First Steps

From the train station, you can reach the university by bus or tram within 10 minutes and most parts of the city within 15 – 20 minutes. Timetable information is available from Braunschweiger Verkehrs AG.

Braunschweiger Verkehrs-AG (German only)

If you are arriving in Braunschweig for the first time and have a lot of luggage, a taxi ride may be the easier solution. German taxi drivers do not necessarily speak English, but you can simply write down your destination and pass it to the taxi driver. A taxi ride in Braunschweig costs between € 6 -15 depending on the distance.

If you have rented an apartment in Braunschweig, you will receive the following documents from your landlord upon moving in:

• your rental agreement
• one or more sets of keys
• a handover protocol

The handover protocol details the condition of the flat at the time when you move in. It also states the number of keys you received. If you find any defects in your new flat, you should insist that they will be noted in the protocol. Ask the landlord for a copy of the protocol.

If you stay in Braunschweig for a longer time

Statutory Health Insurance

If you have an employment contract in Braunschweig and earn less than €69,300 per year, you will automatically be insured with one of Germany's statutory health insurance companies. Your research institution transfers the contribution directly from your salary to the insurance company. Your children and your partner are insured free of charge if they live in Germany and have no income of their own.

Private Health Insurance

If you are a scholarship holder, you will need to take out private health insurance. With private health insurance, you can individually pick and choose the health services you want. The rates vary considerably from company to company and obviously depend on the services covered. When signing a contract for private health insurance, make sure that the services covered are at least equal to those of a statutory health insurance policy.

For short-term stays

For short-term stays without an employment contract, you will usually have to take out private health insurance. Your home country health insurance may be accepted, depending on your country of origin and the coverage provided by your insurance policy. As soon as you know the exact terms of your stay in Braunschweig, we can find out for you whether your health insurance is accepted in Germany or whether you will have to take out a German health insurance policy.

We strongly recommend that you take out liability insurance for your stay in Germany. This insurance covers any personal injury or property damage that you might accidentally cause. Accidents can quickly lead to substantial costs – for example, if a person is severely injured in a car or bicycle accident that you or a member of your family has inadvertently caused. If you do not have liability insurance, you will have to bear all of these costs yourself.

Before coming to Germany, you should check if you have liability insurance that is valid internationally. Alternatively, you may take out a German liability insurance policy for the duration of your stay. Expect to pay approximately €60 – 70 per year for liability insurance in Germany.