Special Requirements for International Students from Mannheim

Please note that information on proofs of language proficiency listed in our database of partner universities applies to requirements for German students. Depending on your nationality, some host institutions require other proofs of language proficiency, especially from non-EU citizens. You might need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS instead of a Language Certificate.

This is why you should check whether there are special requirements for your nationality at your preferred host institution before applying. This information can usually be found in the “exchange students” section of the host institution’s website.

For your visa application, there might also be specific conditions regarding the proof of language proficiency. Some countries have varying regulations depending on the applicant's nationality.

Whether you need a visa to study abroad, depends on the country you are going to and your nationality. EU citizens can study in EU countries and in some other European countries without a visa.

Students with a different nationality usually need a visa. Even if you stay within the EU, a residence permit for Germany does not automatically constitute a right of residence in other (EU member) states.

Please research your specific visa requirements ahead of time, preferably before applying for a stay abroad. Please contact the embassies or consulates of the countries you are considering.

Please pay particular attention to the following points:

• Do I need to provide specific proof of financial resources? Keep in mind that the financial resources you had to provide proof of for your residence in Germany, such as a blocked account, may not suffice. You might be required to submit other kinds of proof of financial resources.
• Does the embassy have special requirements regarding your foreign language skills, such as a special proof of language proficiency that is not required by the host institution?
• Do you already have to indicate a place of residence in your host country when applying for a visa?
• Check your German residence permit and, if necessary, renew it in good time (see below).

If you have another nationality in addition to the German one, you are unlikely to run into any issues if you use your German nationality for your entry/visa application. You should check the visa requirements nevertheless.

If you have multiple international nationalities, please read the information for international students on this website.

Are you also a citizen of your host country? In this case, some countries insist that you use this nationality for entry and hold the respective passport. Please inquire about these regulations early on at the embassy or consulate. You should also find out if it is even possible for you to study as an exchange student in this country (see next section).

Some partner universities do not accept exchange students who hold citizenship of the same country. So if you are citizen of a certain country and are interested in an exchange program for this country, we urge you to first consult the International Office to find out if participating in the respective exchange program is possible for you.

It is advisable to keep your residence/apartment in Germany during your exchange semester abroad, for example by subleasing it. If this is not possible, feel free to seek advice from the International Office.

Registering your residence at the home of friends or acquaintances is only possible if you receive a landlord's confirmation of residency (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). As a rule, this confirmation is issued and signed by the landlord or property owner.

If you are staying in Germany on a residence permit for the purpose of studying, there are a number of things you need to keep in mind:

• It is important that your residence permit is valid until after the end of your stay abroad, so that you can reenter Germany without any difficulties. In some cases, you will also need a residence permit with extended validity in order to apply for a visa for your host country.
• If your residence permit is not valid until after the end of your stay abroad, you will have to renew it ahead of time before you leave. To have your residence permit renewed, you will need a confirmation from the International Office that you are going to study abroad. Please contact the International Office (outgoingsmail-uni-mannheim.de) no later than eight to ten weeks before you are leaving, in order to receive the confirmation, and then immediately apply for the renewal of your residence permit at the relevant immigration authority. After receiving the confirmation, it takes at least two weeks to get an appointment at K7—sometimes even longer. On top of that, the processing time for renewing your residence permit must also be taken into account.
• In exceptional cases: early renewal (if you need a visa)
  If you need to apply for a visa for your host country, you will need the renewed residence permit at an earlier point in time. An earlier renewal is possible with a special confirmation by the International Office. In this case, please contact the International Office (outgoingsmail-uni-mannheim.de) immediately and apply for the renewal of your residence permit as soon as possible

You plan on staying abroad for more than six months?
In most cases, this is only possible if you are staying abroad for the purpose of studying. If you are planning on staying outside of Germany for more than six months due to study-related reasons, you need the approval of the foreigners’ office. Only then can you reenter Germany without any issues after completing your stay abroad.

If you want to spend time traveling outside of Germany after completing your semester abroad, the time you spend abroad must not exceed six months. This also applies if you are visiting your home country!

• Academic leave of absence: You also need the approval of the foreigner’s office if you want to take an academic leave of absence to go abroad. The approval of a leave of absence depends on the respective foreigner’s office. Currently, unfortunately, the Mannheim foreigner’s office does not approve a leave of absence for the purpose of studying abroad or doing an internship.
• Health insurance: Please be aware that you will need to remain member of a German health insurance provider for the duration of your stay abroad in order to stay enrolled at the University of Mannheim.
• Re-registration: Remember to re-register for each semester at the University of Mannheim in due time.

If you have any questions regarding residence permits or the foreigner’s office, feel free to contact the Team International Degree-Seeking Students at the International Office.

In rare cases, you can also apply for a leave of absence for your time abroad, which would exempt you from paying tuition fees. The condition is thatyour degree program allows taking an academic leave of absence for studying abroad and that the responsible foreigner's office approves it. The latter can vary from city to city.
Currently, the Mannheim foreigner’s office does not approve a leave of absence for the purpose of studying abroad or doing an internship.

International students pursuing a master's program who have successfully applied for the Baden-Württemberg Stipendium to fund their stay abroad will also be exempt from paying tuition fees for this period.

Being exempted from paying the semester fee (administration fee, Studierendenwerk fee and fee for the constituted student body) is not possible at all.

If you have any questions regarding an academic leave of absence or the foreigner’s office, feel free to contact the team for international degree-seeking students at the International Office.