Basic information for exchange students

Guide to the enrollment process

The process of studying in a German university proceeds through three stages:

1. Admission,
2. Enrollment, and
3. Registration of courses.

The following information will take you through the enrollment stage of the process.
Before you are allowed to enroll in the University, you must be accepted for studies in the University. You are accepted for either,

• a specific course of study, or
• for a limited length of time for studies.

A Zulassungsbescheid (notification of admission) accepts you for studies in the University. It entitles you to enroll in the University for the semester prescribed on the document.

Through enrollment you officially become a student of the University and receive a student identification document.

Where do students enroll?

You must personally enroll yourself in the Studentensekretariat .

The Studentensekretariat is located at:

Wilhelmstrasse 11,
D-72074 Tübingen.

What are the required steps in the enrollment process?

Step 1

• Go to the Studentensekretariat
• Get the Immatrikulationsunterlagen (enrollment documents) at the counter in the Studentensekretariat .

  The Immatrikulationsunterlagen contain:

  • an Immatrikulationsantrag (enrollment application),
  • a Matrikelnummer (enrollment number),
  • a Datenstammblatt , and
  • a Zahlkarte (a form for paying the Student fee at a bank of your choice).

• Fill out the Immatrikulationsunterlagen
• A passport photo is required for the Immatrikulationsunterlagen . (A fotomat (automatic photo service) is located on the ground floor of the Mensa Wilhelmstrasse, next door to the Studentensekretariat . Four photos cost DM 8,-.

Step 2

• Go to the Ausländerabteilung (Foreign Office) of the Ordnungsamt (Security Office) of the community in which you live.
  The Ordungsamt for Tübingen only is located at:

  Wilhelmstrasse 24,
  D-72074 Tübingen.

• Take your Zulassungsbescheid (notification of admission) and your passport to the Ausländerabteilung (Foreign Office) of the Ordungsamt (Security Office).
• Apply there for a vorläufige Aufenthaltsgenehmigung (temporary residence permit). You must have this Aufenthaltsgenehmigung to enroll in the University.
• Register with the Local Authorities ( Polizeiliche Anmeldung ).

Step 3

• Go to a bank
• Use the Überweisungsformular (payment transfer form) in the Immatrikulationsunterlagen to pay the Semesterbeitrag des Studentenwerks (semester contribution to the Studentenwerk organization)
• Be sure to get an Einzahlungsbeleg (receipt of payment) from the bank. You must have this Einzahlungsbeleg in order to enroll in the University.

Step 4

• Take your Zulassungsbescheid (notification of admission) to a Krankenkasse (insurance company) of your choice.
• Apply there for a Versicherungsbescheinigung (insurance verification card).
• Complete information about health insurance for students is on the reverse side of your Immatrikulationsanträge (enrollment application) in your Immatrikulationsunterlagen (enrollment documents).
• You must have this Versicherungsbescheinigung (insurance verification) in order to enroll in the University.

Step 5

Take the following documents to the Studentensekretariat

• a completly filled-out Immatrikulationsbescheinigung (enrollment documents): => Immatrikulationsantrag (enrollment application), and
  => Datenstammblatt , furnished with a passport photo.
  
• your Zulassungsbescheid (notification of admission),
• any documents, certificates, degrees, etc., if required by your Zulassungsbescheid (notification of admission),
• your passport with a valid Aufenthaltsgenehmigung (temporary permit),
• a copy (white) of your registration form for the Local Authorities ( polizeiliche Anmeldung
• the Einzahlungsbeleg (receipt) from the bank payment of the Semesterbeitrag des Studentenwerks (semester contribution to the Studentenwerk
• a Krankenversicherungsbescheinigung (health insurance validation card), and
• two additional passport photos.

If your Unterlagen (documents) are properly filled out and completed, you will receive an official Studentenausweis (student identification document and an official Studienbuch (student record book).

A computer-printed Datenkotrollblatt will be sent to you through the mail. The Datenkontrollblatt will contain:

• the data of your enrollment,
• an official enrollment document, often required for official transactions, and
• the documents necessary for Rückmeldung (re-enrollment) for the following semester.

Examine the Datenkontrollblatt and notify the Studentensekretariat any errors or omissions.

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