COVID-19 and German Universities: Weekly Webinar for International Students

Throughout the pandemic and as health and safety measures, many German missions abroad have ceased taking or processing visa applications. With the relaxation of entry restrictions, we expect that the German embassies and consulates will start taking up their work again soon. Especially for students coming from one of the 14 countries for which the EU relaxed travel restrictions on July 1st, student visa applications should be possible already or be made possible soon. Even other embassies in countries that are experiencing a higher number of cases, announced that they are working on re-opening for visa applications throughout the month of July. Another difficulty you may experience throughout the visa application process is that some documents necessary for the application, such as certified copies or notarized translations, may be hard to come by, since authorized translators’ offices may be closed.

International students who have finished the visa application process, including the interview, and are waiting to hear back from the German embassy, may also experience difficulties since pending application processes were often put on hold. We expect that these applications will be processed again when the embassy can re-open and resume their activities.

The main take-away from this is that the visa process is more difficult right now, but that we see a light at the end of the tunnel and expect the embassy’s services to be available soon again. Most importantly, we want to encourage you to confirm with the embassy or consulate general responsible for your visa application to find out what applies in your situation. Even if they do not offer visa appointments yet, you will be able to reach the embassy employees via phone or e-mail and it is essential that you contact them, inform them about your situation, your plan, and potential difficulties. This is the best way for you to get the most up-to-date and the most official information on whether you can obtain a student visa and travel to Germany.

Some programs ask international students to apply via uni-assist e.V. which is a platform that handles and checks international students’ applications to German universities. Uni-assist continues to process applications as usual. This is good news and means that the application processes seem to remain in place. Under the current circumstances, uni-assist may take a bit longer to process your application, which is why it is recommendable to apply a bit on the early side. You can see updates and their current processing times here.

However, application processes will be more stressful, especially for international students. You may experience difficulties in compiling all the required documents. It is for example harder to obtain notarized translations or certified copies at the moment. Another problem is that depending on where you are, international postal services may be restricted or delayed. If the program you would like to apply to requires paper-based applications or certifications you cannot provide at the moment, contact the program coordinators or the International Office of the university. If you have to apply via uni-assist (which does require online and paper-based applications) ask them for possibilities to deal with the situation. We expect that rules will differ from university to university, and you should absolutely confirm what applies to your case. The good news is that we have heard of individuals who were allowed to send in their applications online only.

The start of the winter semester was postponed to November 1st. How exactly what education will look like will depend on the number of COVID-19 cases, as well as on the rules and regulations in place. The general trend seems to be that people are advocating to move university education back to classrooms wherever possible. This opinion was for example voiced in an open letter by German academics that was backed by the German student union.

According to the prediction of the German Rectors’ Conference, the winter semester will see a mix of online and offline events. Factors that will influence the execution of courses are whether a university has the infrastructure to teach on campus while still maintaining necessary hygienic restrictions. For international programs that are taught in English and have a large number of international students, the decision may be made to teach online to accommodate international students who cannot enter Germany in time for the semester start due to delays in the visa application. Overall, it is important to note that this will differ from university to university and even from course to course. Therefore, you should consult directly with the program coordinator of the courses that interest you.

In terms of quality, you will likely still be taught by the same professors on the same topics, even if it is in online-learning formats. The online formats might even improve, given that they were in place for a semester already. Remember, everyone is in the same boat and trying to find the best solution in face of a challenging situation.

Enrollment is the last step all students have to go through after being admitted to a program: It signals to the university which admitted you that you accept their offer and wish to pursue your education with them. You will only get your student card and your online ID’s after enrollment.

How you will have to enroll exactly depends on the university and it is usually indicated to you in the letter of admission. Most universities will ask you to enroll in person or to pick up the student ID in person. Right now, this is not possible, which is why universities have switched to remote enrollment systems. We also see that enrollment deadlines were extended at some universities. Therefore, from what we can see, new students who already have arrived in Germany will likely be able to enroll and fully take part in the courses.

Some difficulties may arise for international students, who may experience difficulties traveling to Germany, for example, because their visa application takes longer than expected. On one hand, you may think that it should be especially easy right now: If enrollment systems are switched online and courses are offered in distance-learning formats, it seems as though you should be able to fully partake in the semester - no matter where you are on the globe.

The problem is that certain documents, which are usually required for enrollment, are hard to come by if you are not in Germany, for example, proof of health insurance from one of the German providers. It is important that you stay in contact with the university you would like to enroll at if you are in this situation. In your letter of admission, you should have received some contact details. Alternatively, your program coordinator or your university’s Studierendensekretariat and International Office will be good places to ask what to do in your situation, especially if you have reason to believe that you might not make it to Germany in person before the enrollment deadline.

The German federal government offers loans and aid schemes for national and international students. Firstly, there is an interest free-loan that international students can apply for to cover their expenses. Secondly, for the months of June, July and August, enrolled students who are affected financially by the pandemic can apply for the so-called interim financial aid, which grants eligible students up to 500 € per month and does not have to be paid back. We recommend you file for this aid since it is pretty much gifted to eligible applicants. An important commentary on the implications of these programs for international students in Germany is provided by the association of international students ‘bas’. Also, contact your university if you are in dire straits due to the crisis and stuck in Germany - some institutions managed to pull together emergency funds and the DAAD also announced that they are working on supportive solutions.

If you are in Germany on a scholarship, we advise you to contact your scholarship provider on how you will be affected. You can expect to receive funding for the agreed-upon period of time. International students on DAAD scholarships who just finished their studies and were scheduled to leave Germany already but couldn’t because of travel restrictions have their funding extended.

If you were looking to apply for a scholarship, we recommend you closely follow the websites of the scholarship providers for important updates, possible changes in application procedures, and latest developments concerning scholarships for the following semesters. According to our research, it seems likely that international students can apply for scholarships. Read our scholarship article for a list of different funding institutions.

We understand that this is a stressful situation and it is important that you get clear information on what applies to your situation. Good news is that, should you stay in Germany past the validity of your residence permit due to the crisis, you will not be considered illegal. You should contact these information services for help:

• your countries’ embassy or diplomatic representation to Germany

• your universities’ Studierendenwerk for information on emergency help

• your cities Immigration Office

The honest answer to this question is: We don’t know. We do not know how long the pandemic will continue to have strong effects on our daily life, how it will develop in Germany, or in your home country and what the long-term consequences will be. To stay up-to date and read expert opinions the websites of the RKI, a website published by the German Federal Ministry for Health, the World Health Organization, or the John Hopkins University are some good sources.