Darmstadt university of applied sciences is spread out over several locations. The three main parts of the campus are

• Campus Schöfferstraße
• Campus Dieburg
• Campus Mathildenhöhe

To get a first impression of the h_da, take a virtual campus tour of all thee campus parts. The MBA program is located at the main campus Schöfferstraße.

The MBA team will accompany you from your application throughout your studies and does also run the alumni program. We are responsible for the application process, the coordination and administration of the program, feedback, advisory services and much more. If you don't know whom to contact for your queries, you can always get in touch with us - either we can help or guide you to the person responsible.
The MBA team constists of the academic director, program management, account management and administration. Please find our contact data here.

The h_da language centre offers German courses as well as other languages at different levels, free of cost for students of the university. It is a great opportunity to learn German and meet new people in your courses, it will help you to integrate easier in the university and in Darmstadt.
Please find more detailed information in the FAQ section "German Language Courses" or on the website of the language centre.

You want to find a job during your MBA studies? Or start your career in Germany with an MBA degree? But you don’t know where to start?
The h_da offers a job portal that will help you to find different opportunities for students, as well as guidance through the process. The career centre also offers training and advice regarding job application in Germany and starting your own business. Click here for more details and start your search.

The university offers a wide range of services for students - from advisory service to semester ticket. Here you can find the most important institutions and departments with a short description of their sevices.

If you have queries regarding courses, lecturers or the organisation of your studies, please get in touch with the program management of the MBA program. You can find the contact details here.
The university offers an advisory service where fellow students or student advisors can guide you and help you with general questions and concerns regarding your studies. You can find more information and contact details here. The service is offered by the Student Service Center (SSC) and includes advice regarding your studies, financing and funding, as well as personal advice.
In addition, there are many advisory services, which focus on specific topics - like financing your studies or counselling for international students. Please find an overview here.

During your studies you can use the media centre with its central library in Darmstadt (Schöfferstrasse 8) as well as the other three libraries:

• Design library (building E31, room 10)
• Social Education library (building E10, room 10)
• Media Campus library (building F25)

The media centre also offers links to online services, databases, and remote access to electronic media on its website. It is possible to find sources in German and English. Please find more information on the website of the library or in our FAQ & Help Section on the program’s homepage.
In addition to the services, all four libraries offer study rooms for indivduals or group work. You have access to the rooms with your student ID (Campus Card), as soon as you have registered for a library account.

The "Studierendenwerk" runs several canteens for students in Darmstadt and
Dieburg. At each campus, you can find a canteen and a bistro for snacks. You can find the location of the different canteens here.
The canteen menu has a variety of meals, including vegan and vegetarian options as well as meals with chicken and fish. Also, different drinks and desserts are part of the menu. You can check the weekly menu here.
The canteens in Darmstadt and Dieburg are subsidized for students; it is important to carry your student ID with you when eating at the canteen to get the student price.

The Café Glaskasten on the ground floor of the high-rise building is a central contact point for students, staff and lecturers alike. The bar and lounge area invite you to relax, while the study area offers students space to work.
Overall, Glaskasten is divided into three areas: learning area, lounge, and café-bar. The height of the sofas separates the learning area acoustically and visually from the lounge and café bar. In the learning area, students can learn effectively together or work on projects in groups. This area also offers sufficient seating for students who want to work alone in a concentrated manner.
Glaskasten also encourages a creative student environment through exhibitions, lectures, presentations and parties. All members of the university are welcome to contact the AStA with their own event ideas. In the Dieburg campus you can find the Café Zeitraum which is very similar to Glaskasten.

A new student house is currently being built and will be finished in summer 2021. It will revolve around the concerns of the students. Service and counselling offers are bundled under one roof.
In addition to the Student Service Centre, the Examination Office, the University Centre for Student Success and Career Start, the International Office, parts of the AStA and the Family Office will move into the new building.
There will also be seminar rooms, a learning centre and a cafeteria. With this building project, the university is also taking into account the increasing number of students.

There is a wide offer of sports courses at h_da. Most of them are free of charge for students or offered at a very low price. There are two sports centres and offices:
Campus Darmstadt and Campus Dieburg. Being part of sports activities at the university is a great opportunity to meet new people and to also practice the local language.
For more information about the courses and registration click here.

Everybody living in Germany needs to register with the registration authority of the respective city soon after moving in.
In order to stay in Germany for the duration of your studies you may also have to obtain a residence permit. The procedure consists of two subsequent steps – registration at the local registration office and at the foreigners’ registration office.
Similar to the visa policies in Germany, students from the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland don’t need a residence permit. If this
applies to you, you only need to take Step One of the application process and register at the local registration office.
Please find more information on how to register in the next sections. If you have any additional questions or need help, please get in touch with your buddy.

Once you have found a place to stay in Germany you have to register with the registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) within one or two weeks after moving in (depending on the registration office) to avoid paying an administrative fine (Bußgeld). Usually you can arrange an appointment online. Don’t worry if you don’t get an appointment within one or two weeks. The date you booked the appointment serves as proof of your effort to get an appointment in time.
For your appointment at the registration office you will need the following documents:

• A personal identification card or passport (and possibly your visa)
• A signed and filled in housing confirmation from your landlord
• Possibly a registration form from the registration office

If you don’t need a residence permit, you also have to bring the following documents:
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of financial ressources

Please note: After your registration you will get a written confirmation by the registration office. Please make sure to keep this confirmation safely. For students who do not need to apply for a residence permit, this confirmation serves as a right of residence. For students who need a residence permit, this document is important and mandatory for the appointment at the foreigners’ registration office (Ausländerbehörde).
If you find accommodation in Darmstadt or Dieburg, you can find further information about the respective registration offices of Darmstadt and Dieburg. If you live elsewhere, please contact your local registration office for further information.
If you have any questions or need

If you need a residence permit, you have to go to the foreigners’ registration office in the City where you are studying to apply for it (within the first three months of your stay). Please find the homepage of the foreigners' registration office in Darmstadt here.
You have to go to the foreigners’ registration office personally to apply for your residence permit! The documents you will need to bring include:

• A valid passport, possibly with visa
• Your registration confirmation from the residents’ registration office
• A proof of health insurance
• The certificate of matriculation from your german university
• Money for the administrative fee (approximately 110€)
• Possibly proof of financial resources
• Possibly a health certificate
• Possibly your tenancy agreement
• Possibly (biometric) passport photos

Tip: In case of doubt you should rather take documents that might not be required than having to arrange a new appointment because a document you need is missing.
After four to six weeks you can pick up your “electronic residence title” (elektronischerAufenthaltstitel) which resembles your residence permit in the form of a card with an integrated chip.

In case you already have a german residence permit, you might be able to convert it into a student residence permit to study at the University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt. However, already having a residence permit does NOT automatically mean that you can convert it into a residence permit to study in Darmstadt. The purpose for which your current permit has been issued for is decisive regarding this matter. Please check with the responsible foreigners' registration office.
In some cases it is usually not possible to extend/convert the permit: for example if you have a residence permit issued for the purpose of visiting a (high)school or a language course which is not preparatory for your studies. 
However, in some cases it is not necessary to extend or convert your residence permit, as some purposes include the possibility to study at a university. Please check with the responsible foreigners' registration office.

The residence permit is issued for between one and a maximum of two years but it is possible to be extended. The extension depends on your studies progressing “regularly” (meaning you should adhere to the standard period of study). You need documentation from your university to show this. It is imperative that you apply for the extension before your current residence permit expires.

Depending on how long your residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) was issued for you may have to apply for an extension (Verlängerung) of your residence permit during your studies. Also, you may have to extend your residence permit, if you want to stay in Germany for job search after graduation.
Please get in touch with your contact person in the foreigners’ registration office at least one month prior to the extension of your residence permit to apply for an extension and set an appointment.

To apply for an extension of your residence permit, you need to send an informal written application by post, fax or e-mail to:

Wissenschaftsstadt Darmstadt
Bürger- und Ordnungsamt
Ausländerbehörde
Postfach 11 10 61
64225 Darmstadt
E-Mail: auslaenderbehoerde@darmstadt.de
Fax: 06151 – 13 3589
Important: Please provide the foreigners' registration office with your full name, date of birth and address in this application. Please enclo

If you meet all the requirements, the foreigners’ registration office will send you the documents necessary for further processing. You will need to send the required documents back by post or bring them with you for an appointment.
After checking your documents, the foreigners’ registration office will contact you for an appointment. Usually, you should have handed in all required documents by that time. However, if you are unsure if you need to bring any additional documents – or which documents to bring to the appointment - please ask your contact person in good time before your appointment.

You will need to present the following documents for the extension of your residence permit:

• Application for registration permit extension (filled and signed)
• Current certificate of enrolment from the university
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of financial resources*
• Passport
• Current residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel)
• Biometric pass photo

* Please verify beforehand with the foreigners’ registration office what they need from you; a blocked account -which amount- or a job contract. The fact of having a job won’t impede the office to ask for a blocked account.
Tip: We strongly recommend you to contact the foreigners’ registration office beforehand, if you have any doubts about which documents to bring. If you do not have all the required documents at hand, you will need to schedule a second appointment and risk that your residence permit expires in the meantime.

In this case, it is very important that you keep proof, for example, an email where you tried to contact the foreigners’ office at least a month before your expiry date, notifying them of your situation and expiry date. As long as you have this, there is no reason to worry about your status in the country, just wait for the office’s reply.
Nevertheless, we recommend you to keep insisting on contacting them until you get a fixed appointment. Unfortunately, this might take some weeks.

If you already have a fixed appointment for your extension there is no need to worry about it. Always keep the emails as proof, even if you did not get a reply, since they will validate your status in the country. In case you haven’t received any answer from the office we recommend you to keep insisting on contacting them via phone and via post.

NOTE: Please do not wait until your residence permit expires, or one week before, to contact the foreigners’ registration office!
If you contacted the foreigner’s registration office at least a month before your residence permit expiry date there is no need to worry, your application has started.
However, it is important that you don’t leave the country until you have a new residence permit or a “Fiktionsbescheinigung”.

For the extension of your residence permit, you will usually be asked to get a form filled out, signed and stamped by the university. For this, please get in touch with the administration of your study program via mba@h-da.de.
You are welcome to visit us in the office during office hours and bring the form with you, or to send it to us via e-mail beforehand and just pick it up when everything is ready.

Please check the homepage of the forerigners' registration office (Ausländerbehörde) Darmstadt to find the person responsible for you. If you are not sure whom to contact, please use one of the below mentioned general contact data.
If you already have a responsible person for you in the office, we recommend contacting this person directly. If you want to apply for a residence permit extension, please get in touch with this person at least a month before -or earlier- your current residence permit expires as it will take some time to get an appointment.
Contact information forerigners' registration office (Ausländerbehörde) Darmstadt:
Phone: (06151) 13-3323
Contact Form: online form for queries
E-Mail: auslaenderbehoerde@darmstadt.de

The information collected in this document is not an official information! We recommend you always contact your responsible person in the foreigners’ registration office first for official information. You can also check the FAQ of the foreigners’ registration office Darmstadt.
For more information on visa and residence permit details, please read the brochure of the German Academic Exchange Service.
You can also get in touch with the International Consulting Service team of the university. Click here to find more details and the corresponding contact.
If the information is still unclear or you need assistance, you can email us with your concerns. You can either contact the buddy service or the MBA program management.

Yes! You will have to present a confirmation of your health insurance coverage in order to enrol at the university and to apply for a residence permit. In addition, you may need health insurance for the visa application. Please note, that the requirements for health insurance cover for visa and enrolment differ from another.
We advise you to take care of your health insurance status way in advance. At any rate, it is important to clarify the status of your health insurance before travelling to Germany.

No! A travel insurance is never sufficient for enrolment. Please make sure, that any insurance contract you sign for your stay in Germany meets the requirements for enrolment. Please see the section “Which insurance do I need to enrol at the university?” for more information.

In general, if you are a citizen of a member state of the European Union your health insurance policy is valid in Germany.
Moreover, there is a list of Non-EU Countries, whose public health insurance policies are valid in Germany as well. This list consists of (status July 2020): Bosnia Herzegovina, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Switzerland, Serbia, Tunisia, and Turkey. Your European Health Insurance Card (EIHC) will cover any required medical treatment in Germany. Make sure to bring your EHIC with you to Germany!
If you are from outside the EU and your home country is not listed above, it may still be possible that your private domestic and foreign health insurance policy is recognised for enrolment in Germany. You will have to prove that your health insurance is equivalent to the Public German Health Insurance for students.
We recommend you to contact your health insurance provider for clarification before travelling to Germany. If your health insurance (public or private) is recognised as equivalent, you will need a confirmation that you are exempted from public health insurance coverage for your enrolment at the university.
Please note that it is most likely that your health insurance does not meet the standards needed to enrol in a German university when you are from a Non-EU Country. 

If your domestic health insurance policy is not recognised in Germany, you will have to sign up for coverage in Germany. You will need health insurance cover for enrolment in the university, as well as for the residence permit application.
Please make sure, that any insurance contract you sign for your stay in Germany meets the requirements for enrolment. Please see the section “Which insurance do I need to enrol at a university?” for more information.

Statutory health insurance (German public health insurance) provides easy access to medical services in Germany and a European-wide coverage while covering most medical costs.
Private health insurance institutions offer similar coverage as statutory insurance and a special cost for students. They are usually more expensive than statutory health insurance, but you can apply for a variety of extra services covered.
Please be aware that a travel insurance will not be sufficient for the visa requirements as well as for enrolment and residence permit, since they do not provide the coverage needed and usually cover only costs related to traveling.
Please note, that if you do not qualify for an exempt, you will need to have a statutory health insurance for enrolment at the university. For more information, please check the next section.
Tip: We strongly recommend applying first for statutory health insurance. If you are over 30 years old, you may not meet the requirements for the student rates of the health insurance plan. In this case, private health insurance might be a better choice for you. However, you can still choose a statutory health insurance provider but will have to pay a higher fee than the student rates.

All students in Germany are obliged to have health insurance. For your enrolment you will need a statutory health insurance or a confirmation stating an exemption from the compulsory insurance. We strongly recommend to get a statutory health insurance while studying!
However, exemptions from the compulsory health insurance are possible, if you meet one of the following reasons:

• You are more than 30 years old.
• You have completed the 14th subject-related university semester.
• Germany has a social security agreement with your homecountry and you hold a public health insurance plan there. In the section “Is my health insurance from home valid for enrolment at the university?” you can find a list of the countries applicable. Please contact your health insurance provider, if you are unsure if your insurance is valid for enrolment in Germany.
• You hold an equivalent private health insurance plan.

Please be aware, that if you apply for an exemption of statutory student health insurance, this cannot be withdrawn for the whole duration of your studies!
You will need a confirmation of a statutory health insurance povider stating the exemption in order to enrol at the university. Each statutory health insurance provider in Germany is oblidged to check your case and provide you with this confirmation if applicable.
If you aim for a private plan, the benefits of your health insurance need to be equivalent to a German statutory health insurance or cover at least the reimbursement of costs for ambulant and stationary medical treatment, whereby the absolute and percentage deductibles agreed for in the tariff for each person to be insured must be limited to an effect in terms of amount of 5,000 euros per calendar
year.
Most health insurance providers have a special team responsible for student health insurances. Please feel free to contact them to learn more about the options you may have.

Depending on the provider you choose, a statutory health insurance policy costs around 110€ a month. Private plans are usually somewhat more expensive, but vary a lot in the benefits and costs.
Please keep in mind that if you are older than 30 years or you have completed your 14th subject-related semester at a university, the monthly rate in a statutory health insurance will go up to at least 190€ per month. In this case, private plans may be an option for you.
Tip: Private health insurance is usually much more expensive than statutory. If you choose a private plan, please be very careful with plans that have a very low cost.
Often the costs in these plans rise significantly later on.

All statutory health insurance providers cover the same benefits and have the same pricing for student tariffs. However, each insurance provider offers additional services, which may be interesting for you. Therefore, please find a list of the most common providers below. In addition, there are numerous smaller providers, which may have interesting additional services.

Some Statutory health insurance providers
• Techniker Krankenkasse
• AOK
• Barmer

Some private health insurance providers
If you choose a private plan, please be very careful with plans that have a very low cost. Often the costs in these plans rise significantly later on.
• HanseMerkur
• Allianz
• AXA
• R+V
• Mawista

If you have any further questions on the regulations for enrolment, please check the fact sheet on health insurance of the student service center (only available in German).
For general questions, please check the information on study-in-germany or on simple germany.

Setting up a bank account during your stay in Germany can save you a lot of unnecessary effort. With a German bank account you can do transfers like the semester fee, pay your monthly rent or receive your salary from a (part-time) job.
Another advantage is being able to withdraw money from cash machines free of charge. The majority of banks in Germany offer students current accounts including an EC Card free of charge.
In addition, it is very probable that you have to provide proof of financial resources to apply for a visa and residence permit. For this, you will need to set up a blocked bank account. You might also need to provide some proof of financial resources or regular income to rent an apartment or a shared flat.
Please note: we highly recommend opening a regular bank account besides of the blocked bank account, to ensure you have access to any deposit adding to the required blocked amount. Also, you will need a regular German bank account to receive your deposit of the blocked account each month.

• Girokonto: standard bank account (current account). It can be used to receive pay-checks as well as bills. Usually German banks also offer these account as specialized accounts for students and youth.
• Sperrkonto: special blocked account (visa requirement) for international students.
• Sparkonto: savings account used to save money and earn interest.
• Tagesgeldkonto: money market deposit account where you can add and withdraw money at any time, the interest rate keeps changing constantly.
• Kreditkartenkonto: credit card account. This account allows users to have a continuous balance of debt subject to interest being charged.

With a standard German bank account (Girokonto) you can do transactions like transfers or standing orders (rent, health insurance, tuition fee) either online, at specific bank machines in your bank or directly at the counter. Additionally you will be issued a debit card (often referred to as EC-, Giro-, or Maestro Cards) you can either use for cash withdrawals or to pay at shops or restaurants. In comparison to a lot of credit card providers, paying or withdrawing cash with your EC-Card is usually
free of charge.
We recommend getting a Girokonto since you will need a German account to receive the money from your blocked account. Be careful and read this document to understand the differences between accounts, so that you can choose the best option for you.

We recommend chosing either an institution with an office located in Darmstadt or to opt for an online bank. Which one to choose depends on whether you like to do transactions on site and have a help desk where you can physically got to, or if you are happy with online services.
Online banking institutions usually do not charge any maintainance fee, but sometimes withdrawal fees if you like to withdraw money on a cash machine (withdrawal at supermarkets is usually free of charge). They provide limited services and are often available only in German.
Local banking institutions usually charge no fees for withdrawal, offer a wide network of cash machines and various additional services. However, they do often charge maintainance fees, if you are not applicable for a student tariff.

These are some banking institutions with a local dependance:
• Commerzbank
• Deutsche Bank
• Sparkasse Darmstadt
• Volksbank-Darmstadt Südhessen

These are some banking institutions, that operate only online:
• N26
• Consorsbank (Only in German)
• Ing (Only in German)
• DKB (Only in German)

We advise to keep the following aspects in mind when deciding for a German bank:
• Banking services
• Availability of Services in English
• Maintenance and withdrawal fees (special conditions for students)
• Online services/ App
• Credit Card options and fees
• ATMs network
• Customer support in English and/or other languages

The documents required to open a bank account in a German bank might be different depending on the provider you choose. Some documents might be:
• Passport
• Visa/Permit of residence
• Address (city registration/contract)

Some banks have the possibility to open an account online. We recommend you to contact different banks and check their requirements. Most German banks offer fee free bank accounts for students.

A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a special type of bank account for international students in Germany. A blocked bank account resembles proof that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your expenses for the planned duration of your stay in Germany. Despite the fact that there are other ways to show one’s financial standing the blocked account is the most required and common one to prove your financial resources.
The blocked account is required in most cases for international (non-EU) students. You will need a blocked account if you are not presenting a Verpflichtungserklärung (formal obligation). If you are receiving financial support from a scholarship you might not need a blocked account, but you have to present proof of the scholarship and the given amount. Please verify this information with your local German Federal Foreign Office.

In a blocked bank account, you deposit an amount of money, which is set by the registration office and shall cover your living costs for the duration of your residence permit. Since January 2020 the presumed annual requirement that must be transferred to the blocked account when applying for a visa is 11,904€ (992,-€ per month).
Since it is a blocked account you are only allowed to withdraw an amount of 992€per month. This matches the minimum amount of money you are expected to need for your monthly living expenses. Important: you are never allowed to withdraw or use more than 992€ per month from the blocked account. Not even in an emergency or special circumstances! We therefore advise you to deposit only the necessary amount (set amount + banking fee) and open a regular bank account in addition for
everyday use.
Usually, you have to deposit the amount covering one year (2 semesters) and will likewise get a residence permit for one year. Once you apply for an extension of the residence permit (as the MBA is a 3 or 4 semester program), you will again need to deposit the amout set for the duration of your extension. We strongly recommend you to verify the information with the German Federal Foreign Office before applying for a visa and with the foreigner’s registration office (Ausländerbehörde) once you are in Germany.
Furthermore, the blocked account can only be closed with the consent of the blocked account beneficiary, which is either the mission abroad or the competent foreigners’ authority in Germany. A blocking notice therefore only ensures that adequate funds to cover living expenses are always available. It does not entitle the blocked account beneficiary to withdraw money from the blocked account.
It is easy to apply for a blocked account since most of the banks offering this kind of account for international students allow the possibility of doing everything online. Please see the next section for institutions offering blocked bank accounts.
Tip: We strongly recommend to only deposit the amount indicated by the provider in your blocked account. As mentioned above, you are not allowed to withdraw more than the set amount per month - not even in a case of emergency!

Listed below you can find links to different providers of blocked accounts (in alphabetical order). Some of them also offer a package for international students that contains both a blocked account and health insurance:
• Coracle
• Deutsche Bank
• Expatrio
• Fintiba

If you are already in Germany it is possible to also open a blocked account with local
banks:
• Commerzbank
• Deutsche Bank
• HypoVereinsbank
• Sparkasse
• Volksbank

The documents required to open a blocked account may vary depending on the provider you choose and your nationality. We recommend that you should be able to provide:

1. Your valid Passport
2. The letter of admission from your University
3. A bank statement of your income/financial resources
4. The administrative fee
5. (If required) application form
6. Keep in mind the total amount you will need for the blocked account

No! You should only transfer the amount that the bank indicates. If you transfer more money, it will still not be possible to get more money than 861€ per month.
Usually you need to deposit the amount set to cover the living expenses of one year (10332,- €) + the bank fee for opening + a buffer amount that each bank will indicate (includes bank fee for managing the account and to absorb the exchange rate of different currencies to euros).
Please remember that even in case of an emergency it will not be possible to withdraw or use a bigger amount than 861€ per month. That is why we strongly recommend to transfer exactly the amount the bank indicates to you.

For further information on banking options, blocked account and the like, please check

• Study in Germany - Money and Bank Accounts
• Simple Germany - Best Bank Account for English Speakers
• I am Expat - Banking in Germany