Preparation

Details on scholarships (BWS/ DAAD, Zonta, City of Stuttgart) can be found in the "Programmes" section.

If you wish, we can automatically reserve a room for you provided by the Stuttgart Student Services in the Student Village, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the university. It is only a 2 minute walk to the campus or the “S-Bahn” station.
You will live together with other students in a flat (shared apartment) - similar to a family. This form of living is very popular and widespread among German students. The buildings are new and modern. Each student has their own spacious single room to themselves. The rent per person and semester is currently 2.010 EUR (last updated summer term 25). The room is furnished with a bed, wardrobe, table and chair. The large kitchen with dining area/living room, the bathroom and the toilet, on the other hand, are shared with flatmates. These common rooms are cleaned by all residents in turn according to a cleaning schedule, as each shared flat is responsible for the cleanliness of the apartment. There are also washing machines and dryers in the basement. Internet connection has to be booked seperatly, price: 9,50 EUR/month - the fees will be booked every 3 months in total: 28,50 EUR/ 3 months.

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The International Office also has an option for some double rooms. As the number of places is limited, we cannot guarantee you the type of room; however, you can express your wish when applying online. Wishes will be considered in the order of receipt of the application. Normally, most requests can be accommodated.
The double rooms are located in the same buildings as the single rooms and are just as comfortable. However, they share a large bedroom with two single beds. We recommend these rooms for good friends, as experience has shown that it is difficult to live in close quarters for half a year with someone you do not know beforehand. The price for such a double room is currently 1.412 EUR per person (last updated summer term 25).

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Generally, a room in the Student Village is automatically reserved for all exchange students when they register.

Please note: There is an age limit, the maximum age is 30 years! Unfortunately, older students cannot be accepted; they must look for accommodation on the private market themselves.

Since, unlike German students, as an exchange student you do not have a waiting period, i.e. you will receive a room immediately upon request, and moreover you do not have to pay a deposit, the rent for the semester must be paid in one single amount in advance. Monthly payments are unfortunately not possible. However, you have up to 6 weeks after your arrival to transfer the amount. Scholarship holders, for example, can wait for their scholarship money to arrive in their account.
Later payments are only possible in exceptional cases.

As is also common in many other countries, the contract always runs for a full semester, i.e. 6 months. It is irrelevant here whether you go home early or not: the tenancy agreement can only be concluded for 6 months. A shorter rental period is not possible. For this reason, subletting is also not allowed.

However, if you prefer to live privately, there is always the possibility to look for a room yourself. However, we would like to point out that in this case, the International Office must already be informed when you register online that you do not need a room in the Student Village.

If you are planning to stay with relatives or friends in the area, you are welcome to let us know your new address as soon as you register online.

Please note that the rooms in the Student Village (rent including electricity, water, internet, etc.) are inexpensive for our region, as the rent prices in Ludwigsburg and the greater Stuttgart area are very high. You should bear this in mind when deciding in favour of a private room. Unfortunately, the International Office cannot help you find a room on the open market.

Based on our experience, a student in Germany currently needs an average of approx. 700-1.000 EUR per month for food, clothing, rent, travel costs, free time and studies.

Here are some examples:

• Room rent in room in the student residence per semester: approx. 2,010 EUR (corresponds to approx. 335 EUR / month)
• Internet access an additional 9,50 EUR per month
• Semster fee: approx. 90 EUR
• German student health insurance for non-EU citizens: approx. 750 EUR per semester
• Meal in the “Mensa” (student restaurant) with a drink: 3-6 EUR (menu)
• One wash using a  Student Village washing machine: approx. 2 EUR
• Entrance fee to the cinema: 7-9 EUR

For your four to six month stay in Ludwigsburg, you can expect to need at least 3,600 EUR in total.

An Erasmus mobility grant will only cover a (small) part of the costs of your stay, as this is not a full scholarship.

Even with a generous scholarship (from the DAAD or the Baden-Württemberg Foundation), this sum will not be able to cover all the costs. In any case, you will need additional money of your own to be able to manage your stay financially.

Unlike in some other countries, students at German universities can put together their own schedule. This also applies to international students.

However, exchange students must take into account the Learning Agreement that you completed in consultation with your home university.

Please note: Erasmus students and scholarship holders must acquire at least 20 ECTS per semester.

The Learning Agreement consists of three parts:

"Before Mobility”                                                                 

Before your departure, you have to determine the courses together with your coordinator and record them in the "Before Mobility" part. You must send us this first part of the Learning Agreement with your signature and that of the coordinator before your arrival, also as a scan if you wish.

"During Mobility

Your original course selection can still be changed during the first weeks of your stay. The changes will then be recorded in the second, "During Mobility", part of the Learning Agreement and signed by all parties.

"After Mobility"

The third part, "After Mobility", is completed at the end of your semester abroad at your home university.

You can find an overview of the process for the Learning Agreement on the DAAD homepage at:

eu.daad.de/service/downloadcenter/de/46402-downloadcenter/

Students who do not come from the EU need a valid entry visa for study purposes. This must be applied for in the home country in good time, as processing / issuing can take several months.

Exception: Citizens of the USA, Australia, Japan, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, South Korea and Ukraine can also obtain the residence permit after their arrival here in Ludwigsburg.

For EU citizens:

In accordance with EU agreements, health insurance from your home country is also recognised in Germany. However, you must have the blue EHIC card issued by your health insurance provider before you leave. This must be valid at least until the end of your studies here in Germany!

EHIC = European Health Insurance Card

In cases of acute problems, illnesses or pain, you can then use the EHIC card to go to any dentist, doctor or hospital for treatment. The examination is free of charge.

Since the EHIC is only valid for acute illnesses, we recommend that EU students with chronic ailments take out additional health insurance with a German insurance company.

This system also applies to Turkish and Serbian citizens; however, instead of an EHIC your Turkish or Serbian insurance provider will issue:

- Form A/T 11 Türkiye-Alman Sosyal Güvenlik Sözlesmeşi for Turkish citizens. This is a bilingual form prepared by the two countries. It is issued by SSI branches in Turkey and insurance providers in Germany.

- Form 111 SRB for Serbian citizens. If you do not have this document when you arrive, you will need to take out a regular German health insurance policy.

For non-EU citizens:

First of all, you will need travel health insurance for your arrival and the first few days of your stay in Ludwigsburg.

After that, like German students, you must take out insurance with a German health insurance provider based in Germany (not a purely online insurance!). This costs approx. 750 EUR per semester / 6 months and is fully inclusive (also e.g. prevention, dentures for damaged teeth, hospital stays, operations, free choice of doctor etc.). The contract is always concluded for 6 months. If you leave earlier, you will be reimbursed for the remaining months/weeks.

During the orientation days, we will help you to find a German health insurance provider. Of course, you are completely free to select a health insurance provider of your choice, but from experience we recommend one of the large, semi-governmental ones, as private providers often do not have sufficient insurance coverage and are therefore not accepted for admission.

The semester-long language courses are offered at four different levels, so you are guaranteed to attend a course that is tailored to your initial competence.

For students who are not yet older than 30, the bank account is free of charge for the duration of your studies in Germany.

We will set up an account for each of you as soon as you arrive - you do not have to do this on your own.

If you already have an account in Germany, we recommend that you check whether your bank has a branch in Ludwigsburg.

Caution: With a student account, you cannot go into debit ("minus"), which means you cannot incur debts and overdraw the account. If you have no more money in the account, you can no longer make financial transactions such as transfers, withdraw money, etc. So before making any transfer, carefully check your account balance to see whether the money in your account is sufficient for the transfer.

Credit cards are not accepted everywhere in Germany, depending on the type of card. Small amounts are still often paid in cash. Cheques are no longer used in Germany.

If you lose your credit card or your German account card, or if it is stolen, you must have the card blocked immediately. There are central telephone numbers in Germany for this purpose. If possible, make a note of these numbers before you leave.