From Abroad

The following list will refer you to the pages for exchange students in the respective study programmes. Course listings and module descriptions are provided as downloads:

• School of Life Sciences
• ESB Business School
• School of Informatics
• School of Engineering
• TEXOVERSUM School of Textiles

Here you can find the helpful Checklists.

Getting here from Stuttgart Airport

• Take the eXpresso (Bus X3) to "Stadtmitte, Reutlingen" or use the Deutsche Bahn (DB)  to plan your trip from Stuttgart to Reutlingen ("Stuttgart Flughafen/Messe" to "Stadtmitte, Reutlingen"). All timetables are available on the DB website.
• From Reutlingen Stadtmitte, take bus 4 to "Pestalozzistraße" if you are going to Theodor-Litt-Haus or Adolf-Reichwein-Haus
• From Reutlingen Stadtmitte, take bus 4 to "Hochschulen" to arrive on campus/go to Reutlingen International Office (Building 3, Room 219.) or the dorms at Pestalozzistraße 41, 63, 65. All timetables are available on the DB website!

Please note: The dormitories "Kolpinghaus” and “Frauenwohnheim” are located in the city centre

Students are required by law to have health insurance. You will not be allowed to register with the university until you have provided proof of insurance. Please note: 

• Under German law, a student’s private health insurance (whether foreign or German) may not put a limit to their benefits. For example, travel-insurance often includes a maximum payment of 30,000€ or 100,000 USD$ for medical treatment. This type of health insurance policy will not be accepted for enrolment; your policy must offer “unlimited” benefits.
• Health insurance must cover both in-patient and out-patient treatment. If an excess (co-pay sum) is stated on the policy, this must not be higher than 5,000€. Other benefits included in the travel package (e.g. accident insurance or transport back home) may be limited to a certain sum.
• Your enrolment at Reutlingen University will officially start on September 1st (winter semester) or March 1st (summer semester). Hence, you must provide proof of adequate health insurance coverage from the September 1st/March 1st until the final day of your stay (e.g. you arrive mid-September, so you must provide proof of health insurance for the whole of September to comply with rules of enrolment!). 
• Without proof of valid health insurance, the enrolment procedure is incomplete and you will neither receive your student ID card, nor your login data for the university account. 

Please choose the option that best describes you

1. EU student: Bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and have it verified by the AOK. Upon completion, you should be exempted from having to purchase German health insurance.
2. Non-EU student with insurance from home: Bring copies of any insurance cards and policies you may have (either in German or English) and get them checked by the AOK. You will then be informed whether your insurance is acceptable or whether you must purchase German health insurance. Depending on
   your situation, you may be able to buy a supplementary plan that extends the coverage of your health insurance from home.
3. Non-EU student without insurance from home:
   The DAAD provides relevant information on German health insurance. Take some time to research health insurance companies and their policies before you arrive and choose best suited to your needs. You can always speak with your coordinator here in Reutlingen or the RIO to help you select a provider or insurance plan. 

Students are required by law to register with the city at the Bürgeramt Reutlingen within 14 days of their arrival. Students participating in the intensive language courses will complete this process with help from the RIO. All other students will need to complete this process on their own. Required documents include: 

• Passport or ID card (EU-citizens only)
• Completed city registration form
• "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung" (landlord's confirmation). If you live in one of the student dorms on campus, this will be automatically sent to the city. Private renters should speak with their landlord and ask for said document. 

Once you leave Reutlingen (return home or move within Germany), ou must also de-register with the Bürgeramt a week prior to leaving. Bring your passport or ID (EU-citizens only) and the completed city de-registration form. 

Since credit cards are less widely used in Germany than in other countries and are not always accepted in shops or restaurants, we advise you to open a bank account, a "Girokonto" with a local bank in Reutlingen. Most of them offer free accounts for students under the age of 25 with an EC debit card (valid in most places and at most ATMs across Europe). You will need you passport, student ID, semester address and a phone numer to open an account; some banks may also request a confirmation of your registration with the city. While there are a number of banks downtown, the most closes to campus are the Volksbank (e.g. on Alteburgstraße) and the Kreissparkasse Reutlingen (e.g. on Alteburgstraße or in the city centre). 

There are three travel ticket options for Public Transport for students to consider. It’s up to the student individually to look up prices and decide which ticket is the best option for them.

1. Semester Ticket-This ticket is only purchasable by students. It is only for the “Naldo” region. (Map available on Naldo Website) It’s valid for six months on regional busses and trains.
2. Baden-Württemberg Youth Ticket-Only available for youth under the age of 18 and students under the age of 27 (offered to students who turn 27 within the semester), this ticket covers the entire state of Baden-Württemberg. It can be bought on a monthly, semi-annual, or annual basis and is only valid for regional trains and buses.
3. Deutschland Ticket-Anyone can purchase this ticket, which covers regional trains and buses throughout all of Germany. Can only be purchased on a monthly basis.

Not every contract is right for you, and you might want to cancel e.g. your rental contract during your stay to move somewhere else. In most cases, however, you will not cancel your contracts prior to leaving Germany. When you do, make sure to consider the following:
 

Rental contract
This is one of the most important contracts to cancel upon leaving Germany. Make sure you have read through your rental agreement or spoken with your building manager or landlord to find out about the cancellation deadlines. If you live in a dorm, make sure to read up on the steps of moving out/handing over your keys.

All other contracts
In addition to your rental contract make sure to cancel all other contracts you have signed (internet, cell phone, bank, health insurance, etc.) on time. Contract termination in Germany usually has to be done in written form (preferably by post) and at least 4 weeks in advance. When in doubt, make sure to contact the company and find out about the exact termination conditions. If you are still unsure about the exact procedure, ask your student buddy for help. Pay special attention to the termination policy of saving accounts ("Sparkonto") and blocked accounts ("Sperrkonto") with German banks. Make sure you have made
 arrangements to unblock the account before you leave.

There are a number of scholarships available at Reutlingen University to support students during their studies. Good grades are an important factor for receiving scholarships and so are extracurricular activities (Ex. Being an active member of a club or society, community service, etc.) Get in touch with Reutlingen International Office (RIO) to find out which scholarship is best for you!

Banks offer a range of special loans to students irrespective of their parents’ income. The loans are intended to fully cover students' living costs for a maximum of 14 semesters, with monthly payments ranging from 100€ to 650€. At present, student loans are offered by the Kfw-Bank. For more information on regulations and work permits for international students and related topics, visit the DAAD.