Degree Studies
Preparation and Application
Ranges of courses available
Language requirements
Academic year / Semester dates
The academic year in Germany is split into two semesters - winter and summer.
The winter semester starts on the 1st of October and ends on the 31st of March.
The summer semester starts on the 1st of April and ends on the 30th of September .
Lecture period: At Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, classes run from the 1st of October to around mid February in the winter semester and from the 1st of April to around mid July in the summer semester.
In the last weeks of the lecture period and in some cases also in the first weeks following the lecture period, there will be examinations.
After the examination period up to the end of the semester there is the, so-called, lecture-free period (also called semester break) during which no classes are offered.
The most important holidays where no classes will be held (and shops and banks remain closed) are:
- Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige): January 6th
- Easter - Good Friday and Easter Monday (Ostern - Karfreitag und Ostermontag): End of March/beginning of April
- Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt): one Thursday at the beginning of May
- Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag): End of May
- German Reunification Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit): October 3rd
- Reformation Day (Reformationstag): October 31st
The current semester dates can be found here.
Double degree
Application
Costs
1. Tuition and semester fee
Studies at the Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences are free of tuition fees, except for some postgraduate courses of study.
[An overview of all study courses including information on the liability to fees is available here (DE).
Please note that the university is legally obligated to charge a fee of € 500 per semester if you exceed the regular course duration (Regelstudienzeit; specified in the study regulations for the course) by more than 4 semesters. More information can be found here: Langzeitstudiengebühren (DE)]
Nevertheless, you will need to pay the so-called semester fee (Semesterbeitrag) before each semester for the services of the Studentenwerk (see below), your membership in the student body and for the semester ticket (discount public transportation ticket for students).
On enrolling, you are required to provide proof that you have paid the fee of currently EUR 153,70 in Magdeburg resp. EUR 158,50 in Stendal (no semester ticket for busses in Stendal available).
Please bear in mind that the semester fee needs to be paid every semester.
The Studentenwerk is an organisation that is independent of the Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences and supports students in various ways. Among other things, the Studentenwerk runs most student residences, the student canteens and several student cafés and offers other services such as legal advice.
With your semester ticket you can use all buses and trams in Magdeburg without further costs.
2. Living expenses
The amount of money you will need per month depends very much on your spending habits. However, you should have at least EUR 720 per month at your disposal, even if you may need less in the end.
Information on how much a room or an apartment in Magdeburg will roughly cost is available in the section Accommodation.
This site provides an overview of the general price level in Germany.
3. How much money should you take with you in cash for the first days in Magdeburg?
In order to avoid difficulties upon your arrival, it is essential that you bring enough money with you in cash. In general, you will have the following expenses at the beginning of your stay in Magdeburg or Stendal. (Prices for a place to stay refer to a room in a Studentenwerk student residence.):
- one or two months' rent (around EUR 250 per month)
- deposit for your room (about EUR 160)
- expenses for tram and bus tickets (for the time before the beginning of the semester > once the semester starts, you can use the semester ticket as ticket for tram and buses)
- If you need to take out health insurance in Germany, expect monthly premiums of about EUR 85.
- living expenses for the first days
- semester fee (Magdeburg: EUR 153,70, Stendal: EUR 158,50)
- If you need a residence permit (which is mostly the case if you are not a citizen of an EU member state) and you do not receive a grant or scholarship from a European organisation or the Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, EUR 110 once for the residence permit.
Accommodation
Visa
How to get to...
Formalities in Germany
In order for you to commence your studies at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, you have to complete certain formalities.
Please read the following information carefully (preferably in the order indicated):
Bankkonto eröffnen - Banken in Magdeburg
Krankenversicherungen in Magdeburg
Bei der Stadt Magdeburg anmelden - Informationen für Studierende aus EU-Staaten
If you do not have sufficient command of German...
... it is possible to attend courses at a preparatory college. More information can be found here.
Financial Support
The following lists various ways of obtaining financial support for your studies:
- BaföG (Federal Education & Training Assistance Act): Information on BaföG funding for foreign students can be found here.
- Scholarships: Useful hints and links to possible scholarships can be found here. The DAAD also provides information on scholarships for foreign students.
- Course completion grant: For students who have achieved good grades and who are expected to successfully complete their degree within a year, it is possible to obtain a course completion grant if, towards the end of your studies, you find yourself in financial difficulties through no fault of your own. The course completion grant may be awarded for a maximum of six months; in exceptional cases this may be extended to a maximum of 12 months. To apply and for further information, please contact the International Office.
- Financial Hardship: Should you find yourself in financial difficulties during your studies, please speak to us in the International Office during our consultation hours. We can give you details of contacts from whom you can obtain support.
During and at the end of your studies
In case of illness
A head cold, cough, bicycle accident? – Here you can find out all you need to know about the German health system
Insurance
In the event that you fall ill or injure yourself so badly that you require medical assistance, you can obtain treatment with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in all doctor’s practices and hospitals (for EU students). The same applies to the electronic health card that you will receive when you take out German health insurance (for non-EU students)
Search for a doctor
General practitioners and consultants for specific cases (e.g. eye specialists or gynaecologists) can be found in the database of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians https://arztinfo.kvsa.de/ases-kvsa/ases.jsf
The database is only available in German, however you can refine your search on the right-hand side: by doing this you can search for physicians according to their area of specialism or by the foreign languages they speak.
Emergency telephone numbers
112 – Ambulance service and emergency doctor
In absolute emergancies such as accidents and life-threatening injuries.
116117 – Free hotline for the on-call doctor service
For example, if you are unsure whether to go to a doctor or for finding a doctor at the weekend.
+49 (0)391 627 9600 – Medico Centre in Magdeburg (Leipziger Str. 16-17)
Is open when all other doctors have already closed!
Excursions and Events
The International Office and the Buddy Programme regularly organise welcome events for international students. We also offer various excursions over the course of the semester. Information on these is available at the welcome event at the beginning of the semester and on Facebook.
Tips on events at the university can also be found here:The International Office and the Buddy Programme regularly organise welcome events for international students. We also offer various excursions over the course of the semester. Information on these is available at the welcome event at the beginning of the semester and on Facebook.
Tips on events at the university can also be found here:
Facebook-page Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences International
Facebook-page Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences
Learn German at the University
German courses in parallel with your studies: German as a Foreign Language (DaF)
In addition to your main course of studies the university's Communication and Media Faculty offers German language courses throughout the entire semester. Courses are available at levels A1 to C1.
More detailed information on the German course offering is available from Professor Dr. Martina Schwanke. You can also obtain ECTS credits upon successful completion of your German as a Foreign Language (DaF) course.
Intensive German as a Foreign Language (DaF) course before the beginning of the semester
The Department of Communication and Media regularly offers four-week-long intensive courses in German as a Foreign Language before the beginning of the semester. Courses are available at levels A1 (beginner with no prior knowledge) to B2 (advanced with B1 qualification). You can obtain ECTS credits by successfully completing the intensive course. More detailed information and the application form for the intensive course can be found here.
Extension of residence permit
Please note that your residence permit for a course of studies is only issued for a certain period of time (usually 2 years).
Before your old residence permit expires you need to apply to the Foreigners’ Office (Ausländerbehörde) for an extension.
The procedure is more or less identical to your initial application. However the authorities will also check that you are making adequate progress with your course, in other words that you will complete your degree in a reasonable time frame.
Re-registration
By re-registering you are notifying the university that you intend to study at the university in the forthcoming semester.
You must re-register every semester by paying the semester fee. This must take place within a fixed period of time. The dates are advertised on the website of the Department of Student Affairs.
Once your payment has been transferred to the relevant account, you will receive your new student ID by post. Your certificate of enrolment can be printed off via the online service for students. If you do not make payment within the specified period, you will be de-registered and cannot continue your studies.
Please note that we must have your current address in order to send you your documents. You can check and amend your address details via the online service for students.
Enrolment certificates
Jobs and Internships
All relevant information on working while you are a student is available from the web site of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
A comprehensive collection of links to miscellaneous job web sites is offered by the Career Center (DE).
End of studies
When you return home:
We have set up a check list here that will give you an overview of what you need to do before you leave Magdeburg. The German Student Union has further useful information.
Check list: what do I need to do and when?
If you would like to remain in Germany:
The German Student Union also offers useful information here. Nevertheless you should still take a look at the check list and work through the items that are relevant to you.
Important note
For students who hold a residence permit for study purposes, it is always the case that the end of your course means that your reason for staying in the country is no longer valid. Therefore please contact the Foreigners’ Office before you de-register in order to clarify what you need to do next.
Contact
Julia Krumm
Tel.: +49 (0) 391 886 41 19
E-Mail: julia.krumm@h2.de
Visitors' address: Building 4, Room 1.02.2
Study programm
