: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology ● Hungary: Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design ● India: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham - Amrita University ● India: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) ● India: Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies ● India: VIT University - Institute of Technology ● Indonesia: Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) ● Iran: Amirkabir University of Technology ● Israel: Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design ● Japan: Kyushu Univeristy ● Jordan: German-Jordanian University ● Jordan: Jordan University of Science and Technology ● Malaysia: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) ● Malaysia: Taylor’s University ● Mexico: Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro ● Namibia: Namibia University of Science and Technology ● Nepal: Pokhara University ● Paraguay: Universidad Nacional de Asunción ● Poland: Akademia Sztuk Pięknych im. Jana Matejki w Krakowie ● Poland: Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach ● Romania: Universitatea Babes-Bolyai din Cluj-Napoca ● Thailand: King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi ● Ukraine: Uzhhorod National University ● Vietnam: Da Nang University
For more infos, see our scholarship site!
Start of the exchange semester
The start of your exchange semester is the beginning of September (for winter semesters), or March (for spring semesters), respectively. We will tell you the exact date well in advance. We expect you to be in Darmstadt/Dieburg on the specific date we tell you.
Meetup App
Our Welcome & Orientation Days as well as the events offerend during the semester will be announced through our Meetup group called "h_da exchange students". Please download the Meetup app (for Android or iOS) and create a user account using your real name and using the Latin alphabet. We'll send you the pass code for the group via email.
Four campuses
h_da has four campuses: Three are located in Darmstadt, one is located in Dieburg. The Dieburg campus is home to all study programs of the Media Department. A part of our Business classes too are taught at the Dieburg campus. Check out our interactive campus map!
AirLiner bus
The AirLiner Bus takes you from Frankfurt Airport to Darmstadt. See here for more information.
Classes & exams at h_da
Here you'll find an overview of the classes taught at h_da. Make sure you select the right semester. For English-taught classes, select “English“ as the “Language of instruction“. For German-taught classes, select “German“.
Please note that the course catalog for winter semesters posts online on 1 September, the course catalog for spring semester is made available on 1 March. If the semester you need hasn't posted online yet, browse the classes that were taught last winter, or spring semester, respectively. Typically, the sam classes are taught each winter semester and each spring semester.
D DARMSTA02
Contact
Marina Zielke (she/her) &
Ronja Schneider (she/her)
Incoming exchange students advisors
+49.6151.533-68014
+49.6151.533-60022
incoming.int@h-da.de
Office: C23, 02.10