Study at Trier University: Exchange Students


[Translate to Englisch:] Austauschstudierende

Have you been nominated by your home university to study at Trier University? If so, let yourself be inspired by the variety of courses! At Trier University, you can expand your studies according to your wishes with a German perspective on your field of study and beyond. The Orientation Programme for international students makes it easier for you to settle into student life in Trier.


Information and Orientation

Courses of study

Course of Study at Trier University
Here you will find an overview of all undergraduate degree programmes (Bachelor's and "Staatsexamen") and all postgraduate degree programmes (Master's). In all Bachelor's degree programmes and in many Master's degree programmes, (almost) all courses are held in German.

English taught Master's courses
Some Master's programmes are taught entirely in English. A prerequisite for taking courses from the English-language Master's degree programmes is that exchange students are enrolled in an equivalent Master's degree programme at their home university.

Study system and course selection options
Here you will find an overview of the study system, the different types of courses and your course choice (Learning Agreement).
 

Application and enrollment

If you are a student participating in an exchange programme (e.g. ERASMUS, ISEP, partner universities) and have been nominated by your home university to study at Trier University, you will find information here on your application and admission to Trier University.

Dates and deadlines
According to the division into winter and summer semesters, there are two application periods during which the application forms are online and the application must be submitted.

  • If you start your studies at Trier University in the winter semester, your application procedure starts in April of the same year. The application deadline is 1 July.
  • If you start your studies at Trier University in the summer semester, your application procedure starts in October of the previous year. The application deadline is 15 January.

General information on the semester dates is available here.


Application process

  1. Only after receiving our email with detaileld information on the application process: Complete the application documents on the online application portal www.exchange-application.uni-trier.de (URL-UT) from the above-mentioned application start date. 
  2. Save the PDF version of this completed online application form. This form is your application for admission to study at Trier University. You and your home coordinator must sign the application for admission (the printed PDF document). You must send this application by e-mail to the International Office of Trier University (exchangestuduni-trierde) before the application deadline mentioned above.
  3. If you would like to take part in the Orientation Programme and would like the International Office to arrange accommodation for you, please send us as well the "Application Form for the Orientation Programme" and the "Application for Accommodation" in writing. You can also find these two forms in the online application portal.


Important
Please note that your application can only be processed if it contains the complete documents and signatures and arrives on time!
Once all documents have been received by the International Office in full and by the deadline, you can be admitted to study at Trier University. The admission letter will be sent to you digitally by the International Office. Admitted students will receive information on enrollment (matriculation) in good time, which must also be completed before arrival in Trier!
 

Why study in Trier?

Are you unsure whether you want to study at Trier University? Here you will find reasons why studying at Trier University is worthwhile!
 

Orientation Programme

Before the start of university courses, Trier University offers a three-and-a-half-week Orientation Programme. This is a comprehensive and varied programme designed to help you get to the University and settle into the city of Trier. Participation in the Orientation Programme is voluntary, but highly recommended. You can find more information about the Orientation Programme here.
 


Before Arrival

Entry and visa

Depending on your nationality, a visa is required for entry into Germany. Therefore, please inform yourself about the valid entry and residence regulations at a German diplomatic or consular representation in your home country.
You can apply for a visa at the competent German mission in your home country.

Visas are issued depending on the reason for stay. Make sure that you apply for a visa to study. When applying for a visa to study, you must present, among other things, the notification of admission from Trier University.

Important
Expect a processing time of several weeks, possibly even several months, and apply for your visa early! If you do not require a visa for your entry and are not an EU citizen, you must still apply for a residence permit after your arrival. Please make absolutely sure that you can prove that you have the necessary financial means before your arrival! You can find further information under "Financing your studies".
 

Financing your studies

Please note that in advance of your studies at Trier University, the financing for your complete stay in Germany must be clarified and secured. You will need at least 992 euros per month to finance your life in Trier. Most of the costs will be for rent, health insurance and your meals. In your first month, you will also have other costs. Usually you will have to pay a deposit for your flat. You will also have to pay the semester fee, which is currently around 350 euros.
In order to apply for a visa, you will need to provide proof of financial resources. In other words, you must prove that you can finance your studies in Trier.
 

Important documents

You need to bring the following documents with you to Germany, as you will need them for various official procedures: 

  • 2 copies of your passport or identity card
  • 1 biometric passport photo
  • 1 certificate of health insurance cover if you have statutory health insurance in Germany or a valid European Health Insurance Card. If not, please read here how to proceed.
  • Your letter of admission to study at Trier University
  • if you need a visa to enter Germany: 2 copies of your visa
  • if you do not come from a country of the European Union and do not receive a scholarship from Trier University, the DAAD or the Fulbright Commission:
    1 declaration of your financial ressources (issued in German or English). This can be: Proof of a blocked account, proof of a scholarship, proof of a regular German bank account. Required amount per month: 934 euros. The certificate must cover the amount for the entire duration of your stay.
     

Living

Trier University has the possibility to arrange a limited number of rooms in student halls of residence for exchange students. Direct application to the Studierendenwerk is not possible! You can find more information about the halls of residence on the Trier Studierendenwerk website.

We can only arrange a room in a student hall of residence for you if you send us the "Auftrag zur Vermittlung einer Unterkunft" together with the "Antrag auf Zulassung". You can find it on our Online Application Portal under "Housing". Rooms in halls of residence are allocated at the beginning of August for the following winter semester and at the end of January for the following summer semester. The order of the applications received by the International Office determines the allocation of the limited number of places. Information on the rental contract and handing over the keys can be obtained from the International Office. The monthly rent for a room in a student hall of residence is approximately 325-365 Euros. In addition, a one-time deposit of 600 Euros is required.

Important
If we are unable to find you a room in a hall of residence because the room allotment has been exhausted, you will be informed by email and given information about other possibilities of finding accommodation in Trier. Exchange students who would like private accommodation, for example because they would like to live in a shared flat with German students, are responsible for finding their own room!

Short-term accommodation
If you cannot move into your student hall of residence directly, you can find addresses for short-term accommodation here.
 

Health insurance

For your stay in Germany and for enrollment at Trier University you need sufficient health insurance cover.

This exists if you

        1) have a German statutory health insurance (e.g. AOK, Barmer, DAK, TK or another 
            other statutory German health insurance) or

        2) you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (valid until the end of your stay in
            Trier!) or

        3) there is a social security agreement between your home country and Germany, through which
            you are insured (Turkey or Serbia).

► In these 3 cases you are sufficiently insured for enrolment at Trier University.

If you do not have insurance as described in points 1-3, you must in any case take out German health insurance before your arrival in Trier. Private or statutory health insurance from your home country will not be recognised. You can find more information here. 
You will also receive further information about which health insurance is suitable for you during the application process. Please do not take out health insurance for your stay beforehand.
 

Medical care

Students with chronic illnesses or mental health problems should note the following:

Medication
If you need special medication, please find out well in advance of your departure whether this medication is also available (readily available) in Germany. Please ensure that you have sufficient medication with you. Contact your doctor and, if necessary, the customs authorities (keyword: import regulations).

Medical or psychological care
If you suffer from a chronic illness or need psychological care during your stay, please inform us as soon as possible, at the latest, however, after you have received your letter of admission, so that we can make the necessary arrangements together with you.
In Germany, a distinction is made between Hausärzte (general practitioners) and Fachärzte (specialists). As a rule, you go to your Hausarzt first and then have yourself referred to a Facharzt. If you have statutory health insurance, the costs of treatment are settled through your health insurance. If you have private health insurance, you have to pay the costs yourself first and are usually reimbursed later by the health insurance company.
Medical care in Trier is good, but waiting times for some specialists can be quite long and we want to work with you to make sure you get the medical care you need right from the start. Don't worry, this information will of course be kept strictly confidential

Important contact details
If you need to see a doctor during your stay in Trier, you can find the most important addresses of doctors, pharmacies and hospitals here.
 

Enrollment

Enrollment (registration) takes place after successful admission. You will receive all important information by email about 6 weeks before the start of your stay.
Enrollment also includes payment of the semester fee and proof of sufficient health insurance. The semester fee must be paid in full by all students and is not a tuition fee! After successful enrollment, you will receive the data from us to log into the university's systems. Only then can you also register for courses.

Attention
Initially, enrollment is only valid for one semester. If you are studying two semesters at Trier University, you must register for the second semester towards the end of the first semester. More detailed information on this procedure will be sent to you by email towards the end of the first semester. Students who do not re-register in time will be automatically exmatriculated.
 

After the application - Course choice, arrival ect.

Here you will find useful information, presentations and checklists for exchange students.
 

Arrival

You can travel to Trier via one of the airports in the area, by train, bus or car. Here you can find more information on how to get to Trier.
 


After Arrival

TUNIKA (= Trier University Card)

After successful enrollment and arrival in Trier, you will receive your student ID card, the "TUNIKA" (= Trierer Universitätskarte/Trier University Card). The chip card contains your name, your matriculation number, your library number and the study period for which you are enrolled and re-registered.

Read more about the basic functions of the TUNIKA here.
 

Bureaucratic formalities

You must register your address with the Residents' Registration Office and apply for a residence permit at the Immigration Office. Exchange students who cannot or do not wish to attend the Orientation Programme must fulfil these administrative requirements themselves. The International Office will provide you with the relevant information, but cannot accompany you to the authorities.
 

Bank account

In order to be able to handle your payment transactions (e.g. transferring the monthly rent) smoothly and inexpensively, you should open a bank account at a bank in Trier on your own. In Trier's city centre, but also near the university, you will find branches of almost all large and well-known German banks, but also some foreign banks.

Documents you need to present when opening an account:

  • Identity card or passport
  • Certificate of registration from the Residents' Registration Office ("Einwohnermeldeamt")
  • German tax identification number
  • If applicable, certificate of enrollment from Trier University (can be found on PORTA under: My Studies > Student Service > Requested Reports/Reports).

Important
It can take up to two months to open a bank account. Therefore, make sure that you bring enough cash with you and/or have access to your home account, especially for the first few weeks in Trier.

Attention
You cannot pay with a credit card everywhere in Germany.
 

Life in Trier

Here you will find information on leisure, sport and culture in Trier.