Erasmus in Germany: key information to make the best out of your experience

These are some of the most common requirements and formalities:

• Students from outside the European Union or EEA have to get a student visa.
• Universities usually request a certification of B1 or B2 level of the language in which you will be studying, which can be English or German.
• Health insurance covering the entire duration of your stay is required. If you’re originally from a EU country, we recommend that you use the European Health Insurance Card.
• If you’re going to be in Germany for more than three months, you must register as a citizen. In German: Anmeldung. This is vital for other formalities, such as enrolling in your university or even opening a German bank account.
• In this country, it’s very common to have a haftpflichtversicherung, a liability insurance toward third parties.
• Demonstrate that you have sufficient financial funds to subsist for the duration of your studies, which can be done through a guarantor or a scholarship.
• To apply for the exchange you’ll most likely have to submit documents such as a motivation letter, the transcript of academic record and also fill out the Learning Agreement.

A large part of your experience lies in getting to know German culture. You’re going to have different possibilities to do this, such as visiting museums and monuments, and being part of local festivals and traditions.

Having the possibility to learn or practice the German language is another reason that attracts many international students to do an exchange in the country. Universities often have free, intensive German language courses, which sometimes take place in the weeks before classes start. Take advantage of them!

Gastronomy is another of the country's strengths, with specialities such as sausages ("würstchen"), brezel, kartoffel and its famous beer. In Germany, it’s very common to eat in the "Mensa", the university canteen. In it, you’ll be able to taste dishes of local cuisine at very affordable prices.

The geographical position of Germany will allow you to make affordable trips to nearby countries during your exchange. In addition, as a student, you’ll have the possibility to obtain a "Semesterticket", a public transportation ticket that allows you to move around the region you’re living in freely for six months.

Culturally, Germany displays historic richness and modern diversity in every corner. From the cultural and entertainment offerings of Berlin to charming Karlsruhe close to nature, every destination and region of the country offers opportunities to enjoy local traditions. Here are the highlights you can visit in each region:

In the north, cities such as Hamburg and Bremen are located in a region influenced by the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts. This area is noted for its economy centred on trade and maritime industry.

To the west, in North Rhine-Westphalia, the landscape diversifies with hills and an industrial economy. Cologne and Düsseldorf are significant urban centres in this region.

In the east, formerly East Germany, states such as Saxony and Thuringia have undergone notable changes since German reunification in 1990. Cities such as Leipzig and Dresden are known for their cultural and artistic wealth.

In southern Germany, in states such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the Bavarian Alps offer breathtaking mountain scenery. Bavaria, in particular, is famous for its traditions, culture and festivals, with Munich (and its Oktoberfest) as the cultural epicentre. The central region, which includes cities such as Frankfurt and Erfurt, is an economic and transportation hotspot with a combination of modern urban areas and historic villages.