Residence regulations for entry

International students require a residence permit to study in Germany. The residence permit must be applied for before entering Germany in the form of a residence permit for study purposes at the responsible German diplomatic mission, German embassy or consulate in the home country.

Information from the Federal Foreign Office on applying for a student visa

To obtain an entry visa, you will need to submit a letter of admission from Pforzheim University (or a certificate of application to Pforzheim University) to the German diplomatic mission in your home country. Proof of funding for study and living costs in Germany must also be submitted (see below). If you have specific questions about applying for an entry visa, please contact the German diplomatic mission abroad (German embassy, German consulate) in your home country directly. All information on the missions abroad can be found at http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de.

The VisaFlow platform provides support from visa application to arrival in Germany. We offer free access to VisaFlow, which supports you in planning your move to Germany and applying for a visa and/or residence permit. With the login HSPFORZHEIM25 on platform.visaflow.app the application can be started smoothly.

Citizens of the following countries can enter Germany without a visa:

• All countries of the European Union and all EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein).
• Citizens of Andorra, Australia, Brazil, El Salvador, Israel, Honduras, Japan, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, San Marino, Switzerland, South Korea, the UK and the USA can initially enter Germany without a residence permit. However, students from these countries must apply for a residence permit (student visa) at the local immigration office after their arrival in Pforzheim.

In some countries (e.g. China), additional APS pre-check procedures are required to verify the authenticity of the documents before a visa can be issued.

Use the Visa Navigator of the Federal Foreign Office to get a quick answer to your visa question.

When applying for a student visa at the German embassy/consulate, you must prove that you are able to finance your studies in Germany. The proof of financial means should prove that you have sufficient funds available for the duration of your studies in Germany (especially the first year of study) and that you will not have to claim any social benefits from the host country during your stay. Students and applicants from third countries must prove that they have at least 992 euros per month, i.e. 11,904 euros per year, at their disposal. If proof is provided that the rent and ancillary costs are less than 224 euros (amount according to § 13 paragraph 2 number 2 BAföG), the amount to be proven is reduced accordingly. Some immigration authorities may also demand a higher amount. (Subject to change)

Proof of funding can be provided by:

a) Declaration of commitment by the parents:
This is a written declaration by the parents of financial support for their children of 992 euros per month for at least one year or longer. The income and financial circumstances must be presented to the embassy, i.e. corresponding evidence of the parents' income and/or financial circumstances (e.g. salary statements for the last 3 months, current bank statement, etc.) must be submitted and certified by the German embassy/consulate in your home country.

b) Declaration of commitment from a third party:
A declaration of commitment from a third party who is not directly related to the applicant to the immigration authority or the diplomatic mission abroad that someone will cover the living costs. The declaration of commitment must be presented when applying for a visa in your home country and when entering the country. After successful entry, the declaration of commitment must be submitted to the immigration authority.

c) Blocked account:
Proof of funds is often provided by paying a certain amount of money into a savings book/blocked account. The original or a certified copy of the passbook/blocked account must be submitted when applying for a visa. The money must be transferred to a savings book/account at a German bank after entering the country. The savings book is often marked with a note limiting the amount that can be withdrawn from the account.

c) Scholarship:
If you receive a scholarship from German public funds, a funding organization recognized in Germany, a scholarship from the public funds of your country of origin or if the Federal Foreign Office, the German Academic Exchange Service or another German scholarship-awarding organization has taken over the placement at a German university, you must submit a scholarship certificate stating the amount and duration of the scholarship.
Please note that not all of the funding options just mentioned are accepted in all countries.

For a step-by-step guide to the visa process and information on blocked accounts, etc., students can use VisaFlow. The platform offers helpful resources to ease the transition to Germany. Access is free of charge and is possible with the login data and the code "HSPFORZHEIM25" at plattform.visaflow.app

An (international) student may work a maximum of 20 hours per week. An increase is possible during lecture-free periods. For work on a self-employed basis (e.g. as a tutor or entrepreneur), a permit must be applied for from the relevant immigration authority.

In principle, the employment performed must not interfere with the purpose of the residence permit (e.g. studies, German course, preparatory college) or extend the period of residence. You must present a tax ID to your employer so that they can pay taxes and social security contributions! The tax ID can be applied for at the local tax office.

Change of subject

For students who hold a residence permit for study purposes, the purpose of their stay is generally determined by the field of study (course of study and, if applicable, subjects) (§ 28.5.2.4 of the General Administrative Regulation on the Foreign Nationals Act).
A change of field of study (= change of subject) generally and always constitutes a change of purpose of residence.
A change of course of study or subject within the first 18 months after the start of the course of study is permitted, although there is a change in the purpose of residence.
A change of course of study or subject at a later date must be approved by the immigration authority. The immigration authority will only grant approval if the previous academic achievements can be credited to the new degree program and the total duration of studies is not extended by more than 18 months. A certificate from the university is required for this.
The approval of the immigration authority is also a prerequisite if the change is made between different types of university in the same degree program - e.g. change from a university of applied sciences to a university.

Staying in Germany BEFORE starting your studies

Prospective students can obtain a visa to learn the German language and/or to prepare for their studies. The status of this visa is called "student applicant" and can be granted for a maximum of one year. In order to obtain a visa as a student applicant, similar requirements must be met as for a student visa. Study applicants are not entitled to pursue gainful employment. The possibility of working 120 days a year is also not included in this visa.

Staying in Germany AFTER completing your studies

After graduating, foreign graduates are allowed to stay in Germany for up to 18 months (for example to find a job). During this orientation phase, it is possible to work indefinitely.

The Learning Agreement (LA) defines your course selection and documents which courses your home university should recognize for your semester abroad. It is approved by both your home university and the respective faculty at Pforzheim University and forms the basis for the subsequent recognition of your achievements.

Before your arrival in Pforzheim

• You choose your first course combination and enter it in the Learning Agreement.
• The LA must be signed by you, approved by your home university and then confirmed by our faculty.
• Erasmus/EU students: usually use the Online Learning Agreement (OLA) via https://ewp-dashboard.eu/ or the corresponding system of your home university.
  If forms are used, please use the documents of your university.
• Overseas students: use the LA of your home university or alternatively our own form.

Note: The first LA is only a suggestion to check whether there are enough suitable courses available. Changes can easily be made later.

During your stay in Pforzheim

• It may be necessary to update your LA, e.g. if your timetable overlaps.
• Changes are made in the first week of lectures and must be confirmed again by your home university and our faculty.
• During the Welcome & Orientation Period, you will receive an introduction to the timetable and all organizational details.
• All exchange students must submit their Learning Agreement by the first week of lectures at the latest.

General information

• EU/Erasmus students need a LA before, during and after the mobility (for the Erasmus grant).
• Changes to the LA within the first two weeks of the semester are common and possible without any problems.
• You can also take additional courses without having them credited to the LA.

Submission and contact persons

• The Learning Agreement must be submitted at least two weeks before the start of the semester - by e-mail or via the OLA system (if your home university uses it).
• Erasmus code of Pforzheim University: D PFORZHE01
• Contact for Learning Agreements: Business School - Jochen Ebert / School of Design: Barbara Dofek
• If you are unsure which LA version to use: If your home university uses the OLA, please use this - we will automatically receive the link to sign.

International students at Pforzheim University must find their own accommodation for the duration of their stay in Pforzheim. There are various options for this, which are presented below. The application for a room in a hall of residence does not go through the International Office, but is made by the student directly to the relevant hall of residence administration. The International Office is happy to support international students in their search, but cannot offer a room placement service.

Please do not forget to cancel your room in writing at least 3 months before moving out!

Here you can find information about housing fraud.

Halls of residence of the Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe

About theStudierendenwerk Karlsruheoffers around 500 places in halls of residence near the university.

The Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe runs the following halls of residence:

• Dormitory in theHagenschiessstr. 1
  171 places
• Hall of residenceHagenschiessstr. 3
  48 places
• DormitoryHagenschiessstr. 5
  48 places
• DormitorySt. Georgenstr. 15-17
  129 places

• Hall of residenceLion-Feuchtwanger-Allee
  64 apartments
  

Halls of residence run by other organizations

TheStudentenwerk-FH e.V.runs a hall of residence in Pforzheim:

• Residence at Keplerstr. 75 198 places
• Holzgartenstr. 31 hall of residence
  47 places

• Campo Novo
  

Other options

Numerous rooms/halls of residence for students are also offered by private providers. Some options are listed below.

• Campus Tiergarten is a hall of residence with apartments for 3 - 5 people and is aimed not only at students, but also at other prospective tenants.
• TheBernhardusheimis a Caritas facility and offers 23 single, 12 double and 2 triple rooms as well as a handicapped accessible apartment for pupils, students and trainees. Catering can be booked on request.
• The Kolping House is a central hall of residence for young students and trainees with 28 single and double rooms as well as 2 apartments.
• Private accommodation or rooms in shared apartments (student flat-sharing communities) can be found on the university notice boards, but mainly via room/flat exchanges on the Internet. The best known arewww.wg-gesucht.de, www.housinganywhere.com and www.erasmusplay.com.

At our university, numerous student initiatives enrich campus life with events, workshops, orientation phases and practical projects.
Whether you are interested in financial markets, would like to attend networking events or want to be active in environmental protection - you will find many opportunities to get involved here.

You can find more information about the individual initiatives that are active on the Pforzheim University campus here: Pforzheim University - Student Initiatives