Exchange students and Erasmus+ Incomings

Please fill in our application form, this must be done on a computer. The application form has to be signed and sent to the International Office of Geisenheim University by your home university, together with a résumé / CV containing your e-mail and postal address.

Erasmus applicants should also include the Learning Agreement, signed by your home university.

Application Deadlines:

• 15 June (for a winter semester)
• 15 December (for a summer semester)

Visa/ Residence Permit

Students with EU citizenship can study in Germany for one or two semesters without a visa.

Citizens of Australia, Israel, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland or the USA do not need to apply for a visa in advance, but they will have to apply for a residence permit at the Office for Foreigners within 3 months after arrival.

All other students have to apply for a student visa at the German embassy / consulate in their home countries. We will send you an official invitation letter for your visa application.

Enrolment

For the enrolment process please remember to bring:

• passport/ ID card
• 2 passport photographs
• proof of health insurance (European Health Insurance Card; non-EU-students are strongly recommended to take out health insurance in Germany)
• The bank receipt for the payment of the semester fee (approx. €260 which includes the Semesterticket, allowing you free use of regional public transportation in most parts of Hesse and some places in Rhineland-Palatinate as well). Please make sure you pay the semester fee at least 10 days before you enroll at the Student Office.

Health Insurance

Sufficient health insurance is compulsory for all students wishing to enroll at Geisenheim University.

For all EU-Citizens: please bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) along with you. The EHIC will be issued by your health insurance company.

For all other students: We strongly recommend taking out health insurance in Germany, as foreign health insurance policies have to fulfil certain requirements to be accepted in Germany.

Please be aware that travel insurance will not be accepted.

Citizen’s Office

All students must register at the Citizen’s Office (Einwohnermelde- und Integrationsamt) within two weeks after their arrival. Please register in the Office of the town you will be living in during your stay.

Bank Account

You can open a bank account, free of charge at any bank; be sure to present your passport and your student identity card.

German Language Courses

Our Language Center offers German, as well as other foreign language classes, for both beginners and students wishing to improve their existing knowledge. These courses are free of charge to students of Geisenheim University.

Please contact the Language Center to register for any of the language courses.

Studying in Geisenheim

Please contact the relevant Academic Program Coordinator (Studiengangsleiter) in order to discuss your curriculum with him/ her.

If you have any questions regarding the selection of courses, or have difficulties in understanding the lectures, please approach the teacher of the class who will be happy to help.

The current list of courses is published shortly before the beginning of the semester, although the list from the previous semester can be found here for information purposes.

Please be aware that the language of instruction is German.

Sports

All students are encouraged to take part in the sports activities organized by our university. Most of them are free of charge.

Semester Ticket

As an exchange student at Geisenheim University you will get a „Semesterticket“. It allows you the free use of regional public transportation in most parts of Hesse and some places in Rhineland-Palatinate as well.

Cost of Living

You will need a minimum of 700€ - 900€ for living expenses per month (accommodation, food and other expenses). Here you can find an estimate from the German Student Organization  (Deutsches Studentenwerk) about the cost of living in Germany.

Accommodation

Geisenheim University has apartments available for rent for exchange students. Alternatively, students can rent rooms or apartments privately, either in Geisenheim or nearby Rüdesheim, or there is also the possibility of renting a room in a shared apartment, for a limited period.

Please contact the International Office if you’d like us to help you with your search.