{"id":4719,"date":"2025-04-02T14:01:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T12:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stw.uni-heidelberg.dev10.econsor-programming.de\/international\/hinweise-und-tipps\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T08:06:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T06:06:55","slug":"tips","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.stw.uni-heidelberg.de\/en\/international\/tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\"Gruppe\n\n\n\n
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Advice and Tips<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Germany is a country with a long history and a few peculiarities. If you know these, nothing will stand in the way of a successful start. We have therefore put together a few tips to make your fresh start easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nInformation by DAAD<\/span>\n <\/path>\n<\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nFind a Tandem<\/span>\n <\/path>\n<\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nHow do I finance my studies in Germany?<\/span>\n <\/path>\n<\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\nTV license<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n <\/path>\n<\/svg><\/span><\/rect><\/polyline><\/svg><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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In Germany it is a legal requirement to pay charges for public TV. As of 1 January 2013, the so-called ‘Beitragsservice’ collects TV license charges, with each household currently paying \u20ac17.50 a month. It doesn’t matter which or how many appliances are, or are used, in a household. For every additional apartment, like second homes or holiday cottages, a further \u20ac17.50 is due for each house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the regulations for flat shares? The charge must be paid once, regardless of the number of people living in the flat share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students who receive BAf\u00f6G payments <\/strong>can be exempted from the TV license fee<\/a> upon presentation of suitable evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFurther information<\/span>\n <\/path>\n<\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\nCommunication is everything<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n <\/path>\n<\/svg><\/span><\/rect><\/polyline><\/svg><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Address<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official address is ‘Sie’. This is the address you must use at all official occasions, for example in a registration office, in the student office or in the library. Never use the first name of the person you are speaking to. Instead, always use the last name according to gender, e.g. Frau Meyer or Herr Schmidt. Titles are also held in high value in Germany, so you address a male professor as ‘Herr Professor Schmidt’ and a female professor as ‘Frau Professor Meyer’. The same applies to doctors: if a person has a title as a doctor, then you address a woman as ‘Frau Doktor Meyer’ and a man as ‘Herr Doktor Schmidt’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Important: ‘du’ is usually used amongst students or friends. Everyone uses first names in these situations. If you’re not sure how to address someone, then your safest best is the Sie-form. If the person you are speaking to doesn’t think that using Sie is needed, they will tell you. It’s always better to be more polite than to give a bad first impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greetings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people greet each other with a short, strong handshake or a quick nod of the head. If the person you are speaking to offers to shake your hand, you must accept, as rejecting a handshake is seen as very impolite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Important: hugs or kisses on the cheek are only used amongst very close friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caretakers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In halls of residence run by the Heidelberg student union, there are caretakers who are responsible for small repairs in your flat or house. You can find the caretaker’s telephone number on the blackboards in your halls. It’s always a good idea to introduce yourself to the caretaker as a new student – that way, you both know each other. But don’t feel pressured to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rental contract<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you live in halls, a flat share or your own apartment, you must sign a rental contract. The rental contract stipulates important information like monthly payments and the services included (utility costs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rental contracts stipulate the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n