Semester dates at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences:

Summer semester: 01.03. - 31.08.
Winter semester: 01.09. - 28.02.

The start of the courses varies each year and can be found here

Information about the lessons at the Internationales Studienkolleg can be found here

Your contact persons:

• for organisational questions regarding your application for a Bachelor's or Master's study programme at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences:
  First of all, uni-assist will help you.
  Then you can contact the relevant member of staff for your study programme in the Admissions Office/Student Secretariat (Studierendensekretariat).

• for questions regarding the selection of a suitable study programme:
  Contact the departmental coordinator

• for organisational and other questions about your guest/Erasmus semester:
  The International Office team will be happy to assist you.

• for questions about the Internationales Studienkolleg:
  The ISK secretariat team will help you.

The Special Coordinator China of Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences will be happy to help you with questions about cooperation with China:

Frau Prof. Dr.-Ing. Liping Chen

The procedure for your application depends on

• your nationality and
• your school-leaving qualification or previous course of study.

Here you will find detailed information on applying with foreign educational certificates

If you are interested in a guest/Erasmus semester at HS KL, you must first be nominated by the International Office of your home university.

The application deadline varies depending on the study programme.
You can find the application and enrolment deadlines for your study programme here

You can find the deadlines for the Internationales Studienkolleg here

For a guest/Erasmus semester, your home university must nominate you to the HS KL by 15 May (for the winter semester) or by 15 November (for the summer semester).
After successful nomination, you must submit your application documents by 15 June or 15 December.

Choose a degree programme or select suitable modules for your guest/Erasmus semester at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences:

• All study programmes (guest/Erasmus students can also choose German-taught modules of ONE degree programme)
• International Programmes
• English-taught modules & Incoming Programmes for guest/Erasmus semester

At Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, you can select individual modules (in English and/or German) for your guest/Erasmus studies or simplify your search and take part in an English-taught Incoming Programme.

Due to the three different locations, it is generally not possible to take modules from different campuses. Online courses are an exception.

Please also note that some modules are only offered in the summer semester, others only in the winter semester.

Please check with your home university about the recognition of modules and ECTS.
It is common to take modules totalling 30 ECTS per semester.

If you are studying at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, you must be able to finance your life in Germany for the duration of your studies.

The following overview helps you to estimate the costs

You can find out whether you can apply for financial support for your studies (not guest/Erasmus semester) according to the German Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (BAföG) here

The Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences awards the following scholarships to international students:

• 'Deutschlandstipendium'
• Graduation Scholarships
• Short-term scholarships in cooperation with the KHG

Here you will find an overview of scholarships and funding opportunities for your studies at HS KL.

If you want to study a German-language study programme at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, you generally need German language skills at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Here you can find information on the certificates

Our English-language study programmes generally require English language skills at level B2 and German language skills at level B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Information on the English-language study programmes can be found here

If you would like to spend a guest/Erasmus semester at HS KL, you will need German/English language skills at level B1 or B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), depending on the contract. Please contact the International Office of your home university for further information.

Information on the application requirements of the Internationales Studienkolleg can be found here

VISA:

You are an international student from

a) the EU, the European Economic Area or Switzerland with EU citizenship: You do not need a visa.

b) a country that does not require a visa to enter Germany: You do not need a visa.

c) a country with visa requirements for study purposes, but you are already studying in an EU-country with a valid residence permit: The International Office of your current EU-university informs the International Office of Hochschule Kaiserslautern as soon as possible about your planned stay with us. We register you with the authorities in Germany and keep you informed about the procedure. Important: The residence permit for the first EU-country (where you are already studying) must be valid for the entire duration of your stay with us!

d) a country with visa requirements for study purposes (not a or b): You must apply for a visa for study purposes at the German embassy/consulate in your home country before entering Germany.

Here you will find helpful information on how to apply for your visa.

RESIDENCE PERMIT:

You are an international student from

a) the EU, the European Economic Area or Switzerland: You do not need a residence permit.

b) a country that does not require a visa to enter Germany: You do need a residence permit, then you need a residence permit if you want to study in Germany for more than 3 months.

c) a country with visa requirements for study purposes (not a or b): You will receive your first residence permit upon entry with your visa, which is usually valid for three months.
Afterwards you have to apply for an extension of the residence permit at the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) in your place of residence.

Important: If you change your course of study or your place of residence, you must inform the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) responsible for you in advance, otherwise you will automatically lose your residence permit and have to leave Germany for a certain period of time.

You must have health insurance for studying in Germany. Your health insurance company must send proof of your health insurance electronically to the admission/enrolment office (Studierendensekretariat) for your enrolment. Here you can find more information and recommendations of the DAAD concerning your health insurance

It is also common in Germany to have a liability insurance. Please check whether you are insured with your parents or not.

The following brochures provide information on finding accommodation for the three university locations:

• Kaiserslautern
• Pirmasens
• Zweibrücken

The Student Service Union (Studierendenwerk) Kaiserslautern is responsible for allocating rooms in student halls of residence. Please apply as early as possible, as places are very limited. However, an application does not automatically mean that you will get a room.

For a guest/Erasmus semester at HS KL, contact the International Office by email before your arrival. We will support you in finding a room.

As an applicant, you will automatically receive the application form for the student chip card together with your enrolment documents.

Your student chip card has the following functions:

• Student ID
• Ticket for public transport: VRN-Semester-Ticket plus Westpfalz (Kaiserslautern and Pirmasens)
• Library card
• Canteen (Mensa): Cashless payment for food and drinks
• Use of the printers in the PC pools

As a student of the Internationales Studienkolleg, you will receive your chip card from the ISK secretariat after enrolment.

International students are supported by buddies - our so-called "Student Guides" - especially with administrative tasks.

Support offered by the Student Guides:

• Contact before arrival
• Pick-up service from the train station
• Handing over the room key
• Joint visits to the authorities (e.g. registration at the Residents' Registration Office, opening a bank account)
• Welcome event
• Joint excursions
• Contact person for questions

It is advisable to arrive a week before lectures start in order to take part in the introductory events of your department. There you will receive useful information about your studies (timetable, exams, etc.) and get to know your fellow students and lecturers.

The International Office also organises Welcome Events for international students at the beginning of each semester. You can find information on this under News

For your guest/Erasmus semester, you can change your module selection within the first weeks of the semester in exceptional cases.

To do so, please contact the departmental coordinator and the International Office

You must then complete the "Change Form" and have it confirmed by your home university and the HS KL.

You can find your schedule in Campusboard

Please note that not all departments list their courses there. Therefore, if necessary, ask the relevant dean's office where you can find the schedules.

The Internationales Studienkolleg publishes its timetable every semester under News

Examinations usually take place at the end of each semester.

In order to take part in an exam, you must register in advance through the applicant and student portal (Bewerber- und Studierendenportal).
Please be sure to observe the registration deadlines! You can also find these in Campusboard

If you fail an exam (also if you are excused for non-attendance), you can usually repeat the exam. Further information on this can be obtained from the Examinations Office

If you fail an exam in your guest/Erasmus semester, please contact your departmental coordinator immediately to discuss how to proceed.

The Internationales Studienkolleg publishes its examination dates under News

The Examination Office (Prüfungsamt) will be happy to help you with any questions you may have about your examinations.

Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences will issue your Transcript of Records for your guest/Erasmus semester within 5 weeks after the exams and send it to you by email.

In principle, it is possible to extend your guest/Erasmus semester at HS KL.

We are happy to have you study here for another semester. Please contact the International Office as early as possible so that the necessary steps can be taken.

It is only possible to cancel the guest/Erasmus semester in exceptional cases.

Please contact the International Office as early as possible.

Yes, there is WiFi at all university locations.

The IT department of HS KL will automatically set up an account for you as soon as you are enrolled.

The three university sites have PC pools for students where you can use computers and printers as needed.

Information on the service points of the IT department can be found here

Within one week of your entry into Germany, you must register at the Residents' Registration Office.

To do this, make an appointment online at the Bürgercenter.
You must come to the appointment in person and bring your tenancy agreement or a letter of confirmation from your landlord as well as your identity card.

Your Student Guide can assist you with the registration process.

You can find information on the costs of studying at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences here

You can calculate the cost of living for students here

Some practical examples:

1 loaf of bread: 2-3 euros

1 pizza (restaurant): 5-13 euros

1 beer (pub): 2-3 euros

1 admission to the cinema: 5-8 euros (reduced price for students)

1 admission to a museum: 5-8 euros (reduced price for students)

If you are staying in Germany for a longer period of time, it makes sense to have an account  - so-called Girokonto - at a German bank.

Many banks have cheaper offers for students.

Your Student Guide can help you open an account.

If you are interested in a HiWi job (student work at the university), look in Campusboard or on the notice boards of the sites.
Also ask other students, as word of job offers gets around.

Part-time jobs (e.g. working in a restaurant) are often offered on online job exchanges.

The department International Relations and Languages offers a programme every semester with various opportunities to improve your language skills in German as a foreign language. You can find the programme here

In addition, the adult education centres (Volkshochschulen) usually offer courses for which a fee is charged:

• Kaiserslautern
• Pirmasens
• Zweibrücken

There is a canteen (Mensa) on every campus that offers a variety of lunches and snacks. With the student chip card, you usually receive reduced prices and can pay without cash.

Information on opening hours and menus can be found at the Student Service Union (Studierendenwerk)

There are also various restaurants and fast food outlets in every city.
It is customary to tip in restaurants, but it is not compulsory.

Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences offers various events at the three university sites.

Leisure and sports offers for Kaiserslautern can be found here

Our Leisure Guide shows you offers for Zweibrücken: Please ask for it at the International Office.

In addition, the Palatinate Forest is right on your doorstep. There you can hike, cycle, swim in lakes and visit castles. Be sure to try the excellent food and wine from the region while you're there.

Rhineland-Palatinate is the perfect starting point for travel within Germany and Europe. France and Luxembourg are a stone's throw away and beautiful cities like Heidelberg, Cologne, Freiburg or Trier are also nearby.

We wish you lots of fun!

Recreational groups

You can find information on this in Campusboard, on the notice boards of the respective campus and in Facebook groups. Or you can ask other students and join them.

The three cities of Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens and Zweibrücken also offer many events.

STEP e.V. is part of the largest European student network ESN (Erasmus Student Network) and offers excursions to major German cities. Come and explore with us!

Sports club

There are various sports clubs for students at the three university sites. You can find information on the notice boards of the respective campuses.

With your student chip card, you can also use the Unisport offer at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern. There may be a small participation fee.

In addition, there is the possibility to register at a local sports club or studio. Go there or give them a call beforehand.

With your student chip card, you can travel free of charge by bus and regional train in the VRN network area (for students at the Kaiserslautern and Pirmasens campuses).

In Germany and Europe it is quite possible and generally safe to travel by bus and train (Deutsche Bahn).
If you book a ticket some time in advance, you can travel quite cheaply by public transport.

Before you leave Germany again, you must deregister at the Residents' Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt).

If necessary, you must also inform the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) about your departure.

Also remember to terminate your tenancy agreement in good time and to pay any outstanding service charges.

Guest/Erasmus students need a "Confirmation of Stay" from the International Office