Preparing your studies

How much does it cost to live and study in Weimar? Can I earn money?

Finding one's way at a new university might be a challenge. Here you find all necessary information and contact addresses (including a campus map) that will help you during your first days.

Students from non-EU countries must apply for a visa for entering Germany in most cases. Please note: A tourist visa cannot be changed to a student visa afterwards! For more information on the visa application and regulations please check the website of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

You can live in one of the student dorms, a shared flat (»WG«) or an apartment of your own. As finding a room is not easy, you should start looking / applying for a student dorm as soon as possible.

In Germany, all students must prove their valid health insurance for enrollment.

After your arrival in Weimar, you should register your address with the immigration office ("Ausländerbehörde") as soon as possible. 

If you are a non-EU citizen, you must additionally apply for a residence permit at the immigration office ("Ausländerbehörde"). 

In Germany you can pay almost everything in cash or by debit card. For regular transactions such as paying your rent, health insurance or for transferring the semester fee, you should open a German bank account.

When you come to study in Germany, it’s a good idea to open a bank account here. Practically everyone in Germany pays their bills with a current account – the telephone bill, the rent, the semester contribution, etc. There are several banks in Weimar which offer free current accounts to students.

To open an account, you will need:

• Valid passport with your residence permit (student visa for non-EU citizens)
• Resident registration form from the Resident Registration Office (place of residence must be in Germany)
• Confirmation of enrolment from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

When you open an account, the bank may offer you a Maestro card or credit card. Before issuing you a credit card, the bank usually checks how long you intend to live in Germany and whether you have sufficient funds at your disposal.

For enrolment, you must hand in your complete documents at the Campus.Office. Here you can find an overview of the necessary documents and the information how you receive your student ID "thoska".