Academic calendar and courses

Academic calendar

The academic year is divided into two semesters:

Winter semester: 1 October to 14 March
Examination period: Mid-January to mid-February
Semester break (no lectures): from approx. 24 December to 6 January and from mid-February to mid-March

Summer semester: 15 March to 30 September
Examination period: Late June to late July
Semester break: August and September

Choosing courses

A summary of courses conducted in English is available online.

You can find an overview of our degree programmes that are conducted in German on this page. 

Please refer to the module handbook for each respective degree programme for module descriptions. The final course catalogue will be available approximately 4 weeks before the semester begins.

During online information events, you can get the contact information for the coordinators in each Faculty. They will be able to assist you in selecting your courses and answer your questions.

Online events for exchange students in summer semester 2026

• Wednesday, 3 December 2025, 2.00 - 3.00 pm (CET)
  Zoom Link
• Thursday, 4 December 2025, 10.00 - 11.00 am (CET)
  Zoom Link
• Monday, 8 December 2025, 3.00 - 4.00 pm (CET)
  Zoom Link

Grading system

Semester fee

Exchange students from one of our partner institutions are not required to pay tuition. However, when you enrol, you must pay the “Studerendenwerksbeitrag” (Student Services fee), which is currently 72 euros, each semester. The Student Services (“Studierendenwerk”) administers all halls of residence and the cafeterias. Accommodation and meals for students are offered at reduced prices. 

Onboarding School for exchange students

Spring / Fall Onboarding School for Exchange Students

The International Office organises the Onboarding School for exchange students, which takes place before the semester begins. You will learn about important formalities, meet other international students, and get oriented on campus and in the City of Nuremberg. 

All exchange students are warmly invited to participate in our extensive orientation at the Onboarding School before the semester starts.

The preliminary dates are:

• Winter semester: 1 - 30 September
• Summer semester: 1 - 14 March

The Onboarding School includes the following points:

• Orientation Day at the Ohm and support for formalities after arriving in Nuremberg (e.g. registration office [“Einwohnermeldeamt”])
• German Intensive Course at levels A1/A2 and B1/B2
• Intercultural seminar “Living in Germany”
• Cultural and leisure offers

Participants may receive credits (ECTS) for completing the German Intensive Course as follows:

• 2 credits for the course offered in March
• 5 credits for the course offered in September

There is no fee for participating in the Spring / Fall Onboarding School for students from partner universities.

You can register for the Onboarding School when you apply for an exchange semester at the Ohm. Information about applying is available under the tab below labelled, “Nomination and Applying”.

Onboarding programme from past semesters

Onboarding School in summer semester 2025
Onboarding School in winter semester 2025-2026

Arrival

Orientation days

The International Office organises orientation days for exchange students, which take place before the semester begins. During orientation, you will receive credentials for your Ohm IT accounts, important information about enrolment, registering for courses, registering with the city (“Einwohnermeldeamt”), health insurance, and more. 

All exchange students are obliged to take part in the orientation day.  

Orientation day for winter semester

• 2 or 3 September - for participants in the Onboarding School
• 20 or 21 September - for students who are not participating in the Onboarding School

Orientation day in summer semester

• 2 or 3 March - for participants in the Onboarding School
• 8 or 9 March - for students who are not participating in the Onboarding School

The definitive date of the orientation day will be sent to you in an email from the International Office.
Please ensure that your travel plans enable you to attend the orientation day.

Moving into halls of residence

Rooms in halls of residence are available for moving in from the first working day of the month. Each hall of residence has a caretaker, who is responsible for issuing keys, house rules, repairs, and other issues. Keys can be collected from the caretaker after making arrangements with them from Monday to Friday. If you plan on arriving one or more days before the official move-in date or at the weekend, you can find affordable accommodation options on various online booking platforms. More information is available under the “Accommodation” accordion below.

The Ohm Buddy Programme – Support to help you get started

Our buddies are Ohm students and they help international arrivals getting started as a student in Germany and settling in to living in Nuremberg. Especially during your first weeks after arriving – they can help you find your way on campus, with questions about how to organise things, or just everyday questions. Your buddy will contact you by email around two or three weeks before you arrive, to discuss your arrival and how they can support you.

Accommodation

Living in halls of residence

The International Office has a limited number of rooms and apartments available in halls of residence of the Studierendenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg. These living spaces may only be leased via the International Office and are subject to special conditions. All exchange students from one of our partner universities may be allocated one of these rooms or apartments for their stay in Nuremberg. The International Office provides support and guidance during the application process.

Conditions

• Set contract periods: March/April – August/September or September/October – February/March (5 months minimum)
• Maximum contract period: 12 months
• Due on contract signing: A deposit and the rent for the first and second months (approx. 900 euros)
• Allocation of the room(s) is exclusively under the purview of the Studierendenwerk

Further information about admissions procedures and offers can be found under “SOK-Aufnahme”.

Facilities in halls of residence

• Typical shared flat (“WG” =”Wohngemeinschaft”) - an own room, shared kitchen, bath, and WC
• Single-occupant apartments with a bath/kitchen, allocated according to availability
• Furnishing: bed, mattress, desk, chair, wardrobe, and lighting. Kitchens are equipped with an oven and a fridge
  Please note: Duvets, pillows, and crockery are not included, but can be purchased cheaply in local shops when you arrive.
• Data network and internet connections are available in every flat.

You can find more information about the halls of residence and types of accommodation at www.werkswelt.de

Prices

Depending on the size, location, and facilities, approx. 250-300 euros per month including some utilities (electricity is on-top).   

Applying for a place in a hall of residence

All exchange students can obtain accommodation via the Studierendenwerk. You will receive a link to the application form, directly after your nomination to the Ohm.

Application deadlines

• Deadline for application for the following winter semester: 31 May of the year
• Deadline for application for the following summer semester: 30 November of the preceding year

Unfortunately, applications received after the deadline can not be considered.

Private halls of residence in Nuremberg

There are privately operated student halls of residence. Information about how to apply for a place is available on the websites of the respective operators.

Flats and shared flats

Many students live in private accommodations in Nuremberg or the surrounding area. Rooms and flats can be rented furnished or unfurnished.
The most cost-effective way to lie is in a shared flat (WG = “Wohngemeinschaft”). You have your own room and share common rooms, kitchen, and bathroom with the other members of the flat. The rent for the whole flat, running costs, and additional common expenses are split amongst all roommates. 

There are flats consisting of one or more rooms with a kitchenette and a separate bathroom or one room and a separate kitchen and bathroom. The running costs are usually not included in the rent (“Kaltmiete” = rent that does not include heating or other additional costs).

Operators/Providers and addresses

Short-term accommodations

For your first days in Nuremberg or if you only have a short visit planned, you can take a room in a youth hostel, a hotel, or a bed-and-breakfast in Nuremberg or the surrounding area. Please be sure to check how far the accommodation is from the city center and the university and check public transportation options and schedules!

List with hotels

Student visa und residence permit (“zu Studienzwecken”)

On the website of the Federal Foreign Office you can find an overview of countries for which there is a visa requirement for entry to Germany.

Students from EU Member States

Students from EU Member States do not require a visa.

Students from non-EU Member States with an EU student residence permit

Within the framework of EU mobility (REST Directive), students from non-EU Member States who have a valid student residence permit in another EU Member State may study in Germany up to 360 days without a visa. Students with residence permits in Great Britain, Ireland, or Denmark are excepted. The residence permit must be valid for the entire period of stay in Germany.

If this mobility regulation applies to you, the Ohm must inform the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) of your stay and transfer any required documentation. Please inform the Incomings team in a timely manner about your intent to study in German (at the latest 60 days prior to your entry to the country).

Required documents:

• Registration form (please request this from the Incomings team)
• A copy of your residence permitfromthe EU Member State (issued for the purpose of studying and valid for the period of your stay at the Ohm)
• A copy of your valid passport
• Documentation of your participation in a European Union or multilateral programme (e.g. Erasmus)
• Letter of Acceptance (“Zulassung”) from the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg
• “Erklärung über Sicherung des Lebensunterhaltes ” (Declaration of financial security)

Please email all documents to the Incomings team.

You can find more information about the REST Directive on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.

Students from countries outside the EU

Students from countries outside the EU should enquire at the German Embassy or Consulate in their home country to find out whether a visa is required.
Students from certain countries can enter Germany without a visa, but must then apply for a residence permit at the Foreigners’ Registration Office in Nuremberg within 90 days. Students from all other countries outside the EU must apply for a student visa from the German Embassy or Consulate in their home country.

When applying for a visa, you will generally need to provide the following documents:

• A valid passport
• A completed visa application, which you can obtain from the embassy
• A confirmation letter from Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm
• Proof of financing
• Some embassies require proof of health insurance (please note that you will in all cases need to take out student’s insurance with a healthcare insurance organization in Germany)   

Proof of financing

In order to fulfil the requirements for a student visa, international students are required to provide proof that they possess sufficient finances to pay for their stay.
At the present time, the German authorities require students to demonstrate that they will have 992 euros per month.
If, for example, you would like to spend 6 months as an exchange student at the Ohm, you must show evidence of an account containing at least 5,952 euros for the entire duration of your stay in Nuremberg. You can provide proof of financing in various ways. Please ask the German Embassy or Consulate for details and decide for yourself which method is best for you.
Once you have submitted all of the necessary documents, it will take a few weeks for your application to be processed. After that, you will be issued an entry visa for Germany (national visa), which should be valid for at least three months.
After arriving in Germany, you must apply for a residence permit to cover the remainder of your stay within those three months. You can do that at the Foreigners’ Registration Office in Nuremberg. We will help you complete this important step.

Insurance

Health insurance

All registered students in Germany must have health insurance.

• European exchange students:
  You already have a European health insurance card (EHIC). You can normally find this on the reverse side of your standard health insurance card. The validity of your health insurance must be reviewed and confirmed by a German health insurance provider. We will help you complete this formality.
• Exchange students from non-EU countries:
  In order to enrol at the Ohm, you must take out statutory health insurance in Germany. The cost of health insurance for students is approximately € 140 per month.

Please note, however, that German health insurance for students only becomes valid at the start of the semester (that is, from 15 March for the summer semester and from 1 October for the winter semester). If you arrive in Germany before those dates, it is your responsibility to make sure that you hold health insurance for your journey and for the time before the semester officially begins. Please also note that some German embassies or consulates will require you to show that you have health insurance covering the time up to the beginning of the semester.

Liability insurance
We strongly advise you to take out liability insurance for the whole of your stay in Germany that provides cover against any losses or damage you may cause to third parties or their property. Liability insurance is not compulsory, but we strongly advise you to take it out, in order to avoid having to pay high costs if ever you cause any losses or damage. If you decide to take out liability insurance, we will give you more information about this during the orientation event.

Nomination

Partner universities nominate their exchange students using SoleMove, a nominating and application platform.

To set up a user account with your own username and password, we need the following information from you or from the person responsible for nominations at your university: Family name, given name and email address. Please send this information to incomings@th-nuernberg.de.

Our Incomings Team will then set up your account. You will receive your login and other information from the SoleMove system automatically. Please note that the email will be sent from this account: noreply@solenovo.fi. If you do not receive an email, please check your spam folder to see if the email was routed there.

After you have nominated your students in SoleMove, we will activate individual user accounts for each nominee. Your students will receive an email with their login information and information about the application process. The students can then complete their application in the SoleMove system.

Semester schedule and deadlines:

• Nominations must be completed by your university by 31 October 2025 in SoleMove.
• The student applications must be submitted in SoleMove by 15 November 2025.
• The official dates for the summer semester are 15 March - 30 September 2026. The examination period usually ends at the end of July. After exams are over, students may depart.

Applying

Students from partner universities must be nominated by their home university.

After your home university has nominated you in the SoleMove system, we will activate your individual user account. You will receive your login and information about the application process by email. You can then complete your application in the SoleMove system.

Please note that the email will be sent from this account: noreply@solenovo.fi. If you do not receive an email, please check your spam folder to see if the email was routed there. 

You can, however, prepare the following documents for the process:

• a full CV
• a current transcript of records
• documentation of your proficiency in the language of instruction (German and/or English)
• a photo for the student ID card 

Application deadlines:

• 15 November 2025 (for summer semester 2026)
• 15 May 2026 (for winter semester 2026/27)