The International Office is responsible for the implementation and financing of international mobility and scholarship programmes, as well as offering advice and information to incoming/outgoing students (studies and work placement), teachers and staff about foreign exchanges and scholarship/funding possibilities.

Assistance and advice is also available regarding language skills for international exchanges, including advice about language courses and requirements.

Within the university administration, the International Office is responsible for supporting the Rectorate’s office and faculties with the development, cultivation and financing of the ABK Stuttgart’s international partnerships. It advises and is active in the area of internationalization, especially with regards to university partnerships and consortiums.

The International Office represents the Academy in its cooperation with funding bodies and scientific organizations, international recruiting and marketing measures and is also involved in international accreditation (Erasmus) procedures and practices.

For guidance and help, feel free also to contact the Welcome-Programme.

Art
Andrea Rudloff
+49 (0)711 28440-247
andrea.rudloff(at)abk-stuttgart.de

Architecture
Stefanie Nowak
+49 (0)711 28440-203
stefanie.nowak(at)abk-stuttgart.de

Design (Textile Design, Communication Design and Industrial Design):
Danina Piljagic
+49 (0)711 28440-247
danina.piljagic(at)abk-stuttgart.de

Conservation – Art History
Nina Lanzinger
+49 (0)711 28440-260
nina.lanzinger(at)abk-stuttgart.de

Ute Woracek
+49 (0)711 664836-0
ute.woracek(at)abk-stuttgart.de

VESPA ("Verbund für Sprachenangelegenheiten"), is a university language course cooperation program between Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart, Hochschule der Medien, Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart as well as Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart with the aim to provide a common language curriculum across institutional borders.

Since 2012, incoming international students as well as students, professors and staff from our participating universities have the opportunity to take part in language courses offered through this cooperation. On offer are courses in German as a Foreign Language, English, Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian, Russian as well as Spanish.

Moreover, the online training solution Speexx is available at VESPA Verbund. All students and staff members of our cooperating universities have the opportunity to use this software without paying any course fees. Learn whenever and wherever you want - at work, at home or anywhere else you choose, and across multiple devices. The following languages are available: English and Business English, Spanish and Business Spanish, French, German as a Foreign Language.

GERMAN LANGUAGE COURSES

The German language course consists of intensive daily language training before the beginning of the semester (72 teaching hours) (EUR 100.00) and then continues with weekly language training during the semester (48 teaching hours) (EUR 50.00).  Full payment is due once you are accepted for the course.

We strongly recommend participating in the intensive language courses since the weekly courses are follow-on units. However, if you do not have the opportunity to attend the intensive course, there still will be the opportunity to join the semester courses. In this case, a course fee of EUR 50.00 will be demanded.

On offer are beginner level courses (level A1 and A2) and advanced level courses (B1 and B2 according to the CEFR) as well as professional training during the semester (level C1 and Academic German).

Course certificates stating grades and the achieved language level are issued after regular attendance and successful completion of course tasks and tests. Moreover, you will receive ECTS credits for each course. At the beginning of each German course there is an obligatory online placement test.

More information and application: www.hft-stuttgart.de/VESPA

Students are responsible for finding out what kind of visa is required for the duration of studies in Germany. Please read the information below carefully for visa information and contacts. 

• Students who are citizens of EU countries and those from Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, can enter Germany with a valid passport or ID. No visa is required.

• Citizens of non-EU countries always require a visa for their stay

For more information about visa see www.welcome.stuttgart.de

Residence

Students from non-EU countries have to apply for a residence permit
www.welcome.stuttgart.de

The EU's mobility arrangements enable you to also study in other Member States (with the exception of Ireland and Denmark) for up to 360 days if you hold a residence title for study purposes. Your residence title must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Germany.

ABK must submit prior notification of your intended stay to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. This notification should be provided as soon as it becomes known that you intend to study in Germany. Full notification absolutely must be received no later than 30 days prior to your entering Germany.
It is not necessary for you to present yourself in person to the immigration authority.

The following documents must be sent at least 50 days before your arrival in Germany to studieren(at)abk-stuttgart.de :

• fully completed notification form www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/MigrationAufenthalt/formular-mobilitaet-student.pdf (The form has to be filled in and saved electronically. The form should not be printed and scanned)
• a residence title issued by the first EU State (issued for study purposes and in accordance with the REST Directive),
• a recognised, valid passport/replacement passport (copy only),
• proof that you are taking part in a programme organised by the EU or other multilateral programme entailing mobility and/or the agreement between the higher education institutions,
• an admission of the receiving university,
• proof that you can support yourself (incl. proof that you have health insurance).

Please note that we can’t enrol you if you did not submit the required documents in time.

To study in Germany, you will need German health insurance. Without proof of health insurance you cannot enrol in a German university. Students from EU countries already insured in their own country do not have to take up insurance again in Germany, but need to approve the insurance by a German health insurance company. Students from all other countries must have insurance cover from Germany, even if they already have a health insurance in their country of origin. The insurance coverage lasts for around one semester, contributions are to be paid for the entire semester, even if you leave Germany before the end of your studies or stop studying. Students from countries outside the EU and who are under 30 years of age, or who have not yet completed their 14th subject-related semester, may choose between private or compulsory health insurance. If you want to have private health insurance you need to apply for an exemption from compulsory coverage at a German health insurance company. Find more information here: www.abk-stuttgart.de/studium/studieren/krankenversicherung

It is essential that students who wish to study in Stuttgart are able to finance their stay. International students are responsible for their own accommodation. It is possible to apply for housing through the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart. To do this please see Studierendenwerk Stuttgart. Alternatively, see the Welcome Center Stuttgart.

The estimated cost of living for students in Stuttgart is around EUR 800.00 per month. This would include rent (student accommodation is usually around EUR 300–400, private accommodation can be more expensive), health insurance, public transport, food, and other incidentals.

Semester fees

All students have to pay a legal administrative fee, a fee for the student services (Studentenwerksbeitrag) and a student union fee. For current fee charges please see Gebühren (Fees).

Welcome Center Stuttgart

It is important to us that you feel at home during your stay in Stuttgart. As a new visitor to Germany, the Welcome Center can help you with questions you may have about life, study, work or the practicalities of living in Stuttgart. On the Welcome Center Stuttgart website you can find information about visas, residency permits, drivers licences, jobs, festivals, cultural events and nightlife as well as contact information, dates, locations and links. Everything you need to get you started in your new life.

Next to the Welcome Center is the cultural center and café, Welthaus Stuttgart, an intercultural meeting place for social and cultural events such as discussions, readings, theater and exhibitions. 

ABK Social Life 

The Welcome-Programme offers guidance for international students during their stay. The AStA ("Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss") is the student-run committee representing student interests at the ABK, and organizing events and initiatives for students each semester.  The AStA is also able to offer support to student driven projects.

You can keep up to date with student events by registering for "ABKonnect" in the ABK portal or contacting student initiatives directly.

Guidance Counselling (Psychology) Studierendenwerk Stuttgart

www.studierendenwerk-stuttgart.de

Psychotherapeutical Counselling

The counselling service of the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart offers professional help with personal and interpersonal relationship problems from qualified psychologists. 

• Study and work problems
• Problems with timemanagement
• Motivational problems
• Problems with partner or family
• Examination or other anxieties
• Depression
• Self-worth problems
• Social difficulties

The counselling sessions are cost free. Generally appointment are available within 2 weeks with one of the qualified psychologists, Frau Kucher-Sturm or Herrn Sturm. 

The counselling sessions are strictly confidential; psychologists of the Studierendenwerk are bound to confidentiality.

Important notice

As email communication with the Studierendenwerk is not encrypted, they cannot guarantee confidentiality through this method of communication.

Appointments

can therefore only be made per telephone: +49 711 4470-1260, or at the service center (Rosenbergstraße 18, Stuttgart).

As a new visitor to Germany, the Welcome Center can help you with questions you may have about life, study, work or the practicalities of living in Stuttgart. On the Welcome Center Stuttgart website you can find information about visas, residency permits, drivers licenses, jobs, festivals, cultural events and nightlife as well as contact information, dates, locations and links. Everything you need to get you started in your new life. 

Next to the welcome center is the cultural center and café, Welthaus Stuttgart, an intercultural meeting place for social and cultural events such as discussions, readings, theater and exhibitions. The following information has been translated from the Welcome Center Stuttgart website: 

Welcome Center Stuttgart services include: 

• Arrival and Residency
• Learning German
• Job search and applications
• Education and Study
• Apartment search
• Kindergarten places and School
• Culture and Clubs
• Contacts  

Come and visit us! We will be glad to advise you personally. Of course you can also contact us per Telephone or email or have a look at our website in advance. We speak German, English, and many other languages.