Destination: HAW Hamburg - A GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
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INTERNATIONAL OFFICE
Destination:
HAW Hamburg
A GUIDE FOR
INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS
Destination:
HAW Hamburg
A GUIDE FOR
INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS
HOCHSCHULE FÜR ANGEWANDTE
WISSENSCHAFTEN HAMBURG
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Welcome 6 Looking after yourself: 38
Contents
health and safety
First things first: 10 Routine health needs 40
admin and paperwork Contraceptives 40
Re-registration 11 Out-of-hours medical services 41
ID 11 Hospitals in Hamburg 41
Moving house 12 Information on poisons and toxic
Street selling 12 substances 41
Emergency dental services 41
What it's all about: 14 Pharmacies and medicines 41
your degree course Mental health 42
Check your HAW Hamburg email! 15 interpersonal issues and
discrimination 43
Home sweet home: 18 Safety in Hamburg 43
accommodation in Hamburg Safety hints 43
Finding accommodation 19 Going out in Hamburg 45
Understanding accommodation ads 19
Unwritten WG rules 21 Queues, booze and shoes: 48
Leaving an apartment/WG/room 21 interacting with others
Waste and recycling 23 Making friends 49
Drinks containers/bottles etc. 23 Queues/standing in line 50
Shaking hands 50
Managing your finances: 24 Sie and Du 50
money and jobs Shoes 51
Approximate cost of living 25 Visiting people 51
Bank statements 25 Birthdays 51
Payment methods 26 Meet the Germans – An educational
Shopping and brands 26 Deutsche Welle series 52
Work for international students 28
Some useful terms from the 30 Dictionary and glossary 54
German world of work HAW Hamburg terminology for 55
If you get into financial difficulties 31 international students and
academics (German-English)
Getting around in Hamburg: 36 Useful terms for Hamburg and
transport German life 61
Local transport system, 37
semester ticket Whatever your situation – 66
National transport 37 here’s help
Being a pedestrian 37 Points of contact at HAW Hamburg 67
and in the City of Hamburg
6 7
Welcome
FOREWORD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICE: FOREWORD FROM THE COMPILER:
We are glad that you have decided to study at HAW Hamburg When I first came to Germany over 20 years ago, there were
and welcome you to our global campus with its more than 2,500 lots of things I didn’t really understand about life here and
international students from more than 100 countries. lots that were a complete mystery to me, although I had very
With your diversity of perspectives, experiences, cultural good German. And while the first few days are the most
backgrounds and languages, you are making an important confusing of all, with ‘information overload’ coming from
contribution to education and research at HAW Hamburg. all directions, new things kept coming up as my time in
You also play an important role in promoting the ‘inter Germany went by – terms, situations and Fettnäpfchen* that
nationalisation at home’ of our campus, studying alongside left me baffled. I’ve tried to write this guide to include all the
our German students and giving them a chance to learn in things that I would have really liked to know about back in
and from an international classroom. those early days, weeks, months and years – and, obviously,
things we think it’s important for you to know as an inter
In order to tackle today’s complex global challenges, we national student or academic.
need to promote the international exchange of knowledge
and build people-to-people relationships across countries This guide is mostly in English, but we have tried to give you
and communities. With this guide, we'd like to support you as many important German words and terms as possible,
during your studies and to accompany you along the way. for life on campus and in Hamburg. We’ve also added some
We wish you success in your studies and are on standby German mini-introductions to its sections, to give your
to answer any questions you might have and to provide you German vocabulary a boost and teach you some idiomatic
with information and guidance. Feel free to write, call or expressions.
stop by at the International Office.
We are there for you! Enjoy your time here, and make the most of all the
opportunities you have to live, laugh and learn.
Martina Schulze
Head of the International Office Katherine Ebisch-Burton
(academic translator/editor; compiled this
guide on behalf of the International Office)
*ins Fettnäpfchen treten = make a faux pas, a social mistake or error
Destination HAW Hamburg: a guide for international students 9 People from over 100 countries are part of HAW Hamburg’s exciting present and are helping shape its promising future. This cultural diversity represents significant capital for HAW Hamburg as it develops and drives the future of its research, teaching and degree courses.
First things first: admin and paperwork 11
You can find detailed information about
First things
all formalities you will need to complete
after you arrive in Hamburg in your
first: admin and
‘Arrival Guide’, issued by the International
Office. This is some additional information
paperwork
on follow-up admin, formalities and
potential issues you will encounter during
your time at HAW Hamburg.
RE-REGISTERING EACH ID
SEMESTER (RÜCKMELDUNG)
In German, the general term for official ID
You re-register for the new semester by is Ausweis. For German citizens, this will
paying your semester contribution usually mean the Personalausweis all adult
(Semesterbeitrag) within the re-registration citizens have to have. You should be aware
period (Rückmeldefrist). If you are late that an Ausweis, for official purposes,
paying, you will be deregistered (exmatriku- means 1) an official, formal type of ID 2)
liert)! The process for re-registering again with a photo. Your health insurance card,
after this is more complicated, and you will for example, usually won’t count, because
be charged an additional admin fee. it doesn’t meet condition 1). Your student
Re-registration periods are 1 June-15 ID card probably won’t count either,
August for the following winter semester although it can, of course, be used to
and 1 December-15 February for the prove your student status. Because you
following summer semester. can, in theory, be asked to show your
Ausweis (sich ausweisen) at any time, you
may decide to carry your official ID card
from your home country with you. In this
case, you will need to take precautions
against theft or loss. It’s best not to carry
your passport around routinely. You might
consider taking a picture of it on your
phone instead. You should certainly always
carry your residence permit or the
document confirming your residency
status (your Aufenthaltstitel) with you!
12 First things first: admin and paperwork 13
MOVING HOUSE STREET SELLING
Don’t forget to register your change of Especially in places where a lot of students
address when you move home (this is are, you may be approached in the street
called ummelden). You’ll also need to make by people selling newspaper or magazine
sure you update your address with subscriptions at ‘bargain’ student prices, or
everyone who needs to send you post wanting to persuade you to sign up to make
(HAW Hamburg, your utility and phone a regular donation to a charity. They can
providers, your health insurer, and so on). sometimes be quite persistent if they notice
You can set up a mail redirection service you aren’t sure how things work. Don’t sign
(Nachsendeauftrag) with the Deutsche Post up to anything on the spot. Ask to take
to cover anyone you forget to tell, or some information with you if you think you
if your change of address is only temporary. might be interested. If you do sign up
This costs between 26.90 and 29.90 Euro and regret it when you get home, you will
for 12 months. have to write a Widerruf to the address of
www.deutschepost.de/de/n/nachsen- the newspaper, charity or organisation.
deservice.html You have 14 days to do this. It needs to be
in writing, not by email or phone.
What it's all about: your degree course 15
Sie sind also in Hamburg angekommen und
What it's all
haben Ihre erste organisatorische‚ ‘Prüfung’
erfolgreich gemeistert1. Jetzt geht’s ans
about: your
Studieren2. Hier sind ein paar3 Tipps, damit
es mit den Lehrveranstaltungen und dem
degree course
Lernen gut klappt4.
CHECK YOUR HAW HAMBURG EMAIL! The self-study hours are a guide, but you
should try and plan these hours into
HAW Hamburg will communicate with you your schedule – things will get very difficult
via your HAW Hamburg email address. at exam time if you don’t keep up. Don’t
It’s important to make sure you check this forget that your modules usually build on
account regularly, or set up forwarding to one another. If you’re struggling to under
your personal email account, to ensure stand something, ask the person teaching
you don’t miss any important information. the course or your academic advisor or
If there are attendance requirements peer tutor.
(Anwesenheitspflicht) for your course or
specific modules, take them seriously! Why not get together with others
If you know you are going to need to miss on your course to study and revise
a session for an important reason, speak (lernen)? Students often form an
to the person teaching the course as informal Lerngruppe which meets
soon as possible. regularly to discuss the work and
study together. These may be
For each course and module, you will be informal, but they are taken quite
advised of the number of credit points seriously, so do be reliable and
(CP – sometimes called Leistungspunkte in contribute.
German) it is worth, how many hours of
study this corresponds to, and how many Check out learn2gether, a service
of those hours are in-class (Präsenz) time provided by the Peer-to-Peer programme
and self-study (Selbststudium) respectively. and the Student Counselling Office.
1
meistern = to master something, to be successful in doing/completing it
2
es geht an (etwas) = it’s time to (do/start something)
3
ein paar = a few (don’t confuse with ein Paar, a pair (of))
4
klappen = to go well, work well
What it's all about: your degree course 17
Make sure you observe any guidelines on Throughout your course, you can access
good academic/scientific practice and on the advice and counselling services offered
referencing issued to you by your faculty by our Zentrale Studienberatung, our
or whoever is teaching your course. student advice and support centre, where
Plagiarism can lead to you failing your our colleagues can provide general
exam or module, and it’s getting easier and assistance around your studies as well as
easier to spot! counselling services and run workshops on
learning and revision techniques, presen-
Your degree course coordinator/academic ting with confidence, handling exam stress
advisor (Studienfachberater/in) can give and other issues commonly facing
you advice relating to your specific course students.
and subject. Their office hours (Sprech-
stunden) will be advertised on noticeboards
and online.
Throughout your course, you can access the advice and
counselling services offered by our Zentrale Studien
beratung, our student advice and support centre, where
our colleagues can provide general assistance around
your studies as well as counselling services and run
workshops on learning and revision techniques, presen
ting with confidence, handling exam stress and other
issues commonly facing students.Home sweet home: accommodation 19
Ob WG1, Wohnheimzimmer oder zur
Untermiete2 – in Ihrem Zuhause3 sollten
Home sweet home: Sie sich wohl fühlen4. Hier gibt’s Wissens
wertes5 rund um6 die Studentenbude7
accommodation oder den Elfenbeinturm8.
FINDING ACCOMMODATION UNDERSTANDING ACCOMMODATION
ADS (THIS IS A HELPFUL EXCERPT
There’s a useful guide to finding accom- FROM THE ‘ARRIVAL GUIDE’)
modation, and terms and concepts you
might encounter, in your international Apartments for rent are advertised
students‘ ‘Arrival Guide’. This section will according to the number of rooms
tell you about things you need to know (Zimmer) they have. The total excludes
once you’re settled into your Hamburg the kitchen and the bathroom. A ‘2-Zim-
home. mer-Wohnung’, for example, is a one-
bedroom flat – it has a living room and
Make sure to also check out the a bedroom (or, if a WG, two bedrooms)
information on the following website and (usually) a separate kitchen and
www.haw-hamburg.de/en/study/ a bathroom. Sizes are given in square
campus-life/accommodation/. metres (Quadratmeter, abbreviated
to m2 or qm). Apartments are usually
unfurnished, but you can get furnished
(möbliert) flats or rooms, particularly
if someone is subletting to you while
they are away (see below).
1
WG = Wohngemeinschaft; house or apartment share
2
zur Untermiete – living in a sublet (e.g. a room in a family house or flat)
3
das Zuhause = home
4
sich wohl fühlen = to feel comfortable, feel at home
5
Wissenswertes = things that are good to know
6
rund um = (all) about (a subject or topic)
7
die Studentenbude = old-fashioned, now humorous term for a student room
8
Elfenbeinturm = ivory tower; humorous reference to where academics are supposed to ‘live’20 Home sweet home: accommodation 21
Here is a list of
important vocabulary UNWRITTEN WG RULES LEAVING AN
relating to finding APARTMENT/WG/ROOM
Some WGs consider themselves to be
accommodation: only about sharing living space, without Make sure you are aware of your notice
spending time together socially – you period (Kündigungsfrist; see dictionary/
might hear these referred to as a Zweck- glossary) and of your obligation to pay the
WG (‘purpose WG’). Others are more rent and any utilities until this period is
oriented towards socialising and even over, unless you find someone to take over
friendship; the house- or flatmates the property (called a Nachmieter). If any
Wohngemeinschaft Kaution (Mitbewohner*innen) may eat together, utility (electricity, gas, landline phone,
(WG) This is where you share an apartment This is the security deposit that a tenant go out together or hold shared parties. internet) bills are in your name, you must
with others (often, but not necessarily, has to pay on moving in. You will get it back Try and work out which one yours is and either give notice to the provider (also
other students). A WG-Zimmer is a room when you move out if there has been no adjust accordingly – a more social WG is called kündigen – check your contract) or
in a WG. The word for an apartment/flat damage or wear and tear while you lived often more fun, but if you’re the quieter transfer them to whoever is staying in the
is Wohnung. there. type you might prefer one where you apartment.
can keep yourself to yourself more.
Kaltmiete Besichtigung You’ll be expected to return the apart-
The Kaltmiete is the cost of the rent without An appointment to see an apartment or Whichever type of WG yours is, you should ment/room to the condition it was in when
the cost of heating, hot and cold water, room – perhaps on your own (make sure make sure you clear up after yourself and you moved in, and leave it basically clean,
other services, gas, and electricity. You someone knows where you are going and share in the regular house cleaning, waste including removing all belongings and
might see wording like ‘Miete: XXX Euro kalt’. when you expect to be back, or, better still, removal, etc. Sometimes there will be an waste. If you don’t, the landlord (Vermieter)
take someone with you!), perhaps with established rota (Putzplan). may well keep at least part of your deposit
Warmmiete others who are interested in it. (Kaution). Take pictures of the state of the
The Warmmiete is the rent including room or apartment, both before you move
charges for heating, hot and cold water, Courtage/Provision in and when you move out (after removing
other services and utilities, often gas, and If the landlord is using a letting agent all your things and repairing any damage),
sometimes electricity. Make sure you check (Makler), this is the payment a new tenant so you can prove its condition.
what exactly is included and what extra may have to make to the agent. These
costs there may be. You might see wording payments can be quite large, so be careful.
like ‘Miete: xxx Euro warm’.
Beware of Fraud Whichever type of WG yours is, you should
Zwischenmiete/Untervermietung Never transfer money in advance for make sure you clear up after yourself and share
If the tenant of an apartment or room in an apartment you have not seen or in the regular house cleaning, waste removal,
a WG will not be living there for a while without having signed a contract! etc. Sometimes there will be an established
(perhaps because they are going to study If the accommodation is very central rota (Putzplan).
abroad), they may get permission from but costs less than 650 € then it is
their landlord to rent their apartment or most probably fraud. If you are having
room to someone else during that period. even the slightest doubt, contact us!
This may be a good opportunity for you
to find somewhere to live – so look out
for these words.22 Home sweet home: accommodation 23
WASTE AND RECYCLING such as paint, you will need to take them
to your district’s Recyclinghof. You can find
Germans separate their rubbish for their locations online. Alternatively, you can
recycling to protect the environment and pay for a Sperrmüll collection – Sperrmüll
reuse valuable materials. This is called is anything too big for the bins which does
Mülltrennung or Abfalltrennung. The system not need special collection (but not filled
may seem quite complicated at first, but bin bags!).
it’s easy to get used to.
Here’s information in German:
– Green or brown bin: compost (e. g. www.stadtreinigung.hamburg/servlet/
fruit and vegetable peelings, flowers) sperrmuell.html?mode=sperrmuellSe-
– Blue bin: paper, card and cardboard lect&contenturl=/privatkunden/sperrmu-
(but not milk cartons, because these ell/abholung/dynamicContent.html
have plastic foil inside and need to
go in the yellow bin – see below) If old furniture etc. has obviously been left
– Yellow bin, sometimes called ‘Gelber out on the street for Sperrmüll collection,
Sack’ or ‘Grüner Punkt’ after the Grüner it’s OK to take it if you think you can use it.
Punkt recycling symbol on some Some people have furnished entire
packaging: plastics, metal, packaging apartments this way!
– Grey/black/red bin (Restmüll):
everything else (except the items
listed under ‘Special types of waste’); DRINKS CONTAINERS/
sanitary protection, wipes and cotton BOTTLES ETC.
wool should also go in this bin and
not be flushed down the toilet. Both returnable/reusable (Mehrweg) and
– Special types of waste (batteries, single-use (Einweg) drinks bottles, and cans,
medicines etc.) - should not be carry a deposit (Pfand) which you get back
disposed of in domestic rubbish. You if you return them. There are machines
can take unused medicines back to in most supermarkets where you return
pharmacies (Apotheken) for disposal.' single-use items and give you a chit which
you take to the checkout to get your
You will find large containers for glass deposit back. Always check whether your
(green, brown and clear glass are each drinks containers have Pfand and don’t put
disposed of separately), old clothes and these in the recycling. If you want to get
electrical goods at central points in most rid of a Pfand bottle or can when you are
neighbourhoods. There are disposal boxes out and about, it’s thoughtful to put these
for old batteries or light bulbs in super- next to (rather than in) the bin, as many
markets and drugstores. If you need to people with little money collect them to
dispose of large items such as furniture or claim the deposit.
large electrical goods, or toxic substancesManaging your finances: money and jobs 25
Man sagt manchmal, Geld regiert die Welt1.
Managing your
Auch wenn das zum Glück2 nicht ganz
stimmt3, ist es gerade als Studierende oder
finances: money
Studierender wichtig, mit Geld umgehen4 zu
können. Hier sind einige wichtige Infos zum
and jobs
Nachlesen5, damit Sie nicht pleite gehen6.
APPROXIMATE COST BANK STATEMENTS
OF LIVING (KONTOAUSZÜGE)
For the purposes of application for a Especially if you don’t arrange online
residence permit, the authorities consider banking, you may not get bank statements
adequate funds for a student in Hamburg automatically through the post. There are
to be at least 720 Euro/month. Many of machines in every bank which will print
you will have had to demonstrate you have your statements out for you if you put in
these funds available in order to get your your EC card. These are called Kontoaus-
permit. Hamburg is an expensive city, and zugsdrucker. It’s a good idea to remember
you may wish to supplement this income to print (ausdrucken – not to be confused
(and gain valuable experience) by working with ausdrücken, to express) your state-
(see below). ments at least once a month, so you can
see where your money is going.
1
eld regiert die Welt = money makes the world go round (lit. ‘money rules the world’)
2
zum Glück = luckily, fortunately
3
stimmen = be true, be correct/accurate
4
mit etwas umgehen = manage, handle something
5
zum Nachlesen = to read up on
6
pleite gehen = to go broke, go bankrupt26 Managing your finances: money and jobs 27
PAYMENT METHODS to cancel this yourself at your bank. Always You can buy toiletries, cosmetics and also close at noon on Fridays. Almost all
make sure you know when your Lastschrift personal hygiene products at super shops and services are closed on Sundays
In shops, restaurants, and similar places, or Dauerauftrag is going out of your markets or at a Drogeriemarkt such as dm, and public holidays, so make sure you plan
most people pay small amounts of account and make sure there is enough Rossmann or Budni. These are not your shopping and don’t get caught out.
under 10 Euro or so in cash, and larger money to cover it! pharmacies and do not have in-store The shops at the major train stations and
amounts using an EC card (debit card). dispensaries; you can get vitamins and at the airport are open on Sundays, but
Many shops do not accept credit cards, plasters there, but not painkillers. Most they are expensive.
and small shops may have a minimum SHOPPING AND Germans like to buy their bread and
spend (Mindestbetrag) for the use of an BRANDS rolls at bakeries. The Hamburg word for German shops are no longer allowed to
EC card. You may be charged for using a plain white bread roll is either Rundstück give out plastic carrier bags (Plastiktüte –
an ATM (Geldautomat) of a bank that The cheapest food and groceries can be (old-fashioned), or the standard German see dictionary/glossary under bag) free
is not your own. found at discount supermarkets such word, Brötchen. A recent law states that of charge. You can usually find a selection
as Aldi, Lidl and Penny. Major mainstream shops must give you a receipt (Kassen of different types of plastic, paper and/or
Remember that your EC card is not a supermarket chains such as Rewe and zettel, Kassenbon) for all purchases, fabric bags next to checkouts; they have
credit card. You will have to pay significant Edeka usually stock a cheap own brand however small. varying prices between 10 cents and 1 or
interest if you go overdrawn (das Konto (look out for ja! or Gut & Günstig). Organic 2 Euro. It’s better to remember to bring
überziehen). Paying by cheque is not a food is labelled ‘Bio’ and is usually more Usual opening hours are Mondays to your own bag, rucksack or shopping trolley
‘thing’ in Germany, and your bank won’t expensive. If there is a Wochenmarkt near Saturdays from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Many along with you.
issue you with a cheque book when you you, this is a good opportunity to buy your supermarkets may open earlier and
open an account. fruit and vegetables very fresh and often some do not close until 10:00 pm. Banks, You can also help the environment
cheaply. These will usually happen on medical practices and post offices tend (Umwelt) by removing any plastic packaging
Most people pay regular bills (utilities, a specific day every week. to have shorter opening hours and are from your fresh food after you’ve been
health insurance premiums, rent, etc.) either closed on Saturdays or only open through the checkout and putting it in the
from their bank account using a standing You can buy clothes, electrical goods, until 12 noon. Doctors and offices may bins that are there (usually marked with
order (Dauerauftrag), which you set up books and so on in central Hamburg Verpackung).
with your bank, or a direct debit (Lastschrift, (Mönckebergstraße, Jungfernstieg, Neuer
sometimes called Bankeinzug). To set up Wall) or in department stores or shopping
a Lastschrift, you have to fill in and submit a centres in other parts of the city (such
form called a SEPA-Mandat to the company as Karstadt, Hamburger Meile, Billstedt
or organisation you will be paying the bills Center, Wandsbeker Quarree). If you like
to. They will then take payment automati- vintage or bargain clothes or books, look
cally, usually every month. The company out for flea markets (Flohmarkt), which
should cancel the Lastschrift automatically usually take place at weekends (and are
You can usually find a selection of different
when you stop using their services. If you also the only place where it is acceptable
types of plastic, paper and/or fabric bags next
pay by Dauerauftrag, however, you will need to haggle/negotiate the price). Stilbruch
to checkouts; they have varying prices between
operates three second-hand shops in
10 cents and 1 or 2 Euro. It’s better to remember
Hamburg.
to bring your own bag, rucksack or shopping
trolley along with you.28 Managing your finances: money and jobs 29
WORK FOR INTERNATIONAL c) Work permit f) Student jobs h) After you have completed your
STUDENTS If you take up part-time employment that The 120-day rule does NOT apply to studies/EU Blue Card
involves more than 120 days per year, you student jobs. Apply to student jobs in the Once they have completed their studies,
All students are allowed to work up to need a work permit. Holders of student narrower sense, which means peer international students are permitted to
20 hours per week during the semester. visas will only be granted one in exceptional tutoring and student assistant positions remain in Germany for 18 months in order
circumstances. Students from EU member at the HAW Hamburg. There are no limits to find a job. This position must match
You can look for work on these websites: states have the same rights as Germans. on how much work you can take on if it your qualifications. During this time you
www.stellenwerk-hamburg.de If you need any advice on the amount takes place within HAW Hamburg. Some are required to have enough money
www.jobboerse.arbeitsagentur.de of paid work you can do alongside your examples are working as a student to cover your living expenses. You are
www.jobcafe.de studies, come to the HAW Hamburg assistant to a professor, supporting less permitted to work an unlimited number of
www.monster.de International Office or contact the advanced students in their learning and days/hours. In 2012 Germany introduced
www.stepstone.de advice centre run by the Studierendenwerk teaching courses to them (as a Tutor*in), the EU Blue Card for skilled graduates
(see address below under ‘If you get into or helping out on research and other from non-EU countries. The requirements
Please note financial difficulties’). projects. Ask your professor about opport are a degree from a higher education
a)Students from EU countries unities or check department noticeboards, institution and proof of employment in
(except Croatia) do not need a work permit d) The 120-day rule and the exceptions email newsletters and mailing lists. Germany.
to work during their studies. Students from non-EU countries and
Croatia can work 120 days or 240 half days g) Internships/practical training, For an overview of current regulations
b) Students from non-EU per year without a work permit (section Bachelor's and Master's theses regarding work and jobs, please consult
countries and Croatia 16, paragraph 3 of the AufenthG [Federal If an internship/practical training is an the following website:
are allowed to work a maximum of 120 Residence Act]). obligatory element of your degree course, www.internationale-studierende.de/
days (or 240 half days) per year without it does not fall under the 120-day rule. en/prepare_your_studies/financing/
a work permit. The following text must be e) 1 day = 8 hours; half day = 4 hours You do not require a work permit. This jobbing
printed in your passport: “Beschäftigung bis If you work more than four hours but less also applies or any work done in the
zu 120 Tage oder 240 halbe Tage im Jahr than eight hours on one day, this still course of your Bachelor's or Master's
sowie Ausübung studentischer Nebentätigkeit counts as a full day. If you earn more than thesis, whether you complete it at a
erlaubt.” [Employment of up to 120 days € 400 per month, you are required to business, the university or a research
or 240 half days and part-time student pay German social security contributions institute.
work permitted.] Make sure you and/or indicentally.
your employer record these days precisely,
because you or they may be checked
to ensure the law is being complied with.30 Managing your finances: money and jobs 31
SOME USEFUL TERMS FROM problems for you, such as back payments IF YOU GET INTO FINANCIAL tant Church, supports students at
THE GERMAN WORLD OF WORK of social insurance contributions. Make DIFFICULTIES Hamburg universities who are from
sure you understand your status when you developing and emerging countries and
450-Euro-Job – Also called a Minijob or start a job and, if you are genuinely self- It’s very important indeed to keep paying are experiencing a financial emergency.
geringfügige Beschäftigung, this is a type employed, get your income from a balance your rent and your health insurance It does not matter what religion they
of small-scale job which allows people to of different clients. (Krankenkassenbeitrag). You are required by belong to. Contact the International
work small amounts alongside another job, law to have health insurance and not Office at HAW Hamburg first before
studies or a pension without paying extra Schwarzarbeit (schwarz arbeiten) – don’t paying your premium will eventually lead approaching the Diakonisches Werk.
tax. You have a proper contract, usually ever do this! This is working ‘cash in hand’, to your deregistration from HAW Hamburg
without a fixed term. The wage is fixed at untaxed and without any social insurance and the loss of your residence permit. You c) Studierendenwerk
450 Euro a month (the number of hours contributions being paid for you. It’s illegal can also be asked to leave your apartment All students who find themselves in an
will depend on the type of work you are and could mean you lose your residence or room if you don’t pay the rent two unexpected, acute and temporary financial
doing; alternatively, the hours will be fixed permit if found out, plus you will have months in a row. HAW Hamburg students emergency can apply to Studierendenwerk
and the pay may be less, but won’t be no legal or financial protection if your who are experiencing a financial emergency Hamburg's emergency fund for an
more than 450 Euro a month) and employer fails to pay you, treats you badly through no fault of their own can turn to emergency loan or subsidised and/or free
a lump-sum contribution to your social or you have an accident at work. one of the Hamburg emergency funds. meals in the Studierendenwerk cafeterias.
insurance will be paid for you. The International Office may be able to An in-person meeting and proof of a
Kündigungsfrist – Both you and your help you access emergency hardship financial emergency are required before
You may see job ads which ask for a employer will need to adhere to a notice funds. Come and talk to us first. Here is an application can be submitted.
Honorarkraft or say you will be working auf period in order to terminate your employ- an overview of available funds. Applicants have no legal entitlement to
Honorarbasis. In these ‘jobs’, you won’t be ment. This is usually the same for both assistance. Your point of contact is the
an employee (even if you sign a contract/ sides. Check your contract. It’s usual to a) VDFAS Beratungszentrum Soziales & Inter
agreement) and you’ll be considered only be able to terminate effectively at The Association of Sponsors of Foreign nationales (Counselling Centre for Social
self-employed and expected to tax your the end of a calendar month. Students (VDFAS) was founded by and International Affairs).
earnings yourself (over a particular instructors, employees and friends of HAW
threshold). Your health insurer also needs m/w/d – You may see these letters after the Hamburg to provide fast and uncomplicated Beratungszentrum Soziales &
to know about these earnings. title of a job being advertised. This stands assistance to international students at the Internationales – BeSI
for männlich/weiblich/divers and means university who find themselves in a Grindelallee 9, 3rd floor
If you work on a ‘self-employed’ basis for ‘male/female/diverse [i.e. non-binary]’. It financial emergency through no fault of 20146 Hamburg
one client only, you may be considered ensures that job ads written in the German their own. Students are required to come Tel: 040 419 02-155
what is called scheinselbstständig. This grammatical masculine form aren’t to an in-person meeting at the HAW besi@studierendenwerk-hamburg.de
means your employer is treating you as a discriminatory and shows you that all Hamburg International Office. Financial
self-employed person even though you are genders* can apply. assistance of up to €400 can be made Drop-in hours:
really effectively an employee, in order to available. Students can apply for emergency Mondays and Fridays
save paying social insurance contributions *Since 2019, German law has recognised financial support from the VDFAS a 9:30 am–12:00 noon
for you. This isn’t allowed. It’s mainly the three genders – female, male and maximum of three times during their Tuesdays and Thursdays
employer’s issue, but it could also cause non-binary. studies. They are not automatically entitled 9:30 am–12:00 noon and
to receive this funding. 2:00 pm–4:00 pm
b) Diakonisches Werk www.studierendenwerk-hamburg.de/
The Diakonisches Werk, a charitable en/counselling/counselling-centre-for-
organisation that is part of the Protes- social-international-affairs-besi32
d) AStA
If you are financially unable to pay the
semester contribution, you may also
contact the Students' Union (AStA). In
warranted cases it can provide you with a
loan. For more information, please contact
the AStA’s Information and Advice Centre:
AStA Infoteam
Berliner Tor 11, Haus D
20099 Hamburg
Tel: 040 284 64 56-70
infotresen@asta.haw-hamburg.de
Students are required to come to an
in-person meeting at the HAW Hamburg
International Office. Financial assistance
of up to €400 can be made available.34 Destination: HAW Hamburg – A guide for international students 35
Getting around in Hamburg: transport 37
Getting around
German people usually pay attention to
the red and green pedestrian signals
in Hamburg:
at road crossings. You can theoretically be
fined (Strafe zahlen müssen) if you cross
transport
the road when the red signal is on.
LOCAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM, Travelling on public transport without a
SEMESTER TICKET ticket is called schwarzfahren and usually
results in an immediate charge of at least
Your student ID card (Chipkarte) doubles 60 Euro. If you do it repeatedly you may
as your ‘semester ticket’, which entitles face criminal prosecution. Our advice: don’t!
you to travel on all Hamburg’s local public
transport services free of additional charges.
BEING A PEDESTRIAN
NATIONAL TRANSPORT German people usually pay attention to
the red and green pedestrian signals
If you want to travel outside the region, at road crossings. You can theoretically be
to take a look at other parts of Germany, fined (Strafe zahlen müssen) if you cross
you can use the excellent regional and the road when the red signal is on.
long-distance rail network. You’ll find it’s a
lot cheaper to book tickets in advance (use At road crossings, traffic is often allowed
the Deutsche Bahn website at bahn.de) to turn right into the road where the
– the earlier you manage to book, the less crossing is when the green pedestrian
your ticket will probably cost. Doing a trip signal is on. They have to stop and wait
with regional trains (RE or RB) is also for you, so don’t be alarmed or surprised
cheaper, though it often takes a lot longer. if this happens.
IC trains are cheaper than ICE. There
are special youth discounts on national Try to avoid walking on cycle paths
rail services (up to the age of 27). (Radwege), which are often part of the
pavement.
A good and often very cheap option is to
take an intercity coach (Fernbus). There’s
information (in German) on long-distance
coach services from and to Hamburg here:
www.hamburg.de/fernbusLooking out for yourself: health and safety 39
Hauptsache gesund1 – aber wie dafür sorgen2,
Looking out for
dass es auch so bleibt? Der folgende Abschnitt
informiert Sie über das deutsche Gesundheits
yourself: health
wesen3 und Ihre Möglichkeiten, die Versorgung
zu erhalten, die Sie benötigen4.
and safety
ROUTINE HEALTH NEEDS for minor or routine issues; you should go
straight to a paediatrician (Kinderarzt/-ärz-
For your day-to-day health needs, you will tin). You will be required to provide proof
need to go to an Allgemeinarzt (Arzt/Ärztin that your child has been vaccinated against
für Allgemeinmedizin) or Hausarzt /Hausärztin measles (Masern) in order for them to be
(general practitioner). They may want you accepted by a day care facility or school.
to see a specialist if they feel they can’t You can get them vaccinated at a paedia
help with your issue. In Germany, specia- trician if they haven’t been yet.
lists cover more routine health needs than
they do in some other countries, so don’t If you are worried about having the right
be alarmed if you are sent to one. Your vocabulary for a doctor’s appointment,
doctor will give you a form called an there is a publication in English and
Überweisung (not to be confused with the German which can help you:
form used to transfer money at the bank) Erste Hilfe – Illustriertes Gesundheits-
with the name of the speciality on it and wörterbuch: Hinweise für internationale
a brief note about the suspected issue. Studierende in Deutschland. (First Aid.
You then make the appointment yourself. An illustrated health dictionary: Information
Sometimes it can take a while to get an for international students in Germany)
appointment (Termin). If you have children,
a Hausarzt will usually not see them, even
Hauptsache gesund = approximately ‘just as long as we’re healthy’,
1
or ‘health is the main thing’ (Hauptsache = the main thing)
dafür sorgen = ensure (that)
2
Gesundheitswesen = health system
3
benötigen = to need, to require
440 Looking out for yourself: health and safety 41
This is a guide to healthcare in Germany OUT-OF-HOURS HOSPITALS IN PHARMACIES AND
produced for immigrants to Germany by MEDICAL SERVICES HAMBURG MEDICINES
the city of Hamburg and written in simple
English. Some of it may not apply to you, If you need a doctor in evenings, at If you have a medical emergency at night For most medicines, you will need a
so always fact-check first. weekends and on public holidays, outside or at the weekend, you can go to the emer- prescription (Rezept) from a doctor, which
regular doctors’ consulting hours, you can gency department (Notaufnahme) of a you will have to take to a pharmacy
www.hamburg.de/content- call the out-of-hours medical service on hospital near you, such as Asklepios Klinik (Apotheke). Germany has fairly restrictive
blob/11677264/553ade9da7a546b- 116 117. This service will arrange for you St. Georg, the University Hospital in rules about what pharmacies are allowed to
c712841a7ef75b658/data/englisch-ge- to access a doctor if you need one. Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), or Asklepios sell over the counter. For example, you will
sundheitsversorgung-in-deutschland.pdf Klinik Barmbek. always need a prescription for antibiotics.
Additionally, you will not find medicines
Out-of-hours practices such as paracetamol and ibuprofen in
CONTRACEPTIVES (Notfallpraxen) in Hamburg INFORMATION ON POISONS AND supermarkets. You don’t need a prescription
These services are open on Mondays, TOXIC SUBSTANCES for these, but you’ll need to go to an
Hormonal contraceptives (Verhütungsmittel), Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 7:00 Apotheke for them.
such as the contraceptive pill, require a p.m. to midnight, on Wednesdays (when If you are worried that you or someone
prescription from a doctor, and your many doctors’ offices close at lunchtime) else may have ingested a toxic substance, You will usually have to pay a small
Hausarzt will probably ask you to see a from 1:00 p.m. to midnight, and on you can call 0551 192 40 (Giftnotruf prescription charge for each prescription.
gynaecologist (Frauenarzt or –ärztin) to get Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays Göttingen). The lines are open 24 hours Pharmacies take it in turns to provide a
contraceptives. If you are 22 years old or from 7:00 am to midnight. a day and you can get advice in English. local service at night and at weekends.
above, you usually have to pay for contra- Look up your local Notapotheke at
ceptives yourself. The link below contains Notfallpraxis Altona apothekerkammer-hamburg.de/
information (in German) on how you can Stresemannstraße 54 EMERGENCY DENTAL notdienst/ or call 0800 00 22833.
get contraceptives free of charge if you 22769 Hamburg SERVICES
have a low income.
www.hamburg.de/leistungen-hil- Notfallpraxis Farmsen If you need a dentist outside of usual
fen/12939016/verhuetungsmittel/ Berner Heerweg 124 opening hours, you can find out where to
22159 Hamburg turn by calling 01805 05 05 18 (calls
The organisation Pro Familia offers advice on charged at 14 ct/min from landlines and
contraception and unplanned pregnancy. There is more information on emergency up to 42 ct/min from mobiles).
Here is an English-language link to their medical assistance and out-of-hours
services in Hamburg: practices in this English-language informa-
www.profamilia-hamburg.de/en/ tion sheet:
home.html arztruf-hamburg.de/assets/down-
loads/KVHH_Flyer_DIN_lang_EN.pdf42 Looking out for yourself: health and safety 43
MENTAL HEALTH Telephone listening service INTERPERSONAL ISSUES AND SAFETY HINTS
(Telefonseelsorge) DISCRIMINATION
HAW Hamburg’s Student Counselling If you feel desperate or alone and need Hamburg ist eine sehr sichere Stadt, in
Office can provide help and support if you someone to listen to you, you can call the The Confidential Dispute Advising der Sie studieren, leben und feiern können,
are struggling with issues related to your Telefonseelsorge at any time, day or night, Office is a point of contact for students ohne außergewöhnliche Vorkehrungen
studies, such as difficulties motivating weekdays, weekends or public holidays. and instructors at HAW Hamburg in the zu treffen. Aber es kann überall Schwierig
yourself or getting down to work, worries Calls are anonymous and free of charge. event of difficult situations and disputes keiten und Probleme geben. Diese Seiten
about your performance or fear of exams. The Telefonseelsorge specifies that the between students and university emp- geben Ihnen Informationen dazu, was
It can also help if you are experiencing service is in German. The numbers you can loyees. Such situations could include: Sie im Fall der Fälle* tun können.
difficulties with family or personal relation- call are 0800 111 0111, 0800 111 0222
ships or fellow students. The counsellors – Problems with the organisation Hamburg is a very safe city and you can go
will listen and attempt to support you with The Telefonseelsorge’s website has of studies about your business here without taking
anything that’s worrying you. Please make a list of international helplines: – Conflicts related to exams specific precautions. This said, wherever
an appointment for a one-to-one session www.telefonseelsorge.de/ – unacceptable behaviour there are a lot of people, difficulties can
by calling the service, attending its drop-in international-helplines/ – Complaints about racist or sexist arise, crimes can take place and crises can
hours or sending an email. Please call or comments occur. At HAW Hamburg there is always
send an email to check whether drop-on – Experiences of powerlessness due someone you can turn to in any situation
hours are being offered. Muslim listening service to unequal distribution of power you’re struggling with.
(Muslimisches Telefonseelsorge,
Tel.: 040 428 75 9110 MuTeS) This service is are neutral and impartial, In an emergency, you can contact your
Mobil: 0152-247 440 63 The helpline is open 24 hours every day. and its staff support all parties to a conflict home country’s embassy or consulate;
Mon/Tues 10:00–11:00 am, A Turkish-language service is available on equally. Your personal information and there is a list on the website of the
Thurs 1:00–2:00 pm Tuesdays. everything you discuss with the service will German Federal Foreign Office.
Tel.: 030 443 509 821 be kept absolutely confidential. Please don't At HAW Hamburg, the International
Email: hesitate to contact them, even if you're Office team, the faculties’ Student Ex-
studienberatung@haw-hamburg.de not sure the Confidential Dispute Advising change Coordinators and the Internatio-
Office is the right place to help you with nal Student Coordinator for the Informa-
Drop-in hours your situation. The Office has an inter tion Engineering course are available to
(no appointment required): national student and a professor available help you with any questions you may have
Mon/Tues 11:00 am–1:00 pm, to provide specific assistance to inter about personal safety or any difficulties
Thurs 2:00– 5:00 pm national students (conflictmanagement@ you encounter. Here is a list of organi-
haw-hamburg.de). sations that you can turn to.
Drop-in hour (psychologist)
(no appointment required)
Tuesdays 2:00–3:00 pm
*lit. ‘in the case of cases’. Means ‚if
the scenario you are talking about or
planning for occurs‘.44 Looking out for yourself: health and safety 45
a) Emergency contacts and c) Victim Support (Opferhilfe Hamburg) GOING OUT IN HAMBURG – Some taxis do not have credit card
telephone numbers Offers support for adult victims of crime, payment facilities. Make sure you always
male or female, and their loved ones. Hamburg is a busy and lively city with have enough cash on you to cover the
Ambulance/emergency medical diverse and exciting nightlife and plenty fare home.
assistance, fire service: 112 Opening hours. of things to do. It’s a safe city with an
Please only call 112 if there is a fire or you Mon and Fri 10:00 am–1:00 p.m. excellent public transport network to get – Hamburg has a good night bus network.
need emergency medical assistance. Tues and Thurs 10:00 am–5:00 pm you wherever you’re going and home again Use the HVV app to check if there is
Weds 1:00–5:00 pm afterwards. However, it’s always sensible a route you can take to get home.
Police: 110 Tel.: 040/381993 to be aware and avoid taking unnecessary
You can call the police free of charge from risks. We would like to give you some tips – Pickpockets love areas where many
any phone using the number 110 if you and advice for a good night out and a people go on nights out. Hamburg is no
need help, feel afraid or in danger, or if you d) Weisser Ring – Non-profit associa- safe journey home. exception. Take good care of your purse
are the victim of a crime. The police in tion supporting victims of crime or wallet and make sure your ID and the
Germany is reliable and safe to contact Weisser Ring offers advice and practical – If you’re going out for a night at clubs keys to your home are safe. Don’t take
and you can trust police officers. support to anyone who has been a victim and/or bars, try to only go in a group. your passport out with you (take a picture
of crime or whose life is impacted by crime Make sure you know all the people you of it to keep on your phone to use as ID)
or violence. You can call 116 006 anonym- are with and all the people you will be and lock it away when you are not at
b) Federal helpline on violence ously and free of charge from wherever travelling home with. Agree on a place home.
against women you are in Germany. and time to meet if you are separated
The helpline is open 24 hours a day, during the evening. –Some international students are below
including weekends and public holidays, Weisser Ring Landesbüro Hamburg the legal drinking age in their home
and offers advice and support in 17 Tel.: 040/2517680 – Make sure you know how to get home countries, but old enough to drink
languages. Tel.: 0800 0 116 016 E-Mail: hamburg@weisser-ring.de from wherever you are spending the alcohol legally here in Germany. It’s fun
evening. HVV, Hamburg’s public trans- and exciting to go to pubs and bars, but
port organisation, has created an please stay sensible and make sure you
app to help you find your way home. know your limits with alcohol. Don’t leave
your drink unattended and don’t let
–B
e aware of when your last train, anyone buy you a drink if you can’t see
underground or bus leaves and make the drink all the time.
sure you have enough money for a taxi
if you think you may be travelling home – Keep your eyes and ears open to spot
later than this. This is especially import- potential trouble and avoid situations
ant if you live outside Hamburg or in which you think may become confronta-
a suburban area such as Allermöhe, tional or dangerous – trust your instincts.
Kiwittsmoor or Rahlstedt. It’s better not to attend protests or
demonstrations, as they can occasionally
turn violent.Queues, booze and shoes: interacting with others 49
Queues, booze Hamburg ist eine Stadt mit Herz1 – und die
and shoes:
HAW Hamburg ist im Herzen der Stadt. Aber
es ist nicht immer leicht, die Gepflogenheiten2
interacting with
einer neuen Stadt und eines neuen Landes zu
verstehen. Hier können Sie erfahren, wie man
others
hier so tickt3 – jenseits4 von Stereotypen.
MAKING FRIENDS If someone wants to know all about where
you come from, this is a good opening to
Friendships may build up slowly. Try to make friends, even though it can sometimes
chat to people you see in lectures or be hard to answer a lot of curious questions.
seminars (but not during class, of course!) Why not ask them to come along to the
and always say a friendly ‘Moin’ and HAWeltweit Kulturcafé?
‘Tschüss’. People are more likely to be
open to friendships with someone they The HAWeltweit Kulturcafé opened in
see regularly. winter semester 2019/2020 as a space for
international students and those based in
It’s always very appreciated if you offer Germany to meet, interact and learn about
someone help with moving house/room one another. All students who are interes-
(Umzug), and it can be a lot of fun – so if ted in intercultural issues are invited to
someone tells you ‘ich ziehe bald um’, offer come along, join in the conversation and
them a helping hand on the big day (‘kann get to know new people.
ich (beim Umzug) mithelfen?’). You never
know – it might be the start of a great Events at the Kulturcafé include themed
friendship. evenings all about various countries,
discussion and debate on current political
and social issues, presentations on
customs, traditions and festivals from
various cultures, games nights and cooking
and sharing a meal together. If you come
along regularly, you’ll be able to help
1
mit Herz = warm-hearted, friendly, caring suggest topics and events for future
2
Gepflogenheiten = habits, customs semesters.
3
wie man hier so tickt = what people are like here
4
jenseits (von) = beyond; aside from
(lit. ‘on the other side of, on the far side of’)50 Queues, booze and shoes: interacting with others 51
Useful phrases: SHAKING HANDS says Du to one another, you’ll be able to and you may be requested to bring drinks,
– Lass(t) uns mal zusammen für die use Du as well and there probably won’t bread, a salad or dessert. It’s usual and
Prüfung lernen. Shaking hands is very common in German need to be an explicit agreement. But polite to ask ‘Kann ich was mitbringen?’ (Can/
–Wollen wir mal*/nach der Vorlesung culture and might find its way back to there sometimes the researchers may use Du to Should I bring something along with me?)
einen Kaffee trinken/was trinken** after the COVID-19 pandemic. Students one another but Sie with the research
gehen? usually don’t do it among themselves, but group lead. In most cases, using Du goes
– Wollen wir am Wochenende bei mir your professor, for example, may offer a along with using first names and using HOW TO USE A GERMAN
zusammen kochen? (German people – handshake when you go to their consul Sie with using Herr/Frau and last names. THERMOS-KAFFEEKANNE
not just students – enjoy cooking tation hour (Sprechstunde). Don’t refuse More and more companies and shops
with friends) a handshake if you are offered one. If you have started addressing their customers At some point during your time in Germany,
need to refuse for religious reasons, explain with Du. you are 99.999999% certain to come
** Was trinken (gehen) can, but doesn’t this to the other person (‘Leider kann ich aus across one of these:
necessarily, mean alcoholic drinks, but it religiösen Gründen Ihnen nicht die Hand
will usually mean in the late afternoon geben’) and offer a polite nod and smile SHOES
or evening. instead. In some offices and authorities,
particularly in the winter, there may be Some Germans may like you to take your
a notice saying that they are not shaking shoes off when you enter their home or
QUEUES/STANDING IN LINE hands for infection control reasons. room. This is less likely at a student party,
but may happen when visiting a family at
If you’re at the supermarket and another home, for instance. You can always ask
checkout (Kasse) opens, it’s usually a SIE AND DU your host (Gastgeber) if you’re not sure. You’ll often see them at meetings or
free-for-all – which means that whoever Interesting fact: The word for ‘guest’ – Gast events, and they usually contain coffee or
reaches the new checkout first is served You’ll probably know that German has – doesn’t have a feminine form. So you (fruit/herb or black) tea. To pour yourself a
first, rather than those towards the front of a formal (Sie – singular and plural) and an are always der Gast if you are a guest or a cup, unscrew the lid, but only a little way,
the original queues. People will not be informal form of address (Du in the visitor somewhere, even if you are female. then pour. Or, if the lid has a little lever,
happy, though, if you push to the front of singular and Ihr in the plural). The basic press that down, and keep holding it down
an existing queue (this is called sich rule is that you use Sie with all adult while pouring.
vordrängeln). strangers, except with your fellow VISITING PEOPLE
students – they always use Du to one
another. Your professors and lecturers It‘s polite to bring flowers or cake/wine. BIRTHDAYS
will probably use (and expect) Sie. Often parties will be bring and share/pot
luck, where you will be asked to bring a Germans enjoy celebrating their birthdays,
Sometimes – in a job, for example, or a prepared dish of food along. Sometimes and even when it’s an adult, you’ll hear
research team – you may mutually agree there will be a list and you will be asked people referring to the Geburtstagskind
to use Du. It’s always the higher-status to fill in (eintragen) what you are going to (birthday child). Often the word Geburtstag
person who takes the initiative. If you bring. If you have been asked to a BBQ is used to mean a birthday party (‘Ich möch-
arrive in a work or research team and (grillen/ein Grillfest), the host may supply te dich zu meinem Geburtstag einladen’).
notice that everyone (regardless of status) the meat/vegetarian alternative (Grillgut)You can also read
