Important Formalities

The first thing you will have to do is apply to Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences. This is necessary to obtain a Letter of Admission that you will later need for your visa application. Click here to see the procedure for this.

We recommend that you inform yourself about the student visa application process, the required documents and appointment waiting times at the responsible visa office as early as possible, as visa processing and issuance can take several months. Our university does not have any influence in the visa process and also cannot speed up the process in any way.

Once you have received your acceptance letter from the university, you can start organising a visa.

No visa is required for students with citizenship of an EU/EEA country. All you need is a valid identity card or passport. This also applies to some other countries. Contact the Federal Foreign Office to find out whether you are able to enter Germany without a visa.

All other students need to apply for a visa at the German Embassy or Consulate General in their country of residence. The addresses are listed on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

Even before you leave for Germany, you should start looking for a room or an apartment in Nordhausen. For tips and links, go to the section on “Accommodation” on the webpage Living and studying in Nordhausen.

The International Office of Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences provides continous support for International students at the university and can assist you with all the necessary formalities and with any questions related to your stay in Nordhausen. Therefore, make sure that you inform us about your estimated arrival date as early as possible. If you do not inform us and arrive without notice, we won't be able to help you!

We also recommend you to attend the introduction week of the university, as you will receive further important information about studying and living in Nordhausen.

So that you can move into your accommodation as quickly as possible, the next thing you should do is go and see your landlord to sign your tenancy agreement. If you have reserved a place in the student hall of residence, you will need to contact Studierendenwerk Thüringen (student services) in order to do so.

Anyone studying in Germany has to provide proof of health insurance when they enrol. The first thing you need to do here is check whether the health insurance from your home country will also cover you in Germany. If not, you will have to take out German health insurance. For further information, see this page or this page.

Whatever the case, you will have to provide confirmation of insurance cover from the relevant health insurance company.

Health insurance companies in Nordhausen:

AOK
Rautenstr. 8/8a
99734 Nordhausen

Barmer
Bahnhofstr. 18
99734 Nordhausen

BKK VBU
Bahnhofstr. 19c
99734 Nordhausen

DAK
Rautenstr. 36
99734 Nordhausen

IKK
Bahnhofstr. 22
99734 Nordhausen

TK
Vor dem Hagentor 5
99734 Nordhausen

The next thing we recommend you do is go to a bank and open a German current account. This is normally free of charge for students. This account can then be used to make all your regular payments such as your rent or health insurance. You will also be able to withdraw cash from your account free of charge in many places across Germany.

The first thing you need to do after that is transfer the semester payment, ensuring you get proof of payment as this is required for enrolment.

In order to begin your studies at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, you will need to enrol at the Student Service Centre.

For enrolment you will need the following documents:

• Letter of Admission from Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences
• Completed application for the thoska chip card (you should have received the application form with the Letter of Admission.)
• Passport photo
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of payment of the semester fee

Students must observe the deadlines for registration specified in the notes for first semester.

Residence registration:

Once you have a fixed address, you are obliged to register at the residents’ registration office
(German: Einwohnermeldeamt Nordhausen - Bürgerservices) within two weeks after moving into your accommodation in Nordhausen.

The following documents are required:

• Filled and signed registration form
• Copy of your passport and visa page
• Tenancy Agreement including confirmation from your landlord ("Wohnungsgeberbestätigung")

You can either send the documents via mail to the following address:
Neues Rathaus
Markt 15
99734 Nordhausen
OR send the documents scanned via E-mail.

Application for residence permit:

Entry visas for Germany are initially only valid for three to six months. Students must apply for a longer-term residence permit from the relevant immigration authority before the visa expires.

The relevant immigration authority for Nordhausen is part of the district administration office
(German: Landratsamt Nordhausen - Fachgebiet Ausländerwesen):

Address: Behringstraße 3, 99734 Nordhausen
Telephone: +49 3631 911-3100
Web: Landratsamt Nordhausen
Office hours

The following documents are required and can be submitted personally during the office hours or electronically via E-mail (recommended):

• filled application form
• Passport
• Visa page
• Confirmation of residence registration from the relevant authorities (see 6. Registering with the authorities)
• Two passport photos
• Certificate of student status with expected duration of studies (can be downloaded from QISPOS system)
• Proof of health insurance (see 3. Health insurance)
• Proof of sufficient financial resources

Students with EEA/EU citizenship do not normally need a work permit since they have the same rights as German citizens. 

The following applies to students from other countries whose residence permit was issued for the purpose of studying in Germany: parallel to their studies, students are entitled to work 120 full or 240 half days per (calendar) year. Anything beyond this requires the approval of the immigration authorities and the Federal Employment Agency (Section 16, para. 3 of the German Residence Act). In such cases, students will have to apply for a work permit from the immigration authorities.

This legislation does not apply to compulsory internships and part-time student jobs (work as a tutor, student assistant, etc.).

Internships and jobs can be found through the Federal Employment Agency and/or are advertised at the internship office's portal.

In case your residence permit/ student visa expires before the end of your studies, you are obliged to apply for an extension at the Foreigners' Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) responsible for your place of residence in due time.

In addition, you will need a statement from the International Office regarding the prospects of success of your studies. For issuing this document we need the following documents from you:

• most recent study confirmation from the QISPOS system
• most recent Transcript of Records from QISPOS system
• (if courses not appear in the transcript yet) list of registered course exams in the previous semester
• Students writing Thesis: Thesis contract or Bachlor's or Master's thesis registration confirmation

Please submit your application for visa extension using the Application form in Moodle. We need a processing time of 1-2 weeks. Any visa extensions requests via E-mail will not be considered.

We also reserve the right to request further documents.

Please note: The International Office can only positively confirm a positive prospect if

• the standard period of study for the degree programme has not been exceeded by more than three semesters
• your academic performance shows that you are able to complete your studies in the near future (next 1-3 semesters)