PREPARING YOUR RESEARCH VISIT

The website of the Federal Ministry of Education provides useful information on how to plan and prepare your stay in Germany as well as information about entry requirements and residency in Germany. The Federal Ministry of Education also provides a brochure: FAQs – Preparing a successful research stay in Germany. On the Ministry’s website, you can also find additional information about jobs, career services and further fellowship opportunities for international researchers.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) also provides a practical guide for international students, where you can learn more about living expenses, required health insurance, housing opportunities and a general check-list for planning your visit.

The portal deutschland.de is a service provided by Fazit Communication GmbH in cooperation with the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, and provides a great deal of information about German culture, lifestyle and cuisine, the education system and much more. Additional information about what is currently going on in Germany can be found on the website of the Federal Government of Germany and the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Before you plan and book your travel to Germany and Braunschweig, you should find out about current visa and entry regulations from the Federal Foreign Office of Germany and apply for your visa, if required, well in advance of your stay.

As a GEI fellowship holder you will receive a letter of invitation and a letter to the embassy, if needed, which you can submit when applying for your visa. If you need a visa to enter Germany, please provide us with the full, current address of the respective embassy.

If you enter Germany on a visa, you will have to prove that you are covered by health insurance – even as a fellowship holder. Your health insurance should cover costs of medical treatment, medicines, hospital stays, and any necessary check-ups. The German healthcare system has a very good reputation, but medical treatment is not free of charge. All costs, including emergency treatment, must be paid for by you or your insurance company, which is why it is so important to have comprehensive health insurance. When you visit a doctor you are required to present your insurance card to prove that you are covered. In addition to the mandatory health insurance, accident and liability insurance is recommended.

If you need to see a doctor or require medical advice during your stay in Braunschweig, you can find local doctors sorted by their respective specialties at www.arztauskunft-niedersachsen.de.

German currency and payment customs

The currency in Germany is the Euro (1 euro = 100 cents). You can withdraw cash from an ATM around the clock with an EC card or an international credit card. However, EC cards or credit cards cannot be used for all payments in Germany. You will therefore need cash the moment you arrive. You might need cash to make telephone calls, deposit luggage, pay taxis, or buy bus tickets.

Banks are open from Monday to Friday from approx. 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; some open later on Thursdays, until approx. 6 p.m. You can also change money at many larger post offices.

Retail prices, whether in restaurants or shops, are final prices that already include value-added tax. However, in restaurants, bars and taxis, it is still common to pay a voluntary tip, which is usually 10-15% of the total.

Shopping and groceries

Shops are generally open from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Major supermarkets and shopping centres may stay open even longer. However, smaller shops or shops in the suburbs may close at around 6 p.m. On Saturdays opening hours may vary, but usually shops close between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. All shops usually remain closed on Sundays, except for some bakeries and flower shops, which may be open on Sunday mornings. Service stations often also have mini-supermarkets or supermarket-style assortments of basic food items. These are often open around the clock.

Electricity

All electrical connections in Germany are designed for 220-240 volts/50 Hz AC mains and European standard plugs (two-pin plugs). You may need adapters or transformers for electrical equipment you bring with you.

Weather

The weather in Germany is often changeable. Even in summer you should expect cold and rain. It is advisable to bring warm clothes and check the weather forecast before you travel.

To learn more about Braunschweig, we would recommend the website Welcome to Braunschweig. It provides details about the city, sightseeing recommendations and a guide to what’s on in and around the city. The free Braunschweig App by Braunschweig Stadtmarketing GmbH is also a helpful guide to Braunschweig for visitors and makes travel and leisure planning easier.

The Technical University Braunschweig (TU) has its own web portal for international guest researchers. In additional to general information about living and studying in Braunschweig and events for international scholars you can also find information about German language courses available at the TU.

Germany has many airports. You can get to Braunschweig by train using Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) from any airport in Germany. Hannover (HAJ), Berlin (BER) and Hamburg (HAM) are nearest to Braunschweig. All three have good transport links and you can easily travel to Braunschweig main station.

You can buy your ticket in advance, online, or purchase one from a ticket machine in the respective train station or on the platform from which your train is leaving. It is important to note, however, that ticket machines do not always accept credit cards and you cannot buy tickets on the train.

From Braunschweig Hbf (Hauptbahnhof - main train station) take bus route 411 (towards ‘Lamme’ to the ‘Maschstraße’ stop). The bus stops ‘Maschstraße’ and ‘Radeklint’ are closest to the GEI. (timetable information)

The Institute is on the corner of Celler Straße and Freisestraße. (Google Maps)

Access to the institute on the day of your arrival

The main entrance of the institute is at Freisestraße 1 (at the parking lot). You will need to ring the doorbell labeled “Fellow”. Before your arrival, we will inform you, which team member is welcoming you the day of your arrival. However, you should make sure the Fellowship Team can reach you, either by email or mobile phone in case there are any delays in your arrival.