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What should I know about Germany and Marburg?
The Federal Republic of Germany is currently the most densely populated country in Europe.
Anyone who is interested in finding out more about Germany can do so by visiting the following websites: US Department of State's Background Notes, the Federal Foreign Office, or the Germany State Portal.
We also recommend the following guide and reference books, which will help both you and your student prepare for the IUSP Marburg experience:
"Gebrauchsanweisung für Deutschland": A satirically written book on Germany. Lots of secrets unravel due to the book's interesting perspective. The book is only available in German.
"Lonely Planet": Probably the most popular guide and phrase book for backpackers. It is available in eight languages.
"Let's Go: Germany." A favourite of the budget travellers. Young and budget-savvy travellers turn to "Let's Go" for the most current coverage, insider tips and an authentic perspective.
"Rough Guide" publishes guides to hundreds of destinations worldwide, as well as benchmark books on other topics, such as climate change.
"Culture Shock!/Kultur-Schock": A dynamic and indispensable range of guides for those travellers wanting to truly understand the countries they are visiting. These books are available in English and German.
Thanks to its picturesque Old Town, its scenic landscape of rolling hills and the Lahn River, the Philipps University - the world's oldest Protestant University - offers an attractive environment in which to study.
Further information and pictures are also available on Marburg's official website, on the "Landesportal-Hessen", or from the Tourism Bureau of Hessen.
If you would rather have printed versions of information, we highly recommend the following books, which are readily available in local Marburg bookstores and also through online bookstores:
"Marburg an der Lahn": City guide from G.U. Großmann; bound – May 2006
"Marburg": Illustrated book from J. Schilgen and M. Wengierek; hardback – November 1991, 70 colour images, trilingual: German, English, French
"Marburganderlahnbuch": Paperback from N. Folckers und A. Waibel – December 2003
"Die Blauen Bücher, Die Elisabethkirche in Marburg": Paperback from E. Leppin – March 2002
Of course this is just a small sampling of the informative literature available.Will my student receive all the necessary medical treatment?
Germany has excellent medical care. Due to the visa regulations all program students will be insured in the German national health insurance (PDF). Students cannot buy insurance elsewhere - it will not be accepted for the visa.
Students should have liability insurance before they arrive in Marburg.
There are no obligatory inoculations for coming to study in Germany. However, inoculations against diphtheria, tetanus and measles are recommended, and also for high-risk individuals and against FSME (Frühsommer-Meningoenzephalitis), hepatitis B and rabies. The FSME virus, which is transferred by a tick bite, is mainly spread in Germany in areas such as Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, though also in specific areas with risk zones such as Hessen, Thuringia and the Rhineland-Palatinate. As Marburg is among the areas at risk, please talk to your general practitioner about whether or not they recommend inoculation against FSME as a preventive measure. Protection against ticks in general is always advisable, particularly for anyone who likes to go hiking/walking/running in the woods.
For importing/sending needed medication, please have a look at the regulations of German Customs.
Which documents does my student need to bring?
Your student needs to bring along several documents to Marburg. In addition to the required passport and – where applicable - visa, they should also bring copies of all insurance and health-related documents with them. Furthermore we recommend backup copies to be left at home in case of an emergency.
Citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand can enter Germany as a tourist, i.e. with only their passport. This tourist visa is valid for 90 days. After arrival in Marburg, students will be applying for and receiving a student residency permit (Aufenthaltstitel). The fee for the residency permit is approximately 100 euros. IUSP students who are citizens of other countries than those listed above: Please check with the German embassy or consulate in your country.
What do you recommend in terms of currency exchange and money matters in general?
We recommend that your student takes along some cash and an ATM card (with PIN) which can be used at local banks in Marburg. Please note that foreign currency CANNOT be exchanged at local banks in Marburg, but only in bigger-sized towns like Frankfurt or at the airport.
In addition, we recommend that students bring a credit card with PIN to Marburg. Unlike in other countries, sometimes the credit card PIN must be used to authorize transactions in Germany, though this is becoming more rare now. Credit cards cannot necessarily be used as widely as elsewhere in the world, but they are becoming more popular in Germany. A word of caution, though: You should not count on being able to use them for all transactions!
Where can I send mail for my student in Germany and what are the customs regulations?
Without a doubt, your student will be happy to receive a letter or package from home.
Please send it to our office address because packages have gotten lost when sent to student dorms in the past. We will provide our students with the address before the semester starts.
Before mailing, please bear a few conditions in mind:
Normally shipping to Germany from the USA and Canada takes about four to seven days. From Australia, it takes approximately seven to 10 days. We recommend that you ask your local post office or courier service about the anticipated shipping time and the exact price of mailing.
Please be aware that many items are subject either to import tariffs or customs duties or both. Most articles intended for personal use during your studies can be imported duty free. Labelling must be clear.
It is not allowed to send medication!
Please visit the following website to find out more about precise regulations: German Customs Administration
What can my student expect from accomodation in Marburg? Is there a student cafeteria?
The IUSP Marburg Team will place students in a single dorm-style room with a sink. Bed linens will be provided. There are plenty of showers on each floor of the dormitory. There are kitchen and laundry facilities available in the dormitories. The rooms will be assigned to the participants upon arrival. The IUSP cannot arrange private accommodations. We also want to draw your attention to the fact that the dormitory rooms are not equipped with TV, telephone or Internet.
Students can buy (warm) meals at the price of around EUR 2.50 - EUR 3.50 in the University cafeteria. A meal subsidy comes in the shape of a cafeteria debit card, charged with € 50 per month. Please note that we do not have a meal plan.
What can I do to stay informed about legal services and current events in Germany?
Please visit the website of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany for the most relevant and up-to-date information on legal services.
To keep you up-to-date in general, you can get information on current events in Germany and the world on several web pages:
I would like to visit my student. Where can I stay?
Nearby Places to Stay - A list of area hotels and places to stay when you visit MarburgElisabeth Bräu (Steinweg 45, 35037 Marburg)
Hostel-Marburg-one (Bahnhofstraße 33a, 35037 Marburg)
Hotel Haus Müller (Deutschhausstrasse 29, 35037 Marburg)
Marburger Hof (Elisabethstr. 12, 35037 Marburg)
Vila Vita Rosenpark (Anneliese Pohl Allee 7-17, 35037 Marburg)
Stadthotel Marburg (Bahnhofstrasse 14, 35037 Marburg)
Welcome Hotel Marburg (Pilgrimstein 29, 35037 Marburg)