Before your Arrival
Study applicant visa
If you have not yet received notification of admission to Ulm University, you can apply for a student applicant visa. It is valid for three months and extendable to a maximum of six months. After admission to the university, the applicant visa can be converted into a residence permit
Student visa
If you have received your notification of admission to Ulm University, you should apply for a student visa. Student visas are usually valid for three months. Within these three months, you will have to apply for a residence permit at the local Aliens department (Ausländerbehörde).
The brochure "Rights of residence for researchers from non-EU countries in Germany" from the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) gives an overview over the different types of residence permits, their requirements as well as your subsequent rights and obligations.
Housing
![](/fileadmin/website_uni_ulm/io/3_DEG-DR_STIBET/Web_bilder/bibliothek.jpg)
There are many ways to find an apartment or room in Ulm and Neu-Ulm. However, please start your search as soon as possible. Especially at the beginning of each semester in September/October and in March/April, there is usually a lot of pressure on the housing market.
Search engines are quite common. A lot of landlords and landladies, nonetheless, ask for a personal meeting before the conclusion of a rental agreement.
Most rooms or apartments in Germany don't come with furniture.
Useful links for your search for housing can be found on the following websites:
Supervisors can book a room or apartment for their doctoral researchers in one of the guest houses of the university. However, due to a very high demand, it is important to book it well in advance. Please ask your supervisor about this possibility.
If you weren't able to find a room or apartment before your arrival, you can book a room in a boarding house or youth hostel.
Travel insurance
Make sure to conclude a travel insurance, which covers the first time of your stay in Germany until you are able to contract a regular health insurance.