Visas and entry into Germany

You can also apply to study with us directly from outside Germany.

The DAAD has summarised who needs a visa to enter Germany and how to apply for one on this webpage. More detailed information is available on the Federal Foreign Office’s website.

In general, students apply for a study visa or a visa for study preparation courses.

It often takes months before a visa is issued. Therefore it is very important to apply for a visa as early as possible.

If you are planning to arrive in Germany ready to start your studies, it is a good idea to arrive two to four weeks before the beginning of the semester. This gives you time to organise any accommodation and day-to-day matters, health insurance, etc.

Living in Nuremberg

Living

The Studierendenwerk (Student Services) webpages contain lots of tips about accommodation. Here you can find information about the Studierendenwerk’s places of residence or the publicly subsidised external residences and apply via the Studierendenwerk’s online form.

The Studierendenwerk also finds housing offers on the private housing markets in Erlangen and Nuremberg free of charge (private room finder service).

Please email us at ohm-internationalatth-nuernbergPunktde for tips on finding accommodation on the private housing market (e.g. shared flat “WG”).

Registering with the residents’ registration office and applying for a residence permit

As soon as you have moved into your housing, you must register in person with your local residents’ registration office (“Einwohneramt”) and provide your address.

Approximately 4 weeks before your visa ends, you must apply online for a residence permit (“Aufenthaltserlaubnis”); this applies only for non-EU citizens. You will then receive further information as well as a letter sent to your registered address (postal address) with your appointment. Please make sure that your name is on your mailbox at your registered address.

Residence permits for students are issued for a period of at least one year and maximally two years. They are extended for the same durations. The duration depends on the documentation you provide of your financial means (“Lebensunterhaltssicherung”), the validity of your passport, and the validity of your health insurance. Please note that residence permits for the purpose of studying can cover a maximum period of 10 years; this period includes any preparatory courses or measures.

Residence permits are linked to studying at the Ohm, the degree programme, and completing the degree (more information about these stipulations (“Auflagen”) is available in an additional information sheet). If anything changes during your studies, e.g., enrolling at another university or changing degree programmes, you must promptly inform the foreigners' registration office (Amt für Migration und Integration or often called the “Ausländerbehörde”) by requesting a stipulation change (“Auflagenänerung”). This form can be found on the Amt für Migration und Integration’s website and it can also be submitted online.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at International Academic Services by email at ohm-internationalatth-nuernbergPunktde.

Health and liability insurance

All registered students in Germany must hold health insurance.

You can take out a health insurance policy with any of the statutory health insurance providers in Germany. This link will take you to a website that lists health insurance providers and more information. They generally charge a standard premium for student health and nursing care insurance. The monthly subscription premium is currently around 130 euros. Your insurance provider will issue you with a certificate regarding your insurance coverage, which you must present upon enrolment.

For more information, you can also visit the DAAD website.

We strongly recommend you take out private liability insurance. This is insurance that covers personal injury and property damage that you have caused yourself. The cost of private liability insurance is generally relatively low (around 5 euros per month). You can find information about the various options available online.

Student funding information

All Ohm students must pay the “Studierendenwerkbeitrag“ (Student Services fee) each semester. Tuition is charged for international students from countries that are not part of the EEA who enrolled at the Ohm in or after winter semester 2025/2026. More information about tuition

For day-to-day living in Germany, you will need an average monthly budget of around 900-1100 euros. This will cover rent, travel costs, food, clothes, study resources, health insurance, phone, internet, radio and television licence fees, and leisure activities.

The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) has summarised some helpful information on these topics on this page. The Deutschen Studentenwerk (German student services) has also created a video with information about student funding in Germany.

If you wish to apply for a scholarship, you should contact a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) office in your home country before your stay in Germany. More information about the scholarships from the DAAD

If you are already here and you have strong academic achievements and/or are engaged in the community, you might be eligible for other scholarship or grant programmes. More information from the DAAD.

If your residence status allows, you can also take on a so-called “mini job” alongside your studies, for which your monthly earnings must not exceed 520 euros. Many students work in the restaurant trade, for example. Jobs as “student assistants” may also be offered from time to time in the Faculties or as part of specific projects at the university.

Please bear in mind that your studies will require a lot of time and commitment and will only leave a limited amount of time for working. It is a good idea not to take on a part-time job during your first semester so that you can get used to the requirements of your study programme. By the time you start the second semester, you will have a better idea of how much time and energy you will have for a part-time job.

Culture and leisure in Nuremberg

In addition to its numerous museums and exhibitions, Nuremberg also has a world of culture for you to discover. With musical performances and open-air concerts held at the Meistersingerhalle, Frankenhalle, and Tafelhalle and extensive cultural programmes hosted by the opera house, theatre, and the city’s numerous “Kulturläden” culture centers.

You can find an overview of the current cultural and leisure events taking place in Nuremberg on the City of Nuremberg webpages.

More information about cultural offerings within the university and in the region is available on this page: Internationalisation at home.

Orientation events

Have you already enrolled and are now planning the start of your studies at the Ohm? Do you still have lots of questions about official affairs (with the “Behörde”) and acclimating to the German university system? Then our orientation programme for international students, which takes place every September before the semester starts at the Ohm, is just what you are looking for. You will receive an email invitation before the event from the IAS.

Counseling

There are several counseling services in and around the university offering support on any issues you may have at the start and throughout your studies.

The following departments at the Ohm can provide various services:

• The International Academic Services (IAS) supports international students at all stages of their studies and provides prospective students from outside of Germany with advice for the application process
• The Student Office is your point of contact for any practical and formal issues relating to your academic progress, for example enrolment, exam issues, practical semesters, changing degree programme, and leaves of absence
• Peer advisors for your degree programme are on hand for any subject-specific questions you may have, as are the Faculty Advisors for your specific course (see your Faculty’s webpages)
• The Language Center offers a diverse range of regular language courses as well as bridging courses and a comprehensive DSH programme for prospective international students to help them improve their language skills before beginning their studies
• For information about scholarship opportunities and advancement awards, please visit the student funding information pages
• For students with children or dependent relatives or students who are pregnant, our University Service for Family, Equality, and Occupational Health (HSFG) is on hand to offer support. The HSFG can also provide you with information concerning equality and advancement of women.
• The Career Service supports students in preparing to start their careers

For a brief overview of these and other services, please visit the Ohm’s Counseling & Services pages.

The Studierendenwerk Erlangen-Nuremberg is not only a point of contact for accommodation and BAföG queries, it also offers support for psychological and psychotherapeutic difficulties and advice on legal matters such as purchasing and tenancy law.

For students from other EU states, the Nuremberg “Amt für Migration und Integration” (“Ausländerbehörde”) is also responsible for any issues arising in connection with your right of residence.