Your stay in Bremen

All residents of Germany are required to register their addresses within 14 days (after moving in at the permanent place of residence).

Here, you get more information.

If your home country is not a part of the European Economic Area (EEA), then you will require a visa or a residence permit to study in Bremen. Check here for more information.

It is obligatory in Germany to show a tax ID when opening a bank account.

How to get a German tax ID:

1. Find accommodation in the city / environment of Bremen.
2. Register with the city at your resident registration office (see "City registration").
3. Around six to eight weeks later you will receive the tax ID via post (make sure your name is on the post box).

Please note: Landlords and most institutions, such as health insurance, will need your bank data immediately, so you typically cannot wait six to eight weeks for the tax ID. To avoid inconvenience, it may be useful to bring your tax ID from your home country when opening a bank account. Where to find it? Visit the OECD portal or ask your home university / family.

A German bank account will enable you to manage regular payments, such as rent and insurance, much more easily.

HSB has four campuses, which are all located in the heart of Bremen. If you are looking for directions how to get to each location, you will find all relevant information here.

Our campuses at Neustadtswall, Werderstraße and Flughafenallee offer a student canteen, the so-called Mensa, to ensure your well-being. The offer ranges from coffee, tea and sandwiches, chocolates and cold drinks to snacks, lunches and more. 

The lunch options offer 1 (Essen 1) and offer 2 (Essen 2) are subsidised, so this is definitely a favourable option for a daily warm meal for students with a limited income. Just check here what will be on the menu tomorrow. 

A word of advice: get yourself a Mensacard. This card is a simple way to pay at all of the University's canteens and cafeterias. There are shorter queues at the checkouts and you can use snack and soda machines outside the opening hours of the canteens.

You can get your Mensacard at the service point in the Mensa at Neustadtswall or at the checkout areas of the Mensas at Campus Werderstraße or Airport. Just bring your student ID and a 5 euro deposit plus 5 euros for your first charge.

More about the Mensacard.

Download the app here. Available for iOS and Android.

Need help?

• For everything concerning the RZhsb account, such as mail, wifi or forgotten passwords: rzhsb-service@hs-bremen.de
• For problems or questions about the "Deutschland" semester ticket (Train Ticket): asta-studentischebelange@hs-bremen.de

With the semester ticket you become mobile in Bremen and throughout Germany.

The HSB semester ticket is your Deutschlandticket - it is valid nationwide on all local public transport, i.e. on all

• short-distance buses,
• trams/streetcars,
• underground/subway trains,
• suburban trains,
• regional trains (IRE, RE, RB, RS),
• some individual ferry connections and cross-border connections may also be used with it - check again in each case.

All long-distance transport (e.g. FlixBus, FlixTrain, ICE, IC and EC trains) cannot be used with the semester ticket - a separate ticket must be purchased for this.

Activate your HSB account for the first time!

How it works:

• Go to: www.hs-bremen.de/activate
• Retrieve the temporary activation code: you need your application number from your application procedure in CampInO and your private e-mail address stored there,
• Log in with these two access data,
• You will receive a temporary activation code (valid once) and a link,
• The link leads to a login page again,
• Log in with your application number and the temporary activation code,
• After successfully logging in, you can set your own password, and save it,
• Your student account is now permanently activated.

If something goes wrong during the process, a new temporary activation code can be requested at any time.

Check here for more information.

After your registration at HSB, you will receive your HSB account with the relevant information and access data you need in order to use all of HSB’s IT services.

Find out everything about IT-related topics here. The most important topics to get you started are:

• Wi-Fi (eduroam) on campus
• VPN
• AULIS (learning platform)
• CampInO (Campus Information Online)
• QIS-POS (module registration)
• Zoom access

Learn more here.

Help needed?

• For everything concerning the RZhsb account, such as mail, wifi or forgotten passwords:
  rzhsb-service@hs-bremen.de
• For problems with module registration or questions about CampInO: campino-service@hs-bremen.de
• For problems or questions about AULIS: mmcc@hs-bremen.de
• For problems or questions about the "Deutschland" semester ticket (Train Ticket): asta-studentischebelange@hs-bremen.de

The State and University Library Bremen (SuUB) provides you with literature and specialist information in print and electronic formats. The SuUB is comprised of the Central Library and eight decentral hubs, including the branch for Technology and Social Sciences and the branch for Economics and Nautical Sciences which are located on HSB’s campuses. The libraries also offer a 
quiet place on the campus to study and concentrate.

In order to make use of the library services you need to obtain a Bib-Card. The step by step guide for the application can be found here.

In order to have access to the e-books and magazines, you need to install a VPN client.

To make sure you will enjoy your stay in Bremen and love being a HSB student, we offer several support services exclusively for you as incoming students from a foreign country.

Buddy Programme

First, there is the so-called Buddy Programme. A buddy is a local HSB student and will be your helping hand during your stay here. He or she is available to deal with all kinds of questions and helps you to get essential information easily and to adjust to your new environment. Your DIO will provide you with more information about the Buddy Programme.

LEI - Local Erasmus Intitiative

At the beginning of each semester, LEI presents itself during the International Office’s orientation week in various welcome events for international exchange students. Additonally at the beginning of each semester a WhatsApp group will be created to keep you up to date about all events during your semester.

Extension of your stay in Bremen - semester contribution.

If you stay in Bremen for another semester, you need to transfer the semester contribution for the new semester within these re-registration periods:

• For the spring/summer term: 15 January to 15 February
• For the fall/winter term: 15 July to 15 August.

Please note:

Only if you have paid the semester contribution within the period prescribed you will be re-enrolled. You can find up-to-date information concerning the semester contribution here. Important: exchange students pay a reduced amount, they do NOT have to pay the contribution to administrative costs. Therefore, please deduct this amount from the payment!
In case you have questions, you can always contact the International Office.

Renting a bike is a brilliant alternative for all who need one just temporarily or at short notice.

Monthly rental: Swapfiets is a bike membership and offers an all-inclusive bike subscription with free repairs and maintenance for a low, fixed monthly fee.

Your living expenses depend on your lifestyle. The largest share of monthly expenses is incurred by the rent, which usually makes up one third of students’ living expenses.

Be careful! Illegal downloading of movies or music is a crime in Germany and will have serious legal consequences.

If you want to drive a car during your stay in Germany, be prepared to show an international driving licence or your home-country driver’s license. Know that, as a general rule, foreign licences are valid for six months.
After the six-month period, students may need to either exchange their foreign license for a German one or take a driving test. Whether or not you can directly exchange your license without a test depends on whether your home country has a reciprocal agreement with Germany.

Doctors

In Germany, there are general practitioners as well as specialists in each field (eg. radiologists, optometrists, dermatologists, etc.). Everyone has free choice in the selection of their doctor. In case of illness, go to a general practitioner (Arzt für Allgemeinmedizin) first, who will send you to a specialist if necessary. It is recommendable to make an appointment before going to the doctor. For an appointment, a valid health insurance (e.g. EHIC card), a proof of matriculation at the HSB, and an ID / Passport are needed.
Unable to get an appointment with a specialist? Night or weekend? Contact the appointment service number +49 116 117.
In case of life-threatening or serious situations, call an ambulance (dial 112) or go directly to the hospital.

Hospitals

• Hospitals in Bremen

Emergency medical care (nights and weekends)

• Emergency Doctors: +49 421 / 19292
• Medical Emergency Portal: +49 116117
• Emergency Pediatric Doctor: +49 421 / 3404444
• Poison Information Center North ("Giftinformationszentrum Nord"): +49 551 / 19240

Psychological and social support

The "Studierendenwerk Bremen" offers support to students in situations of psychological or social crisis.
Psychological counseling needed? Contact the Psychological Counseling Center for Students (located on the campus of the University of Bremen - not HSB - and available to all students in Bremen).

English speaking doctors or psychologists

Use the TK-Ärzteführer (TK doctor's guide). Here you can enter your city and postcode and select the language and speciality you need to find the right doctor for you.

Pharmacies

In Germany, medicine is only available in pharmacies. There are two types of medicine: available with or without a prescription.
The German law on medicine is strict - most medicine is only available with a prescription (e.g. antibiotics) and pharmacies will not provide them without a prescription from a doctor. In this case, a doctor must be consulted first in order to get a prescription for medicine available in pharmacies. Most health insurances generally cover most of the cost of medicine. There might be an additional fee of around 5 - 10 euros.

• Pharmacies search

Emergency phone numbers

• Police: 110
• Fire Services: 112
• Emergency Medical Services / Ambulance: 112

Also check our safety information.

Bremen has an efficient public transport system. VBN (Verkehrsverbund Bremen / Niedersachsen) is the public transport association of Bremen and its surroundings. The VBN region offers an endless variety of destinations. Buses and trams (BSAG) are usually on time and reliable. Students can use all buses and trams as well as regional trains all over Germany free of charge with the semester "Deutschland" ticket. Why not simply hop on a VBN bus or train and start discovering.

What's going on in Bremen? Check here for daily tips - events in Bremen today

Being new to a foreign country can be quite overwhelming. To help you get started and find some helpful advice on getting accustomed to life in Germany, please check the guides at www.study-in-germany.de!

All households must pay the Public Broadcasting Fee (Rundfunkbeitrag), regardless of TV / radio / PC ownership or usage.
Unfortunately, there is no exemption for international students. For students who get accommodation through Into Rooms, this contribution should already be included in the rent. Please check with your landlord / landlady.

University sports are open to all students. You can attend the sports courses offered by Hochschulsport e.V. (Association for University Sports) and use the gym "UniFit" power and ergo room. Most sports activities take place on campus of the Universität  Bremen (Bremen University) and at other sports facilities.

The universities of Bremen jointly offer a wide range of sport programmes to their students. Salsa lessons, volleyball, windsurfing, football, badminton, floorball, handball and many more – whatever sports you like, you will find something here. In return for a small contribution, you can register for the courses at the beginning of each semester.
Check it out, you will find an awesome programme! 
Please mind: check the exact deadline - the courses are highly popular and registration is on a first come, first served basis.

The gym, also called "UniFit", offers training opportunities for a wide range of experience levels on about 300 square meters. Registration for the UniFit is under the keyword “Fitness (UniFit/Fitnessstudio)” on the Hochschulsport e.V. website.

Please note: you will need an IBAN for registration and payment. If you don't have one, ask a friend or fellow student.

There are five waste categories in Germany:

• Lightweight packaging (LWP) made of plastic, aluminum, tinplate or composite materials
• Bottle banks for glass
• Paper and cardboard
• Residual waste
• Biowaste

Find out more about waste separation.

There are many possibilities to earn money during your studies, but international students need to make sure they comply with the legal regulations stipulating how much they are allowed to work.