Step 3: Preparation before going to Ingolstadt
As soon as you are accepted as exchange student, the International Office of THI will inform you and guide you through preparation and your first weeks at THI. Find some helpful practical information here: https://www.thi.de/en/international/studies/international-students/practical-information-for-internationals#c6028
Further Recommendation for UFSC Students:
Flight/Transport and Entrance/Visa
A recommendation is to buy a direct flight from Brazil to some city near Ingolstadt (Frankfurt, München), as some issues can happen with you if you do a stop-over in another country before going to Germany. This only applies if you don’t have a visa, which is normally not needed for Brazilian citizens. You can check diplo.de
for more information.
These are the documents that you may need to be allowed to enter Germany for study:
- Letter of Acceptance from THI
- Trip Insurance, only for the first days until you have a German health insurance
Frankfurt and München airports have train/bus stations where you can get a transport to Ingolstadt, for more information you can check:
Frankfurt: https://www.frankfurt-airport.com/en.html
München (Munich): https://www.munich-airport.com/
SIM Card
Buying an international SIM card in Brazil before going to Ingolstadt can be very useful for the first days abroad. You can use it to communicate with your family, and the most important thing: you can use it to locate yourself and points of interest, in Apps like Google Maps, in places where using Wi-Fi is not possible. This type of SIM card is available in exchange offices with different types of duration and prices.
Living Expenses
Another thing that is necessary to think before staying in Ingolstadt is the costs. Here is a list that estimates the costs during the stay in Ingolstadt:
- Flight + Train ticket: 350 – 900€ (one way). Ingolstadt doesn’t have an airport so you will need to get a Train after arriving, have a look at the website of “Deutsche Bahn”; there is also a shuttle bus Munich-Ingolstadt.
- Housing deposit: 2x or 3x the rent value (1x). This deposit works like a “Depósito caução”, if the place you live is well-maintained when you leave, you are going to receive this money back.
- Rent (including services like internet and electricity): 250 – 400€ per month.
- Public Health Insurance: 90 – 115€ per month.
- University Semester Fee: 52 € (1x). This semester fee can be paid in a machine at THI using your student ID.
- Residence Permit: 100 € (1x).
- German SIM card (Mobile Plan): 10 – 20 € per month.
- Food: 100 – 180 € per month.
- Return Train + Flight ticket: 350 – 900 € (one way).
Buddy Program
Some weeks before going to Germany you are going to be contact by your Buddy. The Buddies are part of a program that is organized by the international students’ clubs “N.I.C.E” (Network & International Culture Exchange). In this program every exchange student who will visit THI gets a local student who will support them in their exchange semester. A buddy will support you in any situation like finding an apartment, in your trip, getting a sim card, making a bank account…
Accommodation
In Ingolstadt, apartments and rooms in shared flats are rare these days. Searching for an appropriate accommodation might therefore take a couple of months. Please start looking for a place to live as early as possible.
Here you can find an overview of the residence halls located in Ingolstadt. We strongly recommend searching for accommodation on the private housing market.
Further Information on Living and Studying in Germany
