Come to Cologne A guide for international students

Publisher:Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia, CologneInternational OfficeWörthstraße 10D-50668 Kölnwww.katho-nrw.de

Text: Ina Borkenstein, Manuela Hoeck, Julia Harzendorf

Design: Ina Borkenstein, Manuela Hoeck

Translated by: Nick Watson

Picture credits: Grace KrauseKölnTourismus (www.koelntourismus.de)Manuel Schröder (www.manuelschroeder.com)

Printed by: Häuser Druck, Cologne

As at: December 2008

This publication has been financed by donations contri-buted by the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) (German Academic Exchange Service).

Content

4 Welcome to the KatHO Cologne

5 Contact

6 Studying at the KatHO NRW in Cologne The city of Cologne The university Social work, B.A. degree course Progress report of an international student of the KatHO Cologne Applying for a place at the KatHO Cologne European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) Tuition fees and semester fees Financial support options Library Computer, Internet, E-Mail Coffee bar Working groups Introductory week

16 Visa

17 Getting Started in Cologne Health insurance Enrolment Local residents’ registration office Aliens’ registration office Opening a bank account

19 Living in Cologne

20 Getting a Job in Cologne

22 Student Life in Cologne University sport University parishes University parties Music Theatre Cinema Museums Nightlife

Welcome to the Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine- Westphalia in Cologne!

We are very pleased that you would like to study at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences, Cologne (KatHO Cologne).

You will find important and interesting information in this brochure to help you to apply for a place at the universi-ty and information relating to your degree course at the KatHO Cologne. The information has been compiled as an initial guide to help you plan your stay in Cologne. It is intended to make it easier for you to decide to apply for a place at the KatHO, to help you overcome the bureaucratic obstacles at the start of your degree course, and rapidly find the right contact points as well as providing you with the first insights into life as a student at the university. Of course this short summary cannot provide answers to all questions. That is why we invite you to contact us if you have any further questions.

The international office of the KatHO Cologne is the first port of call for international students. Our tasks include supporting foreign applicants for a university place during the application procedure as well as providing advice and support to international supports concerning social, cultu-ral, alien law issues and questions relating to the degree courses. In addition we provide advice to students with re-gard to periods of study and internships abroad and orga-nise intercultural events.

We wish you a lot of success and all the best for your de-gree course at the KatHO and your stay in Cologne!

Yours sincerely,Your International Office

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Contact

Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia, CologneInternational OfficeWörthstraße 10D-50668 Köln

Tel.: +49 (0) 221 - 7757 - 142Fax: +49 (0) 221 - 7757 - 180Mail: ausland.koeln@katho-nrw.de

www.katho-nrw.de

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Studying at the KatHO NRW in Cologne

The city of Cologne

Cologne – called Kölle in the local dialect – ranks amongst the most diverse university sites in Germany. That is why a lot of foreign students opt to embark on a full time degree course or a semester abroad in Cologne. With its popula-tion of almost a million inhabitants Cologne is the largest city in the Federal German state of Rhine Westphalia and the fourth largest city in Germany. The Cologne cathedral is the city’s most famous landmark. A lot of people asso-ciate Cologne with the carnival season, Kölsch (the local beer) and Rhenish frivolity. But Cologne is also famous for its 2000 year history, its cultural and architectural heritage and also for its internationally significant events. Life in Co-logne is uncomplicated and stimulating. In addition to the numerous Romanesque churches the cityscape is charac-terised by the Rhine river as well as the innumerable shop-ping streets, cafes and pubs. Numerous parks additionally entice you to spend time there. Cologne ranks amongst the great university cities; the almost 71,000 students who have been enrolled there account for about 7 per cent of the city’s population. Cologne is also an intercultural mel-ting pot with a rich tradition due to the fact that 17.2 % of the population are foreigners.

The university

With approx. 3,500 students at the four sites of Aachen, Cologne, Münster and Paderborn with six faculties the Ka-tHO NRW is Germany’s largest state recognised university that is operated by the church for social work, health ser-vice and religious education degree courses. The KatHO NRW was the first university in NRW to be awarded the title of „family-friendly“ university. Its quality finds expression in top rankings in national comparisons, for instance in the ranking of the Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung (Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE).

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Studying at the KatHO NRW means preparing yourself for the work of social workers with a B.A. qualification with a sound scientific and theoretical basis and also in a practi-cal and application-oriented manner based on the Christian conception of man, so the students can responsibly contri-bute towards an environment where people live together in a humane manner.

Approx. 1000 men and women study at the Cologne site in the health service and social service faculties. Located in the city centre and close to the Rhine, the social servi-ces faculty also offers the “Training and education at child age“ bachelor degree course as well as the consecutive, research-oriented „Social work in Europe“ masters degree course in addition to the „Social work” bachelor degree course. The “Addiction prevention and treatment, M.Sc” that is unique in Germany is also located here in addition to the “Addiction research competence platform” that is spon-sored by the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Social work, B.A. degree course

Social Work is about working on behalf of social justice and enabling and creating conditions for a self-determined life that is fit for human beings. In this way the social work spe-cialists assume responsibility for the social, political, eco-nomic and cultural conditions of our society and for their transformation. They structure areas of freedom and action for a fair society.

Students of the KatHO NRW complete the Bachelor’s de-gree after studying for six semesters.The degree course enables its students to acquire professional and personal skills. A good supervisory relationship, a personal atmos-phere, well structured theoretical knowledge and the option of directly applying the things that have been learnt are the main reasons why students opt for the KatHO Cologne.

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Progress report of an international student at the KatHO Cologne

Marie-Noelle Ntsame Eya, 24 years, from Cameroon: “I resolved to study in Germany as my relatives had al-ready gained good experiences of the study conditions in Germany. I wanted to learn German, get to know a different culture and broaden my horizon as a person in the world. I opted to study at the KatHO Cologne beKatHOe the KatHO rightly has a good reputation and offers the degree course, which interested me: Social work. In addition I got to know a KatHO graduate during my internship, who was a great example for me and encouraged me to apply to the KatHO Cologne. In my opinion international students are very well supported at the KatHO Cologne. The lecturers are at my disposal if necessary and take account of my difficulties with the German language. There are always contacts in the international office, who can help you. My fellow stu-dents are also willing to help. The degree course has a practical bent and the quality of the teaching is excellent. A particularly good feature of the course is the fact that you have the opportunity of working at the KatHO Cologne as a volunteer or as a student assistant and you can thus participate in all the activities at the university and learn a great deal at the same time. I also really enjoy student life and the experiences that I have with my fellow students beyond the buildings of the KatHO Cologne. Cologne is a beautiful city that has a lot to offer. The Cologne cathedral is impressive. The majority of people from Cologne that I know are open, willing to help and calm. Sometimes you notice the cultural differences in everyday life, e.g. the way people interact with each other and in the media. In additi-on I had to learn that there is no poor weather in Germany but just inappropriate clothing. In the cold winter season there is a good reason to be cheerful and have a warm he-art: Carnival. The thing that most fascinates me most about Cologne is the fact that all the continents are represented here and there are quite a lot of cultures to discover. That is wonderful!“

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Applying for a place at the KatHO Cologne

Applications from students embarking on a course of study who want to study in the Social Work Bachelor‘s degree course at the KatHO Cologne, must exclusively be made via the Cologne site and are only possible beginning in the winter semester. You apply online at www.katho-nrw.de/studienplatzbewerbung. The application deadline for the Social Work bachelor‘s degree course is the 31st May. The requirements for ad-mission to a Social Work B.A: degree course at the KatHO NRW include proof that the students have worked for three months in the social sector in addition to the general certifi-cate entitling holders to university entrance. In the majority of countries the school leaving certificate, which entitles the student to study in their home country, is sufficient for ad-mission to the course. You can find out how your university admission entitlement will be assessed in Germany at the www.anabin.de website. Graduates of German schools ab-road with a general higher education entrance qualification are treated in the same way as German applicants. Appli-cants who have not acquired their university admission en-titlement at a German school must provide proof that they have a sufficient command of the German language. The Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH) (German language examination for university admission), the Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF) (German as a foreign language), as well as the German examination part of the assessment test at the Colleges of Preparatory Studies for Foreign Students (Studienkolleg) are recog-nised. Pupils who have attained a national school leaving certificate and the German Language Diploma Level II of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (DSD II) are exempted from the need to prove they have sufficiently good German skills. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

The KatHO NRW makes use of the European Credit Trans-fer System (ECTS), an assessment procedure that is ap-plied at European universities and which simplifies the re-cognition of credits between European universities.

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Audimax

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Tuition fees and semester fees

In principle all students of the KatHO NRW must pay stu-dy fees of € 350.00 per semester. Students who spend a semester abroad are exempted from the obligation to pay fees. Additional reasons for reductions include having to look after and bring up underage children, cooperation as the selected representatives of university and students as well as the impacts of a disability or a severe illness which extend the time required to study the course. The tuition fees are earmarked for a specific purpose and are solely used to improve the quality of the teaching and the study conditions.

In addition a semester fee that currently amounts to € 192.00 is charged at the KatHO Cologne. The semester fee includes social fees for the use of social institutions of the student union such as the cafeteria or the student halls of residence, a fee to finance the student university bodies as well as the portion of costs for the semester ticket. The area of validity of the semester ticket, which enables stu-dent to use all the public means of transport free of char-ge, extends throughout the entire Federal German State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Financial support options

International students can apply for a grant from various ins-titutions. The financial support is generally contingent upon requirements being met such as their talent in the subject areas and evidence of special political and social commit-ment. The grant database of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) (German Academic Exchange Service) provides a good overview of the grant options for foreign students: www.daad.de/deutschland/index.de.html (by taking a look at the Financial support section).The financial support of a fulltime degree course from the first until the last semester is generally not possible.

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BIDS grants for students who have completed their school education at German schools abroad The international office of the KatHO Cologne takes part in the programme „BetreuungsInitiative Deutsche Auslands- und Partnerschulen (BIDS)” (A support initiative for Ger-man schools abroad and partner schools) that is funded by the DAAD. Each year approx. 7,000 graduates of Ger-man foreign and language diploma schools obtain entitle-ment to enter a German university or to have completed school education that is line with the secondary level II in accordance with the rulings of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Län-der in the Federal Republic of Germany. The goal of BIDS is to increase the number of well qualified students who have completed their school education who embark on a full time degree course in Germany. Graduates who have achieved very good results can apply for a motivation grant of € 300 per month for the first semester at the KatHO Co-logne, which should make it easier to embark on a degree course in Cologne.

Grants provided by the KatHO CologneThe social services faculty of the KatHO Cologne provides grants each year to students, who distinguish themselves due to their outstanding and well above average performan-ces as students. The grant can be awarded in the form of book grants. Every student can apply for this performance-related grant. International students who have acquired a foreign entitlement to study at a university can receive a grant from the funds of the STIBET programme that is sponsored by the DAAD if they are actively involved in the international office.

State education fundingIn Germany local students from families with a low income receive state funding in accordance with the Bundesaus-bildungsförderungsgesetz (BAföG) (Federal Training As-sistance Act). 50% of the BAföG is paid as an interest-free loan that has to be paid back in instalments once the stu-dent starts working. Under certain circumstances interna-tional students also have the option of receiving financial support in accordance with the Federal Training Assistance Act. You can obtain information about this at www.das-neue-bafoeg.de.

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Library

The inventory of books of the KatHO Cologne comprises literature on all the subjects lectured at the university. Now laying claim to approx. 71,300 books and around 360 ma-gazines it provides the university members with all the in-formation for the degree course, research and lectures. At the library there is an information area, the option of inter-library loan consultancy and the use of document delivery services, reading areas as well as PC workstations with internet access.

Computer, Internet, E-Mail

In addition to the computer workstations in the library pre-mises the KatHO Cologne has a separate PC room where you can work with different programmes. Free access to the internet is also possible there. The KatHO NRW also enables its students to surf on the internet with their own laptops via WLAN.

Coffee bar

Hot and cold drinks as well as sweets and cakes are sold in the coffee bar of the KatHO Cologne. In addition to sandwi-ches and salad there are alternating daily snacks on offer. The coffee bar has modern fixtures and fittings and can accommodate more than 70 students. Students also have the option of using the cafeteria of the nearby music col-lege. Three different dishes on a plate are offered every day including a vegetarian meal.

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Working groups

Various student working groups are on offer at the KatHO Cologne. For instance you can become actively involved in the international office, in the Israel-Palestine working group, in the choir or in the drama group and thus actively participate in university life.

Students councils

The student union (ASTA = Allgemeiner Studierendenaus-schuss) is elected by the student’s parliament (StuPa)for a year. It represents the students’ interests, informs them about current issues of relevance to the university, orga-nises various activities and supports you if you have any questions or problems.

Introductory week

Prior to the official start of the lectures an introductory week takes place in the winter semester at the KatHO Cologne, which should make it easier for you to get used to univer-sity life. At the start you will be welcomed by the dean, the lecturers and students of the KatHO Cologne and familia-rised with your degree course. You have the opportunity of having your questions answered and drafting your timetab-le in small groups, which are managed by tutors (students of higher semesters) and lecturers. The groups of mentors support with the first steps into the everyday university life and provide you with advice and assistance throughout your degree course. The introductory week additionally of-fers you a good opportunity to establish contacts with your fellow students in Cologne.

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Visa

Students from the EU member states, the EEC, from the USA and from a few additional countries do not require a visa for entry into the Federal Republic of Germany. Stu-dents who enter Germany from other countries, must apply for a visa with the responsible German diplomatic mission in their home country (embassy or the general consulate) prior to entering the country. When applying for a visa the students must at any rate provide that the funding of the study stay is secured for the first year of study. The res-pective diplomatic mission will provide binding information about the documents that are necessary. You can obtain more detailed information about VISA requirements and the permit of residence at the homepage of the DAAD: www.daad.de/deutschland/download.

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Getting Started in Cologne

Health insurance

You cannot enrol in Germany without health insurance co-verage. Please remember to take out student health ins-urance immediately following your arrival, e.g. with one of the statutory insurers. The costs amount to approx. € 60.00 per month. The health insurance companies from the EU countries are recognised in Germany. Certification concer-ning the recognition of your existing insurance policy will be issued to you by the statutory insurance companies in Germany. The students have to take out health insurance until they reach the age of 30 (or the 14th semester). That means you still have to regularly pay your contributions towards health insurance throughout your degree course. Documentary proof of health insurance is also indispensa-ble to extend your residence permit.

The free emergency numbers that apply throughout Germany are:Police: 110Casualty doctor and the fire services: 112

Enrolment

The enrolment (registration) is carried out in the student re-gistration office. You need to take a bank statement docu-menting the payment of the semester and study fees. You receive your student pass upon registering there, and your travel pass for the public transport network in NRW. You are also entitled to numerous discounts with your student pass, e.g. in swimming pools, museums, in the theatre and in the philharmonic hall.

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Local residents’ registration office

You must register with the local residents’ registration office within the first few days of arriving there. This is located in the district office for your part of the city. You can find the address at www.stadt-koeln.de (in the citizen service sec-tion). You show your passport, your tenancy agreement or confirmation that you have moved into the premises provi-ded by the landlord and your visa. You inform the office of any change of abode within a week.

Aliens’ registration office

Once you have registered with the local residents’ registra-tion office you should immediately apply for your residence permit for the purposes of studying with the district alien‘s registration office in Cologne that is responsible for you. Students from EU states do not require a residence permit. You can find out which district alien‘s registration office is responsible for you by calling the following telephone num-ber: +49 (0) 221 - 221 - 0. You must bring the following documents with you when re-gistering:

residence registration of the Cologne City Council health insurance certificate Student Identity Card of the KatHO Cologne proof of financial resources a valid passport a passport photograph money for the issuing of the residence permit

Opening a bank account As a student you have the option of opening a current ac-count at the free student rate. To obtain this you must show your passport, a certificate of study and a certificate of stu-dy of the Cologne city council.

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Living in Cologne

It is important that you set out to find accommodation from your home country before you travel to Cologne. Accom-modation is in short supply in Cologne as is the case in a lot of university cities. The international office of the KatHO Cologne will be happy to help you find accommodation. The simplest and most economical option of obtaining ac-commodation is in one of the student halls of residence of the Cologne student union. You can apply for a room online at www.kstw.de. The rent prices amount to around € 250.00 per month. However the halls of residence only have limited capacities. We therefore also recommend that you search for flats on your own. A lot of students live to-gether with other students and share the use of the kitchen and the bathroom. You can find rooms in shared flats on the internet on the following websites: www.wg-gesucht.de, www.studenten-wg.deHowever, if you should not have any accommodation upon your arrival you can rent a room in one of Cologne’s youth hostels for the first few nights.www.koeln-riehl.jugendherberge.dewww.koeln-deutz.jugendherberge.dewww.hostel-cologne.de

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Getting a Job in Cologne

Studying in Cologne is relatively expensive as the living costs are high. The monthly expenditure amounts to ap-prox. € 600, i.e. about € 7,200 per year. Due to the de-mands of the degree course and regulations governing work permits for foreign students there are only limited op-portunities for students to work during the period in which lectures are given. It is therefore imperative that you clarify how your degree course will be funded before entering the Federal Republic of Germany. Statutory restrictions apply to international students who want to do casual jobs. Stu-dents from the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland do not require a work permit, the same conditions apply for them as apply for German students. Students who do not come from the EEA or Swit-zerland may only work a maximum of 90 full days or 180 half days without a work permit in Germany.

At the KatHO Cologne it is possible to apply for a position as a student assistant. It is possible to work at the univer-sity without any time restrictions. However, the university jobs go quickly.You can find information on the job offers on the homepage of the Cologne job centre www.arbeitsagentur.de and on the job portal of the Cologne University www.stellenwerk-koeln.de.

At www.daad.de/deutschland/download, the DAAD (Ger-man Academic Exchange Service) provides a detailed ex-planatory leaflet on the subject of working in Germany for foreign students.

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Student Life in Cologne

The daily walk from the lecture theatre to the canteen should not be the only form of variety in your student life. An exceptional number of different options for leisure time pursuits away from student work are on offer in the city of Cologne. In addition to the cathedral people with an inte-rest in art have museums, art fairs and numerous galleries at their disposal which ensure Cologne is a well-known in-ternational centre for visual arts. Cologne is a media met-ropolis and a centre for cabaret and comedy. You can see productions of international musical ensembles in the Mu-sicaldome. You can watch the matches of the FC Cologne football team in the Rhein-Energie-Stadion.You can, for instance obtain detailed information about events and parties from the city magazines with their daily calendars (e.g.: www.stadtrevue.de, www.koeln.prinz.de, www.koelner.de).

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University sport

As a student of the KatHO Cologne you are entitled to par-ticipate in the more than 100 predominantly free university sports options. You can find out the variety of differing spor-ting options in detail at www.hochschulsport-koeln.de

University parishes

The Catholic and Evangelical university parishes provide counselling and advice if you have any personal problems or questions relating to your faith. They hold church servi-ces and organise intercultural meetings.

Katholische Hochschulgemeinde Köln (Catholic university parish)Berrenrather Straße 127, 50937 CologneTel: +49 (0) 221 - 47 69 - 20www.khgkoeln.de

Evangelische Studierendengemeinde Uni Köln (Evangelical student parish of the University of Cologne)Bachemer Str. 27, 50931 CologneTel.: +49 (0) 221 - 94 05 22 - 0www.esgkoeln.de

University parties

The KatHO Cologne organises a freshers’ party at the start of the first semester for all the students who have just en-rolled. It is an outstanding way of getting to know people and making friends. In the summer the student union of the KatHO organises a varied summer festival for all the students. In December the international office organises an intercultural Christmas party every year. In addition student parties regularly take place that are organised by the Uni-versity of Cologne.

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Museums

Cologne offers a large selection of museums. In the Rö-misch-Germanisches Museum (Roman-Germanic muse-um) you can admire Cologne’s excavational findings. Then Museum Ludwig is one of the most significant museums in Europe for contemporary art, the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum is one of the major classic portrait galleries in Germany and you can learn everything about the history of chocolate in the Chocolate Museum. But those are just a few examples of the varied range of museums on offer in Cologne.

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Music

Cologne is a music metropolis. Music of all styles and ages can be heard here every day. For instance in the Philhar-monie (the philharmonic hall), in the large modern opera house with its repertoire of classic and romantic operatic li-terature or in the countless trendy places such as the Stadt-garten, in E-Werk, in the Live-Music-Hall or in the Lanxess Arena, Germany‘s largest show and music hall.

Theatre

The Cologne Schauspielhaus (Cologne playhouse) offers metropolitan theatre performances that are internationally famous; in addition to the municipal playhouses approx. 60 independent and private theatres round off the theatre sce-ne by means of their own creative productions, comedies and varied guest performances by visiting theatre groups.

Cinema Cologne has a lot of cinemas to choose from ranging from mainstream to art house cinemas. In the “Metropolis“ ci-nema at Ebertplatz you can see all the films in the undub-bed version. The “Rex” cinema at Friesenplatz shows older films for just € 2.99.

Nightlife

On the weekends in particular locals, tourists and students mingle in numerous discotheques, nightclubs, bars and lounges, which should be able to cover all tastes and cater for every size of wallet. The main congregation points are the Altstadt (the old city centre), the Kwartier Latäng (the Cologne student district) around the Zülpicher Straße and the Luxemburger Straße, the Friesenviertel district of the city near to Friesenplatz as well as the southern part of the city in the area of Chlodwigplatz.

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Room for your notes