Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
Arrival/Departure
Course Books
Currency Exchange
Data Processing/Data Protection
Duration
Equipment
General Terms and Conditions
Insurance
Internet
Laundry
Library
Packing Checklist - What To Bring
Parking
Payment
Prerequisites for application
Scholarship
Sports
Visa
Weather
General Terms and Conditions
Please find the General Terms and Conditions of Business and Payment of the International Summer School of German Language and Culture here as pdf document.
Arrival/Departure
Arrival days are Tuesday, July 30 and Wednesday, July 31, 2024. We strongly recommend arriving on July 30. If you arrive after 10 p.m. on one of these days, you will not be able to reach us at the office and will have to find alternative accommodation for the first night (for example Heidelberg Youth Hostel or Steffis Hostel or airbnb).
Accommodation can be provided from July 30 to August 29, 2024. Early arrivals or late departures are not possible. If you do arrive earlier or wish to leave later, please arrange an alternative accommodation, for example at Heidelberg Youth Hostel.
Course Books
Course books should not be purchased before knowing the placement.
Currency Exchange
Make sure you get bills of no more than 50 or 100 Euro apiece. 200 Euro bills are not accepted in all shops.
Currency Exchange is possible at all airports. There is a bank called ReiseBank at Heidelberg main station open Monday to Saturday (please check online for opening hours). Other banks are open Monday to Friday, usually from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Usually you can take out Euro from any ATM in Germany with your credit card or even cash card. ATM machines can be found at all banks, and those are numerous. They are accessible 24/7.
Data Processing/Data Protection
For information on Data Processing and Data Protection, please download this pdf file.
Duration
The International Summer School is a four-week program. It is possible to stop before the end of the course, of course (although it is a pity). However, there will be no discount or refund on the course fee.
Equipment
You will need a mobile device (laptop or similar) for class, ideally with video and audio capability. The textbooks may be used in their electronic edition; please wait until the class division is announced before purchasing any course material or textbook.
Insurance
Participants must arrange their own health cover prior to arrival. The Summer School cannot be held responsible for any medical costs.
We strongly recommend taking out a personal liability insurance prior to coming to Germany. For example, if you lose the keys to your accommodation or cause water damage, fixing may cost hundreds of Euro or more, and you will be held liable. In case you already hold a liability insurance, please check whether you are covered for travel to and stay in Germany.
Internet
Upon arrival, you will be given access to the university's wireless network (W-LAN). This can be used in most of the university buildings, but usually not in the accommodation.
Computers with internet access are available in the university's libraries and can be used by Summer School participants free of charge. There are also several internet cafes around the university. You will need your own mobile device for classes (see → Equipment).
When you arrive, the International Summer School will provide access to Heidelberg University’s wireless internet. Access is possible in most university buildings, but usually not in the accommodation.
Computers with internet access can be used for free in the university libraries. Furthermore, there are several internet cafés nearby.
The International Summer School will make an effort to find you accommodation with internet access only. Please find further details in the → “packing checklist” below.
Broadband mobile modems or ”connect cards“ can be purchased in telecommunication shops and electronics retailer stores, starting from approximately 40 Euro. These are an option for location-independent internet access.
Laundry
Yes, you can do your laundry in Heidelberg! Many student residences have their own laundry rooms. In many private residences, you may also use the washing machines. Furthermore, there are laundromats (self-service laundries) all over the city.
Library
There is a number of libraries at Heidelberg University.
Participants of the International Summer School will receive a Summer School ID card. With this card you will have access to the main university libraries and to most smaller libraries. However, you cannot take out books or other media.
Packing Checklist - What To Bring
- Passport
- Documentation on → Health Insurance
- Summer School confirmation letter. Not an indispensable prerequisite, but it may speed things up when you arrive.
- Prescription medicine and prescriptions (only if applicable, of course)
- Clothes. It’s summer time (→ Weather) in Germany, so bring summer clothes, but also something warmer for the evenings. If you want to do → sports, bring adequate clothes and shoes (also a tennis racket, if you are into tennis). Swimsuits are always a good idea! Bringing good walking shoes would be very wise since many excursions will involve a decent amount of walking/hiking!
- IT. Teaching material may be available online only. Please bring an appropriate device (laptop/tablet/iPad or similar). University W-LAN will be available in the classrooms, but in some accommodation there is only LAN (no W-LAN). So it is best to bring a LAN cable and adapter (if necessary) from home.
- Adaptor/converter: Germany‘s electricity runs on 230V. You may need an adaptor and converter for any appliance brought from home.
- Linens. In many rooms there are no pillow and duvets. Therefore please bring a pillow, sheets, a duvet or sleeping bag, as well as covers for pillow and duvet - the standard bed in Germany is 200 cm long and between 80 cm and 140 cm wide. Using a bed without covering the mattress, duvet/quilt and/or pillow is not acceptable under any circumstances.
- Towels
- Toiletries. You might want to bring enough of your usual toiletries for the first days of your stay, until you have time for your first shopping at a supermarket or drugstore. Germany has a good selection of all such items, shipping or bringing large amounts of toiletries is not necessary.
Parking
No parking facilities are provided near the Summer School office and classrooms.
If the International Summer School arranges accommodation for you and you travel by car, please state so on the accommodation reservation form. We will then try to arrange accommodation where parking is possible.
Payment
The course fee is to be paid by bank transfer or by credit card. Transfer fees are payable by the sender; please inquire at your bank if applicable. Information on the payment by bank transfer/credit card will be sent to you as soon as we receive your registration form.
The rent for accommodation is payable after your arrival in Heidelberg in cash only. (Further information will be sent to you with the confirmation letter upon registration.)
Cash withdrawal with a credit/debit card (for example Visa, Mastercard) is possible from most ATMs. There are many banks and ATMs all over Heidelberg.
Prerequisites for application
Participants must be at least 18 years of age by the time the Summer School begins.
Educational and/or professional backgrounds are irrelevant for registration.
Group registration is not possible.
Scholarship
The university regrets that it cannot offer any scholarships for the above courses, nor can it arrange paid employment for participants.
Sports
The International Summer School offers a variety of sports, including soccer, (beach) volleyball, basketball, tennis, swimming. Participation is free (except tennis and swimming) and of course voluntary. Heidelberg is also a good place for jogging, hiking and biking.
Depending on the sport and weather, both indoors and outdoors facilities will be used. Remember to bring adequate clothes and shoes if you want to do sports here! Volleyball, basketball, futsal and others will be offered indoors in case it rains, but you can only participate with shoes for indoor sports (wearing the same shoes indoors and outdoors is not allowed, sorry).
In the current situation, it will only be possible on short notice to determine the varieties and extent of the sports. The offer will be subject to the rules and regulations that are valid at the time of the International Summer School. We hope for good conditions and many opportunities for doing lots of sport together!
Visa
Participants requiring a visa must be sure to apply to representatives of the German consular in good time.
Weather
The International Summer Course takes place in August, which is summertime in Germany. Temperatures may rise up to 38 °Celsius (ca. 100 °F), but may occasionally drop below 10 °C (50 °F) at night. The average daytime temperature is around 24 °C (75 °F). Although we always hope for four weeks of dry, sunny weather, you should come prepared for some rain.
