1. First Steps & General Information
I have been admitted to KSOP, how do I accept my study place?
Where do I find the Admission Letter?
Can I pay tuition fees from abroad?
I would like a receipt of payment from the university. How do I get this?
The Pre-Arrival Guide
It’s the first time I leave my country to come to Europe. Is there anyone from my country who studies at KSOP that can help me?
2. Visa
What are the visa requirements to enter and stay as a student in Germany?
What happens if I am late to attend the program, e.g. if I have trouble with my visa application?
3. Bank Account
Blocked Bank Account: What is it?
How to open a blocked bank account?
How to open a German bank account?
4. Enrollment at KIT
Which documents do I need for the enrollment at KIT?
When is the deadline for the enrollment at KIT?
Do I have to bring my language certificate to enrollment?
Can I submit the degree certificate after enrollment?
Is health insurance mandatory for enrollment?
What is a liability insurance?
5. Living in Karlsruhe
How do I get to Karlsruhe and Karlsruhe School of Optics and Photonics?
Where are lectures taking place?
How accessible is Karlsruhe?
How accessible is KSOP (Karlsruhe School of Optics & Photonics)?
First steps at KIT
Do I get assistance once in Karlsruhe?
What is the Erasmus Mailing List Karlsruhe?
Where should I go to register myself as a foreigner to the new city and for Visa extension?
What is a Welcome Package?
Is the student card working as a tram ticket?
Where can I buy a second hand bicycle?
Some useful links about life in Germany.
6. Finding accommodation in Karlsruhe
What kind of student accommodations are available in Karlsruhe and what would be the likely cost?
Where do I find accommodation in and around Karlsruhe?
7. Funding your studies in Karlsruhe
What is the average cost of living in Karlsruhe?
I have no scholarship, what can I do?
Are there opportunities to work at the KSOP institutes to fund my studies?
Are there opportunities to work during the semester break, assuming an internship or thesis project is not scheduled?
Where do I find a job in Karlsruhe?
How many hours am I allowed to work with a student visa?
8. Technical Preparation in Mathematics
Do I need a technical preparation in Mathematics?
Do I need preparation in Linear Algebra?
Do I need preparation in Differential Equations?
I have been admitted to KSOP, how do I accept my study place?
You will accept your study place through the enrollment at KIT in September/October.
You can find a link on your letter of acceptance where you can make an appointment for your enrollment at the International Student Office. This must be done in person as soon as you arrive in Karlsruhe.
After enrollment you have officially taken your place.
For us in the KSOP Office (where we coordinate the master "Optics & Photonics" and take care of you students) it is valuable to know in advance which students what to accept a place and which not.
Therefore, email us at admissions-KSOP∂idschools.kit.edu
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Where do I find the Admission Letter?
Open the Application Portal:
1. Click "my applications"
2. Login
3. Click "options" "view pdf"
You will not receive any further notification by post.
This admission letter is valid when applying for a visa.
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Can I pay tuition fees from abroad?
In the application portal you can find detailed information about this issue.
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I would like a receipt of payment from the university. How do I get this?
An official receipt is not available, in the application portal you can check if your payment arrived.
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The Pre-Arrival Guide?
The Pre-Arrival Guide leads you through the topics related to your arrival to Karlsruhe and your start of study in Karlsruhe. Please read it thoroughly and do not hesitate to ask the related institutions for further information.
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It is the first time I leave my country and come to Europe. Is there anyone from my country who studies at KSOP that can help me?
As soon as you confirm the study place at admissions-KSOP∂idschools.kit.edu, we will reply by sending you the contract of a senior student from your country or region. Your "KSOP buddy" will guide you and answer your questions.
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What are the visa requirements to enter and stay as a student in Germany?
For questions about visa requirements, please refer to page 2 of the Pre-Arrival Guide.
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What happens if I am late to attend the program, e.g. if I have trouble with my visa application?
In some cases, the KSOP office can decide to extend the arrival date for incoming students. The latest arrival allowed is 2-3 weeks after the lectures have started. We only accept emergency reasons e.g. with the visa process.
If you need assistance with your visa application, please let us know as soon as possible that you are looking for “Assistance Required in Reducing Waiting Time for Processing of Student Visa”
And e-mail us here: admissions-KSOP∂idschools.kit.edu with:
Your name
Your Date of birth
The name of the German Embassy
Visa application number (must be indicated)
Full name of person in charge of processing your application (if known)
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Blocked Bank Account: What is it?
Non-EU students must prove that they have sufficient financial resources to support their studies and stay in Germany.
Please confirm this issue with the German Embassy in your home country.
In addition, refer to page 6 of our Pre-arrival guide.
Information about blocked bank accounts.
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How to open a blocked bank account?
Please note that Karlsruhe School of Optics and Photonics CANNOT help you to open the blocked bank account.
It takes MORE than a week to open a blocked account and therefore you are advised to start applying for one immediately.
The German embassy in your country might be able to give your more information regarding which bank to contact.
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How to open a German bank account?
The KSOP Team will help you with this issue during the Orientation Week.
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Which documents do I need for the enrollment at KIT?
Please read here which documents you need to take with you to Karlsruhe.
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When is the deadline for the enrollment at KIT?
Link to enrollment deadline.
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Do I have to bring my language certificate to enrollment?
Please check the Admission Letter. If it is not mentioned in the requirements than you do not have to.
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Can I submit the degree certificate after enrollment?
Please bring with you the certificates you have, then you will be able to submit the official diploma on a second moment. In order to do that you must get in touch with your contact person from the International Student Office, who is mentioned on the Letter of Admission.
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Is health insurance mandatory for the enrollment?
A health insurance is mandatory to complete the enrollment at KIT. During the orientation week, we will help you to take out insurance at one of the public insurance agencies during the Orientation Week.
More information about the student health insurance.
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What is a liability insurance? Do I have to have one?
Besides a health insurance, we recommend students to geta private liability insurance.
More information about liability insurances.
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How do I get to Karlsruhe and Karlsruhe School of Optics & Photonics?
If you are landing in Frankfurt International Airport, there are high-speed trains that bring you to the Karlsruhe Main Train Station (Hauptbahnhof).
From the Karlsruhe Main Train Station, you can take one of the following trams:
-
- Tram S1 (direction Hochstetten)
- Tram S11 (direction Neureut)
- Tram 4 (direction Waldstadt)
Get off at “Herrenstraße”, from there it is less than a 5-minute walk to Karlsruhe School of Optics and Photonics.
Buy a ticket for the tram at the ticket machines at the tram stops or in the tram (EUR 2.60 per ride availablefrom).
Taxis are available in front of the Karlsruhe Main Station at every hour.
For more details check the Directions.
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Where are lectures taking place?
Lectures take place at the KIT Campus and at the International Department.
Here is the link to the KIT Campus Map and the App KIT Navigator.
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How accessible is Karlsruhe?
Karlsruhe is located in Baden-Württemberg in the south-west of Germany.
Is a university city, in which student residents are a great part of the inhabitant.
Karlsruhe is well connected to travel to different cities in Germany and Europe, thanks to a comprehensive network of trains, busses and an airport.
It is very convenient to move within the city as well.
Find out more about the city of Karlsruhe, in which KSOP is located.
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How accessible is KSOP (Karlsruhe School of Optics & Photonics)?
Karlsruhe School of Optics and Photonics is a 5-minute walk from Kaiserstraße (King’s Road), the high street in Karlsruhe.
The area in which KSOP is located is where the most university facilities, institutes, laboratories, libraries and offices are. In addition, many shops and supermarkets are only a stone’s throw away, making shopping relative hassle-free.
The magnificent Schloss (Palace) and the Schlosspark (Palace Garden) are also right next to KSOP and students have the possibility to engage in sports or just enjoy leisurely strolls in a peaceful green environment.
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First steps at KIT
Click here to reach the summaries of To Do´s listed by the International Students Office at KIT.
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Do I get assistance once in Karlsruhe?
This are the most important steps:
- Joining the German National Health Insurance
- Matriculation at the university
- Registration at the Karlsruhe Resident Registry Office
- Opening of bank account
- Getting a German mobile phone number
- Renewing student visa at Foreigners’ Office
The Student Office assists the newcomers in points 1), 2), 3) and 4) during the Orientation Week. Please submit the necessary documents when the student office asks for them.
It is important for all students to have a bank account here in Germany, as you need to transfer the semester fees from a German bank account. Therefore, it is advisable to open an account as soon as possible.
A German mobile telephone number will be especially useful for foreign students who want to avoid international roaming fees and keep in touch with family and friends.
Reminder: Please inform the Student Office of any changes to your contact information, be it your address or mobile telephone number.
Further information.
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What is the Erasmus Mailing List Karlsruhe?
It is a mailing list for undergraduate and Master students.
If you subscribe, you will receive a large quantity of emails by other students about:
Party invitations, household equipment, bikes, rooms for rent…
Of course ´you will be able to send yourself a mail to the list in case you need or offer something.
You can subscribe to the Erasmus Mailing List Karlsruhe , also on Facebook.
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Where should I go to register myself as a foreigner to the new city and for Visa extension?
For the registration at Karlsruhe click here.
For Visa extension click here.
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What is a Welcome Package?
The welcoming package is a gift for every student of a university of Karlsruhe and for everyone who's apprenticing company and/or vocational school is located here in Karlsruhe. You will find more information here.
Info brochure.
ATTENTION! You only receive the welcome package when living in the inner city of Karlsruhe (not Landkreis=Suburbs of Karlsruhe)
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Is the student card working as a tram ticket?
You can use the KIT Card as a tram ticket daily from 18:00 to 05:00 all over the KVV-Net for free. All you need is to print out your matriculation certificate from the KIT student portal and have it with you. The certificate is available after the semester has started.
As a new student, you will receive a free semester ticket for trams and busses to move in Karlsruhe around the clock.
Please note: you need to register in Karlsruhe to receive the free semester ticket!
- Fahrradhaus Kramer: Hardtstr. 9
- Rad & Tat: Waldstr. 58
- Schäfer: Gritznerstr. 1
- Strebel & Co.: Zirkel 23
- Südstern: Erbprinzenstr. 4-12
- Newspapers
- Quoka
- Eukalyptus
- Ebay Kleinanzeigen
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Some useful links about life in Germany
Blogs from international students in Germany
Information about studying and working in Germany: http://www.study-in.de/en/
Studying in Germany: http://www.justlanded.com/english/Germany
http://www.young-germany.de/topic/study
Working in Germany: http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/
Pre-Arrival Guide
Just Landed helps you by topics like visas, housing, jobs and finance.
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What kind of student accommodations are available in Karlsruhe and what would be the likely cost?
Student residencies and private accommodation are both available.
The student residences are cheaper but also have long waiting lists.
We suggest you to register early at several dorms and to look for a flat on the private market in addition.
Here an overview of the rental costs in Karlsruhe (City).
- 200 – 300 Euro for a single room in student residences
- 300 – 400 Euro for a room in a shared flat
- 450 – 600 Euros for a one-person apartment
- 600 – 800 Euros for a flat for two persons
Outside of Karlsruhe the rent is cheaper.
Since the accommodation situation in Karlsruhe is quite tense, we recommend you to apply for several housing options as soon as possible.
Here is the general overview of the accommodation possibilities:
Student Residences:
- Studentenwerk
- International Department
- Hans-Dickmann-Kolleg (HaDiKo)
- Hans-Freudenberg-Kolleg
- Insterburg
- ABH & RSH
- Hermann-Ehlers-Kolleg
- YOUNIQ residence
Further information on sharing an apartment, private accommodation and youth hostels.
Online Ads:
- Studierendenwerk
- Studiguide Karlsruhe
- Studenten
WG
- Studenten Wohnungsmarkt
- WG-Gesucht
- House-hunting
Hostels / Hotels in Karlsruhe:
- Jugendherberge / Youth hostels:
- Hotels (for English, click the British flag in the menu bar just under the picture of the palace)
- http://www.bbkarlsruhe.de/
- Gästehaus am Karlstor
- Hotel am Gottesauer Schloss
- Bed & breakfast rooms
Bulletin Boards
- in the student canteen
- on the institutes´ pin walls
- Newspapers
- Sperrmüll (immer Freitags / every Friday)
- Karlsruhe Anzeiger (Mittwochs und Freitags / Wednesdays and Fridays)
- BNN (Mittwochs- oder Samtagsausgabe / Wednesday or Saturday edition)
- Agency:
Fair-Schlafen Zimmervermittlung
Förlenweg 6
76287 Rheinstetten
0721 - 951 3704
Zimmer∂fair-schlafen de
EUR 50-60 pro Monat (zusätzlich zur Miete) / per month (in addition to the rent)
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What is the average cost of living in Karlsruhe?
Here you can find a synopsis of the average cost of living for a student in Karlsruhe.
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I have no scholarship, what can I do?
Beside the KSOP scholarship, we collected the name of many other scholarships, which might be interesting for you. Please have a look on the Extern scholarship providers here.
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Yes, KSOP institutes offer jobs as student assistants. As soon as you started your studies in Karlsruhe, you can apply directly at the institutes. Usually you can earn up to 400 Euros for 40 hours per month. However, this is up to the institutes how much they can offer to you. Your work there will also give you an insight into the KSOP research activities. Another option is to find a working student job in a company in Karlsruhe. As Karlsruhe is a real “student city”, companies also offer these work options.
Here and here you can find student jobs offered in and around Karlsruhe.
The salary at the University depends on your achieved degree. With a BSc degree you receive 11,99 € per hour and with a MSc degree you receive 16,28 € per hour (stand 2019).
You need to show that you have completed the respective degree. A temporary degree certificate might be enough. If you are already in touch with an institute for a student assistant job (HiWi job), you should clarify the formalities with them.
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Are there opportunities to work during the semester break, assuming an internship or thesis project are not scheduled?
During the semester break, exams and internships are scheduled. Internships in industry are paid. If you look for a student job, at least the minimum salary or 8.84 Euro per hour has to be paid.
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Where do I find a job in Karlsruhe?
There are job portals with job offers online:
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How many hours am I allowed to work with a student visa?
Please refer to page 7 of the Pre-Arrival Guide.
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Do I need a technical preparation in mathematics?
To ease your start in the Master of Optics & Photonics, it is helpful if you know about the following mathematics topics:
• Fourier series and Fourier transformation
• Taylor series
• Use of delta-distribution
• Use of Levi-Cevita pseudotensor
• Complex analysis including subjects such as residue theorem, Cauchy's integral theorem, the concepts of analytic/meromorphic functions
An excellent text book that covers all these aspects is “Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences” from Mary L. Boas that can be easily found in the web but many other books are just as useful. Also, the book "Mathematics for Physics: A guided tour for graduate students” by Michael Stone and Paul Goldbart would be quite useful. That can be found here: https://goldbart.gatech.edu/PostScript/MS_PG_book/bookmaster.pdf
Notes on complex analysis can be found here: https://www.rpi.edu/dept/phys/Courses/PHYS6520/NotesOnComplexAnalysis.pdf
Moreover, much of this material is covered in a myriad of sources in the web and you can easily find this out by yourself.
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Do I need a preparation in lineal algebra?
To ease your start in the Master of Optics & Photonics, it is helpful if you know about the following topics:
• solving of (large) linear systems of equations, computing determinants, basic understanding of vector algebra
• different coordinate systems such as spherical/cylindrical coordinate systems, scalar product, vector product
• differentiation and interaction in multi-dimensional spaces
• partial derivatives, line integrals, surface integrals, volume integrals
• gradient, divergence, curl, Stokes’ theorem, Gauss’s theorem
A comprehensive course can be found here: http://courses.physics.ucsd.edu/2009/Fall/physics130b/Essential_Linear_Algebra.pdf
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Do I need a preparation in differential equations?
To ease your start in the Master of Optics & Photonics, it is helpful if you know about the following topics:
• ordinary differential equations
• partial differential equations
• boundary value problems, initial value problems
• concept of a Green’s function to solve differential equations
A comprehensive course can be found here: http://www-thphys.physics.ox.ac.uk/people/AlexanderSchekochihin/ODE/2018/ODELectureNotes.pdf or https://webusers.imj-prg.fr/~nicolas.lerner/pde-m1-lerner.pdf
If you don’t feel familiar with all of the mentioned topics, we recommend you to use the time until the start of your studies to update your mathematics knowledge. For your preparations our professors recommend the following books: “Mathematical Methods for Physicists” by Arfken and Weber or “Rechenmethoden für Studierende der Physik im ersten Jahr” (only in German available).
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