Moving to Berlin as a Student
Berlin is undoubtedly a fantastic city for students. As well as being home to numerous world-leading institutions, students are also immersed in a city steeped in culture with pumping nightlife and affordable living – what more can you ask for?
But once you have been awarded your place on a course at a Berlin university, you will still need to get set up in the city. Follow our checklist below for a smooth relocation to Berlin as a student…
Student Visa
Non-EU/EEA citizens require a Student Visa before they can embark on a study programme at a German university. The visa allows you to study in Germany for the duration of your course, and also work part-time to help fund your student life in Berlin.
To help you with your Student Visa application, we have put together some step-by-step visa guides:
Health Insurance
It is compulsory to have German health insurance when studying in Germany. You will not be able to start studying in Berlin without it. You also need suitable insurance to apply for a Student Visa.
Thankfully, there is a great health insurance option for students in the form of TK Student Health Insurance. To read more about why this insurance cover is perfect for students, see our German health insurance guide.
Accommodation
As a student arriving in Berlin, you will of course need a place to live. However, finding suitable long-term accommodation can be challenging and takes time.
To get you started, a great option is to initially book a short-term, furnished apartment with Smartments. They have 3 Berlin locations in Prenzlauer Berg, Karlshorst and City-West, and offer address registration (Anmeldung) with just a 14-night booking.
For further tips on finding a long-term apartment in Berlin and registering at an address, see our Berlin Apartment Hunting Guide.
Banking
On arrival in a new country, it is essential that you can easily access your money while steering clear of costly bank fees, poor exchange rates and slow international transfers.
For international students arriving in Berlin, our favourite choice is a Wise borderless account. Through Wise, you can manage 40 currencies in your account and transfer between them in seconds, a valuable service for newcomers in Germany.
For alternative options, see our Banking Guide for Germany.
Personal Liability Insurance
While it is an ‘optional’ insurance, the majority of residents in Germany consider personal liability insurance to be a necessity. And for good reason. In Germany, accidents and mishaps can result in severe financial consequences in the event you cause injury or damage to a third party.
For under €5 a month, you can get the liability cover you need from GETSAFE, a reliable and expat-friendly insurance provider.
To find out more about the importance of personal liability insurance in Germany, see here.
Job Searching
The German Student Visa allows you to work part-time in Berlin. This can either be 120 full days or 240 half days annually.
To help you get started with your job hunt, we have put together extensive resources:
Starting work in Germany
Once you have secured a job offer in Berlin (hooray!) as a student, you will need to arrange various bits of paperwork before you can start working. The main documents you will need to show your new German employer will include:
German tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer)
German social security number (Sozialversicherungsnummer)
Further details of all these documents and how you can obtain them can be found here.