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Guide for visiting scholars from abroad

A Predeparture information

A.1. Visas and arrival procedures A.2. Funding A.3. Accommodations A.4. Travelling to Erfurt A.5. Checklist

B Working in Erfurt

B.1. Work contract B.2. Work permit B.3. Income tax card and income taxes B.4. Social insurance B.5. Pension insurance

C Living in Erfurt

C.1. Bank account C.2. Children and other family members C.3. Health insurance C.4. In case of injury or illness C.5. Other useful insurance policies C.6. Driver’s licenses C.7. Radio and television license fees C.8. Language courses C.9. Cultural offerings

D Contact information and support programs

D.1. Contact information D.2. Support programs Note: This guide is also available on the University of Erfurt’s Web site. The online version includes maps, pictures, and links to additional information.

www.uni-erfurt.de/international/scholars/leitfaden

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Guide for visiting scholars from abroad

Welcome to the University of Erfurt! We compiled this guide for visiting scholars from abroad to aid you in planning and complet-ing a teaching or research fellowship at the University of Erfurt. We will be happy to provide you with information, advice, and assistance on all topics that pertain to your stay in Erfurt and your life in a new country. Our goal is to help you to find your way around the university and city of Erfurt as quickly and easily as possible. We will also assist you in navigating the necessary bureaucratic procedures without difficulty. We wish you an exciting and successful stay at the University of Erfurt!

A Predeparture information

A.1. Visas and arrival procedures Entering Germany without a visa Citizens of the following countries and regions may enter Germany without a visa: the Euro-pean Union, the European Economic Area, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Japan, Israel, Switzerland, and South Korea. Detailed information can be found on the Web site of the German Federal Foreign Office.

German Federal Foreign Office: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/WillkommeninD/EinreiseUndAufenthalt/StaatenlisteVisumpflicht.html/

Entering Germany with a visa If you are required to have a visa to enter Germany, the visa will be stamped into your pass-port. Each person must have his or her own visa, including spouses and other family mem-bers. You must apply for the visa at the German embassy or consulate in your country of residence. You may have to make an appointment to do so.

List of German missions abroad: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/Laenderinformationen/DtAuslandsvertretungen-Laenderauswahlseite.jsp/

You will need the following documents:

The application form (can be downloaded from your embassy’s Web site),

Proof of financial means for the full extent of your stay in Germany,

Other documents as required, such as an invitation, certified copies of degrees, in-cluding official translations

The embassy has the right to request additional documents, as each visa application is pro-cessed on an individual basis. Please make sure to indicate the correct purpose of your stay in Germany. A processing fee typically must be paid before your visa can be issued. Please also make sure to apply early, as it can take six to twelve weeks to process your application. In order to visit another EU member state (e.g., to attend a conference), you must apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of that country.

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Your arrival in Erfurt

If you plan to stay in Germany for more than three months, you must register with the city’s Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt). Citizens from Non-EU-countries must register with the Foreigners’ Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) in addition.

The two offices are in the same building. You find them under the following address:

Bürgermeister-Wagner-Straße1, 99084 Erfurt (Tram station: „Hauptbahnhof“)

The central service number for both offices is (0361) 655-5444. Opening hours Registration Office:

Monday 09:00 am -12:30 am

Tuesday 09:00 am - 6:00 pm

Wednesday 09:00 am -12:30 am

Thursday 09:00 am - 6:00 pm

Friday 09:00 am -12:30 am

Saturday 09:00 am -12:30 am

Please bring the following documents:

Passport and apartment rental contract The Foreigners’ Registration Office is where you apply for a residence permit (only citizens of countries other than European Union). Opening hours Foreigners’ Registration Office: Monday 09:00 am-12:30 am Tuesday 09:00 am-12:30 am 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Thursday 09:00 am-12:30 am 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Friday 09:00 am-12:30 am Please bring the following documents:

Passport and copy of your passport

Form titled “Antrag auf Erteilung einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis”

Work contract or invitation from the hosting institute

Proof of health insurance coverage

Proof of place of residence (apartment rental contract)

Proof of sufficient financial means

One biometric passport picture (please note the requirements of the German Federal Foreign Office)

The application forms are also available at the International Office.

Notification of departure: Please note that you are legally obligated to notify the city of Erfurt and the Foreigners’ Reg-istration Office (if applicable) of your departure when you leave Germany.

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Useful links

DAAD information about the legal provisions pertaining to foreign students and visiting scholars (content only available in German): http://www.daad.de/imperia/md/content/de/deutschland/downloads/info_aufenthaltsrecht_zuwanderung.pdf/

Federal Ministry of the Interior / Immigration Act (content only available in German): http://www.zuwanderung.de/

German Federal Foreign Office: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/Startseite.html/ A.2. Funding Many opportunities exist to help you fund your stay at the University of Erfurt. Scholarships In order to apply for a scholarship, you must often submit a personal invitation from the host institution. If you have not established contact with anyone in your area of interest, we advise you to seek out a professor or other faculty member who could aid you with your project.

University of Erfurt’s index of faculty and staff members: http://www2.uni-erfurt.de/leitung/formulare/personal/doc/PV_WS_2011_2012.pdf

The Research Department of the University of Erfurt provides information about current re-search projects and the university’s main topics of research.

Research Department of the University of Erfurt (content currently only available in Ger-man): http://www.uni-erfurt.de/forschung/

Please note that many scholarship applications must be submitted several months before you plan to travel to Germany. Links to selected institutions that provide scholarships

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): http://www.daad.de/

The DAAD’s scholarship database: http://www.funding-guide.de/

Research in Germany portal: http://www.research-in-germany.de/2868/research- funding.html/

German Research Foundation: http://www.dfg.de/

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: http://www.avh.de/

The German-American Fulbright Commission: http://www.fulbright.de/ The Fulbright Program: http://fulbright.state.gov/

List of German foundations: http://www.stiftungsindex.de/

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Working for the University of Erfurt (under contract) Detailed information on this topic can be found in the chapter titled “Working in Erfurt”. Self-funded stays

Another possibility is to fund your research stay at the University of Erfurt on your own, meaning without a scholarship or a work contract. Do note, however, that the German Em-bassy in your country of residence (if you must apply for a visa) or the Foreigners’ Registra-tion Authority (if you are allowed to enter Germany without a visa) will require proof that you have sufficient financial means to fund your stay. A.3. Accommodations International Guest House

Visiting scholars to the University of Erfurt may stay in the International Guest House (IBZ), which has one-, two-, and four-room apartments. It is necessary to reserve a room at least six months in advance.

International Guest House of the University of Erfurt: http://www.uni-erfurt.de/en/international/international-office/ibz/

You are also welcome to seek private accommodations. However, please be advised that most apartments in Germany are unfurnished; you should therefore inquire specifically about furnished apartments. Otherwise, you must buy furniture – including the kitchen – on your own. Advertisements for rental apartments can be found in local newspapers, at the Munici-pal Apartment Administration (KoWo), and from real estate agents.

Municipal Apartment Administration: http://www.kowo.de/

A.4. Travelling to Erfurt By train High speed trains (ICE and IC) travel regularly to Erfurt from all parts of Germany. Online information on train connections to and from Erfurt is available on the Deutsche Bahn pages. Direct trains from Frankfurt Central Station to Erfurt Hauptbahnhof run every hour, from Ber-lin Hauptbahnhof every two hours. Both the tram stop and the taxi rank are right outside the main station. By car Erfurt can be reached via the motorways A 4 and A 71. Coming from the west (Frank-furt/Main), stay on the A 4 Frankfurt – Dresden till intersection Erfurter Kreuz. At the Erfurter Kreuz, drive onto the A 71. Leave the A 71 at turn-off Erfurt-Bindersleben. Follow the signs to Erfurt-Nord and Universität.

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Coming from the east (Dresden or Leipzig), follow the A 4 Dresden – Frankfurt to the Erfurt-Ost turn-off. Then follow the signs to Zentrum und Universität. There is a visitors' parking at the back of the university campus with plenty of free parking spaces. By plane At the airport, take tram number 4; at “Domplatz”, change to tram number 3 (going to "Eu-ropaplatz") or number 6 (going to "Rieth"). The tram stop “Universität” is directly opposite from the main university entrance. However, with several pieces of luggage you might find it more convenient to take a taxi to the university. By tram From the inner city, you can travel directly to the university with tram number 3 (going to Eu-ropaplatz) or number 6 (going to Rieth) without having to change. The tram stop “Universität” is the seventh stop after the Central Station. The main entrance to the university is directly opposite the tram stop. Tram tickets can be obtained from the machines at the stops or at the EVAG shops. "Tarifzone Gelb" tickets ("Yellow Zone") which are valid for one hour can be used on all trams and buses in the inner city. Information on times, stops and prices can be found on the webpages of the Erfurt transpor-tation system EVAG.

EVAG: https://www.stadtwerke-erfurt.de/pb/site/swegruppe/node/138931/Lde/index.html A.5. Checklist – documents you should bring to Germany This checklist indicates several of the documents you should bring with you to Germany to facilitate completion of the bureaucratic steps necessary upon your arrival.

Passport: Every visiting scholar must hold a valid passport or equivalent piece of identification in order to enter Germany (a driver’s license will not suffice). This docu-ment must be valid at least until the point in time you plan to leave Germany. Please make sure to always spell your name as it is spelled in your passport. Each family member travelling with you must hold his or her own valid passport.

Biometric passport pictures: It is advisable to bring along four to six passport pictures of you and the family members travelling with you. If necessary, you can have addi-tional pictures taken in Erfurt.

Certified copies of your high school diploma, college degree(s), and doctoral degree, as well as translations of each into English or German

Birth certificate and marriage license (including those of the family members travelling with you). When applying for a residence permit, you will often be asked to show the original birth certificate and marriage license (if applicable). The original documents are also required for payroll purposes if you plan to work in Germany.

Curriculum vitae

Immunization record / medications: An immunization record and/or confirmation of prescribed medications or medical conditions may be essential in the event of illness.

Proof of health insurance (including for family members travelling with you; see the chapter titled “Living in Erfurt”)

Proof of sufficient financial means (e.g., scholarship confirmation), if applicable

International Driver’s License (see “Living in Erfurt”)

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You may also want to have enough cash to cover expenses during your first few days in Er-furt (i.e., until you are able to open a bank account).

B Working in Erfurt

The information in this chapter is only relevant for you if you intend to work for the University of Erfurt. B.1. Work contract The University of Erfurt’s Personnel Department will give you the documents necessary for entering into a work contract with the university.

The Personnel Department of the University of Erfurt (content currently only available in German): http://www.uni-erfurt.de/uni/dienstleistung/pa/

We advise you to contact the Personnel Department as soon as possible, but no later than eight weeks before the date on which you are scheduled to begin. Your academic supervisor should be included in all correspondence. All forms provided by the Personnel Department must be filled out and sent back before your arrival to ensure that your contract is ready to sign when you arrive, thus allowing you to begin working as scheduled. If you must apply for a visa (depending upon your country of citizenship and the purpose of your stay in Germany), the visa application process can be expedited by submitting a certain form to the German Embassy or Consulate along with your written invitation. The Personnel Department will be happy to send you this form upon request. The following documents are required in order to work for the University of Erfurt:

Birth certificate (certified copy and German translation)

Marriage license (certified copy and German translation)

If applicable: birth certificates of your child(ren) (certified copy and German transla-tion)

Educational diplomas and degrees (high school diploma or equivalent, bachelor, master, Ph.D.; certified copies and German translations of each)

If you are subject to paying income tax: Income tax card (see section B.3.)

Criminal record check (with a certified German translation if issued by a non-German police or justice department)

Copy of your passport and residence permit or free movement certificate (original document must be shown at the latest on your first day of work)

If applicable: certificate of exemption from the mandatory health insurance scheme (EU citizens must obtain form E101 from their health insurance provider) or proof of health insurance (if insured in Germany; see section C.3.)

Personnel record form (this will be given to you by the Personnel Department) B.2. Work permit If you plan to undertake research at the University of Erfurt as a visiting scholar, you do not necessarily need to have a work permit. A special provision for research associates exempts

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them from this rule. However, if your family members intend to work while in Germany, differ-ent rules apply. All foreign citizens require a work permit in Germany except citizens of the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) and people married to a citizen of an EU or EEA country. This rule applies, for example, if you submit an application for a job opening posted by the University of Erfurt. The Employment Agency will only issue a work permit to a foreign citizen if the current labor market situation allows. If you have any questions, please contact the Personnel Department, which will in turn con-tact the local Employment Agency on your behalf. B.3. Income tax card and income taxes Every employee must pay income taxes. From 2013 every employee will get a new electron-ic record called ElStAM (German abbreviation for Elektronische Lohnsteuerabzugsmerk-male). It is supposed to mean less paperwork for everyone involved. Exception: Income tax exemption Visiting scholars who work fewer than 184 days in Germany do not need an income tax card. Instead, the Thuringian public service payroll department and tax authorities will assess the scholar’s situation and consider exempting him or her from paying income taxes in Germany. The Personnel Department needs certain information in order to be able to request such an assessment; if possible, before your employment at the University of Erfurt begins. The Per-sonnel Department will be happy to provide you with additional information about this proce-dure. Visiting scholars who do not meet the requirements for income tax exemption and therefore must pay income taxes in Germany may file an income tax return with the tax authorities at the end of the calendar year and, if applicable, receive a refund for a portion of the taxes paid.

B.4. Social insurance Germany has an obligatory social insurance system that plays a key role in ensuring the so-cial security of German citizens and legal residents. Based on the principle of mutual solidari-ty, it provides effective financial protection from major risks and the consequences thereof, including illness, unemployment, old age, work-related accidents, and long-term care. The German social insurance system comprises the following areas:

- Health insurance - Long-term care insurance - Accident insurance - Pension insurance - Unemployment insurance

Visiting scholars from abroad who work at a German higher education institution in a position subject to social insurance must make the obligatory contributions to this system.

B.5. Pension insurance

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If you hold employment in Germany that is subject to social insurance, pension insurance contributions will be taken out of your gross salary. Germany has made bilateral agreements on social insurance with several countries that primarily regulate people’s ability to earn enti-tlement to a pension and the payment of pensions in the two countries. The Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German statutory pension insurance scheme) Web site provides infor-mation on these agreements; we encourage you to determine whether or not an agreement exists between Germany and your country of residence.

If you meet certain requirements, you may be able to receive a refund of your contributions to the pension insurance system. Please visit the Personnel Department to pick up the respec-tive form.

German statutory pension insurance scheme Web site: http://www.deutsche-

rentenversicherung.de/

C Living in Erfurt

C.1. Bank account In Germany, you will need to have a bank account in order to pay bills and receive your sala-ry. We would advise you to open a checking account (Girokonto in German) with a bank in Erfurt. A checking account will allow you to do the following:

Deposit and withdraw money

Transfer money to other accounts, such as by way of online banking

Make regular payments of a certain amount at a certain point in time (e.g., rent) by way of a standing order

Give someone permission to withdraw money from your account (direct debit authori-zation); this can be particularly helpful for regular payments in varying amounts (e.g., utilities bills).

You may only open a bank account in person upon your arrival. Please make sure to have your valid passport and your registration form (signed and stamped by the Registration Of-fice) with you. Another useful document would be a letter from the hosting institute confirming your status as a visiting scholar and your intent to stay for longer than three months. Generally speaking, the bank will issue you an EC Card (debit card). This card will allow you to pay for items at many stores without cash, to withdraw cash from many automated teller machines (in Germany and other eurozone countries) for a fee, and to withdraw cash from your own bank without a fee. C.2. Children and other family members Travelling to Germany with your spouse and children Visiting scholars who are married and plan to stay in Germany for a long period of time may wish to bring their spouse and perhaps children with them. This is generally possible accord-

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ing to German immigration laws, as long as the family is able to finance its stay on its own and provides accommodations with enough room for all members of the family. If one or more of your family members wish to work while in Germany, they will need a residence permit that includes a work permit (see section B.2. on work permits). Child care A number of child care centers exist in Erfurt for children who are not yet school-aged. It is not difficult to secure a place at a nursery or day care center if you apply early. If necessary, we will be happy to help you find a child care center for your child(ren). We especially recommend the bilingual (German/English) nursery school "Ringelblume": Kindergarten "Ringelblume" Mies-van-der Rohe-Weg 59 99085 Erfurt 0 361 / 51159500 Schools All children who live in Germany and are between the ages of 6 and 15 must attend school. In Erfurt, you will find public, private, and parochial schools. Whether you must register your child at a local school or apply for his or her exemption from school attendance depends on the length of your stay. We will help you determine this and, if necessary, find an appropriate school for your child(ren). Please contact us as early as possible if you have one or more children between the ages of 6 and 15. A school where English is the language of instruction is located in Weimar: Thuringia International School – Weimar

http://www.this-weimar.de/ There is the international elementary school in Erfurt, called JFK Gemeinschaftsschule:

http://www.is-erfurt.de/ Child allowance Parents of children up to the age of 18 can apply for the so-called Kindergeld, or child allow-ance. This allowance is available to people whose current place of residence is in Germany, meaning that visiting scholars from abroad can also apply under certain conditions. For the first two children, the allowance is 164 Euros per month and per child. For the third child, it is 170 Euros per month. For any additional children, it is 195 Euros per month. You must sub-mit the application for the child allowance to the local Familienkasse, or Family Benefits Of-fice.

C.3. Health insurance Each person living in Germany is required to have sufficient health insurance coverage. This rule also applies to visiting scholars from abroad. It is advisable to obtain detailed information about health insurance policies before travelling to Germany and taking up employment. This will allow you to secure the necessary docu-ments in your home country and present them upon your arrival in Germany.

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If you wish to use a health insurance policy from your country of residence, please inquire whether it would reimburse the costs for you to see a doctor or stay at a hospital in Germany. Your health insurance provider must confirm in writing that your coverage extends to Germa-ny. This will be assessed by the Foreigners’ Registration Authority in Erfurt. If your coverage is deemed insufficient, you will be required to purchase an additional policy in Germany. The same applies to all family members travelling with you. Whether or not you intend to work in Germany will determine whether you are allowed to use health insurance coverage from abroad or whether you must be covered by a German pro-vider. Employment at the University of Erfurt Statutory health insurance: If you enter into a work contract with the University of Erfurt, you must be covered by one of the German statutory health insurance providers. The monthly rate will be taken directly out of your salary. Currently, the rate is the same for all statutory health insurance providers and equals 14.6% of your gross salary. In the case of statutory health insurance, the employer and employee each pay half of the monthly rate. In addition, the statutory health insurance providers charge a supplement, which the employ-ee must pay him- or herself. Private health insurance: If your annual salary currently exceeds 56,250 Euros (as of 2016) and has exceeded this amount for each of the three previous calendar years, you are exempt from the statutory health insurance coverage requirement. Please note that family-related supplements (such as the previously mentioned child allowance) do not count toward this amount. Wages earned abroad can be used when calculating your income for this purpose; scholarships, however, cannot. If you are exempt from the statutory health insurance coverage require-ment, you may either purchase a private health insurance policy, choose to voluntarily be covered by the statutory health insurance system, or use a health insurance policy from abroad. The rates of private health insurance policies in Germany vary and are based on your current health and a number of risk factors. Scholarship recipients If you receive a scholarship, you must also have health insurance coverage. You may choose to voluntarily be covered by the statutory health insurance system, in which case roughly 15% of your scholarship per month will be deducted. Prices vary a bit among the different statutory health insurance providers. The advantage in this case is that the cover-age often extends to family members travelling with you. Another option is private health in-surance. Many institutions that provide scholarships also offer health insurance coverage. Please contact the institution granting your scholarship in advance. Short stays Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland can apply for the Euro-pean Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in their country of residence if it is not already printed on the back of their health insurance card. This card has replaced forms E128 and E111. If you

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plan to spend less than three months in Germany, you can use your EHIC to receive medical care. The health insurance provider in your home country will cover the costs. Only those with statutory health insurance coverage are eligible to receive the EHIC. If you are not a citizen of one of the above mentioned countries and are entering Germany with a Schengen visa, you will have to show proof of a travel health insurance policy valid in all Schengen states with coverage totaling at least 30,000 Euros. C.4. In case of injury or illness Emergency numbers

Emergency physician and fire department: 112

Police: 110

Poison control center for the states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia: 0 361/730-730

Urgent house calls: 0 361/741-5116

Urgent dental care: 0 361/676-7300

Urgent care for those covered by statutory health insurance (general practitioners, ears-nose-throat specialists, pediatricians, ophthalmologists) Emergency room at the Helios Clinic 99089 Erfurt Nordhäuser Straße 74 Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 7 pm - 7 am Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 7 am - 7 am (next day) 0 361/781-4833 or 0 361/781-4834

The after-hours pharmacy service changes daily. Please check the Web site of the City of Erfurt or the Web site of Erfurt’s Emergency Pharmacy Service.

Erfurt’s Emergency Pharmacy Service (content only available in German):

http://www.beethovenapotheke.de/template/start.aspx?id=/ Outpatient care

Your health insurance coverage allows you to choose your doctors as you please. In the event of injury or illness, please consult a general practitioner; he or she may then refer you to one or more specialists. Exception: You may make appointments directly with dentists and gynecologists. The names and addresses of all doctors are listed by their specialist area in the telephone book and on the Web site of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.

Search for doctors via the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (content only available in German): http://www.kv-thueringen.de/suc/arztsuche.html/

If you are insured in the statutory insurance scheme, when you see a doctor, you must pay some fees out-of-pocket. This is basically related to a copayment for prescribed medication (5-10 Euros) at the pharmacy.

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Always take your health insurance card with you to your doctor’s appointments. This allows you to be treated without making payment in advance out of your own pocket. Instead, the doctors will send their bills directly to your health insurance provider.

If you have a private health insurance policy, you will be billed by your doctors and must pay the bills out-of-pocket. Afterward, you may send these bills to your health insurance provider for reimbursement, assuming the treatment is covered by your policy.

If you require medical care on the weekend or a holiday, check the local newspaper for a list of on-call doctors or go to the above mentioned urgent care service at the Helios Clinic.

The Web site of the BKK (Betriebskrankenkasse, or company health insurance fund) for Mi-grants’ Health Project contains a great deal of information on the German health system in a number of languages, including Arabic, Bosnian, Greek, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, and Turkish.

BKK guide to german health care: http://www.bkk-bv-gesundheit.de/bkk-promig/44.0.html Inpatient care There are two hospitals in Erfurt: Helios Clinic of Erfurt Nordhäuser Straße 74 99089 Erfurt 0 361/781-0

0 361/781-1002 St. Johann-Nepomuk, a Catholic hospital Haarbergstraße 72 99097 Erfurt 0 361/654-0

0 361/654-1081 C.5. Other useful insurance policies Liability insurance We strongly advise you to purchase a liability insurance policy. This type of insurance covers damages or bodily injuries caused to another person (such as in the event of an accident between you and someone riding a bicycle). It is possible that your liability insurance policy from your country of residence is also valid in Germany; however, please inquire about this in advance. Accident insurance If you have a work contract, you will automatically have an accident insurance policy that covers work-related accidents. As accidents outside of the workplace are not covered, we advise you to purchase a private accident insurance policy as well.

C.6. Driver’s licenses You may use a valid driver’s license from another country for six months after arriving in Germany. The Department of Motor Vehicles (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) has the power to grant

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extensions of an additional six months upon request, provided that you ensure them that you do not plan to reside in Germany for longer than twelve months in total. At the end of this period, driver’s licenses issued by non-EU countries must apply for a German driver’s li-cense. Appendix 11 of the German Driver’s License Regulation lists the countries whose driver’s licenses are recognized by the German authorities. This means that you will auto-matically be granted a German driver’s license without having to pass any examinations. Those holding driver’s licenses from other countries may also apply for a German driver’s license, but the difference is that a theoretical and a practical examination must be passed at a driving school before the new license can be issued. It is not necessary to take driving les-sons, but this generally increases your chances of passing the examinations. You must have a green insurance card and liability insurance for your private vehicle. Useful links:

TÜV Rheinland: http://www.tuv.com/de/en/recognition_and_transfer_of_foreign_driving_licences.html/

Appendix 11 of the Driver’s License Regulation (Fahrerlaubnisverordnung):

http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/fev/anlage_11_115.html

Citizens’ Services Office of the City of Erfurt: http://www.erfurt.de/cocoon/ef/bservice/app/zustaendig/aemter/

C.7. Radio and television license fees If you own a radio or television set, you are legally obligated to pay license fees to the GEZ (Gebühreneinzugszentrale, the agency responsible for collecting these fees). Additional in-formation is available at every post office and on the GEZ’s Web site.

GEZ: http://www.gez.de/ C.8. Language courses Although you will be able to communicate in English with most people at the university, profi-ciency in German will help you get by in other contexts and become more quickly acclimated to life in a new country. Therefore, we recommend acquiring a working knowledge of the German language while still in your home country. You can then build on these skills once you arrive in Erfurt. Preparation at the Goethe-Institut The Goethe-Institut offers German courses in 80 countries and 127 cities around the world. Whether you wish to learn German to communicate in everyday situations, in your studies, or on the job, the Goethe-Institut leads the global market in teaching German as a foreign lan-guage.

Goethe-Institut: http://www.goethe.de/ Deutsch-Uni Online (DUO)

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The Deutsch-Uni Online (DUO) offers language courses online specifically designed for stu-dents and scholars. Besides improving your German skills, these courses will teach you a great deal about Germany and help you gain knowledge in other areas.

DUO: http://www.deutsch-uni.com/ Language Center of the University of Erfurt Once you have arrived in Erfurt, you will be able to take part in the German as a foreign lan-guage courses for foreign students offered by the Language Center of the University of Er-furt. Although these courses are not designed specifically for visiting scholars, they will still help you to perfect your language skills and better understand Germany as a country.

Language center of the University of Erfurt (content currently only available in German): http://www.uni-erfurt.de/sprachenzentrum/daf/

C. 9. Cultural offerings in the city of Erfurt There are numerous theatres, cinemas, museums and leisure facilities to be found in Erfurt. The Erfurt Tourist Information Centre (Tourismus GmbH Erfurt) can provide you with more information and with a monthly calendar of events (Erfurt-Magazin) for a current overview of the events in Erfurt. Tourismus GmbH Erfurt Benediktsplatz 1, 99084 Erfurt +49(0)361/664-00

+49(0)361/664-0290 E-mail: service@erfurt-tourist-info.de

http://www.erfurt-tourist-info.de http://www.erfurt.de/ http://www.erfurt-magazin.info/

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D Contact, assistance programs, and additional information

D.1. Contact information If you have questions of an academic nature, please contact your academic supervisor. The staff of the International Office will be happy to answer questions of an administrative nature. University of Erfurt International Office Nordhäuser Straße 63 99089 Erfurt +49(0)361/737-5030

+49(0)361/737-5039 international@uni-erfurt.de http://www.uni-erfurt.de/en/international/international-office/staff/

D.2. Support programs International clubs and meetings There are numerous international clubs and societies in Erfurt, such as the German-American Society, the German-Israeli Society, the German-Polish Society, the German-Italian Society and the German Europa-Union. All these societies are trying to bring people from different cultures together. The international societies have a common centre: Geschäftsstelle der Auslandsgesellschaften (Headquarters of the International Societies) Begegnungsstätte Kleine Synagoge An der Stadtmünze 4/5 99084 Erfurt +49(0)361/655-1667 International "Stammtisch" An International "Stammtisch" (round table) meets every third Thursday in the month at 20.00 in Café Nerly (Marktstraße 6); see Internationaler Stammtisch. It is a good opportunity to meet people from other countries, to find new friends and to practice your foreign language skills. The German-American Society meets every Wednesday in the Louisiana restaurant (Futterstraße 14). There are also international meetings at the University of Erfurt during the semester which usually take place one night per week, e.g. in the "Engelsburg". On these occasions, German and international students with common interests meet to converse in their chosen language. Project "Strangers become Friends" The project "Strangers become Friends" assigns international students at the University of Erfurt and the University of Applied Sciences host families in the city of Erfurt. By doing this, we want to assist students in finding contacts beyond the campus and in settling in in Erfurt as fast as possible. Their hosts will help them get to know the city of Erfurt, its attractions and

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its surroundings faster, and they will support them should a problem occur, e.g. by dealing with bureaucratic matters, or by making a doctor's appointment. Depending on their fields of interest, students will be invited into the host families' homes in order to experience the Ger-man culture and way of living first-hand, or they can pursue common hobbies together, such as cultural activities or sports, etc.. On the other hand, hosts will want to learn about the stu-dent's home country and maybe test the language skills they might have. This way, both hosts and international students can benefit from the program. If you are interested in participating, please fill in an application form. Information on common interests enables us to match up students with a suitable host family, so please provide de-tails about your fields of interest. Contact: Frau Petra Eweleit Fachhochschule Erfurt (University of Applied Sciences) Altonaer Straße 25, House 6, 2nd Floor, Room 35 D-99085 Erfurt +49(0)361/6700-487

+49(0)361/6700-703 eweleit(at)fh-erfurt.de http:// www.fremde-werden-freunde.de

Springboard to Learning e.V. Springboard to Learning e.V. is a non-profit-making association which encourages people both to become acquainted with and to gain a better understanding of foreign cultures. The most important task of the club is to bring people together, who see heterogeneity as a posi-tive challenge. Springboard to Learning organises contacts between people of different cul-tures who want to broaden their knowledge of other cultures and to gain new experience in this area. The association's events promoting integration encourage attitudes of acceptance, tolerance and openness. Springboard to Learning provides a service for foreign residents in Germany (including regis-tered international students) by organising teaching programmes for foreign nationals in schools. Freelance contracts for 12-hour courses can be set up for this purpose, and the course content is discussed with the subject teacher of the school in question. Courses in subjects such as Music, Philosophy, Languages, Social Sciences, Geography, History and Art can be integrated into this system. If you are interested in working as a Springboard teacher, you should already start thinking about bringing along authentic, hands-on materials such as visual aids that you can also touch, taste, wear, smell or hear in order to bring your culture and origins to life for the pupils and to give them insights which cannot be obtained from books (e.g. photographs, musical instruments, money, stamps, spices, objets d'art, song texts, maps, fairy-tales, etc.). Springboard to Learning e.V. c/o Universität Erfurt Nordhäuser Straße 63 99089 Erfurt +49(0)361/737-1620

+49(0)361/737-1624 springboard@uni-erfurt.de http://www.uni-erfurt.de/springboard

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Café International

The Café International is a regular meeting place for all foreign and German students at the University and the University of Applied Sciences who like to meet and communicate with people from other countries and cultures. Every Tuesday night the Café International takes you on a journey round the world. On offer are introductory nights to specific countries, slide shows, discussions, but also fun dancing nights. All events are organised by the student tu-tors of both Erfurt universities. Join us in our multicultural get-together and enjoy e.g. Indone-sian food specialities, hot Salsa rhythms or international poetry. Your ideas are welcome, too, please contact the Café tutors. Why don't you bring materials from home, such as pho-tos, videos, CDs etc. and participate!

Café International Hörsaal 7 Nordhäuser Straße 63 99089 Erfurt

Meetings Every Tuesday during the semester at 20.00 +49(0)361/244-77-130

marco.finn@stw-thueringen.de http://www.erfurt-international.de