Students

Students > Germany Living Guide

For additional information about living in Germany, visit the MIT-Germany Wiki.

Before you leave for Germany
When you arrive in Germany
While you are in Germany

Before you leave for Germany, we will help prepare you for your time abroad. We work closely with you to coordinate logistics, including transportation, work permits, housing, and banking.

Passport/Visa

All participants need a valid passport, and some students must apply for a visa before going to Germany. To obtain a passport, please visit any US Post Office or http://travel.state.gov/passport/. We will work to assist students who require a visa. Visa applications are accepted at the Consulate General (Three Copley Place, Suite 500, Boston, 617.536.4414).

Before you visit the Consulate, please review the list of required documents: http://www.germanyinfo.org/relaunch/info/consular_services/visa.html.

With a work permit in hand arranged by the MIT-Germany Program, the Consulate will issue a multiple entry visa within two business days.

Health insurance

MIT student health insurance covers you in Germany through a reimbursement-only policy. The MIT-Germany Program strongly recommends an inexpensive supplemental health insurance program provided by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Fill out the online form, sign it, then send it to mit-germany@mit.edu. To activate the insurance, you transfer payment to the DAAD's account after arriving in Germany. For insurance-related questions while in Germany, please contact Frau Palm at the DAAD (palm@daad.de or 0228/882-294 or 0228/882-400).

Housing

In case your host company does not directly arrange housing, we will assist you in finding accommodation.

A great way to meet young Germans is to share an apartment with them. Here are some useful websites:

Rents vary considerably in Germany. They tend to be higher in the south, and Munich often has the highest housing costs.

Money

Employees are paid at the END of the month. Therefore, please make sure to set aside enough money to cover your expenses for the first month. We recommend around €1000. An ATM card is the best way to withdraw funds from your home account without incurring major fees. You might wish to monitor the Euro/US Dollar exchange rate so that you can keep track of how much you are spending.

We are happy to assist you when you arrive in Germany as well. If you have any questions about the culture or communication, please feel free to contact us.

Setting up a bank account

Because compensation is transferred electronically, each student needs to open a German bank account. The MIT-Germany Program recommends Sparkasse or Stadtsparkasse for your banking needs.

Living costs

Current Euro/Dollar exchange rates make living in Germany a bit more expensive. However, there are many opportunities to save on food costs. Shopping at discount stores such as Aldi, Plus, Lidl, Woolworths, and eating at the university or company cafeteria can help balance your budget.

Commuting

Many German cities offer subsidized monthly commuter passes ("Job-Tickets"). Ask your employer if you are eligible for this type of ticket, which helps to save on transportation costs.

Shopping

Stores in Germany adhere to far more restricted shopping hours than do shops in the US. Larger department stores (i.e. Kaufhof, Horten, C&A) are generally open from 9am to 8pm M-F and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays. Smaller stores, especially in rural areas, are open from 9am to 7pm, and close as early as 1pm on Saturdays. No shops are open on Sundays. In an emergency, you may be able to purchase something at a gas station.

Sundays are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy coffee and cake in a café, visit a museum, go on hiking and biking trips, or hang out with friends.

German taxes

Please pick up tax information (Steuerkarte) at the local employment office (Arbeitsamt) soon after your arrival. The MIT-Germany Program has arranged for companies to term your internship "compulsory" so that only minor tax withholdings will be deducted from your paycheck.

However, if you work in Germany for 12 months or more after graduation, or if you accept formal employment, then you are no longer considered an intern. Under these circumstances, higher taxes will apply. For more information, visit the following websites:

Local Foreigners' Office (Ausländerbehörde)

All students working more than 3 months (and who are not citizens of the European community) must fill out forms at the local Ausländerbehörde. Companies will inform the Foreigners Office about interns, and all documentation will be available upon arrival.

Staying in Touch

Phone

A great and inexpensive way to contact family and friends is through an IPA, such as Skype (www.skype.com).

Additionally, calling cards are widely available. Germans save money on international calls by dialing an access code before the number. Check daily newspapers or www.billigertelefonieren.de for access codes.

To call Germany from the US, dial: 011 (international code) + 49 (country code) + local number (without '0').

Calls from Germany to US: 001-617-253-6982.

E-mail

We recommend MIT webmail to stay in touch. Typically, host institutions will provide Internet access. There are also many inexpensive Internet cafés throughout Germany.

While you are in Germany, take advantage of the many opportunities to immerse yourself in German culture. We want you to enjoy your experience in Germany, learning the most from your internship and the community.

Troubleshooting

Please address difficulties concerning your internship as soon as they arise. The MIT-Germany Program is ready to assist at any time. If you have problems with a particular arrangement in your department or with colleagues, please politely address these problems with your mentor. In addition, the Managing Director, Sigrid Berka (sberka@mit.edu or 617.253.6982), will meet with you during the first few weeks of your internship. Please check in with her about any persisting problems that you might face.

Dress code

Dress codes vary from company to company. Working for a bank requires more formal attire than working in a lab. A good way to start your internship is by dressing business-casual. Once you get a feeling of how everybody else is dressed, you can adapt to the department. Please don't forget to bring a suit and tie/dress or skirt for more formal events, such as meetings, receptions, and dinner parties.

Recycling

Germans are avid and passionate recyclers. Most communities recycle all types of paper, packaging, and glass with a green dot (Grüner Punkt, approximately 90% of all packaging). Only very small trash bins are provided for the non-recyclable trash (Restmüll).

When you go to the grocery store or supermarket, don't forget to bring your own linen bag or backpack. Environmentally friendly cotton shopping bags are sold in most grocery stores. If you don't bring a bag of your own, be prepared to pay a small fee for a paper or plastic bag at the cash register.

IAESTE Offices

Offices for the International Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) are located at universities throughout Germany. They offer valuable information about social events and inexpensive European destinations. These events are a great way to meet other international interns in Germany. For more information, please go to: www.iaeste.de.

MIT Club of Germany

The MIT Club of Germany is an MIT alumni club. The club president is Mohamed Chikhaoui (MT.Chikhaoui@t-online.de). Students who will be staying in Germany long-term are invited to join the club, which organizes an annual Biergarten get-together for our interns.

Traveling

Train

Train travel is the best and most reliable method of transportation across Europe, and a Eurail Pass can make it both economical and convenient. These resources will help you to plan travel by train:

Air

You can find inexpensive flights to and from European cities.

Here are a few of the many airlines to explore in your search for budget airfare:

www.germanwings.com
www.easyjet.com
www.ryanair.com
www.lufthansa.de (click on "Top offers," scroll down to "betterFly deals")

Car

Many German travelers share rides and split the cost of gas. This website allows you to search for someone who is headed to your destination: www.mitfahrzentrale.de.

Lodging

Youth hostels across Germany — and Europe — offer inexpensive accommodations: http://www.hostelz.com/hostels-in/Germany.

Electricity converters

The standard voltage in Germany is 220 volts (the US uses 110 volts). You can purchase electricity converters before you go in department stores, office supply stores, and at Radio Shack for your laptops, hair dryers, alarm clocks, electric razors, etc.

Drinking water

Drinking water in Germany is safe, and you can drink tap water without concern. German restaurants typically don't offer complimentary water. If you order water, be prepared to pay for it. Additionally, water is usually carbonated. For non-carbonated water, ask for "Wasser ohne Kohlensäure."