After You Arrive

University Enrolment in Germany

Before you can start studying, you must enrol (sign up as a student) at your university. Here are the steps, using the Technical University of Munich (TUM) as an example.

University Student Portal

Example: your course

Example: winter semester

How to Enrol

All students must enrol before they start. The enrolment period is often short.

Get admitted: Your admission letter is in your university's online portal. At TUM, this is called TUMonline.
Accept your place: Accept the study place offer in the portal.
Add your data and upload papers: Fill in the form, upload your certificates and sign the enrolment application.
Get your insurance confirmed: A German public health insurance company sends a digital notice to the university.
Pay the fees: Pay the semester contribution, and tuition fees if you must. At TUM, first-time payment is due by 15 September for winter and 15 March for summer.

What Enrolment Gives You

Once enrolled, you can use university facilities. You also get a university email account.

Do It on Time

You must enrol before your university's enrolment deadline. Course registration opens only after full enrolment.

Papers for Enrolment

TUM example. Your university sends its own list.

Study papers:

School and degree certificates - Signed and stamped, or with a digital check code or QR code.
Preliminary certificate (master's) - If your degree certificate is not ready: a temporary certificate and your final marks list (transcript).
Signed enrolment application - Sign it by hand or on screen.

Insurance and fees:

Health insurance notice - Ask a German public health insurance company (such as AOK or Techniker Krankenkasse, TK) to send it digitally straight to the university.
Semester contribution payment - Plus tuition fees if you must pay them.

Document Preparation Tips

Upload only study certificates. TUM does not want your CV, motivation letter or language certificates at this step.
Did you apply through uni-assist (a service that checks papers for many German universities)? Then upload all the papers you sent to uni-assist. Include your VPD (the paper that puts your grades on the German scale).

Check Your University's List

Each university has its own list of papers. TUM shows yours in TUMonline, its online portal.

Student ID and Campus

Student ID Card

Every student gets a student ID card after enrolment.

Benefits of Your Student ID:

Campus use - Library, dining hall, computer rooms and sports facilities.
Transport - Often also a public transport ticket in your university town.
Discounts - Student prices at museums, pools and events.

Tips

Use your student ID card: For the library, dining hall, computer rooms and sports.

Course Registration

After enrolment you register for courses and exams, often online.

Tips

Keep Your Permit in Mind

Your residence permit for study (the card that lets you live in Germany while you study) is for full-time study. To renew it, you need a study progress report (a report on how your studies are going).

Help on Campus

Where to get help at your university.

International office

Every German university has one.

Advice for international students.
Events and contact with other international students.

Student advice office

Advisers help with your own questions.

Help with time planning and study habits.

Tips

Go to the international office: It is often your first contact on campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Enrolment Tips

Accept your study place quickly.
Ask a German public health insurance company to send the digital notice at least 2 weeks before the semester starts.
Pay the semester contribution early. You can enrol only after the money arrives.
Upload official certificates that are signed and stamped, or have a digital check code or QR code.