Enrolling at your university

Your first steps in the university will not lead you to an auditorium, but to the student registration office. There you will be able to officially enrol.

Before you can study at a German university, you first have to enrol. This procedure is called enrolment or registration. Once you’re formally enrolled, you may attend courses at your university, take examinations and finally receive an academic degree. Enrolment also allows you to access all facilities at the university, for example, the library, sports grounds and computer rooms.

You may enrol at your German university as soon as you receive your notification of admission from the International Office or the Foundation for Higher Education Admission (former ZVS). The notification also includes information concerning the enrolment period. Please note that the enrolment period can be rather short and you have to show up in person in order to enrol at the university.

You have to bring several documents with you when you enrol. Please enquire at the International Office about which ones are required at your university. In any case, the registration officials are sure to ask for the following two documents: your notification of admission and a confirmation of health insurance coverage.

Once you’ve enrolled, you will immediately receive a written confirmation. This confirmation serves as your student identification until you receive your official student ID by post. You will require this confirmation of enrolment, for example, when you apply for a residence permit at the Aliens’ Registration Office.

Please note! At the end of each term, you have to re-enrol before a given deadline. In the worst case scenario, you can be suspended from your studies if you miss that.

More Information on the enrolment procedure and the required documents you can find on our website and on the homepage of the DAAD.