Preparing your stay in Bonn
Below you will find information on several issues relevant for preparing your stay in Bonn. For more detailed information on accommodation, visa, health insurance, enrollment, etc. you may also want to check out the pages of our central International Office: "Before Studying".
You can find the slides of the online pre-arrival event of August 17 here:
To Dos
Incoming Master students from non-EU countries usually need a visa to study in Germany. Please note that for binding information regarding your specific visa requirements, you need to contact the German embassy or German consulate in your home country.
Once you have found a place to stay, you need to register at the Residents’ Registration Office (Bürgeramt). In order to register, you need to bring along your rental agreement and your passport. Students with a room or an apartment in downtown Bonn can register at the Bürgeramt in the "Stadthaus". You can find more information (in German) on their webpage and also an online form for making an appointment (Terminvereinbarung) but you can also go there without an appointment. We will provide assistance for international students seeking to register with the city.
All non-EU international students need a valid residence permit: Students with a visa that is valid throughout their stay do not need to register with the Aliens Office (Ausländeramt), all others do. You can find a map (Stadtplan) and more information (in German only) on the webpage of the aliens office. There is also an online form (in German) to make an appointment (Terminvereinbarung). We will also provide assistance for international students at the aliens office.
In order to get the residence permit, please bring a valid passport, admission letter or proof of registration from the university, proof of registration from the "Bürgeramt", proof that you can support yourself financially, a student visa (not applicable for EU citizens) and proof of sufficient health insurance.
In Germany, all students are required by law to have health insurance. EU citizens or students from countries that have signed a social security agreement with Germany can take out health insurance in their home country, this insurance will be recognized in Germany. Please double-check with your insurance company and with the "Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse" (AOK) in Bonn whether you are sufficiently covered.
All other students need to take out a German health insurance policy. You can do so with an insurance company of your choice. Several insurance companies are located in downtown Bonn, e.g. AOK, Barmer Ersatzkasse, Techniker Krankenkasse. Health insurance costs amount to about 125 Euro per month. Make sure to bring your certificate of admission to the Master program along when applying for health insurance.
The Student Registry (Studierendensekretariat) needs to receive an electronic confirmation from your health insurance provider for enrollment. You can find more information on the topic on the webpage of the international office.
Since most payments can only be made through bank transfers, you will need to open a German bank account, more specifically a current account or checking account (Girokonto). You can open such an account after having registered with the Residents Registration Office (Bürgeramt) with a bank of your choice or with the post office. In most cases, the basic account is free of charge for students.
For more information on organizational matters, please visit the pages of the International Office.
Additional information can be also found in the “Guide for International Students".
For programs and activities organized by the International Office including the international club, please visit the campus international.