Welcome Campus for Refugees

Welcome Campus

For anyone with a refugee background who is interested in studying: Welcome Campus at the International Office is here to provide you with all the information you need.

The Welcome Campus aims to facilitate the rapid and smooth integration of refugees into university life. The main focus is the provision of personalised advice and the co-ordination of projects that promote the integration and support of refugees. During the office hours, refugees who are interested in studying receive personalised information on the following topics:

  • Academic (re)entry
  • Language courses
  • Funding opportunities
  • Germany's higher education system
  • Intercultural activities of the University of Stuttgart

Volunteers supporting refugees are also welcome to use this service.

Unfortunately, there are no further free course places available in the study preparation programme in 2023. Please note that we do not have a waiting list for language courses. You will find out whether places can be offered again next year on our website in summer 2024.
No consultations will take place until the beginning of March 2024.

In Germany, there are various types of higher education institutions:

  • Universities
  • Technical universities
  • Universities of music and art
  • Teacher training colleges
  • Universities of applied sciences
  • Administrative universities

Further information concerning the various types of higher education institutions and the study programs available in Baden-Württemberg can be found on the website of the Ministry for Science, Art and Culture.

The "Study-in-Germany“ platform of the DAAD also provides a great deal of information.

Should you have any queries, for example concerning the admission procedures and requirements of the individual universities, please contact the respective consultation offices of the universities. A list of contact persons and websites of the universities is available on the website of the MWK.

The website of the department for Application, Admission, Enrollment provides information concerning what conditions you must fulfill in order to commence academic studies at the University of Stuttgart. The application for a study place is done via the C@MPUS application portal. During the application process, we do not work with uni-assist. Should you have any queries concerning an application via uni-assist, please contact an institution which participates in this process.

Before you apply, you must discuss your plans with your competent authority (for example the job center). This will avoid any financial difficulties.

You can check your university admission entitlement on the Anabin database of the university rectors' conference portal [de]. Should you have further queries concerning your school qualifications, you can contact the department for Application, Admission, Enrollment.

The choice of academic studies depends on various factors. For example, it may be the case that certificates from the home country only allow a conditional university admission entitlement and it is then required to first attend a preparatory college or that only certain subjects may be studied in Germany. The department for Application, Admission, Enrollment can provide information in this respect.

Information concerning the application process can also be found on the university website. The application takes place solely online via the C@MPUS applicant portal.

Should you require advice concerning the higher education landscape in Baden Württemberg and the content of academic programs which can be studied at the University of Stuttgart, please contact the University Student Counseling center.

As a guest, you can participate in seminars, lectures and events prior to taking up a course of academic study. Information concerning this can be found on the extracurricular studies website.

As a rule, the University of Stuttgart requires a language level of C1 in order to commence academic studies, which is proven by the 4x4 DaF test. Information concerning the DaF test can be found on the website of the university or on the website of the DaF test institute [de].

In order to reach level C1, an intensive language course is generally necessary, however it is normally the case that the participants must pay for this themselves. Persons recognized as having an entitlement to protection can apply for support via the educational guidance guarantee fund for universities. A number of universities also offer language courses within the framework of the Integra [de] program supported by the DAAD and BMBF.

Since the winter semester 2017/18, the institutions of higher education in Baden-Württemberg have been charging tuition fees to international students and for a second course of academic study. However, depending on the residency status, it is possible to apply for a tuition fee exemption.

Information concerning tuition fees and the application for exemption can be found on the website of the department for Application, Admission, Enrollment for foreign students.

Recognized refugees (recognized persons entitled to asylum, refugees with recognised of refugee status and subsidiary protection in accordance with § 23 Paragraph 1 or 2 of the German Residency Act - AufenthG) can apply for BAföG support immediately following recognition.

From 01.01.2016, tolerated persons and holders of certain humanitarian residency titles (§ 25 Paragraph 3, § 25 Paragraph 4 Sentence 2, § 25 Paragraph 5) and persons with a residence permit for family reasons (according to §§ 30 to 34) can apply for BAföG following a stay of 15 months.

Should the general requirements be met, individual conditions will be checked (previously completed semesters, course of study, age etc). All queries concerning BAföG should be addressed to the BAföG advice center of the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart.

Welcome Campus coordinates and supports the following projects:

The Study Preparation Programme enables refugees seeking higher education to prepare for university studies in Germany. Participants can take language courses B2, C1 and the Test-DaF Training for free, as well as participate at workshops, trainings, and information events.  Travel costs as well as costs for learning materials will be partially reimbursed. Admission Requirements:
 
  • Refugee status
  • University entrance qualification (check in the database)
  • A minimum of basic learning in German equivalent to 500 hours (at least A2)
  • Motivation
  • Free-of-charge German courses for refugees interested in studying
  • Language courses, employability workshops and events for students from refugee backgrounds at the Language Center Stuttgart (contact person: Michael Pandey)

Friends of Refugees is a student initiative that supports refugees with language issues and social integration in everyday university life. The initiative offers diverse activities and support programs that are open to everyone. Students at the University of Stuttgart are welcome to volunteer.

Contact: Manar Al Khawam

Get to know Friends of Refugees on Facebook

The “Begegnungsraum” is an open meeting place for locals and newcomers and serves as a place to exchange information and to network. The weekly Chai Time session serves as a great starting point for newcomers. This session offers an opportunity to make new friends and find support, to get information about ongoing activities in the Begegnungsraum, or simply to play games and have conversations in a cozy atmosphere.

Contact: Adelheid Schulz

Welcome to the Begegnungsraum [de]

The Hilde Domin Program supports students and doctoral candidates from across the globe, who are at risk of being formally or de facto denied educational or other rights in their country of origin and provide these students and doctoral candidates with an opportunity to begin or complete a study or research degree at a higher education institution in Germany.
 
Students and doctoral candidates nominated and accepted under the programme will be enrolled in degree courses of any personal subject choice and according to individual qualifications and receive a scholarship sufficient to cover the necessary costs incurred during their study or research stay.
 
Potential candidates are nominated by the management of the university. Applications can be submitted to the International Center of the University of Stuttgart at any time.
 
Application deadlines:
 
  • For start of studies in summer semester 2025:
    Nominations: until March 15, 2024 (uni-internal deadline: March 10, 2024)

The University of Stuttgart is providing assistance to its partner institution, Donetsk National Technical University (DonNTU), that suffered significantly from the Russian war of aggression. This aid is being extended through the DAAD project "Ukraine Digital: Ensuring academic success in times of crisis". The project aims to maintain DonNTU's educational programmes, enhance the digital teaching abilities of its faculty, and aid researchers and students who face restricted access to education due to the impact of forced migration and infrastructure damage.

Contact: Elena von Klitzing

The Welcome Campus for Refugees, in cooperatoin with the School for Talents, is taking part in the DAAD programme "Future Ukraine Scholarship Programme for Refugees from Ukraine at German Universities" through the "Bridge Builders" initiative. The project focuses on targeted support for individuals, support for Ukrainian scholarship holders at the university and the design of a practice-oriented programme, which includes coaching in leadership skills, networking, project work and the transfer of specialist knowledge.

Contact: Elena von Klitzing

Contact

This image shows Elena von Klitzing

Elena von Klitzing

 

Head of Welcome Campus for Refugees

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