For many students, the start of their studies means moving to a new city. In addition to moving into a residence hall, a shared apartment, or your own apartment, there are a few organizational tasks that should be taken care of right at the beginning of the semester.
Registering your place of residence
Within 14 days of moving in, you must register your new place of residence with the relevant citizens' office. Making an appointment online can reduce waiting times.
Further information:
Potsdam
Wildau
Brandenburg an der Havel
communal welcome money and residence bonus
Students whose primary residence is in Wildau can apply for a communal welcome money of €50 each semester as long as they continue to live in Wildau. The application must be submitted in person or by email to the Residents' Registration Office. Applications for the winter semester must be submitted by December 31, and applications for the summer semester by June 30.
Further information: www.wildau.de/Einwohnermeldeamt
Students who register their primary residence in Brandenburg an der Havel receive a residence bonus of €100 per year from the city for the duration of their studies. Applications can be submitted online or in writing until December 31 of the current year.
Further information: www.stadt-brandenburg.de
Broadcasting license fee
A broadcasting license fee of €18.36 per month is payable for each apartment or shared apartment. As a general rule, only one person per apartment or shared apartment registers for the fee – all others provide the fee number of the person paying. In the residence hall, a room that opens onto a generally accessible hallway counts as a separate apartment. Payment is due every three months, by the 15th of the middle month of the payment period. The amount due is €55.08. Participating in the direct debit program makes it easier to pay regularly.
Students who receive BAföG can be exempted from the obligation to pay the fee.
Further information: www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/welcome
Check if you are entitled to housing allowance
Students who do not receive BAföG can check whether they are entitled to housing benefit. A BAföG rejection notice is required for the application. The application for housing benefit is submitted to the responsible city or municipality.
The housing benefit calculator helps to assess whether and to what extent a subsidy can be expected.
Further information: www.bmwsb.bund.de/wohngeldrechner
Have you completed all the formalities? Then nothing stands in the way of a successful start to your studies. If you have any questions, the Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg is available to provide information and support on all aspects of housing, study financing, and social issues.