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Welcome Hub for International Students
This coming winter semester we will again support our new international students with various services, events and a welcome week. We want to make sure that you get the utmost support on your way to our – and very soon also your – university. This page shows a list of various pieces of information concerning our array of services. This page will be updated regularly. Should there be any information missing, please get into contact with us. We are looking forward to welcoming you!
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Infos for International Exchange Students
The International Office will support every exchange student in all matters and is your first contact partner regarding application, orientation in Osnabrück, organisation of your studies as well as all administrative issues. In addition, you can take part in all welcome week sessions.
Infos for International Degree-Seeking Students
As international degree-seeking students, we would ask you to contact our Students‘ Office with questions regarding application, admission and study organisation. Should you have questions regarding study financing, right of residence, or health insurance, the International Office will be pleased to support you. Furthermore, you can participate in some of the sessions of the Welcome Week.
Overview
If you have rented a room in the students' dorm, it is strictly required that you make an appointment with your caretaker for the key handover. You can find his contact details on the supplementary sheet which you receive together with your contract. There is further information on accommodation for exchange students here. The official arrival day is Oktober 4, 2023. From 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, we will offer a pick up service from Osnabrück's main station. If you would like to use the pick up service, please sign up at incoming@uos.de with both your arrival time and train number. Please note that it is not possible to move into your dorm room on Friday Afternoons, Saturdays or Sundays! You would have to book an alternative accommodation (hotel, hostel) to cover these days.
Registration and residency
In order to register in Osnabrück and obtain your residence permit, we strongly recommend to attend the appointment with the foreigner's office on October 10, 2023. We will inform you about the different application modes.
On these pages of the city of Osnabrück you can find more information about
Please have the following documents ready for your appointment and take note of some important information about entry and moving within Germany:
application form (Anmeldeformular How-To)
Copy of passport (personal page, visa and entry stamp if applicable)
Copy of "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung" (a document your landlord/landlady will provide you with)
Additional documents required and information about registration / residence permit (not applicable for EU citizens):
Entry without visa (PDF, 0.97 MB)
Entry with visa (PDF, 0.97 MB)
Moving within Germany to Osnabrück (PDF, 0.97 MB)
If you are applying for an extension of your visa, you must proceed as follows: send all copies in an e-mail to auslaenderbehoerde@osnabrueck.de. You must attach the following documents:
- application form (link see above, to be submitted if you are not yet registered in Osnabrück)
- Copy of Passport (Personal Page, Visa, Entry Stamp)
- Copy of Visa
- Copy of Health Insurance Certificate
- Copy of Certificate of Enrollment
- Copy of Proof of Funding (Blocked Account, Confirmation of Scholarship, etc.)
- Copy of Letter of Admission for Studies in Osnabrück
- Copy of "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung“ (a document your landlord/landlady will provide you with)
Students from the EU - Registration in Osnabrück
If students from the EU are unable to attend the appointment during our welcome week, they can also register with the application form (application form How-To), their "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung" and their passport at the Bürgeramt via 0541 323-3006 or buergeramt@osnabrueck.de
Welcome Week
Our Welcome Week for all new international students of the winter term 2023/24 will be from October 4 to October 10, 2023. The programme features information sessions on various topics, city and campus tours, get-togethers and a lot more. Please follow the link in order to find the current programme.
Programm Welcome Week WS 2023/24 (PDF, 481 kB)
Here is an overview of other important dates and deadlines.
Enrolment for Exchange Students
Step 1: Transfer the semester fee and open a bank account
Please transfer the reduced semester fee of 257,60 € as early as possible to the following account: University of Osnabrück (recipient), Nord LB (bank), DE19250500000199961566 (IBAN), NOLADE2H (BIC), "Ersteinschreiber/in WS 2023/24 Your Name" (reason/purpose of transfer). Please make sure to get a proof of payment (e.g. bank transfer confirmation, printout), because you need it for enrolment. Please e-mail your proof of payment at incoming@uni-osnabrueck.de. Non-EU students should also open a bank account. Should you need any support in that respect, please contact our tutors during the welcome week.
Step 2: Take out health insurance
Students from the EU can usually be exempted from statutory health insurance, if they have an EHIC . Please e-mail us a copy of your EHIC for enrolment. Students from non-EU countries need health insurance equivalent to German statutory health insurance. The range of services offered by public health insurance companies (and also the monthly cost) is very comparable. If you also need to open a blocked bank account, you can find further information on the following page Blocked Account Germany
German health insurance companies (without blocked account services) are, for example, Techniker Krankenkasse and AOK. If you would like to join the TK, please register here. If you have any questions, please contact Matthias Kurzawski. If you would like to join the AOK, please fill in this application (PDF, 123 kB) (application how-to (PDF, 1.10 MB)). If you have any questions, please contact Lucas Draws. You can also contact him if you have a private health insurance and would like to be exempted from statutory health insurance by using this form (PDF, 123 kB) (form how-to (PDF, 399 kB)
Step 3: Receive welcome e-mail and upload a photo
The admissions office will send you your welcome letter together with your user data sheet as soon as possible. After 24 hours, you should upload a photo for your CampusCard - you can find out how to do this here (simply follow the images).
Step 4: Pick up and validate your CampusCard
After your photo has been received, the Campuscard will be produced automatically. However, this may take a while. You can pick up and validate your CampusCard at Studios' infopoint in building 19.
Enrolment for Degree-Seeking Students
Step 1: Transfer semester fees and open a bank account
Please transfer the semester fee of 332,60 € as early as possible to the following account: University of Osnabrück (recipient), Nord LB (bank), DE19250500000199961566 (IBAN), NOLADE2H (BIC), "Ersteinschreiber/in WS 2023/24 Your Name" (reason/purpose of transfer). Please make sure to get a proof of payment (e.g. bank transfer confirmation, printout), because you need it for enrollment. Non-EU students should also open a bank account. Most banks offer special student accounts often free of charge. Regardless of which bank you choose, you will likely need your passport, proof of residency/registration (a so-called Anmeldebestätigung or your rental contract) and proof of your enrolment.
Step 2: Take out health insurance
For your studies in Germany, health insurance is statutory. Students from the EU can usually be exempted from statutory health insurance, if they have an EHIC card. Be aware that this exemption has to be valid for the entire duration of your studies! If you would like to obtain such a certificate of exemption, simply visit one of the many public health insurance companies in Osnabrück.
Non-EU students need health insurance equivalent to German statutory health insurance. The range of services offered by public health insurance companies (and also the monthly cost) is very comparable. If you would like to join the Techniker Krankenkasse, for example, please register here. If you have any questions, please contact Matthias Kurzawski. If you would like to join the AOK, please fill out this application (PDF, 123 kB) (application how-to (PDF, 1.10 MB)). If you have any questions, please contact Lucas Draws. You can also contact him if you have a private health insurance and would like to be exempted from statutory health insurance by using this form (PDF, 123 kB) (form how-to (PDF, 399 kB)
Step 3: Apply for enrolment
Please send an email to studentsoffice@uos.de until March 31 (for summer term) and until September 30 (for winter term) with (1) proof of payment of the semester fees, (2) confirmation of health insurance (or confirmation of exemption from health insurance), (3) a scan of your passport, and (4) other documents if you were requested to do so in your admission letter (if applicable).
Step 4: Receive welcome e-mail and upload a photo
The admissions office will send you your welcome letter together with your user data sheet as soon as possible. After 24 hours, you should upload a photo for your CampusCard - you can find out how to do this here (simply follow the images).
Step 5: Pick up and validate your CampusCard
After your photo has been received, the Campuscard will be produced automatically. However, this may take a while. You will be notified by the admissions office when the Campuscard has been created. Then, please go to StudiOS' infopoint in person to validate your campuscard and to pick up your welcome folder.
Academic Orientation
International Exchange Students with questions about their course selection, academic integration, or Learning Agreement may find their relevant contact person/department here (PDF, 482 kB). Degree-seeking students are strongly encouraged to contact their department.
Networking and Campus Life
Campus Life
Studying and living at the University of Osnabrück takes place on two campuses. The humanities and social sciences as well as many administrative buildings are located on the campus in the city center. The Westerberg campus is home to the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, cognitive science and environmental systems science. The interactive map helps students find their way around.
Access to the university buildings is possible without restrictions as well as the use of the services of the university library.
Visiting the cafeterias is an important part of campus life at Osnabrück University and there are no restrictions at all.
Questions? Remarks? We're here for you!
We would like to support you with all questions you may have before and during your stay at UOS. Should you have a question, a remark or just the need to talk, please do not hesitate to contact us. Although our doors must still be kept close at the moment, you can reach us as follows:
Contact Hours for international students
We offer personal consultation hours for international students twice per week: Mondays, 2 pm - 3:30 pm and Thursdays, 10 am - 12 pm. Registration is not required.
Email or Phone
You can of course also reach us via the usual communication channels. Just send us an email to incoming@uos.de or phone us under +49 541 969 4599.
