Information for Students from Ukraine
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Our pages provide information for international students in general.
We have now also put together information especially for student refugees from Ukraine. The situation in Ukraine and developments here in Germany are very dynamic, which is why the following FAQs mainly provide links which reflect our current knowledge but which can – please be aware of that – change at any time.
Please, also consult the National Academic Contact Point Ukraine of the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst / German Academic Exchange Service). The website has put together lots of very useful information, offering a first orientation in Germany, especially regarding the German higher education and research system. You’ll also find an overview of various academic support services.
German: https://www.daad-ukraine.org/de/
Ukrainian: https://www.daad-ukraine.org/uk/
FAQs for students from Ukraine
General information
On the following website you can search for advisory services for refugees in Munich:
https://adressen.asyl.net/language/en/welcome-to-informationnetwork-asylum-and-migration/
Rechtshilfe München e.V.
The “Rechtshilfe” (Legal Aid Munich) offers support and assistance for internationals who are having legal problems in Germany due to their international status. Their legal advisory service takes place every week and is carried out by lawyers who offer legal assistance and specialise in immigration and asylum law.
http://www.rechtshilfe-muenchen.de/
http://www.rechtshilfe-muenchen.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sd_eng_ansichts.pdf
Refugee Law Clinic Munich e.V.
The Refugee Law Clinic Munich e.V. is a student initiative and non-profit organisation which offers free legal advice on asylum and immigration law for asylum seekers, refugees and foreigners.
http://rlcm.de/index.php/languages/english/
http://rlcm.de/index.php/informationen-fur-gefluchtete-aus-der-ukraine
The Bavarian universities can proportionally apply for the resources from the emergency fund with the Ministry for Science. Students who are personally affected and who are already studying at a university can directly turn to their individual university. The allocation is carried out according to the number of enrolled Ukrainian citizens at each university.
The following links provides important information, places to turn to as well as services available after having arrived in Munich.
https://stadt.muenchen.de/infos/ukraine_ankommen.html (scroll down for information in Ukrainian and English)
Have a look here for information regarding entry and residence for people from Ukraine in Ukrainian, English, German and Russian.
When you come to Germany from a third country, you need a residence title. It is dependent on the purpose and the reason for the residence in Germany.
Please carefully go through the information provided under the following link to find out what applies to your personal situation and nationality!
Under “Residence” you will find answers to a lot of questions regarding long-term residence in Germany, “temporary protection” in accordance with § 24 AufenthG (Residence Act) as well as the associated rights and obligations:
https://handbookgermany.de/en/ukraine-info?themes=residence
The “Department of Public Order” (Kreisverwaltungsreferat / KVR) is the official office in Munich which is responsible for residence permits. There are several "Bürgerbüros" as branches of the KVR. In this overview provided by the KVR, you’ll find important information about staying in Munich/Germany and the requirements for studying in Germany.
Please pay special attention to the following pages of the overview: pages 4, 5, 6, 7, 11 and 14!
Another helpful page provided by the City of Munich: https://stadt.muenchen.de/infos/ukraine_ankommen.html (in German, English and Ukrainian).
Should you have any questions regarding the residence status for students and future students, you are very welcome to turn to the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern’s General Advice and Social Counselling Service for an initial consultation:
https://www.daad.de/en/the-daad/ukraine/
National Academic Contact Point Ukraine of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service: Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst):
English: https://www.daad-ukraine.org/en/
Ukrainian: https://www.daad-ukraine.org/uk/
The City of Munich now also provides information and useful tips for people from Ukraine in its "Integreat App".
Its goal:
- providing important information for people from Ukraine in several languages
- supporting refugees with information upon arriving in Munich.
The Integreat App is free of charge and can also be used offline. You can download it on Google Play Store or App Store – or on their own website www.integreat.app/muenchen/en.
German: https://integreat.app/muenchen/de
English: https://integreat.app/muenchen/en
Ukrainian: https://integreat.app/muenchen/uk
Integreat is active in more than 70 municipalities, many of which have already included up-to-date information for people from Ukraine!
Several Ukrainian students who have fled to Germany are continuing their studies online with their Ukrainian university. The question is what possibilities there are to come up for your living expenses while studying online at a Ukrainian university.
In accordance with German law, digital studies at a Ukrainian university can neither be funded as a "Fernstudium" (correspondence course) nor as a course of studies abroad. The latter would require a cooperation with a German university (§ 5 (2) no. 2 BAföG).
As a result, you’re not entitled to receive BAföG (cf. here, in German).
However, you are entitled to financial support in accordance with SGB II (German Social Code) via the Jobcenter (Ukrainian version), as the long-term perspectives for integration in the labour market are taken into account and a foreseeable university degree provides better chances in the labour market in Germany. Furthermore, persons who do not possess the German language level B1, are to first take part in an integration course (as per § 3 (2a) no. 1 SGB II).
Please get in touch with the Jobcenter to clarify your personal situation. An appropriate strategy will then be planned for being integrated in the labour market in the long term. It's not very likely that an education or further vocational training that has already begun will be stopped. That would run counter public interest and the need of qualified employees.
AbilityAid is a programme provided by the non-profit organization ArrivalAid. ArrivalAid was founded in 2015 and supports people with a refugee or migrant background. The AbilityAid programme focuses on refugees and migrants with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses.
What services does AbilityAid offer?
- Advice and counselling (professional support regarding: challenges in everyday life, questions on asylum and residence, medical care and treatment and lots more)
- German course (opportunity to acquire or improve your German language skills, even without prior knowledge; levels: A0, A1, A2)
- Computer courses (e.g. Word, Excel, Powerpoint; also open practice hours)
ADVICE AND COURSES ARE FREE OF CHARGE.
Contact details: phone: +49 89 5999 88 23 (please leave a message, they will call back)
Munich (near Hauptbahnhof)
email: ability@arrivalaid.org
https://arrivalaid.org/abilityaid/
In 2022, several German universities will make their premises and infrastructure available to refugees from Ukraine who are interested in studying in order to conduct standardised examinations for admission and continued studies at Ukrainian universities.
The online examinations will take place between 22 July and 3 October 2022. They will be held at the same time at six different locations in Germany:
- Berlin; Coordination: Humboldt-Universität
- at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main
- at the Universität Hamburg
- at the University of Cologne
- at the Leipzig University
- Munich; Coordination: “Kulturzentrum Gorod” (organised by the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science).
The exams will be conducted simultaneously in Ukraine and in the European countries where Ukrainians have found refuge.
Further information:
https://www.daad-ukraine.org/en/2022/06/10/ukrainian-university-entrance-tests-available-in-germany/
Ukrainian version: https://www.daad-ukraine.org/uk/2022/06/10/ukrayinskij-vstupnij-test-mozhna-sklasti-v-nimechchini/
You have a professional qualification or a (first) university degree from abroad and want to get some information about it being recognized here in Germany?
In that case, you can get in touch with the MigraNet IQ Netzwerk Bayern in Munich to get the information you need free of charge. MigraNet will assist you going through the process and will help you when dealing with the authorities.
MigraNet is a part of the federal funding programme “Integration through Qualification (IQ)”, in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Employment Agency.
MigraNet is also offering (until the end of July 2022) several online information events – in German, English and Ukrainian.
If you have questions regarding medical care, health insurance or health issues, have a look at the following links:
ENGLISH:
point 5: https://www.bmas.de/DE/Europa-und-die-Welt/Europa/Ukraine/FAQ-EN/faq-art-en.html
https://www.daad-ukraine.org/en/accommodation-and-residency-in-germany/health-insurance/
https://www.germany4ukraine.de/hilfeportal-en/medical-care
https://www.studying-in-germany.org/health-insurance-germany-guide/
UKRAINIAN:
https://www.bmas.de/DE/Europa-und-die-Welt/Europa/Ukraine/FAQ-UA/faq-art-ua.html
https://www.daad-ukraine.org/uk/perebuvannya-u-nimechchini/medichne-strahuvannya/
https://www.germany4ukraine.de/hilfeportal-ua/%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%81%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F
In cooperation with teachers as well as Ukrainian native speakers, the website https://www.buchstaben.com/ has put together a free-of-charge pdf language booklet to support Ukrainian-speaking people in understanding the basics of the German language; it’s very well structured and easy to understand.
Apart from the exact translations, the content is also displayed using the phonetic alphabet so that it’s easier to understand the German pronunciation.
You can find the language booklet here: https://www.buchstaben.com/wissen/deutsch-lernen-als-ukrainischer-fluechtling-kostenloses-pdf-lernheft
Furthermore, the website offers a free-of-charge online language course (as of January 2024):
https://www.buchstaben.com/deutsch-lernen?lang=en
The overview is available in English, Turkish, Ukrainian and Arabic.
Please note! The Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern does not assume any liability for third-party content, such as direct or indirect links to other providers.
The Society for Academic Study Preparation and Test Development (Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung e.V. / g.a.s.t.) supports Ukrainian refugees on their way to Germany and to a German university with various offers for acquiring and assessing German language skills:
- assess your German language skills with the free-of-charge placement test onSET
- free-of-charge aptitude test for undergraduate studies at university with the TestAS (Test for Academic Studies)
- language certificate TestDaF as proof of your German language skills required for studying at a German university
- German courses at the Deutsch-Uni Online for preparing future students for studying in Germany (level A1-C1, everyday language, language for special purposes, professional language, preparing for the TestDaF)
Interested Ukrainian refugees can register using the following link:
https://www.daad-ukraine.org/en/studying-in-germany/welcome-to-digital-campus/
In the course of digitalization, the Society for Academic Study Preparation and Test Development (g.a.s.t.), along with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), RWTH Aachen University, TH Lübeck, the Goethe-Institut and Kiron Open Higher Education, is developing the "Digital Campus", a platform for online study preparation, subsidized by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
On the website of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) for Ukrainian student refugees, you’ll find various free-of-charge courses and tests:
- do the online language placement test onSET for German language skills for free
- book an online self-study course via the platform Deutsch-Uni Online (German University Online: DUO) for free
- take the test TestDaF (German as a Foreign Language) for free to prove your German language skills; it’s accepted by every university in Germany
- take the test TestAS (Test for Academic Studies) for free to prove your aptitude for a certain field of study; it’s accepted by many universities
Further information regarding free-of-charge registration and booking can be found here:
https://www.daad-ukraine.org/en/studying-in-germany/welcome-to-digital-campus/
If you take the test “onSET” to assess your German language skills, you’ll receive a free-of-charge German language course upon registering for your next level with "Deutsch-Uni Online" (DUO).
The "Digital Campus”, a platform for preparing for your studies online and subsidized by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), will continue to be enhanced by the organisations DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), the RWTH Aachen University, the TH Lübeck, the Goethe-Institut, the Society for Academic Study Preparation and Test Development g.a.s.t. e.V. as well as Kiron Open Higher Education.
I am a student or a future student who has fled Ukraine – can I start studying in Germany?
You can stay in Germany to study. It is however required that you were accepted by a university for a full-time course of study and that you can come up for your expenses yourself. To be able to finance yourself is one of the most important requirements for a residence permit for the purpose of studying as per § 16b AufenthG (Residence Act).
http://www.internationale-studierende.de/en/prepare_your_studies/financing/
Many Ukrainian students who come to Germany want to continue their studies here. Since 2005, Ukraine has been a member of the Bologna Process. Thus, academic achievements you received in Ukraine could also be recognized in Germany. However, it’ll be necessary to get in touch with the university in question.
If you have a long-term residence permit as per § 24 AufenthG (Residence Act) due to the current situation, you’re entitled to study or do a training.
If you were in Ukraine when the war broke out and fled the country, you can claim social benefits in Germany as a refugee. Furthermore, you can register as looking for a job and can also apply for scholarships.
The following website also offers lots of useful information: https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/plan-your-studies/special-circumstances/refugees/ .
UPDATE (as of 18th January, 2024):
Residence permit for Ukrainian refugees as per § 24 AufenthG (Residence Act) prolonged until 4 March 2025.
Residence permits as per § 24 AufenthG (Residence Act) which are still valid on 1 February 2024 will automatically be valid until 4 March 2025 (§ 2 (1) UkraineAufenthFGV)!
This will lead to the rather exceptional situation that for instance roughly 6,500 Ukrainian students will have a seemingly invalid residence permit which is actually still valid. Please make public authorities, universities, employers and similar aware of this fact so that there won’t be any misunderstandings concerning your studies or work (cf. https://www.recht.bund.de/bgbl/1/2023/334/VO.html?nn=55638).
Here you can find a list of universities the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern is in charge of who are offering help and support in the current situation.
As this support is partly still in the process of being organised, it is almost certainly going to change within the near future; the list serves as a first overview.
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Technical University of Munich (TUM)
https://www.tum.de/en/studies/international-students/ukraine
information, counselling and financial support for doctoral students/PhD students of TUM Graduate School, the central office for doctoral research at TUM
https://www.gs.tum.de/en/gs/doctorate-at-tum/supportukraine-platform-tum-gs/
HM University of Applied Sciences
https://hm.edu/allgemein/aktuelles/news/news_detailseite_241920.de.html
Academy of Fine Arts Munich
https://www.adbk.de/de/aktuell/aktuell-kategorieblog/3414-solidaritaet-mit-der-ukraine.html
University of Music and Theatre Munich
University of Television and Film Munich
https://www.hff-muenchen.de/de_DE/ukraine
Munich School of Politics and Public Policy
https://www.hfp.tum.de/en/hfp/news/article/in-solidaritaet-mit-der-ukrainischen-bevoelkerung/
Munich School of Philosophy
https://www.hfph.de/hochschule/nachrichten
KSH München University of Applied Sciences (Munich and Benediktbeuern)
https://www.xing.com/pages/katholischestiftungshochschulemunchen/news
Technical University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim
https://www.th-rosenheim.de/en/international/incomings/information-for-refugees
Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences
International University SDI München
https://www.sdi-muenchen.de/hochschule/artikel/news/zur-ukraine-krise
You have a leaving certificate or diploma issued by a Ukrainian university and want to have it officially assessed in order to apply for work or enrol in a postgraduate course of studies?
In this case, the "Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen" (Central Office for Foreign Education – ZAB) is responsible and can issue a “Statement of Comparability” for international higher education qualifications. It's funded by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany.
A Statement of Comparability is an official document issued by the ZAB that describes an international higher education qualification, its professional and academic usage. The ZAB Statement of Comparability can facilitate access to the German labour market or postgraduate studies for holders of international higher education qualifications. It is a comparative assessment but not a recognition certificate.
You can apply for a Statement of Comparability here.
The website is also available in Ukrainian.
If you have fled the Ukraine and cannot prove your university degree by your leaving certificate, you can also turn to the ZAB. It provides information on the process of plausibility checks in the case of missing documents.
Thus, anyone who cannot provide proof of their university degree can apply for a Statement of Comparability for international higher education qualifications after plausibility has been established.
The Statement specifies the German qualification to which your international qualification is comparable and provides information on the options for continuing your studies, the legal basis of the use of academic degrees and the procedure of professional recognition. The Statement does not give rise to any legal claim.
Please have a look at the answer provided under “I would like to study in Germany – what all do I need to organise and think of?”.
I would like to study in Germany – what all do I need to organise and think of?
More information on starting and organising a course of studies can be found on the pages of the Deutsche Studierendenwerk.
http://www.internationale-studierende.de/en/home/
and with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD):
https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/plan-your-studies/
The pages provide lots of answers to questions related to studying.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides a website for students and researchers in German, English and Ukrainian, where you can find lots of information about studying, research, conditions for studying as well as useful academic services:
German: https://www.daad-ukraine.org/de/
English: https://www.daad-ukraine.org/en/
Ukrainian: https://www.daad-ukraine.org/uk/
You can get financial support from the educational consultancy “Garantiefonds Hochschule” (GF-H), a federal programme under which young immigrants are advised on their opportunities to embark on an academic career. Since April 2022, persons with a residence permit as per § 24 AufenthG (Residence Act) can apply to be funded by the GF-H in accordance with their guidelines. As a consequence, refugees from Ukraine who want to study in Germany can now get financial support for language courses from the Garantiefonds Hochschule.
First, you have to apply with their educational guidance centres; this may result in a scholarship.
What all can be funded?
course fees, living expenses/accommodation expenses, private tuition if necessary, travel expenses, exam fees and costs regarding integration
The financial support can last up to 30 months.
The programme is financed by the “Otto Benecke Stiftung e.V.”, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). The aim is to help young migrants up to 30 years of age who want to begin or continue their studies in Germany to integrate as quickly as possible into the local labour market. Financial support is mainly provided for German language courses for a course of study which provide a certificate.
Information provided by the Federal Ministry (in German)
Information of the Garantiefonds Hochschule (GF-H)
Register for guidance counselling in Munich with the Garantiefonds Hochschule
From the 1st of June 2022, it’s generally possible to get BAföG as a student and refugee from Ukraine (link to Ukrainian version). But there are certain requirements:
- You need a residence permit in accordance with § 24 (1) AufenthG (Residence Act) or a provisional residence document confirming the effect of your application (“Fiktionsbescheinigung”) in accordance with § 81 (5) in conjunction with (3) and (4) AufenthG (Residence Act).
- You are enrolled in a course of study with what is referred to as "ordentliche Immatrikulation” (regular enrolment), which means that you are studying to get a degree.
- You have the necessary language skills and level to be able to follow the lectures at university.
If these requirements are met, you can apply for BAföG.
BAföG provides state funding for students in Germany, in accordance with the German Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz / in short: BAföG). Normally, half of the BAföG a student receives is a grant, the other half is an interest-free loan. The maximum amount that needs to be paid back from the loan part is 10,010 euros.
You can apply for BAföG at your local Studierendenwerk which is responsible for the university you’re enrolled at. If your university is listed here, the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern is responsible. You can then turn to our BAföG Advisory Services to get free-of-charge information and advice.
IMPORTANT!
If you're currently continuing your studies online with your Ukrainian university, you cannot receive any BAföG funding. The same applies for refugees who are enrolled at a university as a guest or exchange student without studying for a specific educational goal, i.e. a degree (cf. here).
In these cases, however, there’s the possibility to receive financial support in accordance with SGB II. (German Social Code; the application is handled by the Jobcenter of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit [Federal Employment Agency], link to Ukrainian version.)
Links in Ukrainian:
https://www.daad-ukraine.org/uk/2022/06/02/14107/
Official information (ministries, government etc.)
Anyone who has had to flee Ukraine will presumably have many questions and will need support. The following link provides information on all matters concerning school, education, studying, working as well as on the recognition of international qualifications in Germany.
https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/shareddocs/faq/informationen-fuer-gefluechtete-ukraine.html
Germany is supporting the provision of medical aid in Ukraine and ensures comprehensive health care provision for refugees in Germany. Here you can find out the most important facts:
https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/faq-medizinische-hilfe-ukraine.html
The following link provides information and FAQs concerning refuge and migration in German, Ukrainian and Russian.
Information in German, English and Ukrainian: https://stadt.muenchen.de/infos/ukraine_ankommen.html
The free “Integreat APP" provided by the City of Munich, which can also be used offline, provides up-to-date information and tips for refugees from Ukraine.
Download via Google Play Store, App Store or the website itself:
https://integreat.app/muenchen/de
https://integreat.app/muenchen/en
https://integreat.app/muenchen/uk
The “Department of Public Order” (Kreisverwaltungsreferat / KVR) is the official office in Munich which is responsible for residence permits. There are several "Bürgerbüros" as branches of the KVR. In this overview provided by the KVR, you’ll find important information about staying in Munich/Germany and the requirements for studying in Germany.
Please pay special attention to the following pages of the overview: pages 4, 5, 6, 7, 11 and 14!
From the 1st of June 2022, it’s generally possible to get BAföG as a student and refugee from Ukraine (link to Ukrainian version). But there are certain requirements:
- You need a residence permit in accordance with § 24 (1) AufenthG (Residence Act) or a provisional residence document confirming the effect of your application (“Fiktionsbescheinigung”) in accordance with § 81 (5) in conjunction with (3) and (4) AufenthG (Residence Act).
- You are enrolled in a course of study with what is referred to as "ordentliche Immatrikulation” (regular enrolment), which means that you are studying to get a degree.
- You have the necessary language skills and level to be able to follow the lectures at university.
If these requirements are met, you can apply for BAföG.
BAföG provides state funding for students in Germany, in accordance with the German Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz / in short: BAföG). Normally, half of the BAföG a student receives is a grant, the other half is an interest-free loan. The maximum amount that needs to be paid back from the loan part is 10,010 euros.
You can apply for BAföG at your local Studierendenwerk which is responsible for the university you’re enrolled at. If your university is listed here, the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern is responsible. You can then turn to our BAföG Advisory Services to get free-of-charge information and advice.
IMPORTANT!
If you're currently continuing your studies online with your Ukrainian university, you cannot receive any BAföG funding. The same applies for refugees who are enrolled at a university as a guest or exchange student without studying for a specific educational goal, i.e. a degree (cf. here).
In these cases, however, there’s the possibility to receive financial support in accordance with SGB II. (German Social Code; the application is handled by the Jobcenter of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit [Federal Employment Agency], link to Ukrainian version.)
Links in Ukrainian:
https://www.daad-ukraine.org/uk/2022/06/02/14107/
If you have questions regarding medical care, health insurance or health issues, please have a look at the answer provided further up the page under “General information”.
Thank you very much.
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